§ 111. Colonel J. R. H. Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is taking advantage of the visit of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia to discuss an administrative and economic fusion between Northern and Southern Rhodesia.
Mr. Creech JonesThe opportunity of the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia's visit is being taken by my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and myself to discuss many matters of common interest to Southern and Northern Rhodesia. As regards the amalgamation of the two Territories, however, the view of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom remains as stated by the then Secretary of State for the Colonies on 18th October, 1944 when announcing the decision to establish the Central African Council with a view to promoting the closest contact and co-operation between the Governments of Southern and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The announcement as to the effect that His Majesty's Government had come to the conclusion that the amalgamation of the Territories under existing circumstances was not regarded as practicable.