– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 November 1964.
Mr Stephen Hastings
, Mid Bedfordshire
12:00,
19 November 1964
asked the Prime Minister whether the public officially authorised interview given by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations at London Airport on 27th October to a representative of Independent Television News on the subject of Southern Rhodesia represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
Yes, Sir.
Mr Stephen Hastings
, Mid Bedfordshire
Does the Prime Minister agree with what was said by his right hon. Friend? The question was:
Is there any truth in the allegation of Mr. Smith that the native political leaders have used intimidation"—
Mr. Deputy-Speaker:
Order. The hon. Member must not quote in a supplementary question.
Mr Stephen Hastings
, Mid Bedfordshire
In that case, may I ask this: would not the Prime Minister agree that the statement made by his right hon. Friend on that occasion represented to any normally constituted intelligence a direct incitement to subversion and violence in a legal government? Will he now condemn it?
Mr Harold Wilson
, Huyton
I have carefully read the statement. As the hon. Gentleman said, it was a television interview. I cannot think of any normally constituted intelligence that would read that into it. My right hon. Friend did in fact say specifically that unlawful methods were to be condemned. How that can be an incitement to violence I cannot see.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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