Major Lyall Wilkes: I crave the indulgence of the House if, in my maiden speech, I draw the attention of the House to some of the grave issues that are emerging in Greece, not because they are important in themselves—although they certainly are—but because they are symptomatic also of what is happening in Europe as a whole. I was fortunate enough to serve in Greece during the last weeks of the German...
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will support the proposal made by the Soviet Government for the setting up of an allied control commission in Japan; and whether he will give an assurance that only a democratic Japanese Government which gives political freedom to all democratic parties, trades unions and co-operatives will be recognised by His Majesty's Government.
Major Lyall Wilkes: Arising out of that, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House if the Far Eastern Commission that was envisaged, is to be a purely advisory body or not?
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Dionysious Papodongonas, colonel of the Tripolis Security Battalion throughout the German occupation and the author of a congratulatory telegram to Hitler, dated 28th July, 1944, on the occasion of Hitler's escape from the attempt on his life, was recently posthumously promoted to the rank of major-general in the...
Major Lyall Wilkes: Is not my hon. Friend aware that this promotion was only cancelled as a result of nation-wide indignation expressed in Greece, and that, in fact, coupled with the promotion of Colonel Papadongonas was that of Colonel Dertilis, the leader of the Security Battalion? Does he not think it symptomatic of the present balance of forces in Greece at the moment that such promotions should be made?
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that out of the 22 members of the Resistance, who constituted the Liberation Committee and administered the town of Kalamata after its evacuation by the Germans and the Quisling administration, eight, including George Dallas and Brigadier Costopoulos, have been in gaol, without trial, since 1st March; that the charges...
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now make a statement regarding the proposals for constitutional reform in Nigeria, and when these are likely to be implemented.
Major Lyall Wilkes: When the Minister has formulated his final proposals for Nigeria, will he bear in mind the widespread protests made by Nigerian organisations against the proposed qualification of £100 for the exercise of the franchise in relation to the proposed central legislative council?
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to extend the representation of Africans by Africans in the Legislative Councils of Kenya and Northern Rhodesia.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the difficulties in the Bahamas regarding constitutional changes and the secret ballot have yet been resolved, and whether legislation has been passed.
Major Lyall Wilkes: Could my right hon. Friend tell us whether it is or is not true that on the basis of the present franchise in the Bahamas, only one-sixth of the population now enjoys any franchise rights at all?
Major Lyall Wilkes: I want to express my appreciation of the courtesy of the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton), who withdrew the subject he was to raise on the Motion for the Adjournment to allow me to bring before the House the extremely serious situation which is existing in Greece at the present moment. For the last 10 or 11 days Greece has been without an effective Government, and...
Major Lyall Wilkes: I apologise for interrupting my hon. Friend, who is very pressed for time. The point I wish to make is that our intervention has resulted in the present régime, and our non-intervention will quite likely keep in power the present régime which only rose to power by our intervention last December.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if there are any plans for raising the standard of living in the Colonies by the creation of public development corporations.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action his Department is proposing to take on the three Reports on Higher Education in the Colonies recently published.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will report on the reactions of the West Indian Legislatures to the proposals for West Indian federation.
Major Lyall Wilkes: In order to prevent this being put off, would the Minister consider making a time limit by which Legislatures should definitely give their opinions on this vitally important matter for the whole of the West Indies?
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of building trade apprentices who have been called up into the Forces since the end of the war with Germany; and whether, in view of the urgent need for such workers, he will request the future deferment of all those engaged in the building trade or who are apprenticed to it.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made by the Government of the U.S. to the British Government regarding the operations now in progress in Indonesia.
Major Lyall Wilkes: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any conversations have been begun with a view to recognising the government of Albania.