HC Deb 02 March 1961 vol 635 c1730
7. Mr. Fell

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the improvement of relations with the Government of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sandys

It is, naturally, the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain the closest possible relations with the Federal Government.

Mr. Fell

Does my right hon. Friend really think that, having been warned by the Colonial Secretary at the beginning of the Rhodesian debate that it was important to choose his words very carefully, his later violent attack upon Sir Roy Welensky, a British Commonwealth Prime Minister, contributed in any way to furthering friendly relations with the Federation, and will he, if he must tilt at windmills, at least do it at the expense of our enemies rather than of our friends?

Mr. Sandys

I think my hon. Friend has been reading the headlines in the newspapers rather than what I said. It was more in pain than in anger that I spoke, and I am not at all sure that those remarks I made were not very opportune.