§ Q5. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Prime Minister whether he will now arrange for a group of Privy Councillors, selected from all parties, to visit Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think this is the right time, Sir.
§ Mr. KingWas not this the Prime Minister's own suggestion? Will he accept that the negative policy of imposing hardship and unemployment on 4 million helpless Rhodesians is arousing growing distaste? Will he seek to do something constructive?
§ The Prime MinisterDistaste is a feeling that occurs to some of us on other matters. We have had a Privy Councillor in Rhodesia this week. We hope to hear from him when he finally gets back. He did not arrive in time for last night's debate, for reasons which we all understand—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—for reasons we all understand and which were forecast. One thing that bears on the timing of this, which was my idea, is that if Privy Councillors when they go to Rhodesia are not allowed to see the people they ask to see, this might diminish the value of a visit by a Privy Councillor.
§ Mr. SnowIs my right hon. Friend aware that whereas a Parliamentary delegation would probably be desirable at the right moment, the fact that it is composed of Privy Councillors will not be met with undiluted enthusiasm from all quarters?
§ The Prime MinisterI am prepared to consider that. The House will, of course, know that I proposed a mission of Privy Councillors to Mr. Smith as long ago as December, 1964, and that it was simply rejected by him at that time. I should like to see more signs that Privy Councillors will be allowed to meet the people they want to meet if we make such a proposal.
§ Mr. HeathIs the Prime Minister aware, as I have already stated in public, that all the information which my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd) has been able to obtain during his ten days in Rhodesia will be made available to the Prime Minister and the Commonwealth Secretary if they so wish, but that the cheap sneers which the Prime Minister has just made do not give one any confidence that they will receive proper consideration?
§ The Prime MinisterThe words I used were based on the assumption that 1534 the right hon. and learned Gentleman would be desirous of reporting to everyone concerned with the Rhodesian problem. I am a little concerned to know—perhaps we can be reassured on this—whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman has made quite plain, as the Leader of the Opposition himself said in a public statement, I think in Punch, that there should be no question of negotiating with Mr. Smith until he calls off the illegal independence. I should like to know whether the Opposition stuck to that in Rhodesia.
§ Mr. ShinwellContrary to what my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Snow) has said, is it not the general opinion of the House that if all the Privy Councillors were sent business would be expedited?