§ 49. Mr. Sorensenasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what further communications 38W he has received from the Government of the Union of South Africa in respect of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland.
§ Mr. J. FosterThe hon. Member no doubt has in mind communications regarding the future of these Territories. As I am informed the right hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Gordon Walker) on 10th December, 1952, there have been no developments in this matter since 1939. The records of discussions which took place up to that date between Her Majesty's Governments in the United Kingdom and the Union of South Africa were published in the recent White Paper (Cmd. 8707).
§ 50. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations for what reasons additional European District Officers are being appointed in Bechuanaland; and under what powers headmen who do not obey requests by the district commissioners to call at their offices are arrested and prosecuted.
§ Mr. J. FosterThere have been no recent additions to the number of European district officers in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Two European and one African administrative officer were posted last year to the Bamangwato Reserve, in addition to those normally stationed there, to assist the district commissioner in the discharge of the additional responsibilities borne by him while acting as Native Authority. These officers were found from within the existing establishment of the Protectorate.
Under the law of the Bechuanaland Protectorate it is an offence to neglect or refuse, without reasonable excuse, to attend before a Native Authority when so directed by it. Six senior tribesmen who did not comply with such directions lawfully issued by the district commissioner to attend meetings at Serowe about normal tribal business were recently convicted under this provision.