§ 14. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the reasons for bringing forward the conference on the proposed federation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
§ Mr. LytteltonAs I explained in the debate on the 4th March, the purpose of the April conference is to produce a detailed draft constitutional scheme as early as possible, so that public opinion may have something definite on which to focus.
§ 15. Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken and proposes to take to ascertain 204W the opinion of the people of Northern and Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland with reference to the proposed federation; and what representation it is proposed to give to the African peoples of these countries at the forthcoming conference.
§ Mr. LytteltonAction in Southern Rhodesia is a matter for the Government of that territory. In Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland very full consultations have already taken place with representatives of all sections of the public on the proposals contained in Cmd. 8233. The question of further consultations will be considered again after the April conference. As regards African representation at this conference, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Fenner Brockway) on 12th March.