§ LORD OGMOREMy 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 they have any statement to make on the proposed union between Ghana and Guinea.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, Ghana is, as the House knows, an independent State and a valued member of the Commonwealth. Last Saturday Dr. Nkrumah informed the Prime Minister that negotiations were in progress and that it was likely that a joint statement would be made on Sunday indicating the intention of himself and the Prime Minister of Guinea to enter into a union. On Sunday the Prime Minister received the text of the joint declaration issued by the two Prime Ministers in Accra. This declaration states that the Prime Ministers of Ghana and Guinea have agreed to constitute their two States as the nucleus of a Union of West African States. It is my understanding, however, that no separate union of Ghana and Guinea has come into existence and indeed the declaration speaks of harmonising the policies of the two States.
This is an interesting development which may have political, constitutional., economic and other inplications, not only for Ghana and Guinea, but also for the Commonwealth and other countries. I know that the Government of Ghana value their association with the Commonwealth; and the joint declaration says that the actions which the two Prime Ministers are taking are not designed to prejudice in any way the present or future relations either between Ghana and the Commonwealth or between the Republic of Guinea and the French community. My impression is that almost all the detailed arrangements between Ghana and Guinea which would be necessary to give effect to this statement of intention on the part of the two Prime Ministers have yet to be worked out. I have no doubt that Dr. Nkrumah will. keep all his Commonwealth colleagues informed as the negotiations proceed.
§ LORD OGMORE:My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for that statement. May I take it that the various Commonwealth countries are already considering this matter and its implications?
THE EARL OF HOMEYes, my Lords. Dr. Nkrumah informed all his Commonwealth colleagues at the same time as he informed the United Kingdom, and, of course, as matters proceed the Commonwealth countries will consider them individually and together.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, should such a union, or whatever it is, be accomplished with Guinea, would it prejudice the position of Ghana as a member of the British Commonwealth?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, we had better not speculate and look forward, because I think the word "union" might be in itself misleading. I think the less we speculate and the fewer hypothetical questions we ask the better it will be. The main thing is that we can be certain that Dr. Nkrumah, whatever he has in mind, will consult the other members of the Commonwealth as matters proceed.
§ LORD PETHICK-LAWRENCEMy Lords, may I ask whether any communication has been received from the French Government in relation to this transaction?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I do not think that the French Government were notified at the same time as we were ourselves. Of course we have been in touch with them but I do not think there has been an official notification.