§ 27. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he will announce the new constitutional proposals for Nyasaland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am not at this stage in a position to make any statement on this important matter.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the Colonial Secretary aware that there is the danger of a cat-and-mouse game here? Is he aware that there is some public interest in the speeches he is making on the subject? Will he tell the House what he told the Conservative conference on Saturday?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAnything I said on Saturday was said at a public meeting of which reports appeared in the Press. If we all repeated in the House what we said in public, business would be impeded. As to the other remark of the hon. Member, I have no intention of playing the part either of a cat or a mouse in this business.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonIs the Colonial Secretary aware that there is a complete political vacuum in Nyasaland at this moment? Will he consider suspending the present constitution, which is completely bogus and is not functioning, and having some kind of interim constitution with men who are not behind bars but who could function until he gets out a constitution for the 1960 elections?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI think that a very interesting suggestion.
§ Mr. CallaghanWhile I am glad the right hon. Gentleman recognises that this is an important matter, may I ask him how he proposes to get some constitutional changes going? Is he debarring himself from making changes until it is decided to bring charges against Dr. Hastings Banda and other leading Africans or to release them? Is that not the first step to take before we get on to further constitutional changes?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Governor and I are not debarred from making constitutional changes or suggesting them. I cannot make any further statement at the moment.