§ 27. Mr. Donnellyasked the Prime Minister for what date he issued the invitations to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.
§ The Prime MinisterFor 3rd May.
§ Mr. DonnellyWill the Prime Minister say how he hopes it will be possible for the Prime Ministers not to discuss the situation in South Africa when they meet?
§ The Prime MinisterI was only asked the question on what date the Conference is to meet. The Conference is to meet on 3rd May.
§ 31. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Prime Minister whether he will discuss with the Commonwealth Prime Ministers, during their conference, the desirability of formulating a minimum code of conduct on race relations in the Commonwealth.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not think that formal codes of conduct of this kind are consonant with the spirit or practice of the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. FletcherWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that the whole question of race relationships and race equality is uppermost in the minds of a great many people? Would not he agree that it might well be appropriate at the Commonwealth Conference, in view of its special constitution, to give a moral lead to the world on this subject?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course, all these matters are very much in our minds —terribly in our minds. What we have here to try to do is to use this coming Conference to make what progress we can in these matters, to preserve the unity of the Commonwealth and to see how far Prime Ministers, in the more intimate discussions that they are able to have with each other, can make some useful contribution. I would venture to ask hon. Members and the House as a whole to recognise the very heavy responsibility that lies on this country at the moment—
§ Mr. ManuelOn the Government.
§ The Prime Minister—and on this Government, too, to try to steer a wise course over this most complicated question which will lead, not merely to our priding ourselves on taking some outward action for which we can take credit, but to useful results along the lines on which we all want to see progress made.
§ Mr. MarquandThe Prime Minister has rejected the suggestion put forward by my hon. Friend, as he rejected one put forward by myself a short time ago, for a Commonwealth convention on human rights. Is he aware that the recent events in South Africa have done grave injury to the repute of the Commonwealth throughout the world? Does not he think that some sort of declaration, formal or informal, ought to emerge from the Commonwealth Conference?
§ The Prime MinisterI am in the hands of the Conference. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom presides merely as a tradition, as the host Government. It is a completely independent body which makes its own rules and decides its agenda. I will bear all these things in mind. But I also ask, as I think—in 22 fact, I am sure—I can for the sympathy of the House, and from the Front Bench opposite, during a difficult period in which we have to try to achieve two things, some advance in the preaching and development of the principles we believe in, while at the same time keeping together the Commonwealth with its present and future value to the world.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that Commonwealth unity can be preserved and maintained only if all the member nations accept each other as equals and racial discrimination is removed?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. But of course, as the right hon. Gentleman knows quite well, there are many problems in each of the countries of the Commonwealth which might be discussed—racial problems and racial conflicts—and if we began to discuss them at a Commonwealth Conference we should get into very deep waters, and it would have grave results which we would wish to avoid. I think we should maintain the principle that internal questions are not discussed, yet by some method, formal or informal, we should bring our minds to bear on these problems.