HC Deb 07 April 1960 vol 621 cc561-2
40. Mr. Driberg

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of recent events in South Africa, he will instruct the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to consider, in consultation with the British Council, the possibility of cancelling the remainder of the Royal Ballet's South African tour.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. R. A. Butler)

I have been asked to reply.

The future of this tour, for which no official funds were provided and only a small contingent guarantee against loss was given, is a matter for decision not by the Government but by the Royal Ballet Company.

Mr. Driberg

Yes, but is the right hon. Gentleman really expecting the House to accept that the Government could not exercise any influence through the British Council or through the Arts Council—as was done in 1956, when the Royal Ballet's visit to Moscow was cancelled at short notice as a protest against events in Hungary? Do the Government approve of these gestures of protest in one direction only, or are they serious in their disapproval of the continuing tyranny in South Africa?

Mr. Butler

The Government's views have been amply and well expressed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and I hardly think it would be appropriate to use the Ballet as a means of making a political gesture, the more so as we understand that the Ballet has been very successfully performed before Europeans as well as non-Europeans. In each case, its performances have been very well attended.

Mr. Jeger

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Actors' Equity, which is the profession's trade union, at its very well attended meeting only last weekend, decided that all these tours should be allowed to continue and that Dame Sybil Thorndike, our foremost actress and a great humanitarian, agreed that that should be so, but that actors and actresses going to South Africa should be free to express their opinions? Therefore. would the right hon. Gentleman ensure that complete freedom of speech is given to those who visit South Africa to express their views there?

Mr. Butler

I am sure that the hon. Member has done a service by drawing attention to the decision of Equity. In relation to the second part of his supplementary question, I cannot give any undertaking about the administration of the law in South Africa. That is not within my jurisdiction. In general, the hon. Member's supplementary question confirms my original Answer, that I do not think it would be appropriate to interfere with the discretion of the Royal Ballet.