§ 6. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a further statement on negotiations with Southern Rhodesia.
§ 5. Mr. Ennalsasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations he has made to the Government of Rhodesia since the General Election there.
§ Mr. BottomleyOur communications with the Prime Minister of Rhodesia remain confidential and I have nothing further to add to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to the right hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) on 29th April.
§ Mr. HamiltonIs my right hon. Friend aware that many, if not all, of us on this side of the House are singularly unimpressed by the results of the election which recently took place in Southern Rhodesia, which can only deepen the gulf between the white and the coloured population there? Can he give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government have no objection to this problem being discussed at the forthcoming Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference, or do the Government regard it as a matter which must be solved exclusively between the respective two Governments?
§ Mr. BottomleyThe Commonwealth Prime Ministers themselves recognised that this is a matter for settlement between Her Majesty's Government and the Rhodesian Government. On the other hand, I can assure my hon. Friend that I have no doubt at all that Commonwealth Prime Ministers at their forthcoming meeting will want to know something about Rhodesia.
§ Mr. EnnalsAfter the election the Rhodesian Prime Minister said that he intended to intensify efforts for the Colony's independence. Have there been new proposals, and does my right hon. Friend think it would be fruitful if he were to pay a further visit to Salisbury?
§ Mr. BottomleyThe talks, as my hon. Friend will appreciate, remain confidential. They are continuing. If I thought it was useful for me to go there to bring about a satisfactory solution, I should not hesitate to do so.
§ M. SandysI welcome the statement by the Secretary of State that talks are going on, but does the right hon. Gentleman realise the importance of having direct negotiations of some kind? One 1190 can do only a very limited amount of progress through the diplomatic channels.
§ Mr. BottomleyAs I have said, if I thought it useful to go out I would do so. Equally, if the Prime Minister of Rhodesia thought it wise to come to this country he probably would consider doing that.
§ 7. Mr. Murrayasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what representations have been made to him by Commonwealth countries on Her Majesty's Government's responsibilities with regard to Southern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe British Government naturally keep in close touch with all other Commonwealth Governments on the question of the future of Rhodesia. A number of communications has passed, but these are of course confidential.
§ Mr. MurrayWould my right hon. Friend care to say, although the papers and communications are confidential, whether the Commonwealth Governments concerned have views which coincide with those of Her Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. BottomleyThe Commonwealth Government's concerned agreed at last year's Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference to recognise that this is a matter between Her Majesty's Government and the Rhodesian Government. Nevertheless they are kept informed of what is happening and will continue to be so consulted.
§ Mr. FisherIn view of the great emotional impact of the Rhodesian problem, especially on the African countries of the Commonwealth, would the right hon. Gentleman agree that we still have a considerable public relations job to do in explaining to those African countries what little power we have to influence events in Southern Rhodesia?
§ Mr. BottomleyYes, and I am grateful to the hon. Member because I know that he recently paid a visit to Commonwealth countries in Africa and took the opportunity of doing just that. I meet as often as I can the High Commissioners and Ministers of African countries and discuss this problem with them.