HC Deb 28 July 1960 vol 627 cc1835-7
3. Mr. Marquand

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations on what conditions special permits are issued to refugees under the terms of Section 6A of the Swaziland Immigration (Amendment) Proclamation, 1960.

8. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations what restrictions are placed on political refugees from South Africa as a condition of their residence in the High Commission territories.

Mr. Alport

The High Commissioner has, with the Secretary of State's approval, made the issue of special residence permits in Swaziland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate conditional on their holders not taking an active part in politics. This condition does not, however, preclude membership of a political party or the registering of a vote. In Basutoland immigration is a matter for the Basutoland National Council. I understand, however, that a similar condition is being applied in Basutoland to the grant of residence permits to political refugees.

Mr. Marquand

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is now imposing in a British administered territory conditions on political refugees which have never been imposed in all our history in this country and which run quite contrary to all our best traditions of freedom of speech, political asylum and the rule of law? May I ask him, in particular, whether he has any complaints against the conduct of the refugees while they have been there, whether these conditions will prevent them from replying to personal attacks on them which have appeared in newspapers in Swaziland and whether they will be permitted, so far as they can, to agitate within the Union of South Africa for the release of their relatives who are still in detention?

Mr. Alport

I am sure that this does not in any way preclude them from making the proper reply to any attacks that may be made on them. As to the nature of the restrictions, I think that the right hon. Gentleman, from what he has said, will realise that the political refugees themselves appreciate the importance of not involving themselves in high political controversy when they are in the Protectorates. I would think that the right hon. Gentleman and other hon. Members who are concerned with this would also agree that it is most important that the interests of the inhabitants of these Protectorates should be considered first, and in so far as these Protectorates are closely concerned in the problems of their neighbouring territories, I do not think that the proviso that the High Commissioner has made with the Secretary of State's approval is in any way inappropriate to the particular circumstances in which they find themselves.

Mr. Marquand

Would it be a correct summary of all that to say that, because we have a police State in South Africa we now have to have a semi-police State in a British protected territory?

Mr. Alport

The right hon. Gentleman is drawing a quite improper parallel. There is not a police State in any of the High Commission territories, as he knows. I must confess that I think that the way in which the people of Basutoland, Swaziland and Bechuanaland have helped and given shelter to the refugees is an indication of their sincerity and good spirit in the matter, and, therefore, I think that the interests of the inhabitants should be borne in mind by hon. Members.