HC Deb 06 June 1961 vol 641 cc869-70
23. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the official discussions which took place between delegations from Tanganyika, led by the Minister of Education, and Ruanda-Urundi, led by the King of Ruanda, Mwami Kigoli, which resulted in a joint appeal to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations to permit the federation of the two territories.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Hugh Fraser)

After a visit to Dar es Salaam in April, the Mwami of Ruanda and the Crown Prince of Urundi issued a statement supporting the idea of a federation; but there were no official discussions with the Tanganyika Government.

Mr. Brockway

First, will the hon. Gentleman express to the Secretary of State our sympathy in his illness? We hope that he will soon return to the House. With regard to the Question, is it not the case that the Minister of Education in the Tanganyika Government led the delegation from Tanganyika, and will the Government give the fullest possible support to this proposal in the United Nations as a first step in the realisation of Julius Nyerere's imaginative idea of a federation for East and Central Africa?

Mr. Fraser

I must recall what Mr. Nyerere said on this matter. He would certainly welcome federation with Ruanda-Urundi, but the desire for it must come from the people themselves. This remains the attitude of Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. F. Noel-Baker

While we understand the Government's desire not to embarrass the Belgian Government, although we on this side do not sympathise with them—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—we do not sympathise with them and hope that the Belgian mandate will be terminated as soon as possible—surely the hon. Gentleman is aware of the very strong feeling in Tanganyika Government circles and elsewhere in East Africa that a union with Ruanda-Urundi would be an excellent basis for a growing East African federation of free States.

Mr. Fraser

The whole object of my right hon. Friend is not to embarrass Mr. Nyerere in any way by intervention. It is a question, not of the Belgian Government, but of being of assistance to Mr. Nyerere in his views.