§ 3.53 p.m.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OP PERTH)My Lords, perhaps I may now make the promised statement, on Tanganyika. It is as follows.
As the House is aware, the date of Tanganyika's independence has been announced as December 28, 1961. The Prime Minister of Tanganyika has represented to my right honourable friend that this date could prove inconvenient, particularly for representatives and guests from abroad, and I am glad to inform the House that, by agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Tanganyika Government, it has proved possible to advance the date to December 9. Accordingly. Her Majesty's Government will propose to the General Assembly of the United Nations in the autumn that the Trusteeship Agreement be terminated at the earlier date.
I am also very glad to be able to inform the House that Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to be her representative at the independence celebrations in Tanganyika. His Royal Highness will go to Tanganyika immediately after the Queen's visit to the Gambia.
§ EARL ATTLEEMy Lords, I am sure we are very interested to hear the announcement made by the noble Earl. I am wondering who suggested December 28 originally. It does not seem to have been a very good suggestion, and I am glad that it has been altered. I aim sure we are all extremely gratifed that Her Majesty the Queen has appointed His Royal Highness to represent her, and I am sure they are very glad in Tanganyika, too.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I should like to support the expressions just uttered by the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, with regard to both the date and our gratification that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is to be present on this occasion in Tanganyika. I should like Ito ask the noble Earl one question, and perhaps, in collaboration with the noble and learned Viscount the Leader of the House, he may be able to answer me. The noble Earl will 1483 remember that although we were in Sierra Leone recently, at the independence celebrations there, we were there in another capacity, and there was in fact no Member of this House present, though there were two Members of another place. Since this House is a House of Parliament, and has always taken a great interest in colonial and Commonwealth affairs, would it not be right that this House also should be officially represented by one of its Members at the Tanganyika independence celebrations?
§ THE EARL OF PERTHMy Lords, I am not surprised, if I may say so, at the welcome which the announcement has received. As to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore, about the representation of this House at the celebrations, I will certainly take note of it.