§ Q3. Mr. J. Hyndasked the Prime Minister if he will seek toconvene a meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers for the purpose of discussing the question of Southern Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. HyndHas the Prime Minister noted that his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is consulting the Commonwealth on economic matters? Why should not the Commonwealth be consulted on political matters, particularly on one of such major importance as this and one which is becoming highly dangerous in view of the threats which have been made of precipitate action for independence before the Constitution is settled?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Question dealt not with consultation but with calling a conference of Prime Ministers for a particular purpose.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs the Prime Minister aware that, when I suggested in the debate on the Queen's Speech that there should be a meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers to discuss this matter, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations said that this was worth considering and suggested that he might put the proposition to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers? Has nothing been done about that?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman knows that my right hon. Friend is in touch with the Commonwealth Prime Ministers and others on this, but the Question referred to a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' conference called for this purpose. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, when a new member is admitted to the Commonwealth, this question or questions like it appear on the agenda.
§ Mr. WallWill my right hon. Friend agree that, while members of the Commonwealth have every right to be consulted about membership, the matter of independence is wholly one between Her Majesty's Government here and the Commonwealth country concerned?
Mr. H. WilsonWhile it is probably wrong to call a special meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers for one subject, will not the Prime Minister agree that the time is well overdue now for a conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers to discuss Commonwealth trade and economic development, in view of the shock to the Commonwealth of this Government's Common Market policy and the very serious conference held in September, 1962? Would it not be pos- 976 sible at such a conference to consider this among a number of other issues?
§ The Prime MinisterIt might be so. I do not know what the timing of a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' conference might be. It is for all the Prime Ministers to decide whether, or when, they hold a conference. This might be or might not be on such an agenda. I cannot tell.
Mr. WilsonWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us clearly whether he has taken the initiative, since he became Prime Minister, in discussions with the Commonwealth with a view to holding an early meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers?
§ The Prime MinisterWhen I think that the time is right to take an initiative, I shall take it.