§ 32. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his discussions with Mr. Ronald Ngala and Mr. Derek Erskine, Members of the Kenya Legislative Council, and his reply to their request for the release of Mr. Jomo Kenyatta.
§ Mr. H. FraserMy right hon. Friend's discussions ranged over the general political situation in Kenya and in the context 965 of this he confirmed that he supported the line that the Governor had taken on Jomo Kenyatta in his statement of 1st March.
§ Mr. StonehouseWill the Minister ask the Colonial Secretary to respond to this evidence of European interest in the immediate release of Mr. Kenyatta and release him forthwith? If he cannot do that, can he answer this question? Was an assurance given that if one or other of the political parties participated in a new Administration Mr. Kenyatta would be admitted within a period of three months?
§ Mr. FraserNo assurances have been given. This is a question of negotiation, and the formation of a new Government in Kenya, between the Governor and various political representatives. I prefer that it should remain as I stated in my original statement. This was a private conversation about which I am not prepared to make any further comments.
§ Mr. F. M. BennettWould my hon. Friend agree that it is more important for all of us to try to concentrate on the formation of a stable Government in Kenya than to lend our support to the political clamour for the release of Jomo Kenyatta?
§ Mr. BrockwayCan the hon. Gentleman confirm the report which appears in The Times this morning—
§ Mr. SpeakerThat supplementary question is out of order, with respect to the hon Member.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I put it in another way?
§ Mr. SpeakerYes.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman can confirm the statements which have been made in Nairobi that a concession has been proposed?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat, equivalently, is out of order unless it is a statement for which the Minister is responsible.
§ Mr. CallaghanMay I ask the Under-Secretary a question about the formation of the Government and ask him please not to treat it as a private matter? Is it not a matter of the gravest consequence to the people of Kenya whether as a result of these conversations there is a further prospect of the formation of a stable 966 Government in that territory and, if not, what action do the Government propose to take?
§ Mr. FraserThe hon. Member should wait and see until we achieve a stable Government. This is the main objective. I suggest that at this stage any publicity of private conversations cannot be helpful to the interests of the people of Kenya or indeed those in this House.
§ Mr. BrockwayOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would I be permitted to put a supplementary question asking whether a statement is true or not?
§ Mr. SpeakerNo. The point, which I think the hon. Member understands and which I will explain to him privately if he wishes, is that an hon. Member cannot ask a Minister to confirm or do the opposite in relation to a statement for which he or the Government are not responsible.