§ 7. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a further statement about the present situation in and the future constitutional position of the island of Mauritius.
§ Mr. GreenwoodI described the present position in the island in my reply to an earlier Question by my hon. Friend 819 the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman).
As regards the future constitutional position, I am not yet able to add to what I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) on 15th April.
§ Mr. FisherWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the racial composition of the population in the island and the tensions to which it is liable to give rise make this potentially a dangerous problem, and will he agree that it is essential for racial peace to do everything in our power to retain the coalition Government and to get agreement among the main political parties about the constitutional future?
§ Mr. GreenwoodYes, Sir; I regard two things as very desirable. One is that the period of uncertainty about the future of the island should be ended as quickly as possible. When I was in Mauritius earlier, I said that I hoped that it would be possible to hold a conference in September. Second, I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman in considering that it is in the interests of the whole Mauritian people that a Government who are widely representative of all sections of the community should remain in office between now and the holding of the conference.