HC Deb 10 March 1959 vol 601 cc1064-8
31 and 32. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will make a statement on the arrest and treatment by the police of the African janitor of the Church of Scotland Mission School, Blantyre, Nyasaland, on 23rd February;

(2) what report he has received on the attack by a volunteer police patrol on pupils of the Church of Scotland Mission School, Blantyre, Nyasaland, on 23rd February.

51. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the statement, a copy of which has been sent to him, of Mr. A. C. McAdam of the Church of Scotland Mission, Blantyre, Nyasaland, concerning incidents in Livingstonia and Blantyre; what reports he has received of rioting in those areas; and if he will make a statement.

53. Mr. Hoy

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the statement, a copy of which has been sent to him, of the Reverend James Dougall, General Secretary of the Foreign Mission Department of the Church of Scotland, concerning incidents in Livingstonia and Blantyre; what reports he has received of rioting in those areas; and if he will make a statement.

57. Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has received about the incidents at the Church of Scotland Mission, Blantyre; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As regards the incidents at the Church of Scotland Mission School, Blantyre, over the weekend of 21st–22nd February, groups of Africans, mainly youths, sought to terrorise the public by stoning cars and general hooliganism. On the evening of Monday, 23rd February, a patrol of three special constables came upon groups of African youths on either side of the Chileka Road rear the Church of Scotland Mission; they were shouting and singing, and the constables left their vehicle to investigate. The youths then ran into grounds of the Mission. The constables pursued them and thereupon were surrounded by a crowd of youths quickly augmented by adults. They decided to withdraw and were stoned; one stone smashed the windscreen of the police vehicle and temporarily knocked out one constable. They withdrew to the police station to report the incident but in the general fracas one of their party was left behind. Police reinforcements were sent to the scene. On arrival the police found an uncontrolled mob surrounding the remaining special constable. After one shot had been fired in the air order was restored.

Thereafter five youths, three teachers, and the janitor of the school were taken to the police station where they were interviewed. The youths and the teachers were sent back to the school and the janitor was released on bail. The special constable who had remained behind had been manhandled by the crowd and had received a blow on the chin.

Regarding events at Livingstonia, a report stated that the African Lakes Corporation store and a lorry were stoned on the 20th February and windows broken. Stones were also thrown at the manager of the store, Mr. Robson, but he was unhurt. His report stated that he had reported the incident to the Mission Principal, Mr. Macpherson, who rode up to the crowd on a bicycle; that the latter was unable to control them, and was in turn stoned; and that his bicycle was smashed, and that he made his way back to the house followed by the crowd.

I cannot trace having received any communication from the Rev. James Dougall or from Mr. McAdam, though I have seen a letter addressed to the Press by the latter. In view of the conflicting reports which are current the Governor has informed me that the details are being checked and should there be any variation in the information which I have given I will immediately inform the House.

Miss Herbison

Is the Minister aware that the information which he has just given to the House is completely different from that supplied by Mr. McAdam of the Church of Scotland Mission at Blantyre? Is he aware that the Rev. Macpherson denies completely being stoned—a statement which the Minister has again made? Is he also aware that Mr. McAdam has said that the truth is that the police initiated violence and acted irresponsibly?

Since these stories are so conflicting, does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that to reassure people who are interested in the Church of Scotland, both in this country and in Nyasaland, and everyone in the country who is seriously interested in and worried about what is happening in Nyasaland, we ought to find out from a commission from this House what exactly is happening there?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

On that point, I think it would be unreasonable for the hon. Lady not to accept what I have said—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—that in view of the conflicting reports which are current the Governor has asked for all the information to be checked and that I will let the House know if there is any variation.

Mr. Hamilton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the letter from Mr. McAdam to which he referred makes some extremely serious allegations, among them that the B.B.C. gave wrong information about this incident and, if I may quote the letter, that The local official report is not just biased. it is blatantly provocative."? Does not that underline the suggestion made by my hon. Friend the Member for Lanarkshire, North (Miss Herbison) and made from the Front Opposition Bench that a commission of some independence ought to go out to get at the facts? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we in the House feel that neither the Minister nor anybody else in the House is acquainted with the facts and that the facts given from the Government Front Bench are obviously biased and suspect?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Governor, who is well known to many hon. Members, can be relied upon to sort out the conflicting stories, and I will tell the House the final conclusion.

Mr. Callaghan

Who will check the facts? Is not the Governor several hundred miles away in Blantyre, and is there any independent person who is able to go there and check the facts unless it is somebody from this House or from some equivalent body?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think that few hon. Members would conclude that we have the monopoly of independence. There are, of course, people there who are qualified to arrive at a fair conclusion.

Mr. N. Pannell

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that in the present difficult circumstances it is of the utmost importance to support the forces of law and order and to protect them against unauthenticated innuendoes?

Mr. Grimond

Is it not also of great importance in the present situation that exaggerated accounts from either side should not be put out prematurely? As on the right hon. Gentleman's own showing there is some doubt about this matter, would he also represent to the Governor that authorities such as the B.B.C. and other information services should make sure of the facts before they are broadcast all over the world?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is always desirable, but here we have two different statements made by people of equal credibility. I deny that the European manager of the African Lakes Corporation is not entitled to be believed in the House like anybody else, but, as I have said, the Governor will look into the truth of the matter and I will let the House know if there is any variation.

Mr. Hoy

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a statement which he has made is contrary to what is supplied by the General Secretary of the Foreign Mission of the Church of Scotland? That gentleman makes plain in the information which I have sent to the right hon. Gentleman that these boys were marching home as they normally did and were attacked by the police. Does not that call for an investigation by the right hon. Gentleman? Ought he not to consider where the Governor is obtaining the information which he is supplying to the House?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I have said, the Governor is looking into all this, and his only desire in this as in everything else is to supply the truth.