HC Deb 15 November 1951 vol 493 cc59-61W
87. Sir H. Williams

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will arrange to issue a White Paper on the subject of the visit to this country of the Paramount Chieftainess of the Basutos.

88. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what subjects were discussed during the visit of the recent delegation from the Government of Basutoland to the British Government; and what was the result of the visit.

Mr. J. Foster

His Majesty's Government do not feel a White Paper is called for. The Paramount Chieftainess of Basutoland, accompanied by 11 of her principal chiefs and advisers, spent a month in this country. His Majesty's Government arranged for the party to see as much as possible of life and work in this country, especially agriculture, water storage, power production and local government, which are all relevant to Basutoland's progress. During their visit, the Basuto delivered a loyal address to His Majesty the King which contained a prayer for continued protection.

At a meeting with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, a number of problems affecting the administration and development of Basutoland were discussed. These included financial assistance, local government, the Jones Report on Medicine Murders, the system of Legal Appeals, Basutoland imports and mechanised Agriculture. The Basuto asked the Secretary of State for an assurance that the administration of their Territory would not be transferred to the Union of South Africa without their consent. In reply, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State reiterated the pledges given by His Majesty's Government during the passage of the South Africa Bill through this House in 1909, and since repeated frequently by spokesmen of various United Kingdom Governments, namely, that no transfer should take place until the inhabitants of the Territory have been consulted and until this House has been given opportunity to express its views.

The Paramount Chieftainess has expressed her thanks to His Majesty's Goverment for the facilities and courtesies afforded during the visit and she and her party returned home with an enthusiastic desire to apply to their own problems the knowledge gained from their visit.

I will gladly supply any additional information about the Basutos' visit and discussions here which the hon. Members may want if they will ask me for details.