§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and the Colonies what changes are proposed in the position of the High Commissioner for Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland.
§ Mr. FisherOn 14th November, 1961, the Prime Minister said that the question of whether the post of High Commissioner for the High Commission Territories and Ambassador to South Africa should be combined was to be kept under review.
Her Majesty's Government have now decided that the accelerated constitutional development in the three High Commission Territories justifies the abolition of the post of High Commissioner, and the necessary instruments will be prepared as soon as possible.
83WIn May last year, my right hon. Friend announced that the Resident Commissioners in Bechuanaland Protectorate and Swaziland would be made directly responsible to him for the government of their territories. It is now proposed to make a similar arrangement in respect of the Resident Commissioner in Basutoland. There will remain a need for consultation, and in certain fields, for co-operation and co-ordination between the Territories and with Her Majesty's Ambassador. The Ambassador will therefore continue to be informed about those aspects of the Territories' affairs which affect their foreign relations or their defence requirements, but he will have no further responsibility for purely territorial affairs.