HC Deb 04 November 1958 vol 594 cc749-50
10. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision he has made to amend his proposals for the Constitution of Northern Rhodesia in the light of the further representations he has agreed to receive from the United Federal Party members of the Executive Council, in view of the Order in Council already issued authorising electoral arrangements.

19. Mr. Wade

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the proposed new Constitution for Northern Rhodesia and the proposals which he has made for its modification.

22. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been made to the Federal Prime Minister regarding the proposed constitutional changes in Northern Rhodesia and his demand for further discussions on the matter; and what changes Her Majesty's Government propose to introduce in the light of Sir Roy Welensky's representations regarding the Secretary of State's proposals.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

My right hon. and noble friend the Commonwealth Secretary has informed the Federal Prime Minister that, if immediately after the Federal election, a Federal Minister wished to visit London to discuss further the representations which the Federal Government have made, Her Majesty's Government would be glad to receive him. I have also received other representations which I am considering. To a considerable extent, these various representations repeat different points of view which were before me when I reached the conclusions which I conveyed to the Governor in my despatch of the 10th September. But I think that it would be best to confine myself at present to giving an assurance that I would at once inform the House if I decided that it was right to make any changes.

Mr. Brockway

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the objection appears to be that there are to be two African members of the Executive Council? In view of the decisive effect which this may have on race relations in Northern Rhodesia and the impossibility of dealing with this matter by question and answer, will the right hon. Gentleman fulfil his promise, given before the Recess, that we shall have an an opportunity to debate the whole subject?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly, Sir.

Mr. Creech Jones

What is the status of the Federal Government in respect of the constitution of what is really a British Protectorate? Secondly, did any representations come from the Federal Government before the Secretary of State announced his general plan?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The right hon. Gentleman will remember that it was said at the time of the formation of the Federation that the Federal Government would be brought into the picture when constitutional changes for the Northern Territories were proposed. I certainly did receive representations from the Federal Government before I made my statement in the House.

Mr. Wade

May I raise a matter which appears to be of over-riding importance? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the disappointing progress in the registration of African voters is due primarily not to apathy but to suspicion of the whole constitutional development in that Territory? Is he not aware that any step which appears to be weighing the scales against the Africans may do untold harm? Will he keep that in mind in proposals which he puts forward, or is asked to approve?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I will certainly hear that very interesting thought very much in mind.