§ 17. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given to the request from the Government of Tanganyika that official Portuguese representation be now required to withdraw from that territory.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe formal request from the Tanganyika Government has only just been received, and no reply has yet been sent.
§ Mr. ThomsonWill the Secretary of State consider his reply to this request very carefully? We appreciate his difficulties in the matter, but will he use this very strong expression of view from one of the finest leaders of African nationalism and one of the best friends of this country to persuade his colleagues in the Government of the folly of policies at the United Nations and elsewhere which appear to condone repressive Portuguese colonial policies?
§ Mr. MacleodThat is a wider question. Mr. Nyerere will be in this country in a day or two. I shall, of course, be seeing him, and, no doubt, we shall discuss this and other matters. Normally, of course, the fact that one disagrees 183 with the policy of another Government is not—rightly so, in my view—regarded as a reason for breaking off diplomatic relations.