§ Q4. Mr. Winnickasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest position on Rhodesia.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing at present to add to the statement I made on 1st November, 1968.
§ Mr. WinnickIf legal independence is in due course given to the Rhodesia Front, is it not obvious that one of the certain effects will be the breaking up of the Commonwealth, apart from other effects nearer at home?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I think that this would be difficult for a number of members of the Commonwealth, but I indicated last week some of the realities in the situation. We should all be sorry to feel that any member of the Commonwealth valued the Commonwealth link so lightly as to leave it on account of an agreement with Rhodesia, if that becomes possible, in relation to the six principles. It is relevant to tell our Commonwealth friends that what they have sought to insist on in relation to Rhodesia it is equally their duty to insist on in relation to Gibraltar, where, I am sorry to say, despite the declared wishes of 99.9 per 694 cent. of Gibraltarians, they have voted for Gibraltar to be handed over to Spain.
§ Mr. ThorpeWill the Prime Minister confirm that one of the great values which many of our fellow members of the Commonwealth attach to continued membership of it lies in the fact that it is multi-racial? Will he confirm or deny that he has been given advice that a settlement on the basis of the "Fearless" proposals would result in at least four members leaving the Commonwealth?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot give any credibility to that newspaper report. I am aware of the strong feelings of a number of members of the Commonwealth—more than four, in fact—but not to the extent of seeking to leave the Commonwealth if this were done. The multi-racialism of the six principles is the very basis on which successive Governments have insisted simply because it is multi-racial and will ensure majority rule in Rhodesia.