HC Deb 15 July 1965 vol 716 cc750-3
3. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement about constitutional progress and the security situation in Aden.

23. Mr. J. Amery

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a further statement on the proposed Constitutional Commission on South Arabia.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Anthony Greenwood)

In my statement on 11th May I announced my intention to appoint a Constitutional Commission for South Arabia and on 24th May I informed the House that Sir Evelyn Hone had accepted appointment as Chairman. I am now pleased to be able to inform the House that I have appointed Sayyid Muhammed Abu Rannat and Mr. Noel Coulson to be members of the Commission. Sayyid Muhammed was until 1964 Chief Justice of the Sudan where he headed important constitutional commissions, and is a member of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. Mr. Coulson is Reader in Islamic Law at London University and will shortly take up the Chair of Law in the Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria.

The Commission will begin its work as soon as possible and I know that the House will share my hope that all sections of the people of South Arabia will take advantage of the Commission's visit to discuss the constitutional future of the area constructively, and to make their views known to the Commission. It is in this way, as I have said before, that we shall be able to make real progress towards our goal of an independent Arab State in South Arabia not later than 1968.

The security situation in Aden continues to give cause for alarm. The externally controlled National Liberation Front has been responsible for a succession of incidents in recent weeks involving, I am sorry to say, the death of four people, including the Naib of Shaib, and injuries to a number of others. The House will, I know, wish to join in expressing sympathy with the relatives of the victims of these cowardly and senseless attacks.

Mr. Wall

While welcoming the Secretary of State's statement about the Commission, does he not agree that one of the reasons for the deteriorating situation is that certain people believe that Her Majesty's Government are not fully behind the Federal Government? Will he take the opportunity to say whether Her Majesty's Government fully support the Federal Government in the South Arabian Federation?

Mr. Greenwood

There is no reason to believe that we are not fully behind the Federal Government. We value the co-operation which they have given in making effective the work of the Constitutional Commission.

Mr. Amery

What is the point of the Commission now? As we understood it, the right hon. Gentleman was trying to send a broadly based representative Commission which would carry the support of international public opinion. It is now a rump Commission. What is the point of it in this context? Since it is very important that all those who see the Commission in Aden should know where they stand and where the Government stand here at home, can he confirm that when the Government make proposals after the Commission has reported there is no question of their using the formal advice provision of their treaties with the rulers to try to enforce their own particular solution?

Mr. Greenwood

I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman should use terms like "rump" Commission, which are not calculated to make the work of the Commission easier. The important thing about the Commission is that it should get discussions going in the whole of South Arabia and try to bridge the gap which at present exists between the Federal Government and the other Governments and parties. On his second point, I informed the Federal Government some time ago of our readiness to sign an amending treaty concerning our advisory powers. There have been some drafting difficulties, but these have now been removed and I hope that an amending treaty will be signed in the next few days.

Mr. Jackson

Could the Secretary of State make it clear through the Commission that Her Majesty's Government are very anxious that those political figures who are leaders of popular political movements in Aden will be welcomed to give evidence and that the whole purpose of the Commission is to advance the genuine independence of Aden and the South Arabian Protectorate?

Mr. Greenwood

They will be very welcome indeed. I shall be disappointed if all the political figures do not take advantage of the opportunity which the Constitutional Commission offers.

Mr. William Yates

In order to make this Commission completely understood in the Arab world, will the right hon. Gentleman consider making a personal visit both to Cairo and to Riyan so that there is no possible misunderstanding of Her Majesty's Government's intention to honour the United Nations Resolution in the matter of South-West Arabia?

Mr. Greenwood

I should need to give careful consideration to that suggestion in present circumstances.

Mr. Amery

The right hon. Gentleman has expressed the hope that leaders of the political parties will discuss with the Commission. Is he not aware that leaders of at any rate two of the main political parties appear to have taken refuge in the Yemen?

Mr. Greenwood

I do not think that the phrase "taken refuge in the Yemen" is the correct way to describe it. There is reluctance on the part of some leaders to discuss with the Commission. I hope that this has arisen from a misconception of the purpose of the Commission and that when it is on the spot and doing the valuable work which we have entrusted to it the political leaders will realise the value of taking advantage of the situation.

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