HL Deb 02 February 1965 vol 262 cc1078-80

2.37 p.m.

LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

My 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 how many British subjects have been placed under some form of arrest in Tanzania during the past nine months; what steps have been taken in each case by the British High Commission to obtain their release, and what satisfaction has been obtained in each case.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)

My Lords, my right honourable friend and his predecessor have received reports of the arrests of fifteen British citizens in Tanzania during the past nine months. Five were brought before the courts and convicted. The rest were released without being charged. In all appropriate cases the British High Commissioner has immediately approached the Tan-zanian authorities to seek an explanation of the arrests and to press for the release of the persons detained. Of the ten persons arrested but not charged, six were released following the High Commissioner's intervention, though two of these were subsequently deported or asked to leave the country. One other, who was also expelled, was detained for only a few hours and had already been released when the High Commissioner instituted his inquiries. In the remaining cases, the persons concerned did not seek the High Commissioner's assistance and he came to hear of the arrests only much later from other sources.

LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his Answer. I should like to ask Her Majesty's Government whether, having regard to the fact that Tanzania is not the only African member of the British Commonwealth where such things are happening, they will make it clear that (in words which were used on an historic occasion many years ago) they are "not amused"?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I do not think this is a subject for amusement. I think Tanzania is learning the difficult job of self-government; and there is evidence that it is steadily improving.

LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOL

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that Tanzania is learning under Chinese instructors?

LORD TAYLOR

No, my Lords, I was not so aware.

LORD COLYTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether these newly-independent East African countries are not naturally very sensitive to all forms of criticism from visiting journalists or from other sources; and, while we deplore any attack on the freedom of the Press, is it not most important for visiting journalists or other visitors or European residents to be most careful in all matters in regard to the feelings of these newly-independent countries? May I ask a second question? Would it not be possible to consider suggesting to the Governments of these countries that they might consider adopting conditions for deportation such as are laid down in the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, in this country? Indeed, one might perhaps go further and consider suggesting to all Commonwealth countries that they might get together on a plan for adopting similar conditions for deportation between member States of the Commonwealth?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Colyton, for his helpful questions. With regard to the first, I think he is quite correct. There is no doubt that these countries are very sensitive to articles which appear in the Press, and that they do not realise that in Britain we do not take quite so much notice of the Press as they think we do. With regard to the second question, I will certainly investigate and see if that can be done.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, if in fact it turns out to be true (which I understand it is, from what the noble Lord, Lord Russell of Liverpool, said) that Tanzania is under the tutelage of the Chinese, may I ask the noble Lord what steps the Government propose to take to counteract the effect of this tutelage?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I am not in a position to say whether the allegation of the noble Lord, Lord Russell of Liverpool, is correct or not; but I think the best thing we can possibly do is to demonstrate the value of British democracy to these countries. I must say that when I was in Jamaica at a meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association the Tanzanian representatives played a leading and good part.