§ 6. Mr. Grimondasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what information he has about the arrest of Mr. Clutton Brock, a citizen of the United Kingdom, in Southern Rhodesia.
§ 7. Mr. Callaghanasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what inquiries he has made about the arrest of Mr. Guy Clutton Brock, a citizen of the United Kingdom who was until recently agricultural adviser to St. Faith's Mission Farm, Rusape, Southern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. AlportOn my noble Friend's instructions, the United Kingdom High Commissioner in Salisbury has made inquiries of the Southern Rhodesia Government. He has been informed that Mr. Guy Clutton Brock has been detained by the Southern Rhodesia authorities under Emergency Regulations of Southern Rhodesia. Although Mr. Glutton Brock is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, he is also a citizen of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, having previously become a Southern Rhodesia citizen in 1951. It would be contrary to normal practice for the United Kingdom Government to intervene on behalf of a person with dual citizenship —[HON. MEMBERS: "Shame."]—in the other country of which he is a citizen.
§ Mr. GrimondWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for having made inquiries, may I ask whether he would agree that the answer to his inquiries is rather unsatisfactory? Surely, without interfering, we could be told what it is alleged Mr. Guy Clutton Brock has done, what is the charge brought against him, and whether it is anything except, as I understand, that he is a member of the Congress Party?
§ Mr. AlportI would draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the last part of my Answer, during which I was interrupted. I said
It would be contrary to normal practice for the United Kingdom Government to intervene on behalf of a person with dual citizenship in the other country of which he is a citizen.This is a long-established practice and, in the circumstances, I think it is extremely logical and understandable.
§ Mr. CallaghanIt may be a long-established and logical practice, but are we not in a most unprecedented situation? Is the hon. Gentleman making inquiries about the welfare of Mrs. Clutton Brock, and Guy Clutton Brock's daughter, both of whom are in the territory, and both of whom are, as far as I know, still citizens of the United Kingdom? Is not the real trouble that Guy Clutton Brock was able to demonstrate that Africans and Europeans could live and work successfully side by side? Would the Under-Secretary of State convey to the Southern Rhodesian Government that when they arrest a man like Guy Clutton Brock, whose record, character and integrity are known to so many people here, they do not condemn him but convict themselves?
§ Mr. AlportOne of the sad aspects of all circumstances of this sort is the effect on wives and families, but I understand that, in accordance with the arrangements that have been made by the Southern Rhodesian Government—and these, I think, have been publicised—a payment is being made to all the wives of detainees; and the families are being looked after in accordance with arrangements made by the Southern Rhodesia Government.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs the Under-Secretary aware that I caused inquiries to be made about the arrest of Mr. Clutton Brock? Yesterday, I had confirmation from a constituent who says that Mr. Clutton Brock is a gentleman of the highest honour and integrity, and that his only crime is that he is kind to the Africans? Is not it a responsibility of the Commonwealth Relations Office to see that the well-being of Africans throughout Africa is maintained? Otherwise, the Commonwealth will be destroyed.
§ Mr. AlportI must draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the final part of my Answer, which is directly relevant to his point.
§ Sir A. BaldwinIs my hon. Friend aware that the vendetta that has been carried on in this House in the last two or three days is doing an immense amount of harm to the Southern Rhodesia territory, and that it harms the blacks more than the whites? It is about time we let that country manage its own affairs.
§ Mr. CallaghanBefore the Under-Secretary replies, may I ask if the House of Commons is really coming to the stage when we cannot protest about the arrest, on political grounds, of a man whose record is above dispute, and who is known to thousands of people in this country, without being accused of conducting a vendetta against a Government that has arrested him for political reasons?
§ Mr. CallaghanOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the wholly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again at the earliest opportunity.