HC Deb 20 December 1960 vol 632 cc1063-5
42. Mr. Wall

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the progress of the constitutional conference on the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The Prime Minister

The Federal Constitutional Review Conference opened on 5th December and, after eleven meetings, adjourned on 17th December. It will reconvene on a date in the New Year to be decided by the five Governments in the light of the progress made at the talks on the constitutions of Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia.

The proceedings were confidential, but I can say that this series of meetings provided an opportunity for the delegates to have a general debate on the Federation as a whole.

We shall study most carefully the views expressed by all delegates in this discussion, and we shall discuss with the other Governments concerned the conclusions to be drawn from them.

Mr. Wall

Can my right hon. Friend say whether it is still his intention to do everything possible to work for the maintenance of a federal structure?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. We believe that the aims of the Federation, as founded, were sound and valuable, and that they remain so. The purpose of the Conference is to examine how far those aims have been realised, and what changes, if any, should be made in the future, but I hope that I may be allowed to say that the Conference, with all its difficulties, has done a most valuable work, and I feel that, at the end, the interchange of personal relations and discussions, not only in the full meetings but in private, have contributed something towards the ultimate solution of this very complicated question.

Mr. Callaghan

Is the Prime Minister aware that there will be general support for the procedure under which the resumption of the Federal Conference depends to some extent on the progress made in the two Territorial Conferences? May I ask him whether any progress has been made, or any proposals put forward in relation to an extended franchise or representation for the Africans in the Federal Assembly? Until that is done, is it not extremely unwise to make speeches about holding the Federation together by force? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no British troops will be committed to such a foolish enterprise?

The Prime Minister

I think that it would be much wiser to proceed, as we generally agreed at the end of the Conference, with the two territorial negotiations and discussions. If those make great progress—and I have hopes of it—we are then in a very much better position, if and when the Conference reconvenes, to take up such questions as the general franchise and the powers as between the Federation and the parts. I think that the course we have followed in all the difficulties is, on the whole, the right one.

Mr. Callaghan

Is the Prime Minister aware that I subscribe to what he says but, in that case, is it not doubly stupid to make speeches about using force in the Federation?

The Prime Minister

Of course, all kinds of speeches and all kinds of statements are made by people at different times. What we have tried to do is to bring together the greatest amount of agreement, and I think that we have had some success in that respect.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is it not clear from what the Prime Minister himself has said that any prospect of progress in the Federal Conference is really dependent on prior agreement on constitutional advance in Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia? Does he anticipate that there will be such discussions on constitutional advance in the Federation itself before the Conference resumes? Secondly, in view of its immense importance, are Her Majesty's Government to be represented at the discussions on constitutional advance in Southern Rhodesia?

The Prime Minister

With regard to the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations is to answer a Question on Southern Rhodesia tomorrow, and I prefer to leave it to him. With regard to the first part of his supplementary question, we feel that the Federal Conference and the Territorial Conferences are very closely inter-related. The next step is the one we decided on; first, to make what progress we can in the two Territorial Conferences and then, in the light of that, to discuss the reconvening of the other Conference, or other negotiations that might take place in regard to the Federal question.

Mr. Dugdale

Can the Prime Minister say what kind of progress he is expecting in the Territorial Conferences? How much progress has there to be before the other talks begin—or has he not been able to discover quite how they are proceeding?

The Prime Minister

I do not think that if I went beyond what I have said I would be helping what we hope to do.