Dr. Banda (Hansard, 5 April 1960)

§ 30. Mr. Stonehouse
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his discussions with Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda; and what conditions have been attached to Dr. Banda's release from detention.

§ 32. Mr. Wyatt
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the release of Dr. Banda and his talks with him.

§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)
I have been asked to reply.
As the House is aware, the Governor decided to release Dr. Banda on 1st April, and no conditions were attached to his release. The discussions are still in progress. I am sure that my right hon. Friend will wish to make a statement as soon as possible after his return.

§ Mr. Stonehouse
Will the Home Secretary accept our warm congratulations on the action that has been taken, which is in marked contrast to the events occurring further south? Is he yet in a position to say when the Nyasaland Constitutional Conference will take place?

§ Mr. Butler
No. Sir. The date will depend upon the discussions that are taking place between my right hon. Friend and Dr. Banda in Nyasaland at present. We must await the outcome of those discussions before we can give the House further information.

§ Mr. Wyatt
Does this mean that the Government now recognise the futility of trying to force Nyasaland into a Federation that it does not want to be in? And does it mean that we are now to have representative Government in Nyasaland on the same sort of pattern as that in Kenya and the other territories to which we are giving independence?

§ Mr. Butler
The latter part of the hon. Gentleman's Question must be answered in the light of the discussions that are taking place in the constitutional talks. In regard to the first part of his supplementary question, I have nothing to add to the speeches and statements made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister during his tour of Africa.

§ Mr. Callaghan
Are there to be constitutional talks in London? Is this why Dr. Banda is coming here?

§ Mr. Butler
It depends on the outcome of the discussions at present taking place in Nyasaland. I do not exclude the possibility of discussions in London, but we must decide about that when we see the results of the first discussions.

§ Mr. Grimond
Whilst welcoming Dr. Banda's release, may I ask if it is the intention now to release some of the other detainees?

§ Mr. Butler
The remaining detainees, who are not so very many, must be released according to the decision of the Governor in relation to his assessment of the position of law and order in Nyasaland. They will follow normally in relation to the Governor's own decision in regard to law and order?

§ Mr. Callaghan
Is there to be no expression of regret by the Government that their assessment of the situation has been so wrong over the last thirteen months? Is not the Home Secretary aware that it was prophesied from the benches opposite, and by so-called responsible Ministers, that in the event of Dr. Banda's release there would be widespread unrest and violence? As the Government have been so wrong about this, are we not to know what has changed their assessment of the situation?

§ Mr. Butler
The Government have throughout had to handle a delicate situation, and the fact that there has been no trouble is at once a tribute to the wisdom of the Government and, at the same time, a tribute to the sense of Dr. Banda in his published broadcast appealing that there should be no violence and appealing to his own people to give him a chance to lead them through peace and by having talks.