§ 2.35 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF SANDWICHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what forces will move to the United Kingdom and to Aden respectively from Kenya after independence; and what forces will remain in Kenya and for how long.]
THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, in accordance with the agreement announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and for the Colonies after his talks with Kenya Ministers last June, and published in Command Paper No. 2082, we plan a phased withdrawal of our forces based in Kenya over a period of twelve months from independence day, to-morrow. Most of the main Army units concerned will return to the United Kingdom. Headquarters 24 Brigade and certain of its support units will be transferred to Aden.
§ THE EARL OF SANDWICHMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. May I ask him whether the Government have obtained full landing rights in Nairobi to support the Kenya Government in an effective evacuation of European personnel in the unhappy event of inter-tribal fighting?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I think that is really rather another question. But I should like to reaffirm what my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor said in our debate on Kenya last July; namely, that we do not contemplate 1200 the use of British troops in circumstances which would amount to an interference in the internal affairs of an independent Commonwealth country.