HC Deb 10 February 1960 vol 617 cc460-3
45. Mr. Marquand

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the declared policy of the Government of Southern Rhodesia that the whole question of the Colony's participation in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland may in certain circumstances be submitted to a referendum, he will take steps to revise the terms of reference of the Monckton Commission.

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

I have been asked to reply.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Flint, East (Mrs. White).

Mr. Marquand

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have read that Answer? As he must be aware also, the people of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia have always wanted the possibility of Federation to be considered by the Commission. As the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia has now made the threat of secession which I quote in my Question, may I take it that the right hon. Gentleman's Answer means that, in the Government's opinion, it will be open to the Monckton Commission to consider the possibility of secession?

Mr. Butler

I can only refer to the evidence to be given before the Commission. I cannot refer to its conclusions, which must be a matter for the Commission, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on 24th November that the Commission will be free to hear views from whatever quarter and on whatever subject."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th November, 1959; Vol. 614, c. 208.] But we thought it right to give the Commission terms of reference which would accord with what we regard as the objects of the 1960 review.

Mr. Marquand

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the winds of change have been blowing so fast in the last few weeks that clearly the Commission will be wasting its time if it does not consider secession?

Mr. Butler

I cannot add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend, both in this House and in Africa. I think that there is a very great task for the Monckton Commission to perform.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is it not becoming increasingly clear, especially in the light of the statements of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, that the conditions under which Southern Rhodesia says that it will remain in the Federation are likely to be unacceptable to Her Majesty's Government, who are responsible for Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland? In view of that, would it not be far better to consider now alternatives to federation—some looser forms of association?

Mr. Butler

I cannot alter the terms of reference of the Monckton Commission, nor the statements in reference to the Northern Territories, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, made in the Prime Minister's speech in Salisbury on 19th January. Also, having studied the complete text of the speech of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, I do not think that any final positions have been taken up.

Mr. Gaitskell

Does the right hon. Gentleman take the view that, while Southern Rhodesia is free to secede from the Federation, this is not the case with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. The position is exactly as follows. The references to the future in regard to Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland are included in the Prime Minister's speech in Salisbury on 19th January. When Sir Edgar Whitehead was speaking, he was referring to any agreement resulting from the forthcoming conference. He was not taking up any final position, nor have we had any official interchanges with him.