§ Q3. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Prime Minister whether in the light of the failure to reach agreement with Mr. Ian Smith and the consequences which now face Great Britain and Rhodesia, he will now seek the services of a single Commonwealth statesman as mediator.
§ The Prime MinisterIn the course of the past year, we have suggested to Mr. Smith that either a single Commonwealth Prime Minister or a mission of Commonwealth Prime Ministers might go to Rhodesia to assist in any way possible towards a solution. Mr. Smith rejected both proposals on the grounds that a solution was a matter for Rhodesia and Great Britain alone.
§ Mr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware, first, that this Question was tabled many weeks ago? [Interruption.] Secondly, will he accept that it has never been more apposite than now and that he himself once made that suggestion, which he might well repeat as a last resort, because we are at the last resort?
§ The Prime MinisterIt was more than a year ago that I suggested the establishment of a mission headed by Sir Robert Menzies. I shall give the House the facts if I catch your eye later today, Mr. Speaker. In September, three months ago, with three months still to go, my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary said that if we could not reach agreement on an ordinary settlement directly, we would suggest either a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' mission headed by the Prime Minister of Canada—and all the members would have been acceptable, I think, to Mr. Smith—or a Commonwealth constitutional mission. All of these suggestions were rejected—rejected three months ago.