§ 8. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what facilities w
ill be offered in Bechuanaland to the mission which the United Nations General Assembly has authorised to visit South West Africa.
§ Mr. BraineThe South West Africa Committee have requested transport and accommodation facilities in the Maun area of the Bechuanaland Protectorate and we have asked the Administration of the Bechuanaland Protectorate to do their best to meet the Committee's requirements, despite the difficulties of providing facilities in that remote area.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhile welcoming that reply, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he would consider going a little further? Is he aware that the Government of the Union have said that this mission will not be accepted in South West Africa? Is he aware that there is an airstrip just inside the Bechuanaland border where the D.C.3 aircraft could land if it were not allowed to land in South West Africa? Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that the Herero tribes are evicted into Bechuanaland, that witnesses could be obtained there, and that it would be possible for the mission to obtain a good deal of evidence if it is not allowed into South West Africa itself?
§ Mr. BraineSo far we have accepted the two requests that the Committee has made to us. If it makes further requests to us for facilities, I am sure that we would look at them with sympathy.