HL Deb 16 December 1970 vol 313 cc1502-3WA
LORD BARNBY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in connection with Rhodesia, they will state in clearly definitive language the meaning of the five points referred to in the gracious Speech on July 2; and whether they will define the inferred emergent actions required by paragraph 8, page 9, of Cmnd. 3793.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN

The five principles referred to in the gracious Speech on July 2 as governing the approach of Her Majesty's Government to a settlement of the Rhodesian problem are as follows:

  1. (1) The principle and intention of unimpeded progress to majority rule, already enshrined in the 1961 Constitution, would have to be maintained and guaranteed.
  2. (2) There would also have to be guarantees against retrogressive amendment of the Constitution.
  3. (3) There would have to be immediate improvement in the political status of the African population.
  4. (4) There would have to be progress towards ending racial discrimination.
  5. (5) The British Government would need to be satisfied that any basis proposed for independence was acceptable to the people of Rhodesia as a whole.

As regards the second part of the Question, I am unable to interpret a White Paper issued by the previous Administration.