§ 58. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Prime Minister what assurances he was asked for by, and gave to, the people of the Protectorate Territories of Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland during his recent visit, concerning the future position of those Territories within the Commonwealth.
§ The Prime MinisterI was not asked to give assurances regarding the future position of Basutoland, the Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland within the Commonwealth. But I made it plain during my visit that Her Majesty's Government stand firm by the statement made in this House by my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) on 13th April, 1954.
§ Mr. HyndMay we take it that the absence of any request for such assurances is sufficient evidence of the confidence of the people of these Territories in the statements which have already been made?
§ The Prime MinisterThere was no particular request at the meeting we had but I stated it I think in Francistown when I was there, in one of the Territories, and at Press conferences at Pretoria and Cape Town. In Pretoria I read out to a Press conference the text of my right hon. Friend's statement.