§ 65. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the situation in Northern Rhodesia.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOn Wednesday, 11th May, the Governor decided that in order to bring the situation on the Copperbelt under control it was necessary to bring the provisions of the Public106W Security Ordinance into immediate operation.
Under regulations made under this Ordinance, which affect the Western Province only, the Provincial Commissioner has prohibited meetings of ten or more persons. All branches of the United National Independence Party in the Western Province have been declared illegal organisations. The Governor and I have no doubt that it is to adherents of that party, particularly in the Western Province, that the extremist political agitation and defiance of the law which is at the root of the present trouble is to be ascribed. The Governor has also prohibited the entry into the Western Province of six members of the National Executive of the party. In addition, regulations have been made prescribing offences in relation to the possession of dangerous implements and petrol.
All these measures are concentrated on the seat of the trouble in the Western Province; other areas are reported to be generally quiet.
Whilst the Governor considered that the situation was sufficiently grave to justify bringing the whole of the Public Security Ordinance into force immediately, thereby empowering him to order the detention of persons if necessary for the preservation of public security, this power has not been exercised and no persons have so far been detained. All arrests made have been in respect of offences against the normal laws, or in a few cases, for breaches of the regulations mentioned above.
Since 11th May there have been twenty-one further incidents, including arson, thefts of firearms and petrol, and assault. The Governor's latest report, however, is that the situation is generally quiet and there are signs of some relaxation of tension.
The House will have heard with great regret of the death of Mrs. Burton early yesterday morning, and will wish to join me in extending deepest sympathy to her family and relatives.