HC Deb 18 September 1950 vol 478 cc192-3W
Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement of the reasons for which the Minister of State for the Colonies abandoned his engagement for a conference with the Executive Committee of the Tanganyika European Council.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Yes. My right hon. Friend attended a reception to meet members of the Tanganyika European Council at which a number of incidents occurred which have since been reported in the Press. He had previously intended to meet the Executive Committee of the Tanganyika European Council the following day, but on ascertaining that they were the same gentlemen who were present at the reception he decided that no useful purpose would be served by meeting them again the next day. I may add that a few days afterwards my right hon. Friend met the chairman, Mr. Hitchcock, and other representatives of the Tanga Regional Committee of the Tanganyika European Council officially in Dar-es-Salaam and had a most useful discussion on a number of points connected with the European community in the Territory.