§ 59. Mr. Wallasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement about his visit to the High Commission Territories of Southern Africa.
§ Mr. AlportI visited Basutoland, Swaziland and Bechuanaland Protectorate successively during the period 2nd to 14th June, spending four or five days in each. In Basutoland I met the Paramount Chief and her Advisers, had meetings with representatives of the Administration, prominent Basuto citizens and members of the European community. I visited the headquarters of District Commissioners, schools, hospitals, soil conservation schemes and other aspects of social and economic development. In Swaziland I met the Paramount Chief and some of his Advisers, visited sugar areas, forests and the cattle ranches being developed by the C.D.C. and by private investment. I met representatives of the Administration and the European Advisory Council and had an opportunity of seeing something of the work being done to improve road communications and the benefits of the progress made in eliminating disease.
115WIn Bechuanaland I visited four main centres east of the Kalahari. I met representatives of the Administration and representative groups of the Joint Advisory Council, the Bamangwato tribe and the farmers and traders in the Tati Concession. I again had an opportunity of seeing the working of the social services in the Protectorate and of visiting the C.D.C's Lobatsi Abattoir. At the end of this tour I had discussions with the High Commissioner in Pretoria and took the opportunity of paying courtesy calls upon the Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs of the Union of South Africa.