HC Deb 21 January 1972 vol 829 cc271-5W
Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many meetings for which the African National Congress has applied have been banned by the illegal Rhodesian régime;

(2) what representations he has made to the illegal Rhodesian régime concerning its banning of meetings by the African National Congress;

(3) whether he will make a statement on the practice of the illegal Rhodesian régime requiring the presence of police or their agents at all meetings held by the African National Congress; and if he will make representations to them to cease this practice.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

The agreed proposals for a settlement make clear that during the test of acceptability normal political activities will be permitted to the satisfaction of the Pearce Commission, provided they are conducted in a peaceful and democratic manner.

The proper procedure is therefore that any complaints which the African Nationalist Council may have are for the Pearce Commission to consider and Bishop Muzorewa has in fact written to Lord Pearce on the matter. Lord Pearce has in turn taken it up with the Rhodesian authorities and has issued a statement on the current position in the following terms: The Commission were aware from the beginning that difficulties would arise over the phrase in the White Paper 'normal political activities will be permitted to the satisfaction of the Commission provided they are conducted in a peaceful and democratic manner'. On arrival therefore we set up procedures with the Rhodesian authorities which would enable us to try to overcome such difficulties. We have received a letter containing complaints from the Chairman of the African Nationalist Council on which we asked for answers from the Rhodesian Government. We have received answers to some of these enquiries. We have also now sought further information from the Chairman of the African Nationalist Council and have invited him to come and discuss the situation with us. He is doing so tomorrow. Undoubtedly there have been political meetings held by organisations both in favour and against the proposals which have been orderly. Some also have been disorderly. The contention of the Rhodesian Government is that they have a problem of law and order on their hands which, to cite the instances of Gwelo and Harari, cannot be denied. They hold that, as they promised us at the beginning, they have permitted meetings wherever considerations of law and order allowed. This is disputed. A general point of difficulty has arisen with regard to the refusal for political meetings in the Tribal Trust Lands. On our provision construction of the agreement the phrase 'normal political activities' must to some extent be read in the context of Rhodesian conditions. But we cannot accept that a total denial of any political activities can be read into an agreement which does not specifically exclude them. There is here a further and more difficult factual point. To say that there has been no political activity in any of the Tribal Trust Lands would seem untenable in the light of what our Commissioners have told us so far, although there may not have been political meetings as such. But it must be admitted that the Commissioners, for the most part, have not been working in the remote rural areas. When they reach those areas we do not know whether they will find evidence of any political activities or not. When our Commissioners return to Salisbury next week, we shall discuss these matters with them in the light of their experience and reports. The real question will be the degree to which freedom of political expression is permitted. If people are detained simply to silence them, then even in existing conditions it is not allowing normal political activity. We are loath to make a premature judgement on allegations and counter-allegations which are in our present state of knowledge hard to evaluate. Premature and possibly erroneous judgements will only serve to make our task even more difficult but we are keenly aware of the need to see that a fair balance between political activity and the maintenance of peaceful conditions is achieved.

Miss Lestor

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he took on the contents of the letter dated 22nd December from the General Secretary of the Labour Party regarding the proposed visit of a delegation of the Labour Party to Southern Rhodesia.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I have written to the General Secretary of the Labour Party and have been in touch with the right hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) about the general question of visits to Rhodesia by Parliamentarians.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the illegal Smith régime in Southern Rhodesia about its ban on the entry to that country of Sir Dingle Foot, Q.C.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I would refer the hon. Member to the information I gave the House on 17th and 19th January. I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 829, c. 42–4; c. 464–5.]

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning whipping as a penalty by the illegal régime of Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Although it has' been discontinued in the United Kingdom, corporal punishment is still practised in many countries in Africa. Rhodesian legislation prior to the illegal declaration of independence permitted corporal punishment.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the illegal Rhodesian régime concerning the proposed amendments to the Drugs Control Act, 1969, and Dangerous Drugs Act, 1955, whereby it is proposed to introduce penalties of whipping; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

None.

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Africans have been arrested in Rhodesia, or detained without trial, by the illegal Rhodesian régime since the publication of the Anglo-Rhodesian settlement proposals; and what representations has he made in connection therewith.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I have no information about the total number of arrests since the publication of the Settlement Proposals. Thirty-one persons then in detention were subsequently released in accordance with the undertaking given at that time by the Rhodesian authorities. There was, however, one new case of detention between the date on which the Settlement Proposals were published and 18th January when, as I informed the House on 19th January, Mr. Garfield Todd, his daughter and three Africans were placed in detention. In addition it is reported today that Mr. and Mrs. Chinamano have been detained and three people have been detained at Gwelo under 30-day Orders under Emergency Powers.

I have made no representations in the matter other than those of which I informed the House on 19th January.—[Vol. 829, c. 464.]

Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been expelled from the Hunyani area outside Gwelo in Rhodesia; and what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government in connection with this expulsion.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

If the hon. Member is referring to movements from European designated land in the Chilimanzi District, my information is that in 1970 some 2,000 families were moved variously to Que Que and Gokwo according to their choice. I have made no representations in the matter.