HC Deb 17 May 1960 vol 623 cc1097-101
42. Mr. Marquand

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the conclusion of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

48. Mr. Grimond

asked the Prime Minister what agreement was reached with the Commonwealth Prime Ministers at their recent conference on a Commonwealth policy towards the Common Market.

49. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to make a statement in the House on the deliberations and decisions of the Prime Ministers' Commonwealth Conference.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have been asked to reply.

I would refer to the communiqués issued during and at the end of the meeting.

Mr. Marquand

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these conclusions of the Prime Ministers' Conference are of historic importance because they evidently took full account of the resolution passed by this House on 8th April concerning the policy in South Africa? Is he further aware that the final sentence in the statement gave very general satisfaction? The statement said: The Ministers emphasised that the Commonwealth itself is a multi-racial association and expressed the need to ensure good relations between all member States and peoples of the Commonwealth. Would it not be a complete disregard of that resolution of the Prime Ministers if Her Majesty's Government were now to accede to any request by the Union of South Africa to return refugees who sought refuge in Bechuanaland and the other Protectorates?

Mr. Butler

I think that the last point, although obviously one of vital importance, should not be answered on this occasion, but should be answered on a specific occasion, because its implications are being studied at the moment by my right hon. Friend and myself. In relation to the right hon. Gentleman's reference to the communiqué, I am glad to have his support, and I do not doubt that of many other right hon. and hon. Members, for the general line adopted by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. It is at least satisfactory to feel that we have the endorsement of the House in this matter.

Mr. Grimond

As the reference to the Common Market was some vague general observation, and as we were told earlier this afternoon by the President of the Board of Trade that he still does not know the objections of the Six to the Free Trade Area, can the Home Secretary give us any indication that there is a Commonwealth policy towards the very important subject of the Common Market in Europe?

Mr. Butler

There is a specific reference to this in the communiqué, backing any policy following the principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. A reminder of what European countries can do for overseas countries is set out in the communiqué, and I do not think that I can usefully add to it, since it has been agreed by the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth countries.

Mr. Shinwell

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will confirm or deny the reports that there was a considerable discussion of the promotion of economic development throughout the Commonwealth? As this is of vital importance for the United Kingdom and all the Commonwealth countries, is it not desirable, in addition to the communiqué— which everybody knows is a very thin affair—that the House and country should be informed of what transpired at the Conference, and what is likely to be the policy of the Commonwealth?

Mr. Butler

The right hon. Gentleman is correct in saying that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers attached importance to the question of overseas development, which is vital to the future of the Commonwealth, and its peoples, but I cannot enlarge upon a communiqué agreed by representatives in the form of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers and the President of Pakistan. I cannot add anything more on my own responsibility.

Mr. Marquand

In view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said about the last part of my Question, will he consult his hon. Friend the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations about the desirability of making a statement on this subject on Thursday?

Mr. Butler

Yes. I undertake to consult my noble Friend and my hon. Friend the Minister of State.

Mr. Gaitskell

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that, pending that statement, no action will be taken to send back those who have escaped to other territories?

Mr. Butler

While not wishing to give a final answer on that matter, I would not have thought that there was a great possibility of such an occurrence within the time suggested by the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough. East (Mr. Marquand).

Mr. Gaitskell

I should like to ask a question arising out of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' statement. My right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) drew attention to the importance of Commonwealth economic development. There is a specific reference to some kind of new initiative. Can the right hon. Gentleman say what intention Her Majesty's Government have of pursuing this matter further? Is it the case that a new so-called Colombo Plan will be developed for Africa? Can we be given some idea how things will proceed in this direction?

Mr. Butler

I would not like to call it exactly a Colombo Plan, but the Ministers concerned have asked that this matter shall be further studied immediately after their departure, and that it shall be kept alive.

Sir G. Nicholson

As it is obvious that this was an historic communiqué, in which many subjects of vital importance to the future of the Commonwealth were raised but were not settled by the Conference, can my right hon. Friend enlarge a little upon what sort of follow-up there will be to the Conference, in order to deal with the many tremendous problems created and the tremendous opportunities opened up?

Mr. Butler

There is the normal machinery of studying these questions through the High Commissioners, both here and overseas, and there is also the financial and economic machinery first thought of in the early 1950s and since brought to perfection under the Chancellorship of my right hon. Friend, which follows up the financial and economic aspects of the problems of the Commonwealth. These matters will be followed up in both these ways. If my hon. Friend will turn to the communiqué, he will see that machinery has been set up to follow up the constitutional implications created by certain nations which have achieved or may be considering Republican status. In these three ways—economically, financially, and constitutionally —as well as generally, these matters will be followed up.

Mr. Shinwell

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise by what he has said and from the questions asked about the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, that hon. and right hon. Members on both sides of the House want to know a little more about what transpired? We want to know more about what will happen in future. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider at any rate issuing a White Paper dealing with the possibility of economic development in the Commonwealth?

Mr. Butler

That presents rather a different constitutional problem, because this was a communiqué agreed by all the Commonwealth Prime Ministers. It will be difficult to issue a unilateral statement, but if any further explanation can be given, by United Kingdom Ministers it will be given, in order to illustrate the value of this Conference and its far-reaching effects.