§ 15. Mr. Healeyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will amend the Entrance and Residence Proclamations of Bechuanaland and of Basutoland to ensure that bona fide political refugees from the Republic of South Africa are given secure political asylum, and that agents of the South Africa police are refused entrance.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir. I think we should leave to the inhabitants of Basutoland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate, in accordance with the Constitutions of those territories, the initiative in deciding whether to amend their immigration laws. So far as I am aware these laws are not unsatisfactory
§ Mr. HealeyWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the recent case of Mrs. Mafeking underlines the need to amend these declarations in order to 669 give bona fide political refugees greater security than they evidently have at present in these Protectorates?
§ Mr. MaudlingAs far as I can recall offhand, that case is still subject to appeal and it would be wrong for me to comment on it. But it seems to me that in general the provisions are satisfactory.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the right hon. Gentleman really satisfied? Is he not aware that many of us are receiving a considerable number of letters, particularly from Basutoland? Is it not the case that refugees from the Republic of South Africa who are there have no security and no guarantee about being allowed to remain there? Is it not often the case that the interference which they suffer is an aristocratic traditional interference rather than something representing the mind of the people of Basutoland?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not think I would accept that. If the hon. Member has letters from people. I shall be glad to examine them if he will send them to me.