§ 44. Mr. Marquandasked the Prime Minister when he received a letter from Mr. Takawira, of the National Democratic Party of Southern Rhodesia, requesting an interview about the proposed new constitution of that territory; and what reply he gave.
§ The Prime MinisterI received a letter from Mr. Takawira on 20th June, requesting an interview about the proposed new constitution for Southern Rhodesia. The reply sent on my behalf was that, as the matter he wished to discuss lay within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, I should be glad if he would put to him any representations that he wished to make.
§ Mr. MarquandIs the Prime Minister aware that African opinion as represented by this substantial party in Southern Rhodesia deeply distrusts the agreement which has been negotiated by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and that now that they fear that their last chance of appeal to the Queen as their protector may be going they are asking him as the main Minister of Her Majesty to see them? Will he put protocol on one side and reconsider this decision?
§ The Prime MinisterThe representatives of the National Democratic Party were recently received in Salisbury by my right hon. Friend. As he explained to the House, they did not feel disposed to add anything to the views they had already expressed. I think that it is right that in general all matters for which Ministers have responsibility should be dealt with by them. I certainly have to make it clear that if I, as I sometimes do, receive deputations of a wider kind, I should not do so except accompanied by my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. MarquandI thank the Prime Minister for that advance towards my position. If a substantial and represen- 660 tative deputation from the Africans of Southern Rhodesia seeks to see him at the time of his right hon. Friend's return from his Commonwealth journeys, will he consider receiving it along with his right hon. Friend?
§ The Prime MinisterI will discuss it with my right hon. Friend. No discourtesy was meant. The matter had been handled in Salisbury. These gentlemen have seen my right hon. Friend. What I was not prepared to do was to meet anybody on the basis that they had a distrust of my colleagues, because I have confidence in them.