§ Q2. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister what consultations he had with President Johnson regarding the desirability of pursuing a joint policy in relation to Zanzibar.
§ Q5. Mr. Farrasked the Prime Minister if he will make a detailed statement on the consultations he had with President Johnson concerning the situation in Zanzibar.
§ The Prime MinisterThe situation in Zanzibar was one of many subjects touched on in my talks with President Johnson. I do not propose to add anything to the statement issued at the end of these talks, which were confidential.
§ Mr. RankinCould the Prime Minister say clearly why there was such undue delay in recognising Zanzibar? Did he support the Commonwealth Secretary's remarks of 20th February when he said that 10 or 11 Communist countries had already recognised Zanzibar—a statement made in order to prejudice the issue? Will he, further, say whether or not he examined that position with President Johnson, in view of the fact that within four days of the Commonwealth Secretary's statement he had recognised Zanzibar? Did he do so in conjunction with the United States?
§ The Prime MinisterWe recognised Zanzibar simultaneously with the United States and with a lot of other Commonwealth countries. As the Commonwealth Secretary explained, we were anxious to collect the views of the Commonwealth countries before we recognised. That is normal procedure. It takes a little time. Indeed, two Commonwealth countries, Sierra Leone and Cyprus, have not yet recognised.
§ Mr. FarrWill my right hon. Friend attempt to form a Commonwealth or United Nations commission of inquiry particularly concerned with finding out the conditions of the former Ministers in the island and their supporters?
§ The Prime MinisterThis Question deals with the recognition by Her Majesty's Government of another Commonwealth country.
§ Mr. BottomleyDoes not the Prime Minister agree that the recognition of Zanzibar was unnecessarily delayed, and does not he regret that this resulted in a breach of diplomatic relations between two Commonwealth countries for the first time in our history?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. We recognised simultaneously with, if I remember aright, Australia and a number of other Commonwealth countries, and this is perfectly normal procedure.