§ Q8. Mr. Wallasked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement about the result of his recent talks with the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to what I told the House in reply to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 20th February.
§ Mr. WallIn view of the statement made in Salisbury, can my right hon. Friend assure the House that the talks are continuing and will continue? Will he do his best to reach a compromise which, while giving Africa further political advance, will lead to the independence to which Southern Rhodesia is so manifestly entitled?
§ The Prime MinisterThis matter can only be settled by negotiation and conversations between our country and the Southern Rhodesian Government.
§ Mr. BottomleyAs the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia has accepted the principle of African majority rule, would the Prime Minister urge him to consider speeding up the process so that harmony and good will may exist among all maces?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that I, like the right hon. Gentleman, would wish to see a negotiated settlement of this matter. The present constitution contains the principle of majority rule. It is a matter of timing.
§ Mr. BrockwayAs the right hon. Gentleman, in the reply to which he referred, said that it would be best to leave this matter to negotiation by himself and the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and as the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia stated yesterday that he did not consider any further negotiations would be useful, what is to be the policy of Her Majesty's Government now?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia said that he did not feel that he should initiate any more conversations. There are two opinions as to whether further conversations can be useful. I hope he will agree that they will be.