§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Ngwanyama of Swaziland has been asked on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to sign an agreement the terms of which, in clause 5 (b), provide that he will abide by the terms of the new Constitution for Swaziland when he has not yet been acquainted with the terms of this new Constitution; and if he will undertake that the full terms and text of the new Constitution will be communicated to the Ngwanyama before he signs the said agreement.
§ Mr. SandysThere seems to be some misunderstanding about this matter.
The proposed agreement between Her Majesty's Commissioner and the Ngwanyama would assure the latter certain powers and privileges under the Constitution which he would not otherwise enjoy, and would provide an additional safeguard against the subsequent amendment of the Constitution in a manner which would prejudice his interests.
The British Government have no wish to press the Ngwanyama to conclude this agreement if he does not consider it to be to his advantage to do so.
Since the powers and privileges which the agreement would confer upon him would not in any case become effective until after the first elections held under the new system, there is in fact no need for him to take a decision until after the introduction of the new Constitution.