§ Q3. Mr. Hastingsasked the Prime Minister what evidence he has of the existence of agents provocateurs and secret police maintained in African villages in Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterThe statement made to me on board H.M.S. "Tiger" by Mr. Ian Smith, Sir, and from other sources.
§ Mr. HastingsThe right hon. Gentleman will be aware that Mr. Smith has since denied categorically telling him anything of the sort. Will he explain what he thinks constitutes an African village, how many he thinks there are in Rhodesia, and how often they move from place to place? Is not his allegation as impracticable as it is unlikely? Why does he not withdraw it and turn again to negotiate?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not for me to define the African village or to say how 1272 this works. I rely on the statement to me in the presence of my right hon. Friend and many others by Mr. Smith that this was their practice. The fact that he has denied it since is only in accordance with another case about which there have been exchanges in the House, when he told us frankly on H.M.S. "Tiger" that he had lied to the Governor when he persuaded him to institute a state of emergency on the eve of I.D.I. This was also made clear by Mr. Smith.
§ Mr. WinnickArising out of this question, would the Government consider publishing a White Paper setting out a list of those hon. Members opposite who have given comfort and assistance to the illegal régime——