§ 24. Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what are his plans for implementing the conclusions of the Basutoland Constitutional Conference of 1964.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe Basutoland Order, 1965, was made on 29th January and embodies the new Constitution which was agreed in outline at the Conference last May. The Order will come into operation after the elections for the new National Assembly, which have been fixed for 29th April.
§ Mr. SandysMay I be assured that the Government are still basing their policy on the firm belief that the request already made for independence will be confirmed a year after the elections in accordance with the assurance which we gave?
§ Mrs. WhiteIf the request is received from the new Basutoland Government, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, it requires the agreement of both Houses of the new Legislature. Failing that, a referendum would have to be held. If the request is received in the proper form, the present Government will accede to it.
§ Mr. SandysThat was not quite the point. We gave an assurance at the conference that in the interval we would base our policy and action on the assumption that the request for independence would be confirmed a year after the elections.
§ Mrs. WhiteI do not think there will be anything in our policy which would be contrary to that.
§ Mr. SandysAre the Government making preparations?