§ 3.5 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I beg leave 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 it is their intention in future to grant Dominion status to Communist régimes.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, I am not altogether clear as to exactly what my noble friend means by the words "to grant Dominion status", but I take them to mean to grant full independence within the Commonwealth. The decision to grant independence to a Dependency is a matter for Britain and Britain alone, and the British Government will decide on the right course of action in the light of the particular circumstances of the Dependency. Membership of the Commonwealth, however, is of course a different matter and requires the agreement of all the other members. We cannot prejudge how they will reply to any particular request.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the noble Duke for his Answer. I was of the opinion that Her Majesty's Government had granted Dominion status to the new Government of Zanzibar. Is the noble Duke aware that, if that is so, many people are surprised by the alacrity of the Government in granting such status to a Government which, so far as the public can judge, appears to be of Communist origin and of Communist sympathies?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I would point out to my noble friend that, far from granting Dominion status to the new Government of Zanzibar, we have not yet granted recognition.