HC Deb 26 March 1959 vol 602 cc1506-8
27. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Europeans and Africans, respectively, killed during the recent disturbances in Nyasaland.

43. Mr. H. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Europeans and Africans, respectively, have now been killed in Nyasaland in this year's disturbances; and how many of them were women.

55. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Europeans, Asians and Africans, respectively, have been killed in Nyasaland since the state of emergency was declared.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Since the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 19th March the Governor has reported that a further two Africans have been killed, which brings the total of Africans killed since the emergency, I am sorry to say, to 52, including one woman. There have been no fatal European or Asian casualties.

Mr. Stonehouse

Is not it rather extraordinary that the figures show that not a European has been killed in Nyasaland although the Colonial Secretary indicated in his statement to the House that there was a massacre plot to eliminate all Europeans in that country? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that the Commission of Inquiry which he is sending to Nyasaland will have an opportunity to investigate the circumstances in which the killings of Africans took place, and in particular the circumstances surrounding the killing of the woman?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The terms of reference, which I clearly announced to the House, refer to the disturbances and the events leading up to them. I have nothing to add to them, but I should have thought that hon. Members could read into them a clear indication of the scope of the inquiry.

Mr. Callaghan

While we are all ready to leave it to the Commission of Inquiry, does not the Colonial Secretary think it rather remarkable, in view of what has been said, that although there are scores, if not hundreds, of Europeans living in isolated communities throughout the length and breadth of Nyasaland, as far as we know very few of them, if any, have been attacked, although I think one or two have been stoned, and there have certainly been no attempts at massacre?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Nobody would wish to make the work of the inquiry more difficult, and I have no desire to do so, but I must point out that it is the Government's view and the Governor's view that action was taken in time to stop the tragedy that might well have ensued.

Mr. Brockway

As there are only 8,000 Europeans in the population of nearly 3 million in Nyasaland, does the right hon. Gentleman really ask the House to believe that if a massacre had been planned that small number of Europeans among the large African population would not have suffered to a greater degree than they have during recent days?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am sure the whole House will rejoice—it certainly should rejoice—that no Europeans or Asians have been killed, while we all deplore the loss of African life. I have nothing to add to what I said before, and that is that it was by nipping it in the bud that the trouble was averted.

Mr. Stonehouse

Will people who have complaints to make against the security forces in connection with the shooting of the 52 Africans have the right to be heard by the Commission of Inquiry?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Something must, after all, be left to the Commission of Inquiry. I hope, as I have said, to make a statement today if I possibly can or, failing that, to issue a statement as soon as possible dealing with certain aspects of the Commission's work. Obviously, I cannot do the work of the Commission for it, and a great deal must be left to the Commission itself to settle. I cannot undertake to make a statement today, and I would not want to mislead the House. I am making every effort to make a statement, but it was said yesterday that if that is not possible the House as a whole would understand.

Mr. Callaghan

Will the Colonial Secretary accept the assurance that we know he will try to make a statement as he has promised to do so? None of us on this side of the House wants to make the work of the Commission more difficult, but the right hon. Gentleman will realise that there is to some extent a test of credibility in what the House and the country have so far been told about the massacre.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly, Sir. I agree.