HC Deb 17 November 1936 vol 317 cc1534-5W
Mr. PARKER

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the position as regards the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

Following is an extract from a despatch which I have sent to the Governor of Northern Rhodesia explaining that it was not felt that the time had yet come to reconsider the decision reached in 1931. The Governor of Northern Rhodesia has made an announcement in these terms to the Legislative Council. I may add that in making a similar communication to the Government of Southern Rhodesia my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, stated that he would be glad to take the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia when he visits England next year. The question of the amalgamation of the territories is governed by the decision announced by His Majesty's Government in 1931, which was only taken after a most thorough examination of the whole problem, and also after consultation with members of the Parliamentary parties then in opposition. Although it was made clear in that announcement that His Majesty's Government did not wish to reject the idea of amalgamation in principle, if circumstances should justify it at a later date, the announcement was definitely intended as settling the question for some time to come, and I do not feel that during the period of five years which has elapsed there has been such a material change in conditions as would justify reconsideration of the decision reached after so much thought in 1931. A further point that arises is that, although there may be a body of opinion among the European agricultural settlers in Northern Rhodesia which favours amalgamation, the unanimity which was reached at the Victoria Falls Conference was obtained only on the basis of a constitution conferring the right of "complete self-government," and I understand that there are some members of the Legislature of Southern Rhodesia who would definitely reject the idea of amalgamation on any basis short of this. The attitude of His Majesty's Government to this suggestion so far as it relates to Southern Rhodesia will have been made clear by the recent publication of Sir Herbert Stanley's despatch relating to the proposed amendment of the Southern Rhodesia Constitution.