Nyasaland (Disturbances)

– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 25 February 1959.

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Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee 12:00, 25 February 1959

(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make regarding the disturbances in Nyasaland.

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

In carrying out their campaign for the secession of Nyasaland from the Central African Federation and for immediate self-government, the Nyasaland African Congress has recently been organising a number of meetings, some of which were unauthorised.

These culminated, on 20th February, in an incident at Karonga, in the Northern Province, in which a crowd of Africans attacked the police station and released a prisoner. During this disturbance an African District Assistant was injured and three African families in the police lines were attacked and injured. On the same day there was also rioting at Ncheu, in the Central Province, during which one African was injured.

There have also been disturbances at Blantyre and Fort Hill, and on 22nd February police vehicles were stoned. These disorders resulted in one African being killed in a car accident, one African seriously injured and four detained in hospital. Two European officers were also injured. A European woman was also injured at Fort Hill on 20th February.

To meet the situation the Governor has made full use of the police at his disposal and, at his request, the Northern Rhodesia Government have lent two platoons of mobile police. In addition, and also at the Governor's request, one battalion of the King's African Rifles has been sent to Nyasaland from Northern Rhodesia. Latest reports indicate that the situation today is quieter though remaining tense.

Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

Is it not significant that this disturbance should arise in a country which, until the advent of Federation, probably held a record in Africa for peaceful and harmonious race relations? May I ask the Under-Secretary to appreciate that what lies behind this is the fear of the people of Nyasaland that they are to be dominated by Southern Rhodesia?

Will he, therefore, take two matters urgently into account? First, that it would exacerbate the situation if any troops from Southern Rhodesia entered Nyasaland. Secondly, will he ensure that the Government's procrastination in producing the constitutional reforms which his Department has been pressed to produce ever since October, 1957, is ended, so that the Africans in Nyasaland may enter the 1960 conference knowing that they will be represented by their own people, who can express their point of view about their future in the Federation?

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

My noble Friend the Minister of State is due to leave for Nyasaland tomorrow, as the House knows. He had intended to have constitutional talks when he got there, but this latest development may complicate those discussions.

Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

Why has it been left so late? It was in the autumn of 1957 that the first discussions about these constitutional reforms took place and we were pressing the Colonial Secretary to publish them. For the last twelve months we have been warning him about the situation. Why leave it until so late before we start producing this Report?

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

I entirely reject the idea that there has been any undue delay—

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

There have been frequent discussions with Nyasaland and other members of the Federation.

Photo of Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke , Darwen

Will my hon. Friend tell the House whether or not the Governor, Sir Robert Armitage, is in touch with the Federal authorities in Salisbury?

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that there is close co-operation between the Governor and the Federation. As it happens, the three heads of Government— if I may so call them— of the three members of the Federation met in Salisbury on 20th February, and I had a telegram this morning from the Governor saying that he was working in the closest harmony with the Federal Government.

Photo of Mr James Griffiths Mr James Griffiths , Llanelli

It appears to those of us who seek to follow these events that one of the factors behind them is a fear that when 1960 comes Her Majesty's Government will seek to surrender the Protectorate status to the Federal Government.

To help remove this fear, will the Government state that they stand firmly by the declaration that they made in 1953, that there would be no amalgamation of these territories at the end of the period of Protectorate status except with the consent of the inhabitants of these territories?

In view of the suggestions made by some parties in Central Africa, will the hon. Gentleman repeat again, firmly, that there can be no departure from Protectorate status, no surrender of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia?

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

Her Majesty's Government have never departed from their pledges given at the time the Federation was introduced.

Photo of Mr James Johnson Mr James Johnson , Rugby

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the sister Protectorate in Northern Rhodesia, where the Africans are as equally adamant against federation as in Nyasaland, there is not this physical violence because they have a new Constitution which the African Congress is prepared to work, although it does not like it? Are not Her Majesty's Government to blame because of their procrastination in this matter? Are not the acts of violence which have occurred, and which I do not condone, due to this delay? Why has it been so long before the Minister of State has gone to Africa? Could he not have gone some months ago? We have warned him about the situation, yet he has delayed his visit.

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

I have already rejected the accusation of delay. I do not think that there has been any undue delay.

Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

Will the Under-Secretary make sure that the fullest publicity is given in Nyasaland to the statement which I understand him to have made, namely, that Dominion status will not be considered in 1960, as this would have a pacifying influence on the situation? Will he bear in mind that as long as the Nyasaland people are not represented by their own representatives this trouble will continue? Will he keep the House informed about the publication of the constitutional proposals and undertake that they will be published in the near future— certainly as soon as the Minister of State can return from his projected journey?

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

We must await the return of my noble Friend. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Of course we must; it would be ridiculous to do anything else, would it not? But we will keep the House informed.

Photo of Mr James Callaghan Mr James Callaghan Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee

What about the first part of my question? We must be clear on Dominion status.

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

If the hon. Member cares to read the clear statement I made, when it is published tomorrow in the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will find that it is unequivocal.

Photo of Mr James Griffiths Mr James Griffiths , Llanelli

This is a most important matter. It concerns a declaration made in 1953 in which all parties shared. I understand from what the Under-Secretary says that Her Majesty's Govern- ment stand by that declaration and that there will not be a grant of Dominion status.

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

I made it clear that we stood by the declaration and pledges which we gave.

Photo of Mr Emanuel Shinwell Mr Emanuel Shinwell , Easington

Is not the hon. Gentleman treating this matter somewhat lightly? Without entering into the merits of the question, of which I confess frankly that I know little or nothing— [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] Anyway, I am in good company—urely we do not want a repetition of the events in Cyprus and to discover that we have acted rather belatedly? Is it not better to try to get the matter settled and for the hon. Gentleman to tell the House that the Government regard this matter not with complacency, but very seriously?

Photo of Mr Julian Amery Mr Julian Amery , Preston North

I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman should think that I was regarding this matter lightly. I was asked a question about the situation in Nyasaland and I tried to give the House as much information as was in my possession. I thought that the right thing to do. But it is difficult to discuss the major underlying causes of that situation in the form of a Private Notice Question and supplementary questions and the answers to them.