CAB129-45 — Page 413

ANNEX III

308

Page 413

DRAFT STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS BY SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES ON DAY OF PUBLICATION OF CLOSER ASSOCIATION REPORT

The need for bringing about a closer association between Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland has been discussed for many years; but the problem has hitherto proved difficult of solution. In 1945 there was established, in the Central African Council, machinery designed to promote contact and co- ordination of policy between the Governments of the three Territories in matters of common interest to them. The Council is purely advisory and the arrangement has proved inadequate to its purpose. There is an increasing need for some form of closer association between the three Territories in the interests of their economic development, and of the prosperity and well-being of their inhabitants.

2. As I announced in my statement of 8th November, 1950,(') it was agreed between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the three Central African Governments, that senior officials from all four Governments should meet together to undertake a fresh examination of the problem in all its aspects, and to see whether it was possible to formulate proposals which they could recommend to their respective Governments. I made it clear that adequate opportunity would be afforded for public discussion of any proposals that might be put forward, and that full account would be taken of African opinion in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland before any change affecting African interests could be considered.

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3. The officials met accordingly in conference during March 1951. Their Report, which is published to-day as Cmd. and which is being simultaneously issued by the other Governments concerned, is unanimous on all points. Its main recommendation is that closer association between the three Territories ought to be brought about and that the need for this is urgent. It recommends further that this should be done not by amalgamation of the territories, but on a federal basis; and puts forward in some detail a scheme framed to take account of the special features of the Central African situation, including the self-governing status of Southern Rhodesia, and designed in particular to provide substantial safeguards for the interests of Africans. Moreover, those matters most closely affecting the life of Africans would, under the proposals in the Report, come within the territorial rather than the federal sphere; and within this sphere the Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland Governments would remain responsible, as at present, to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

4. Neither His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom nor the other Governments concerned are at this stage committing themselves to acceptance of any of the particular proposals in the Report, which is published as a basis for consideration and discussion. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, however, wish to say now that the proposals appear to them to embody a con- structive approach to the problem which deserves the careful consideration of all the peoples and Governments concerned.

When there has been time for this consideration, I hope to visit the Central African Territories with my Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. In Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland I should of course discuss the matter fully with representatives of the European and African inhabitants. The Government of Southern Rhodesia would by that time have received indications of the attitude of the inhabitants of that territory and this information would be available for the purpose of discussions which my Right Honourable Friend would have with Southern Rhodesian Ministers. Finally, in the light of these discussions, we should both attend a conference with Southern Rhodesian Ministers and representatives of the Governments and European and African communities of the two northern territories with a view to arriving at agreed conclusions to be laid before the respective legislatures.

Page 413 (1) Hansard, Col. 946–7.

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