§ 36. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies if he will make a statement about the proposed constitutional conference for the South Arabian Federation.
§ Mr. SandysThe conference of which I gave particulars to the House on 14th May will open at Lancaster House on 9th June.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs it intended to invite the political leaders of Aden Colony, particularly remembering that possibly after the election they will be in control?
§ Mr. SandysI think that the right hon. Member will have seen the statement I made a little time ago on this question explaining why we were confining the conference to the representatives of Governments.
§ Mr. BottomleyAs a result of representations made from this side of the House, will the right hon. Gentleman give the matter further consideration with a view to inviting the political leaders of Aden Colony?
§ Mr. SandysI am always happy to receive representations from the party opposite.
§ Mr. W. YatesWhat were the reasons my right hon. Friend advanced for not holding an election in Aden and the area to decide who are the proper political leaders? What made him decide not to hold a general election in advance of the conference? What advantage is there in having a conference of people who are not properly elected?
§ Mr. SandysThat, of course, is quite a different question.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonWill the right hon. Gentleman consider raising the state of emergency in the Colony of Aden while his hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State is there holding consultations with the various political groups?
§ Mr. SandysI was in Aden myself the other day. I must say that no one would know that there was a state of emergency there. It does not interfere with normal life. All the people who would wish to be consulted or invited to such meetings are freely available to express their opinions.
§ Mr. BrockwayWill the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision to limit representation at this conference to representatives of Governments? Would it not be possible to bring to the conference representatives of the very popular People's Socialist Party in Aden? [Interruption.] Yes, the dominant party. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he believes that any solution of this problem is possible unless he confers with the representatives of the popular movements in the area?
§ Sir C. OsborneAs they do in Ghana?
§ Mr. SandysWe have already to accommodate around the table the representatives of 14 different States. That is going to be quite difficult enough. If we enlarged the conference and included outside elements from all those States we should have a conference which would be quite unmanageable. When I was in Aden the other day I had a long meeting with representatives of all the main political parties, including the P.S.P., in which the hon. Member is interested. I am fully aware of their views on all these questions.
§ Mr. BottomleyAm I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. G. M. Thomson) that it is possible for political meetings to be held in Aden? If not, why not?
§ Mr. SandysThe position is that while the state of emergency is on political meetings are not permitted. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] When I said that I had 916 a meeting I meant a private meeting. As the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, East (Mr. Bottomley) knows, that would not fall within the terms of the restrictions on movement and political assemblies under the emergency.