§ 8. Mr. R. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the agreement between the Federation of South Arabia and the Colony of Aden signed on 17th May, 1962.
§ Mr. H. FraserI refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) on 3rd July, to which I have nothing to add at present.
§ Mr. EdwardsI read that reply with close attention. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Education, Mr. Abdullah Sa'idi, was forced to resign by the Governor because he declined to sign this agreement? Will he realise that, unless this calculated secrecy is broken, there will be grave disturbances in Aden because of this agreement which everyone seems to be treating as secret? Further, is he aware that the agreement has not even been discussed by the Legislative Council?
§ Mr. FraserAs has been explained to the House before, once these provisional talks have taken place between my right hon. Friend and the representative of the Aden Government and the Government of the Federation, there will, after publication, be full discussions in the Aden Legislature and with interested parties in Aden and, at the appropriate time, in this House. I refer the hon. Gentleman to Question No. 13 which deals with the Minister of Education.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonI welcome the fact that these informal talks later this month are of a provisional nature, but can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no new constitutional arrangements will be made linking Aden Colony with the Federation of South Arabia without full opportunity for this House to discuss the matter or without full opportunity for the people of Aden to express their views on the issue?
§ Mr. FraserAs I have said, there will be debates in Aden. There will be debates in the Federal Council and, of course, the House also will have the opportunity to discuss these matters.