HC Deb 12 April 1962 vol 657 cc1476-7
10. Mr. Healey

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Central African Office) what reply he has given to Sir John Moffat's request for assurances that Her Majesty's Government will oppose any proposal to partition Northern Rhodesia.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 29th March.

Mr. Healey

Could not the Home Secretary find it in him to make a rather more absolute reply to this suggestion? Does he not agree that the Monckton Commission was absolutely right in saying that any such proposal to separate from Northern Rhodesia those areas on which its economic prosperity would depend would be unjust and would certainly encounter the sort of opposition from the African population which would make organised Government in that territory impossible?

Mr. Butler

The Governor of Northern Rhodesia on returning home indicated the difficulties he saw in this solution from the point of view of Northern Rhodesia. He also quoted my words— The solution to be sought should be one that" can obtain general acceptance. I stand by that in all the decisions I make.