§ 53. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what inquiries he has made about the arrests in Southern Rhodesia of British-protected persons, from Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, not being also citizens of the Federation.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have asked the Governors of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland for the numbers of British protected persons detained, irrespective of whether they are also Federal citizens and about the arrangements that are being made for their families. I have also asked my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to seek certain further information about the detainees.
§ Mrs. CastleIs not it a fact that if British-protected persons from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland who happen to be temporarily resident in Southern Rhodesia are arrested and detained without consultation with their territorial Governments this is a violation of their British-protected-person status? Ought not the Colonial Secretary to have intervened before now, in view of the fact that these people are under his protection and ought not to be arrested without trial by another Government who have no responsibility for their protection?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo, Sir. The hon. Lady has that quite wrong. There is no particular right of a British subject or British-protected person to be immune from the law of the country where he happens to be living. These people have been arrested because they were considered a danger in Southern Rhodesia. I ask the hon. Lady to await the full information which I have undertaken to give the House.