§ 3.33 p.m.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, this might be a convenient moment for me to make a statement about the situation as regards detainees in Aden State. On January 16, in reply to a Question from the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, my noble friend Lord Lansdowne undertook that further information would be given to your Lordships about the security situation in Aden. My noble friend is unable to be here this afternoon owing to a meeting of paramount importance, and he has asked me to state—and I am glad to be able to inform your Lordships—that all persons detained from Aden State have been released, except for three still held on security grounds.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Duke for this very prompt reply to the inquiry that I and my noble friend made last month, and to say how glad we are that the Federal Government has now released all the detainees save three. May I ask the noble Duke on what grounds these three people are still detained? Are they security grounds? And does that mean 492 that they are suspected of having played a part in the bomb outrage? If not, why are they still detained? May I also ask him whether he can give us any indication of how soon the state of emergency in Aden will be lifted?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, as regards the latter question, I am afraid I am not in a position to give the House any information as to how long the state of emergency will remain. As regards the first part of the noble Earl's question, two of the three still detained are detained in connection with the bomb outrage.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I also am obliged to the noble Duke for this statement, and I share the satisfaction of my noble friend at the release of such a large number of people who had been interned, apparently without any case being ultimately preferred against them. I have also observed with some pleasure the announcement on the wireless in the last day or two that there had been an inquiry into the conditions under which these internees were detained, and that there was no confirmation of the allegations of personal acts against them in this connection. However, I observed that notes were made by the committee of inquiry that the conditions and accommodation—the amenities in general—were in some cases exceedingly poor indeed, so it cannot be said that these internees, who were there for so long a time and yet had no charge made against them in the end, did not suffer considerable hardship.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I will naturally bring to my right honourable friend's attention the remarks that the noble Earl has made.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, will the noble Duke inform us whether a charge is likely to be preferred soon, either against the two persons referred to or against any other persons, with reference to this bomb outrage in Aden?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREI am afraid I am not in a position to add anything to what I have already said.
LORD REAMy Lords, will the noble Duke say whether on future occasions this situation will not arise—that people 493 will not be held in detention without any prospect of trial?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREI am a little confused by the double negatives, but I fully appreciate what the noble Lord feels—and, of course, we deplore detaining people without charges being preferred against them. On the other hand, as I have said before in this matter, I think it must be accepted that public security is the paramount interest.