§ 3.0 p.m.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords. I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of their moral obligations under the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of 1953, they are satisfied that, in the disturbed conditions in the South Sudan, it is to be expected that the true wishes of the population can be ascertained by means of a plebiscite.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, the situation in Equatoria Province is gradually returning 753 to normal. In the other two Provinces, Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal, the situation never really got out of hand. The resolution in favour of a plebiscite was adopted unanimously by the Sudan Parliament. Arrangements for the holding of this plebiscite, which is to be supervised by an International Commission, will probably not be completed before Februay next year. By then the situation in Equatoria Province should have improved considerably. One of the tasks of the international Commission will be to decide whether there exists in all parts of the Sudan a free and neutral atmosphere in which the Sudanese electorate can choose between independence and some form of link with Egypt as laid down in the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of 1953. I see no reason to doubt the ability of the representatives to be appointed by the Powers which have been asked to serve on the Commission to carry out their duties faithfully. Their exact terms of reference are at present under discussion with the Egyptian Government.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, in thanking the noble Marquess for his full Answer, may I ask him whether his attention has been called to a letter in The Times of November 16 written by Mr. Martin Parr, who was for many years a member of the Political Service in the Sudan, for four years Governor of the Upper Nile Province and for six years Governor of the Equatoria Province? To make my inquiry intelligent,' must ask the indulgence of the House to read a short extract from the letter. Mr. Parr wrote:
On May 8, 1952, the Governor-General sent to Her Majesty's Government a draft statute for self-government, approved by the Sudan Legislative Assembly "—
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT WOOLTON)My Lords, I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord, but this is scarcely a supplementary question.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, I bow to the noble Viscount's ruling. I did not know whether my point would be intelligible without reading the letter, but if noble Lords will take the trouble to look at The Times of November 16, they will perhaps understand why I put the question.
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, if it is any supplementary comfort to the noble Lord, may I say that I have read the letter to which he refers.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, may I take the opportunity of inviting some understanding of the position of the Governor-General, who finds himself, as I judge it, in a position of ostensible responsibility but unreal power? I think that fact is insufficiently appreciated, particularly in view of the large number of executions that have already taken place, with, apparently, more to follow.
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, if I may say so, that seems to me some considerable way removed from the Question on the Order Paper.