HC Deb 13 March 1962 vol 655 c1109
24. Mr. Healey

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on his official talks with the Minister of Law of the Central African Federation.

Mr. Maudling

Mr. Greenfield was present when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and I met Sir Roy Welensky and Sir Edgar Whitehead on 1st March; but, apart from this, I have had no official talks with him.

Mr. Healey

In view of the fact that the Colonial Secretary admitted earlier in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle) that he did not know whether or not Mr. Greenfield's threat to adopt unconstitutional action on hard lines to preserve the Federation were authentic or not, may I ask him why he did not take this opportunity to ask Mr. Greenfield himself, in view of the fact that he occupies, ironically enough, the position of Minister of Law in the Federation, and has, presumably, taken an oath of loyalty to the Queen?

Mr. Maudling

I have the impression that the report in question appeared in the Press after I saw Mr. Greenfield.

Mr. Healey

With respect, the report in question was referred to in this House by my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) a week after the conference took place.

Mr. Maudling

The report I have been referring to was the one in the Guardian of 6th March and, as I said, I saw Mr. Greenfield on 1st March.