§ 79. Mr. Lowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now make a statement on the recent mission of Sir Esler Dening and Mr. Frank Roberts to Nepal.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesSir Esler Dening went to New Delhi, and then to Kathmandu, where he stayed from 3rd-7th December, to discuss with the United Kingdom High Commissioner and His Majesty's Ambassador the position arising out of the disorders in Nepal. The Ambassador and he were able, in personal conversations with the Nepalese Prime Minister, to emphasise the importance50W attached by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to stability in Nepal and to urge the importance of speeding up the programme of democratic reforms on which Nepal had already embarked. They also stressed the advisability of Nepal's striving to reach agreement with her great neighbour, India.
I am glad to be able to report that the Nepalese Prime Minister has since, in agreement with the Government of India, announced a far-reaching programme of reforms in Nepal, of which the chief features are the convening of a Constituent Assembly based on adult suffrage by the end of 1952, and the immediate formation of a Cabinet of 14 members—seven of them popular representatives—to govern the country and overhaul the entire administration. The Nepalese have also agreed to the return of King Tribhubana to Kathmandu. It is hoped that as a result of these developments, and of an appeal by Mr. Nehru for all parties to co-operate in the reforms and desist from violence, the disorders which again broke out in Nepal in December will now cease.
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom welcome the Maharajah's statesmanlike action and endorse Mr. Nehru's appeal that all concerned should unite in the way of peaceful progress which now opens before the Nepalese people.