HC Deb 28 February 1961 vol 635 cc1367-8
40. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the conference on the future of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 20th December last.

Mr. Stonehouse

Will the federal talks be resumed if Sir Roy Welensky continues in his attempts to undermine the new constitution for Northern Rhodesia?

The Prime Minister

I hope that it will be possible to resume the federal talks, but, as I then said, it is not yet possible to set a date.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, as was made apparent on television last night, Sir Roy Welensky is coming to this country in a spirit of the utmost good will towards the British people, and will my right hon. Friend respond?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. I have every hope that we shall be able to proceed with the programme. The first idea was to try to settle the provincial constitutions and then proceed to the federal problem, and I have every hope that, with good will on all sides, that can be done.

Mr. Gaitskell

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is no point in continuing with conferences on the Federation before there is proper African representation as a result of the forthcoming elections in Nyasaland and the settling of a new constitution for Northern Rhodesia?

The Prime Minister

What I said before was that we would reconvene in the New Year on a date to be decided by the Government in the light of progress made on the talks on the constitutions of Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia.

Mr. Thorpe

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that a new situation has arisen since 20th December with the breakdown of the Northern Rhodesian talks and the rejection of the Southern Rhodesian constitution? Does he not agree that settlement of the territorial problems is a condition precedent to success in the federal talks and that it is vital to have agreement on the territorial constitutions before proceeding to the federal problem?

The Prime Minister

I have said that we would consider the federal problem in the light of progress made in the territorial discussions.

Mr. Wall

Will my right hon. Friend agree that too great a weighting of the scales in Northern Rhodesia could well destroy the Federation?

The Prime Minister

As we all know, this is a very difficult and delicate matter, but it would be wrong to give up hope of reaching agreement and making progress on a good basis.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us are delighted with the stand he is taking against Sir Roy Welensky's demands and that we hope that he will continue in that stand and not be defeated by Sir Roy Welensky's pressure?

The Prime Minister

I repeat that think it the duty of the Government to try to be fair and just and honourable, but it is also our duty to try to get the maximum agreement, because without that everything else we look for will fail.