HC Deb 12 February 1946 vol 419 cc54-5W
Mr. Tiffany

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that a plebiscite on the future of their homeland which the people of ex-Italian Eritrea were organising was suppressed by the order of the British Military Administrator of Eritrea and that the organisers of the plebiscite were arrested and called upon to find guarantees for their future good behaviour and bail of 1,080; and whether he will now instruct the military administrator to make known to the people of Eritrea that the free expression of their views on this and other public questions will no longer be interfered with and that they are free to organise any form of plebiscite or orderly public demonstration.

Mr. Lawson

No plebiscite has been organised in Eritrea and the facts relating to the alleged suppression of a plebiscite are as follows: Demonstrations by members of the Eritrean Police Force in Asmara in February, 1944, regarding grievances relating to pay, uniform and other questions of service, resulted in the arrest of five persons who were responsible for inciting the members of the police force in the hope of using it as. an instrument for their political purposes.

Since, however, it appeared that the accused did not fully understand the serious nature of their actions they were remanded on bail by the Military Court for four months upon production of two sureties each of a£100. It was explained to them that they were free to entertain and advocate any views they liked about the future disposal of Eritrea but they must refrain from attempting to force the issue by such means as inducing the Eritrean Police Force to mutiny.

Their subsequent behaviour was correct and on their appearance before the Military Court at the end of four months—on 21st June, 1944—the charges were withdrawn and the sureties returned. In the circumstances it is in my opinion unnecessary to give any further instructions on this matter to the Chief Administrator of Eritrea who in 1944 made it known to the Chiefs of the tribes that reasonable forms of discussion on the future of Eritrea would not be discouraged and that the wishes of the people would be conveyed to the Peace Conference if they so desired.