African National Congress

HC Deb 04 June 1959 vol 606 cc362-3

44. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent he authorised the announcement by the Government of Nyasaland that the leaders of the African National Congress will be detained for a long period and inviting Africans to provide information to the authorites of any unarrested members of the Congress.

Mr. J. Amery

The Governor was not obliged to consult my right hon. Friend and did not do so. His action has his support because the security situation required that Congress sympathisers should be disabused of the expectation that Congress leaders would not only soon be released from detention but would be able to resume the use of the methods by which they sought to attain their ends—methods which led to the situation which made it necessary for the Governor to declare a state of emergency. The continuation of detention was clearly stated to be related to the need to prevent a further threat to the peace of the Territory.

Mr. Brockway

Does that Answer mean that these leaders of the African National Congress are to be kept in prison or detained for long periods without any public trial? Does not the Answer mean that it is an invitation to Africans in Nyasaland to become informers against fellow-Africans and create a dangerous situation of bitterness? Does the hon. Gentleman think that this action should have been taken before the Devlin Commission has issued its report an the situation in Nyasaland?

Mr. Amery

Yes, Sir. As I have said, my right hon. Friend fully supports the Governor's action.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is not this a really extraordinary situation? The Government appoint a Commission to investigate the truth or falsity of charges accusing certain leaders of the African National Congress of incitement to murder. These men have been detained. Before the Commission has reported, the Governor of Nyasaland announces that, whatever the findings of the Devlin Commission, these men are to be kept in detention. Is the hon. Gentleman really defending this point of view? If he is, what is the purpose of sending out the Devlin Commission at all?

Mr. Amery

The right hon. Gentleman characteristically misrepresents——

Mr. Brockway

Withdraw.

Mr. Amery

—misrepresents what the Governor said. The Governor made it clear that continuation of detention was clearly related to the need to prevent a further threat to the peace of the Territory.

Mr. Gaitskell

Does it mean that, whatever the report of the Devlin Commission may be, these people will be kept in detention, or will the decision of the Government be dependent upon that report?

Mr. Amery

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would await the report of the Commission.

Mr. Gaitskell

I cannot allow the hon. Gentleman to evade this. [HON. MEMBERS: "Resign."] He has announced the Government's support for the announcement that these people in any case will be kept in detention. On what grounds is he putting this forward, and how does he relate this to the appointment of the Devlin Commission?

Mr. Amery

The right hon. Gentleman is making a purely hypothetical assumption about what the report of the Devlin Commission is likely to be.

Sir A. Baldwin

Is my hon. Friend aware that the vast majority of Africans in Nyasaland are only too glad that the Congress leaders are being detained, because a great deal of the bloodshed which has taken place in the past has been because of intimidation by these Congress leaders, and that the more they are kept in detention, the better it will be for the majority?

Mr. Amery

It is indeed true that a number of Africans have expressed relief at the fact that the intimidating leaders are in detention.