§ Q1. Mr. Chapmanasked the Prime Minister whether he approached other Commonwealth Prime Ministers with the suggestion of a full conference on migration in the Commonwealth before deciding to introduce legislation limiting migration to Britain.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)No, Sir. It seemed better to approach other Commonwealth Governments through the normal diplomatic channels.
§ Mr. ChapmanWould it not have been advisable to have tried to get voluntary agreement with the Commonwealth on this issue? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a telegram that I have with me the Prime Minister of Jamaica has made it clear that he did not receive the courtesy of any consultation on the content of this Bill? What is the Commonwealth going to be reduced to if Commonwealth Premiers have to confess their embarrassment at being treated in this way by the British Prime Minister?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Question relates to a full Commonwealth conference, which I assume means that a conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers should be summoned. We have continuous consultation and exchanges with Commonwealth Governments on many matters, and on this matter also, but of course in this case the Premier of Jamaica would not have attended a Prime Minister's conference.
§ Mr. GaitskellWould not the Prime Minister agree that the withdrawal of the right of free entry of Commonwealth citizens to this country is a very vital change in the whole situation of the Commonwealth? Does it not occur to the right hon. Gentleman that it would have been advisable to have had this matter discussed fully at a Prime Ministers' conference, bringing into it, if it was desirable, the Prime Ministers of Colonies about to obtain their independence, before any decision was taken upon it? Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this matter affects not 189 only Jamaica but every country in the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, of course, but I do not think it was really practicable, in view of the large number of questions which come up, to say that we can only deal with this matter in a Prime Ministers' conference. We have the closest consultation all the time on a large number of matters, including this one. I think it would merely hamper co-operation if we could not deal with questions except by a Prime Ministers' conference. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, there is the very big question involved of calling and finding the right day for a Prime Ministers' conference.
§ Sir C. OsborneWould not my right hon. Friend agree that the Prime Ministers of Australia, New Zealand and Canada would find it very embarrassing to be called to give advice on this subject when they themselves have got far greater restrictions than we are proposing to impose? Would not my right hon. Friend also agree that the other Prime Ministers are exporters of migration and, therefore, have a biassed point of view on the subject?
§ The Prime MinisterConsultation goes on all the time. We gave notice some time before we discussed this matter that we were going to deal with it. It must go on all the time and cannot be reserved merely for Prime Ministers' conferences. A number of questions of detail have to be worked out between ourselves and other Commonwealth Governments before the Bill, if passed, can be put into operation.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this reply is totally unconvincing? Is he also aware that some of us at least regard the right of free entry to the mother country as of very special importance to the Commonwealth and not to be dismissed merely because certain other Commonwealth countries do not apply the same principle in every case? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that it would be extremely desirable that these matters should not only be discussed but, as far as possible, agreed with the leading citizens of the Commonwealth, notably the Prime Ministers, before a step of this kind is taken? Will he please reconsider 190 the whole matter, even at this late stage, in order to try to reach agreement within the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterOn the principle of the Bill, I would have preferred to have had a longer period for consultation, but we took the normal steps and I am bound to say that, owing to the rapid increase in the number of immigrants, the introduction of the Bill, in our view, became a matter of urgency. As to its application, there will be continued consultation on the details. However, the matter has got to be discussed the day after tomorrow, and I should like it to rest there for the moment.
§ Mr. C. RoyleIn view of what the Prime Minister has said about the Prime Minister of Jamaica not being called into consultation, is he aware that I have had a letter from the Prime Minister of the Federation, Sir Grantley Adams, in which he tells me that he was merely informed of the Government's intention to introduce this legislation and, further, that the Government asked him to keep it as something confidential, so that he could not publish the protest which he had made to Her Majesty's Government? Is this the way to treat a loyal member of the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not know the details of this, but I know that I myself, when I was in the West Indies, discussed the question in March and warned them that it might be necessary for the British Government to deal with the matter and, some weeks before the decision was announced, all the Commonwealth countries were informed.
§ Mr. GaitskellDoes the Prime Minister realise that what he has just said about himself not being fully informed on the details of the matter is really an astonishing statement? Does he not appreciate that we expect the Prime Minister of this country, before taking a step of this importance, to familiarise himself with the details? Why is he proceeding with such indecent haste? Is it just because of the Tory Party conference?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman is trying to read into what I said what I did not say. I said that I was not informed of the correspondence 191 which had passed between the Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation and a private Member of the House.