§ 41. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Prime Minister whether he will make representations to President Kennedy about the intervention of United States officials in the affairs of territories for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible, in view of the recent activities of Mr. Mennen Williams, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, during his visit to British territories in Africa.
§ 42. Mr. Fellasked the Prime Minister whether he will make representations to President Kennedy about the interference by Mr. G. Mennen Williams, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, in Her Majesty's Government's colonial and Commonwealth affairs in Africa, during his tour of British Colonial Territories.
§ 49. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister what representations he has made to President Kennedy about the visit to British territories in Africa by Mr. Mennen Williams, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
§ The Prime MinisterI have made no representations to President Kennedy about this affair, and I do not think that any are really necessary.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs my right hon. Friend aware that many of the utterances of Mr. Mennen Williams are so much soap down the drain? Is he further aware that Mr. Mennen Williams is not really to be blamed in view of President Kennedy's rather insulting pledge, given in his inaugural address, that
one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny"?Will my right hon. Friend tell President Kennedy that British colonial rule is not, and has not been, tyrannical and that Europeans in Africa are not expendable in the interests of American economic expansion?
§ The Prime MinisterWhile not accepting the implications of my hon. Friend's question, I tried to the best of my ability to put a defence of the long and splendid story of Britain's expansion overseas when I spoke to the United Nations in September last.
§ Mr. FellWhilst I realise my right hon. Friend's difficulty on this subject, nevertheless it is surely the fact that the people of this country feel that Mr. Mennen Williams insulted Britain by what he said in Africa, particularly as some of his statements were made in a British territory while an election was in progress. Will not the Prime Minister reconsider taking up the matter directly with President Kennedy and ensuring that there are consultations before the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs embarks upon some new American policy sponsored by President Kennedy?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have to take a balanced view of these affairs. Foreign travel is full of pitfalls, as we all know. I shall shortly have an opportunity of discussing these matters in a friendly, personal way with the President.
§ Mr. StonehouseWhilst not wanting to interfere in the Conservative Party brawl, may I ask the Prime Minister to disregard the ill-conceived advice of his lukewarm friends below the Gangway and take up with our friends in the United States the possibility of their giving a real contribution in economic development, so that some of the positive ideas in Mr. Williams's speech can be developed?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful for that suggestion. I would not inquire too deeply whether it has a multilateralist, unilateralist or any other basis.
§ Sir G. NicholsonIs it not a fact that last night Mr. Dean Rusk paid a great tribute to British colonial policy?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, I understand so.
§ Mr. FellTo borrow the brilliant phraseology of my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary, it is more in pain than in anger that I tell the Prime Minister that I shall try to raise this matter on the Adjournment—
§ Mr. LiptonIn view of what?