HC Deb 20 December 1966 vol 738 cc293-4W
Q19. Sir W. Teeling

asked the Prime Minister if he will give further details of the offer he made to Mr. Smith in his talks on H.M.S. "Tiger" concerning making Rhodesia a part of the United Kingdom; to what extent, under this offer, Africans from Rhodesia would enter the United Kingdom with all the rights of United Kingdom citizens; and what effect this would have on other Commonwealth citizens seeking employment in the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister

The offer of an Act of Union made during the first visit to Salisbury by my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary was one of a number of propositions which were put forward as an earnest of Her Majesty's Government's readiness to consider all feasible means of bringing about a fair and just settlement in Rhodesia.

It was, of course, apparent that an Act of Union would raise a number of complicated issues but, since it was rejected by Mr. Smith when it was first mentioned to him, it was not worked out in detail.