HC Deb 07 November 1967 vol 753 cc830-1
Q1. Miss Lestor

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the circumstances in which Her Majesty's Government would suggest to the Commonwealth countries a review of the no independence before majority rule policy on Southern Rhodesia.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I have nothing to add to the Answers I have given on previous occasions to similar Questions by hon. Members. To go further would be to enter the realms of hypothesis.

Miss Lestor

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but is he not aware that his continual qualification of Nibmar without explanation is causing a great deal of dissatisfaction on this side of the House? Furthermore, would he not agree that that there have already been changes in Southern Rhodesia, that is, that it is now firmly committed to apartheid and establishing a police State, and that any suggestion of discussion of a settlement is now completely ruled out?

The Prime Minister

It is a fact that there have been changes even since the "Tigers" talks, and changes for the worse. Naturally, my previous references to going back to the Commonwealth would involve a very substantial change of circumstances for the better.

Sir G. de Freitas

Would my right hon. Friend take this opportunity of reminding the Europeans in Rhodesia that in Kenya today, four years after independence, tens of thousands, and an increasing number, of Europeans live in peace and prosperity under African rule?

The Prime Minister

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. I made that point when I was in Salisbury. At that time the Europeans in Kenya invited a representative group of Rhodesians to go there, but the invitation was rejected. The problem of telling Europeans anything in Rhodesia is made extremely difficult by the fact of total censorship of the Press and total interference with radio and television.