§ 49. Mr. Donnellyasked the Prime Minister what is the nature of his latest communication to Sir Roy Welensky regarding the Northern Rhodesian constitutional conference; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterCommunications between Commonwealth Prime Ministers are confidential. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be making a statement after Questions today.
§ Mr. DonnellyNotwithstanding the statement at the end of Questions, the Prime Minister is the man whose policies and position are on trial at the moment in Africa. Why has his wind of change now become a change of wind?
§ The Prime MinisterWhen the House has heard the Colonial Secretary's statement, I think that the hon. Member will. perhaps, take a rather more generous view of the matter.
§ Mr. GaitskellMay we take it that the statement will cover not merely the proposals of the Government for an extension of the franchise in Northern Rhodesia but the whole situation in the last few weeks in which, on the one hand, Sir Roy Welensky's Party boycotted the Conference and, on the other hand, the Prime Minister seemed to be having back-stage or back-door negotiations with a member of Sir Roy Welensky's Cabinet?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. Any Commonwealth Prime Minister has a 314 perfect right to communicate with me on any subject.
§ Mr. GaitskellIf that is the case, why does not the right hon. Gentleman answer my hon. Friend's question instead of referring him to a statement which evidently will not answer it?
§ The Prime MinisterWhile any Prime Minister has the right to communicate with me on any subject, he has also the right to expect that I should keep private conversations confidential.