VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Questions was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British African subjects working 624 in the Union are subject to the Pass Laws and what steps are being taken at this moment to protect their rights.]
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, Africans who are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies or British protected persons who live or work in the Union of South Africa are, of course, subject to all the laws in force there, including the laws commonly called the pass laws. The noble Viscount will be aware that the Union Minister of Justice has announced that Africans are not to be asked at present to produce their reference books and other documents. It is part of the normal duties of the High Commissioner to watch the interest of all citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who are living in the Union, and where necessary to take action to ensure that they enjoy their rights under the local law.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, supposing citizens from one of our Protectorates follow the example of their fellow Africans and burn their reference books or pass sheets, what do we do then?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the noble Viscount asks a hypothetical question which I will answer at the time, should it ever happen; but of course it is the duty of the High Commissioner to look after the interests of United Kingdom citizens in the Union if they need help. We have, in Sir John Lord, one of the most experienced officials we could possibly have anywhere, and I believe that the noble Viscount can rely upon his keeping a very sympathetic and active eye on all these questions.
VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I understand that means that if those people are ever arrested we shall not go to their help.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the noble Viscount may understand that. We should have to see exactly what were the individual cases with which it was necessary for the High Commissioner to deal; and, as I have said, the United Kingdom High Commissioner in South Africa can be trusted to look after the interests of United Kingdom citizens.