§ 4.15 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on further developments in regard to Rhodesia.]
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD GARDINER)My Lords, I can mast suitably reply to my noble friend's Question 7 by repeating the Answer given in another place to-day by my right honourable friend the Commonwealth Secretary. He said:
"As the House knows, two more men were hanged in Salisbury this morning. I understand that the fate of four whom it was intended to hang to-day has not yet been decided by the régime, and that in nine cases out of more than a hundred who are under sentence of death the regime has decided not to proceed to execution. Nothing that I could say would add to the abhorrence which we all must feel at the further demonstration provided by this morning's hangings of the illegal régime's disregard of the rule of law. As I told the House on March 6, Her Majesty's Government are considering what measures should now be taken. A further statement will be made on this matter as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I am sure that the House will agree that in present circumstances there can be no question of resuming contacts with the illegal régime."
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank my noble and learned friend for that Answer. May I ask him this further question? Appalling as are these hangings, is there not now a graver crisis? Have we not now reached a position where either the Government or the United Nations must take some action to end this illegal white minority régime in Rhodesia, or there will be very grave danger of a racial war in Southern Africa, extending from the very formidable resistance which is in Mozambique and Angola to infiltration of guerrillas in Rhodesia? Will the Government therefore consider putting to the United Nations that they should make comprehensive and mandatory the sanctions which are now applied?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I thought I had made plain that the Government are giving anxious consideration to this matter, including the situation at the United Nations.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, may I ask the noble and learned Lord, the Lord Chancellor, briefly, what is the rule of law to which he referred?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, the rule of law in relation to this 8 matter includes a recognition of the Privy Council as being the supreme Court of Appeal, and recognition of the fact that although there may be a Colony with a Constitution which provides for the Governor to exercise the prerogative of mercy, this does not divest the Crown of the Crown's prerogative.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, do we then have a situation in which two authorities have a right of clemency?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, that is so; yes.