Constitution

HC Deb 11 April 1961 vol 638 cc12-3

16. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on constitutional progress in Tanganyika.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I presided at a successful Constitutional Conference with the Government of Tanganyika in Dares Salaam. It concluded on 29th March with an agreement that full internal self-government should be introduced on 1st May this year and that Tanganyika should be independent on 28th December. I am arranging for the text of the final communiqué to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A fuller report will be circulated as a White Paper.

Mr. Brockway

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all hon. Members will wish to congratulate him upon this agreement and also to congratulate Mr. Julius Nyerere, the Chief Minister of Tanganyika? Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement by Mr. Nyerere that he proposes that Tanganyika, when it becomes independent, should totally disarm, because arms would be useless against the great Powers and would be wrong against other Africans? Will he give the greatest encouragement to Mr. Nyerere, as an example not only to Africa but to the world?

Mr. Macleod

Although many people were involved, the true credit belongs essentially to two men—Mr. Julius Nyerere and the Governor, Sir Richard Turnbull, who have acted magnificently in these years. On the second point, at meetings which we shall have at Ministerial level in June, we intend to discuss with the new Government of Tanganyika matters relating to defence, finance and other matters.

Mr. Snow

Will the right hon. Gentleman add to his praise the name of the late Sir Donald Cameron, whose great work in the early thirties laid the foundation for what has happened in Tanganyika?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, and also Lord Twining, to whom the Governor of Tanganyika and myself, on the date of the announcement, sent a joint telegram. There are many names, known and unknown, of people who have contributed to the very happy spirit which there is in Tanganyika. I wish it were the same everywhere else.

Mr. Callaghan

And also Arthur Creech Jones.

Following is the communiqué:

TANGANYIKA CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON DATE FOR INDEPENDENCE

The final session of the Tanganyika Constitutional Conference was held this morning (Wednesday, March 29, 1961) in Dares Salaam, with the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Iain Macleod) presiding. The following official communiqué was issued in Dares Salaam:— The Tanganyika Constitutional Conference, which began on Monday, March 27, concluded its deliberations this morning with agreement on all points." It proposed that details of the conference proceedings should be incorporated in a White Paper to be published in the United Kingdom and in a Government Paper to be presented to Tanganyika Legislative Council at the next meeting, beginning May 16. It agreed that at this stage the Governor, Deputy Governor and two official Ministers should no longer be members of the Council of Ministers, which should be renamed the Cabinet; the Conference further decided that the title "Chief Minister" should be changed to that of "Prime Minister" and that the Prime Minister should preside over the Cabinet. With the introduction of self-government, many of the powers now exercised by the Governor will disappear and, in general, the Governor will act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet. The Conference agreed that defence during this period should continue to be a reserved subject and that the Governor, while continuing to be responsible for external affairs, should arrange for Ministers to be increasingly associated with the exercise of responsibilities in these fields with a view to their transfer to ministerial hands on independence. It was decided that the Legislative Council should be renamed the National Assembly. The Conference agreed that the Public Service Commission should become executive two months after the introduction of internal self-government and that from that date the post of Deputy Governor, which was largely concerned with civil service matters, would be abolished. A post of Civil Secretary should be created. At the same time, the Public Service Commission would be reconstituted, appointments to it being made by the Governor in his discretion, but after consultation with the Prime Minister. It was also decided to create an executive Police Service Commission. It was agreed that a Judicial Service Commission should be established which would consist of the Chief Justice as Chairman, a serving judge of the High Court of Tanganyika, designated by the Governor and the chairman of the Public Service Commission. The principle of a compensation scheme for officers designated under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme was endorsed by the Conference. It was agreed that the main features of such a scheme must be decided and published before full internal self-government for Tanganyika is introduced. The Conference also recognised that there were other officers serving on overseas terms for whose interests appropriate provision would have to be made before independence, and took note that discussions about the form of such provision were being separately pursued. The Government of Tanganyika expressed its desire to continue participation in the common services provided by the East Africa High Commission and is considering ways in which this can be done in a manner compatible with the country's sovereignty. The opportunity was taken to review a number of other matters which would have to be covered in the independence Constitution as well as financial matters and defence forces. It was agreed that further discussions on these topics would take place in London in the second half of June. High Commission matters would be discussed at the same time, if this was acceptable to the other Governments concerned. The Conference agreed that the date for the introduction of full internal self-government should be May 1, 1961. It further agreed that the date of independence should be December 28, 1961, and that Her Majesty's Government should introduce a resolution at the United Nations proposing the termination of the Trusteeship Agreement at this date. The Tanganyika Government reaffirmed its intention to apply for membership of the Commonwealth. The Secretary of State welcomed this and said, in reply, that Her Majesty's Government would be very glad to sponsor its application. The Conference declared their faith that the close and friendly ties between the two countries, which were ensuring smooth and rapid progress to independence, would be continued in the future between an independent Tanganyika and the United Kingdom.

March 29, 1961.