Quarterly Chronicle

The Royal African Society

Quarterly ChronicleAuthor(s): Alan GraySource: African Affairs, Vol. 56, No. 222 (Jan., 1957), pp. 2-19Published by: Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal African SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/718197 .

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2

Quarterly IChromcle

Compiled by ALAN GRAY

nN October 31, an Anglo-Prench air offensive against the bases of the J Egyptian Air Force was launched from Cyprus. This followed the rejection by the Egyptian Government of the urgent appeal of the U.I. and French Govelxments to Egypt and Israel to stop all warlike action, to withdraw their military forces to a distance of ten miles from the Sanal, and to aBow Anglo-French forces to move temporanly into key positions at

Port Said, Ismailia and Suez. The Israel Govem- The Suez ment agreed to accede to the Anglo-French requestX

Canal provided that Egypt did the same. The Anglo- French air offensive was maintained through the

following five days. On November 5, Allied paratroops were dropped in the neighbourhood of Port Said at the northern entrance to the Canal. On the same day the bombing of Egyptian targets was halted. Briti.sh and French seaborne landings took place; the Allied troops secured control of Port Said and advanced down the side of the Canal to within a short distanc of Kantara. A cease-fire was put into effect by the British and French from midnight on November 6.

The following is a chronological sllmmaty of developments in the Middle East situation.

29th Oetober, Movement of Israeli forces into Sinai. 30tlx Oetober Anglb French communication to Egypt and Israel calling upon them to cease fighting, withdranv ten miles from the Suez CanAl and permit Angl>French forces to occupy Port Sad, Ismailia, and Suez. United Kingdom and France vetoed (1) U.S. resolution in Security Council calling for a cease fire, withdrawal of Israeli forces and calling on all U.N. members to. refrain from using force in the area; (2) Soviet resolution calling for cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Acceptance by Israel of the Anglo-Frcnch proposal on condition of Egyptian acceptance. Rejection of proposal by Egypt.

31st October, Anglo-French air attacks on Egyptian aJrfields began. U.N. Security Council discussed Egyptian complaint of " aggression " by U.K. and France and accepted Yugoslav resolution providin<, for an emergency session of the General Assembly under the " ting for peace " procedure. Soviet Government issued statement condemning the " aggression " against Egypt by Bntain and France.

1st November, Debate in U.K. House of Commons on Opposition motion of censure (defeated by 324 votes to 255), in the course of which Sir Antony Eden said that if the United Nations were willing to talse over the physical task of maintaining peace in the area, no one wouid be better pleased than Her Majesty's GoveInment. U.N. General Assembly met in emergency session. 2nd November, General Assembly adopted by 64 votes to 5 a U.S.



3 QUARELY CXRONICIE

resolution calling for a cease-fire and mthdrawal behind the armistice Imes Fall of Gaza to Israelis. Etian announcement of withdrawal of all fOrG.

from Sinia Deses t. 3rd November, U.K. and France replied to General Assembly re.solution

ginng their conditions for a cease-fire. Israel replied accepting a cease-fire if Egypt would do the same. Sir Anthony Eden made televised and radio broadcast to the nation. 4th Novembers General Assembly adopted by 57 votes to nil Canadian resolution requesting sSecretary-General to submit a plan ?or setting up Emergency United Nations Force. AssexlzbJy also adopted Afro-Asian resolution calling for implementation of the U.S. resolution of 2rld November and requesting the Secretavy-General to obtain compliance. Secretary General drew attention of U.K., French, Egyptian and Israeli Goveroments to the resolutions aIld asked f0r a hit to S mUitaw operations by 8 o'clock G*M.T. Egyptians replied acceptitlg a cease-fires Israel's reply aked a series c)f questions about the attltude and intentions of the Egyptian Governrnent General Assembly adopted by 57 lrotes to nil, with 19 abstentions, a resolution by Canada, Colombia and Norway establishing a

U.N. Command ?or mternation force recruited from countries other

than zrmanent mexulbers of the Security Council, and appointed General Burns as Ch.ef of Command. Disraptinn of Iraq Petroleum CompmyJs pipelines in Syria.

November b U.K. and France agreed to cease all military action as soon as a pl ?or international force accepted bv EGJPt and endorsed by Unlted Nations. Anglo-Fre7leh airborne lmdings at Port Sald. Bombing c)f Egyptian targets ceases. Marshal Bulganin sent messages to Sir Anthony Eden arld M. Mollet in early hours of 6th November, 1956, saying U.S S.R. " Fally determined to cresh aggressorsJ by use of forceX November 6 Anglo- French cease-fire to taXe effect from midnight.

8th November, debate in U.K. House of Commons, in which Middle i:ast CNSIS WA iscussed, on enbent to the Address, rTetting the failure of the Governunent to summon a conference of Commonwealth Pnme Ministers. &overnment majority of 58. Mr. Ben Gunon announced willingness to withdraw from Egypt uporl conclusion of satisfactory arrangements with the international force. Commlluiglle from Muslim members of Baffl,dad Pact condemning Tsraeli aggression and calling on Britain and France to withdranv their forces. A U.K. Foreign Office spokesman said that the views offeled both individually and collectively by these Governments had weighed hearrily in the declsi(n to bnng an end to military action in Egypt. 9th Novembor, President Nasser stated that clearing of the Canal could not bgn while any foreign troops remained on Egyptian soil. Sir Anthony Ederl in Commons welcomed 7-Power resoiution and stated that there was rLo objection in principle to the exclusion of contingents from permanent members of Security Council, and that the effectiveness of the force was the sole cnterion.

10th November, Sonet announcement thas if Britain, France and Israel did not withclraw all their forces, the Sonet Government would not hirlder



4 AFRICAN AFFAIRS

the departure of volunteers to take part in the stmggle of the Egyptian people. 12th November, U.N. announcement of agreement with Egypt on the acceptance of the U.N. force. Official announcement on Co radio of Egypt's conditions of acceptance.

The Foreign Secretary announced in the House of Commons on December 3 that Bntish and French troops would be withdrawn without delay from Port Said and the redoubt area. United Nations forces were expected to have assumed responsibility for the positions held by Allied troops by the middle of December. Work on clearing the canal was to begin as soon as postible. ALtied troops completelywithdrawn by Christmas.

A T UNO the iIlscnption of agenda items dealing with the treatment of non-Europeans of Indian origin by South Afnca and its administration

of the mandated territoIy of South-West Africa, led the Union to announce the withdrawal of its permanent representatlve from the United Nations. Announcing this in an address to the General Assemblyt, South Afnca's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eric Louw, complained of constant attacks

on his country by India and other Member States Africa over the past ten years, and eharged the United

at UNO Nations with having developed over that penod into a body which was now in conflict with some

of the pnnciples on which its Charter was based. The question of the treatment of people of Indian origin in the Union of

South Africa was discussed by the Assembly at its eighth session in 1953and in 1954, at its ninth session, the Assembly suggested that the Governments of India, Pakistan and South Africa should enter into direct negotiations on the question. In 1955 the Assembly noted that such rlegotiations had not been pursued, and urged the parties concerned to do so. The Governments of India and Pakistan, in requesting the inclusion of the item on the agenda for the Assembly's current session, said that they had requested the South Afncan Government to enter into negotiations but it had declined to do so. " In the meanwhile, the position of persons of Indian ongin in South Afnca has further deteriorated," and the Governments of India and Pakistan felt sure the Assembly would wish to " take further steps to bring about a peaceful and appropnate solution " of the problem.

In 1953, the Assembly reaffirmed earlier resolutions to the effect that South West Africa should be placed under a system of international trusteeship and established a seven member committee on South West Afnca. The committee's third report is before the Assembly's current session. In its report the committee expresses concern at South Africa's refusal to cozperate with it and states that it considers that the situation " requires close re- examination " by the Assembly.

In 1955 the Assembly noted " with regret " that the South Afncan Govern- ment had " again refused to co-operate " with the Commission set up in 1952 to study the racial situation in South Africa. Paragraphs of the resolution requesting the Commission to keep the situation under review and report



s QUARTERLY CHRONICZ

to the current session failed to receive the necessary two thirds majority and were deleted.

The future status of British Togoland, a U.N. tmst territory, will be deteed by the Assembly in consultation with the United Kingdom which is the administering authority. A plebiscite, the first ever held m a trust temtoxy, was carried out under U.N. supervision in May 1956 and in accordance with a resolution of the Assembly at its tenth session, to deteine the future of the territory. The report of the U.N. Plebiscite Commissioner, who stated that the plebiscite had been held in " an atmos phere of absolute freedom, impartiality and fairness," was examined by the Trusteeship Council in July 1956. The Council considered that the people of the territory had expressed themselves in favour of on with an isl- dependent Gold Coast and therefore recommended that the trusteeship agreement for the temtory should be terminated, effective upon the attain- ment of independence by the Gold Coast

A LTHOUGH the Gold Coast Government led by Dr. Nkrumah has had to

admit failure to get complete agreement to constitutional reformswth

the parliamentary opposition, it has recommended that the Order rn Council granting independence to the country should be based on the constitudonal proposals sn a VVhite Paper recently adopted by 70 to 25 votes in the Assem- bly.

According to the new proposals, the Govem- Gold Coast ment still maintains that on the attaiIlment of Diffee-ences independence the Gold Coast should become a

sovereign State within the Commonwealth, wtth the Queen as its head. The name of the country should be changed to " Ghana." There should be a Governor-General, to be appointed for a penod not exceeding five years by the Queen on the advice of the Gharla Government. The Governor-General will appoint all Mters and will have power on the advice of the Premier to remove any Minister.

On the passing of a censure motion in the National Assembly the Prerniet would resign immediately an.d order the dissolution of the Assembly and the holding of a general election. Supreme legislative power would be vested in Parliament, consisting of the Queen and the National Assembly. The life of the National Assembly should be five years.

As regards the judiciary, the Government proposed that after mdepend- ence an Act of Parliament should be passed providing for fied judicial service consisting of magistrates, judges, and justlces of appeal. The Chief Justice will be apposted by the GoveTnor-General acting on the advice cf the Premier. A judicial seruce commission would be established and its regulations made by the Governor-General. The new Constitution should pronde that any judge would be liable to suspension from duty pending his ultimate removal on an address of Parliament carried by not less than tw thirds of- all members praying for his suspension on grounds of his stated



6 MXIC ME

sbehavlour or infity of body or mind The powers of the judEcial committee of the Privy Council to entertairl appeals should be retainede

0n the question of aJnending the Conststution, the Wllite Paper recom- mends that provision should be made that this should not be possible except with the consent of a two-thirds majority of all members of the House. Ihe \hite Paper affirms the Government's earlier new that there should be a measure of devolution of powers from Central Government to the Rzonss Ae regional assemblies should have powers similar to those of the London Xunty Council, but such powers should come mto operation by a gradual process.

Arl Opposition sllggestion that a Council of State should be set up was rejected by t:he Goveinment. According to the Opposition,, the council shollld consist of the Governor-General, the heads of four Terntorial Councils, the

Premier9 the Leader of the Oppositiorl, and the Attorney-General. It should advise the Goveinor-General on the appointme:nt of members of the public sece commission, the appointment of judges, regulations concernirlg the judicial service and the public seruce commissions,, and local constitutional matters. The Government also rejected an Qpposition suggestion for a Second Chambere

The two maill Opposition parties, the NationS Liberation Movement and the Northern People's Party, have} in a joint resolution ?orwarded to the Scretary of State for the Colonies demarlded " separate independence for Ashant; and the Northern Territories, and ?or a partitiorl commission to divide the assets and liabilities of the Gold Coast amoIlg its four comporsent territones*" The Asanteman Council, at an emergency meeting to consider the report of the council's delegation to the recent discussionls on the constitu tion, decided t:hat since agreement could not be reached on the constitution ffie Secretaly of State for the Colonies should be aslced to grant independence b Ashanti and the Northern Temtories. See ;&lso 'tS4frican Affairs a West- mmsS " sn Ghss issue.

THE South Afncan Appeal Court at Bloemfontein has given judgment X m favour of the Government in the test case brought by two Coloured

toten to rhallenge the validity of the Senate Act. Eight judges concurred b the judgment delivered by the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice CcIltlivres, one judge, Mr. Justice Steyn, put in a separate judgment also dismissing the Coloureds' appeal and cxne judge3 Mr Justice Schreiner, delivered a judgment

allowng the appeal. The Government thus worl its CoWossreds Ltsse case by a majority of ten to one In the fiIlal stages

Yote Case of his jlldgment) the Chief Justice said: " The conclusions at which I arrive on the whek case u

that the lzslative scheme which was adopted (by the Government) is not open to attack in law. Each step taken m the scheme was taken in accordmce with the prourisions of the South Africa Act, and the scheme as a whole was desEned an such a way that Act 45 of 1951 (the Separate Representation of



7 QUwEY CHRONICZ

Voters Act) would be vAidated in accordance wth the requirements of Sections 35 and 152 of the South Afnca Act."

The effect of the judgment will be to remove the Coloured voters from the common roll which they share with Europeans in the Cape and place them. on a separate roll of their own. Through this roll they will elect four Europeans as their representatives ix} the House of Assembly, and two Europeans to look after thelr interests in the Cape Provincial Council. There will also be one white senator in the Upper House to represent Coloured interests thereP

Tvhe Chief Justice began his judgment by tracing the history of the case, he then went on to consider the arguments which had been put before the court. He said that if the Senate Act was tSen by itself it could not be held to be invalid, rlor could the Act validating the Separate Representation of Voters Act if taken by itself be held to be invalld. There could be no doubt that the object of passing the Senate Act had been to provide the Government wlth a two-thirds' majonty at a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament in order to pass the SLct validating the Separate Representation of Voters Act. In other wordss Mr. Justice Centlisres continued, the object had been to increase the membership of the Senate to provide the Goverrsment with a Xto-third's majority of both Houses a majority it did not command so long E the old Senate existed. The only inference from the affidavit put in by the Prime MiIlister d the admitted facts was that the sole reasorl why membership of the Sexlate had been increased was because it was desired to pronde the Government with a two-third's majority at a joint sitting to validate the Separate Representation of Voters Act.

In his opinion it ws clear from consideration of other provisions of the South Africa Act that the words " House of Parliarnent" in Section 152 meant the House of Assembly and the Senate as constituted from time to timeX It had been argued for the appellants that each and every power vested in the two Housen sitting bi-camerally must be read as being subject to the proviso of Section 152. The Chief Justlce said that it must be read so was, in his opinion, beyond doubt. As he understood the appellant's argu- ment the proviso should be constreed in such a manner as to invalidate Atly Act w;rhich destroyed any of the entrenched nghts when such an Act wa passed by means of a twothird's majonty which was artifically created for the vely purpose of passing that Act. But he knew of rlo authority to justify such a construction the Chief Justice observed.

II1 the present case the Senate Act which created the artificia1 majority was not hit by the prolriso, unless one read somethlng iLnto the proviso by imphcation. Bllt the appellants had expressly stated that they did not rely Orl any implication, and in his opinion they had beencorrect in that statement. They had relied strongly on the High Court of Parliament case. In the present case, however, it could not be said that the Senate was not a Senate in the ordinary meaning of the wcPrd, and if his view was correct, that the Senate Act was not hit by the proviso of Section 152, it followed that tl:se recon- stituted Sienate was a Senate in the ordinary meaning of that word. Parlia- ment, sitting b1-camerally,, had plenary powers to recoIlstitute the Senate in



8 AFRICAN AIRS

any manner it pleased, and the purpose or motive it had in mind was irrele- vant in law, the Chief Justice continued. In the present case each of the Acts with which they were concerned was inGra vires and each had been enacted by a I4slature competent to enact it. The plan had not been tob effect indirectly what Parliament had the power to achieve directly. Each step taken in the scheme was in accordance wth the provisions of the South Afnca Act.

Mr. Justice Schreiner in his dissenting judgment said the cruclal e was whether the Houses of Parliament referred to in Section 152 mcluded a House created by Parliament ad hoc, that is, in order to produce by nomination or similar device a two-thirds' majority at a joint sitting. If an ad hoc Senate could be created so could an ad hoc House of Assembly, Mr. Justice Schreiner said. In his view the proviso referred to was intended to furnish a real and not merely theoretical protection against anti-parliamentaxy majorities acting bi-camerally. A Senate constituted ad hoc forthe purpose of securing by nomination or the equivalent a two-thirds' majority in a con- templated joint sitting would not be a House of Parliarnent within the meaning of the proviso. In his view the Senate set up under the Senate Act was as certain to provide the requisite two-thirds' majority as if the names of its members had been scheduled to act or the Government had been empowered to nominate them all. The Senate Act was therefore part of a legislative plan to create a Senate which would in that way provide the two-thirds' majority required to remove the appellants from the common roll, and was only enacted for that purpose. For this reason he would allow the appeal and declare the South Africa Act Amendment Act of no legal force and effect, the dissenting judge concluded

THE military campaign to put down Mau Mau came virfually to an end 1 with the news that although the State of Emergency would continue, the

responsibility for maintaining law and order in Kenya would now revert to the Civil administratioIl. In the course of Princess Mazgaret's visit to East Afnca came the news of the capture of the Mau Mau leader, D. Kimathi who was brought to txial on a capital charge, found plty, and sentenced to death.

The progress and aims of Kenya's financial Kenya policy were renewed by the Kenya Minister for

Improvements Finance, Mr. E. A. Vausey, in a speech to a Kenya Settlers' Association in late October. " Although

the shooting side of the Emergency has almost ended," Mr. Vasey said, " it has left us with a legacy of increased expenditure on police, closer administration, prisons, etc., which has to be met and which is likely to mean that we must look to Britain for financial help for some years yet, until we have so built up our economy that it can provide, wvthout fatal strain, a sufficient revenue to meet expenditure and so make us financially independent again. That financial independence has been the point to which, within the limit of the situation in which we found ourselves, Government financial and development policy has been directed.'J



QUARTERLY CHRONICLE

The following points were made irl Mr. Vasey's speech. Since revenue in the 1955-56 financial year exceeded the forecast made in January 1956, Kenya was able to forgo the whole of the ?2 million loan made available by the United Kingdom Government for 195S56. By March 1957, Kenya urill have received from the United Kingdom free grants towards recurre.nt expenditure amounting to ?22 million, and interest-free loans Of ?3 million, smce the beginning of the Emergency in October 1952. In addition, the United Kingdom is making a free gift of ?5 million towards the Swynnerton plan for developing African agriculture.

The 3iyear development plan, which ends in June 1957 prondes for an expenditure of about ?21 million. This, however, does not represent the full programme of capital expenditure on development by the Kenya Govern- ment. The full programrne for this penod totals approximately ?35 million and includes over ?4 million for Mombasa water supply, ?3i million for the Swynnerton plan and ?2 million for the Central Housmg Board About 11.6 per cent has been allocated ts secunty buildings and measures, about 10.5 per cent to education, labour and land reqiirements, about 20.5 per cent to local government, health and housing measures, and about 37 per cent to agriculture) al husbandry and water development. Out of a total of ?157 million raised by overseas Commonwealth countries on the London market in the last five years, East Africa has obtained ?52 million, of which a third was raised by Kenya. In view of United Kingdom credit restnctions, it seems unlikely that Kenya will be able to raise from London and its own resources in combination as much as in recent years.

In the European elections the Independent Group led by Group CaptaJn L. R. Baggs won 8 out of the 14 seats for European members of the Legis-- lative Council. All the Federal Party candidates faileds as did the two representatives of the Capricorn Afnca Society. Mr. I. R. Maconochie Welwood, Minister thout Portfolio, lost his seat to Mrs. E. D. Hughes. Mr. Michael Blundell, Miriister for AgricultureJ had a large majority over his- F.I.P. opponent, but Mr. W. B. Havelock, Minister for Local Governslent, Health and Housing, won only by the narrow majonty of 23 totes. In the Asian constituencies Mr. I. E. Nathoo, Minister of Works, retained his seat comfortably.

The non-European elections are due to be held in March but early reports. suggested that there is widespread apathy among potential voters.

Proposals for constitutional changes, agreed in negotiations betweerx Euro, Afncan and Asian unofficial members of the Legislative COUI1Ci1, and presented through the Govemor, have been accepted by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for the Colonies. One of the aims of the proposals is to strengthen the non-Govemment side of the Legislative Council. The Council at present compuses, in addition to the Govemor and the Speaker, 26 ex-officio and nominated members and 28 unofficial members. (6 of whom are Ministers and 3 parliamentanr seeretanes).

The main proposals recommended by the unofficial members are the following:



o BRIwAN MFAIRS

There should be ediate appoirltments to four additional seats in the kislative Council: two additional seats for African representative members and two Xrther seats on the non-Goveinment side of the Council for persons nominated by the Gsvernor from name? submitted by the Kenya Board of Agriculture alld by the KeIlya Board of Commerce and Industry respect- slrely.

The composition of the Council o? Ministers should be amended fo include four EuropeaIl Ministers instead of three, and two African Ministers instead of one. There would be no addition to the number of Asim Ministers, which woid remam at twoo

Ex:tra seats should be created in the Legislative Council, within the framevork of the l954 constitlltional changes with the object of correcting the discrepancy iIl numbers between l:he Government md non-Government seats and of pronding ars opportty for Ministers to represent a wider sstion of the community $han a single consl;ituency, as at present. An exanination should be made of the total number of seats required and the method of selection; the seats would be created after the elections for AfriC.an members (and one Arab member) in March P957.

Awangements should be put in hand forthnth for the representation of hab inter.ests in the Council of Ministers by an Arab member of the Lss- lative Council to be appointed by the Goverllor for this purpose.

Whatever the outcome may be of the talks concerning the creation of extra seat;s in the Leslat;ve Council to be held iter the elections in March 1957, an additzonal Arab seat in the Legislative Council should be created.

A Kenya Government statementX issued at the same time, said: *t The C;overnment waImly weXcomes the joint statement by the various groups and agrees mth the recommendationsu The Government hzts sllbmitted the statement to the Secretaly of State reqalesting that the necessaxy constitutional aetion be taken with a wzew to the lmplementation cyf the proposed chaxlges; the Secretaxy of State has agreed to take steps aecordingly.t'

iEteviewing the improvemellt in the Man Mau situation since a year ago, the Golrernor of Kenya, Sir Evelyn Bag, ha said the black spots in the affected African land areas no longer exist and cattle thefts have been practically eliminatedg Eighteen months ago 51 major gang leaders were still at liberty; 2<0W there were only two. There weIe still between 2QO arsd 3CE merl hViDg E teuonsts> includiIlg Stdey Mathenge> szond-in command to 3Dedan Kimathi. If these terrorists were not pursued as actively as irl the past, they were perfectly capable Qf revinng Man Mau actinties. LE:ighteen rnonths ago there were 50,000 Man Mau detainees and 16,000 conuc$s, the figures now were 24,000 and 8}400 respectively. Ishe Govern- ment's policy stood orl two affirmatiorlsr ?irst, that each detainee must have his chance to work his way back into norrnal life; secondly, ixTeconcil- ables zvould not returne No Man Mau detainee o3r convict could be Slowed back unless his behaviour and the condition of the area to which he was returning gave sound reasons for believing that he would not agan become a menace to peace ald order. " The Kenya Government: regard no mm as



1X QUARERLY CHRONICLS

lost, and the most assiduous efforts are bg made and wiN be made to reclam him for societyS" Sir Evelyn said.

ERETSE Khamaf exiled chief of the Bamangwato tnbe of Bechllanalandt J has returned home as a pnvate citizen after sis years of absence. His European wife and their two ehildren joined him in Bechllanaland some weeks after hus valO This decision by the Bntish Government was made possible mainlyr by both Seretse and his uncle, the fonner RegentJ T.shekedi renouncmg any cl to the chieftainship either for themselares or their successors. The Gourernment hopes it rill be possible to govern the 13amang-

wato through a tribal counclt of which Rasebolas Serecse Kgamane, tne present African Authority will be

Go?s Home chaimlan. The following is tlle text of a statement issued

by the Cononwealth Relations Office: The Ear} of IIomet the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations

has9 at their request received Seretse Khama who is linng in Englalld and Tshekedi Khama, his uncle, who was on a visit to tEs country from the Bechxlanaland Protectorate.

Seretse Kharxla and Tshekedi Khama hallded to the Secretary of State a document signed by both in which Seretse Khama folmally renounced for himself aIld his childreIl all claim to the chieftainship of the Bamangwato tube, and Tshekedi Rhamas who had previously renounced for himsed and his children all claim to the chieftainshipJ reaffinned his renuIlciation.

Both Seretse Khama and Tsheked Khama expressed the hope that Seretse Khama would be allowed to return to the Banallgwato as a prilrate person and that both he and Tshekedi Khama would be permitted to take part in the political life of the tribe. Each o? them undertook to co-operate fillly svith Rasebolai Kgamane, the Afncan AU{OIitY appomted by tl:e High C;oissioner.

In these circumstances the (;overnment has decided that Seretse Khama should be permitted to retuno to the Protectorate as a private persotl and to t9e his fanily with him. The Resident Commissioner is being instructed to infoml the }3amangwato tnbe of Seretse's renurlciation and of the Govera- ment's decision. Her MajestyJs Goveroment have accepled their as>surances of ccv-operatioIl and agree that both Seretse Khama and Tshekedi Khama should? on Seretse's return, be free to play their part in tl:ae affairs of the Bammgwato.

II1 furtherance of the policy of the Government a Tribal CouncH Qf

adusory nature is to be established for the Bamangwato Rasebolai Kgamane, as the Africall Authority, will be chairman of this Council when it is estabs lished. Both Seretse Khama and Tshekedi Khama have declared that they are in full agreement with the establishment of a council and will lend their fill support to Rasebolai Kgamame in his capaclty as chairman.

It is the eamest hope of Her Majesty's Govemment that this settlement will enable the Bamangwato to forget their differences and to anite in



2 AFRIs^,AN MF?RS

worlcing for the progress and well-being of the tnbe and the whole of Bechuanaland, the statement ends.

When Seretse returned he addressed a big tnbal gathg at Serowe to explain his position to the Bamangwato He later caxTied out a tour of the fibal area to speak to smaller gathentlgs U1 remoter distncts.

CSIR De Villiers Graaff was unanimously elected leader of the Umted J Party at the national congress of the party meeting nn Nolrember at Bloemfontein. He succeeds Mr. J. G. Strauss, who has been unwell for some time. *. Strauss left for France on a recuperative holiday before the party congress started. In a letter addressed to the congress he gave details of his medical condition and he told the congress that his doctors expected

him to be completely recovered from his ill South African after a rest of three months. In his letter Mr. Strauss

Opposition offered himself for reZection as leader of the party, but he made it clear that he wished the congress to come to its own decision.

The dsision to elect a new leader was taken after an allday secret session of the congress. It was not wholly unexpected, alld Mr. Strauss's ill-health precipitated rather than created the feeling that there was need for a change of leadenhip. The topic was being discussed in the Press before thecongress, and several neurspapers which support the United Party suggested his resigIlation. A delegation of proniinent members of the party is said to have adused Mr. Strauss to retire just before he left for Europe. This is the first tirne the leader of a political party in South Afnca has offered himself for relection and been rejected.

Sir De Villiers Graaff has been looked upon as a comw leader since he entered the House of Assembly in 1948. An advocate and a man of assertive personality, he has revealed insight into the legal niceties of Nationalist ideological legislation, and is one of the few members who can debate such issues in terms that a layman can understand.

He was born m Cape Town on December 8 1913 eldest of three sons of the late Sw Dastid P;eter de Villiers Graaff, who senred in the Memman and Botha Cabinets until 1919. He becasne a baronet at the age of 17. After a whooling at the Diocesan College, he gamed his B.A. at the Uniltersity of Cape Town th disfinction in history axld constitutional law. At Oxford he took the degrees of B.C.L. and M.A. He continued his study of law at Leyden before being called at the Inner Temple.

He began practice at the Cape TowIl Bar in 1938, but two years later he volunteered as a pnvate in the Sixth Mounted Regiment. He gained his commission with the Midland Regiment, and was serving in it in the Second Division when he was captured at Tobruk. He, another South AfricaD, and two British officers were the only prisoners to escape from Oflag V.A. at Weinsberg, Gerrnany. He was recaptured after seven days.

He is one of South Afnca's experts on Fnesland cattle and all authority



13 QUARTERLY CIIRONICLE

on d. He has swum for the IJniversity of Cape Town, batted for Western Prourinee, won his Blue as a heavy-weight boxer, and is keen on

.. . . anglmg anz " plgeon racmg. Mr. Strauss becaJne leader of the United Party on the death of (kneral

Smuts. After the death of J. H Hofmeyr he becarne Smuts's choice as successor to the leadership of the party. The murmurs against the General's choice began almost from the start, and the displacement of Mr. Strauss is the result of a whispeg campaign that became open rebellion on the part of some U.P. members who broke away to form the Conservative Party whe the Coloured vote fight was at its height. He was born in Calia in 1900) and before going to the Bar was for a time pMvate secretary to General Smuts. He served in the last Smuts' Govemment as Minister of Agriculture,

A ZJETHER constitutional advance in Sierra Leone is envisaged in a

sessional paper presented to the Sierra Leone Lslative Council by

the Government of the teIntory and since approved by the Council. Subject to the approval of the United Kingdom Secretary of State for the Colonies, the new aJTangements provide for an enlarged legislature, the elected members of which, other than chiefsj will be returned by direct electiorl by secret ballot on a wide franchise.

Ihe new legislature, which will be called the Sierra Leone House of Representatives, m11 have 57 members

Aderances all of whom shall be literate in English, in addition to a Speaker, elected either from inside or outside

the House by the members by two-thirds majority. A Deputy Speaker will be elected from within the EIouse by a simple majority. The Governor, on ceasing to be president of the legislature) will retain the nght to convene and address the House. Seats will be distnbuted as follows:

Ex-officio members (Chief Secretaly, Attorney-General, Chief Commissioner for the Protectorate, Fmancial Secretary) .. .. 4 2 members elected from each of the present seven Colony constituencies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 2 members elected from each of the twelve districts in the Pro- tectorate .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 1 Paramount chief from each Protectorate distnct, selected by district eouncils .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 1 Member elected from Bo Urban Area .. .. .. .. 1 2 Members nominated to represent special interests (with power to speak but not to vote) .. .. .. .* .. .. 2

Broadly speaking, all Bntish subjects and protected persons, over the age of 21, in the Colony, will be entitled to vote if they fulfil certain residential and income qualifications, while in the Protectorate all male district tas- payers over 21 and women (subject to certain qualificatlons) may vote. It is expected that the new legislature will meet early in 1957.

With the Governor as president, the present legislaturthe Legislative Councilonsists of a vicFpresident, 7 ex-officio members, 7 members



1 4 MRICSJ ?RS

elected directly by the Colony area 14 members elected mdirectly by lzal government bodies to represent the ProtectorateJ alld 2 unoffiaal members nominated by the Goverllor, without territonal mterests, to represent trade and conerce. The creation of a larger and more representative legislature is the first of two stages in constitutional advance. An early duty of the new House of Representatives, according to the sessional paper, wiN be to consider proposals for changes ln the composihon and functions of the Executive Council ud related constitutional mattera.

The present Executive Council consists of the Governor as president, 4 ex-offao membersJ and not lew than 4 unofficial members appoirlted from among the elected members of the Legisladve CouncH. Slnce 1953 the unofficial members in the Executi>7e Council have each had responsibilitr as Ministers for certain departmexltal portfolios and, snce 1954, the leader of the majority party sn the lwslatllre and of the other Ministers sn the Executive Council has had the title of Chief Minister.

r sHE memonat statue to the late Field Marshal Smuts} erected un ParLa- * ment Square, Westster, by order of the House of Commons, " as m

expression of the admiration of this Hoase for his illustriolls career and its gratitude for his devoted serarice to the Commonwealth," was veed in November. Sir Winston Churchill was not present to uxlveil the statue v he had intended. His doctors had advised against his attendance. The

Speaker, Mr. W. S. Morrison, took his place. One Smuts Statue in of the Field Marshalts daughters, Mrs. Bancroft

London Clark, was present withherhusband and theirthree sons and three daughters. Lady Churchill and Lady

Eden a+red together. The lIigh Cossioner ?or the Union and }{rs. Holloway were there, together wth the Efigh Commissioner for the Federa- tion of Rhodesia and Nyasalxnd and Lady Rerlnie.

The Speaker arrived with the Secretary of State for CQmmOI1Wea1tH Relations, the Earl of Homes and was received by the Minister of Wsrks, Mr. P. Buchan*Hepburn. 33efore being fonnally inoted to unrefl the memOrsa1 the SPeaker greeted the SCU1PtOrS Sw JacOb EPSteina the Chief architect, Mr. Eric Beford, and Lord Harlech and the other members of the comrllittee who adused on the design.

The Speaker began by reading a message from Sir Winston Churchills who said he was grieved that he could not be present to salute tSle memoxy of his ald fnend. It was most fitting that a monument should be erected to show gratitude to Jan Smuts there in the centre of the Commonwealth and Empire that he served so long and so well. He would wish to remember Smuts in the wordls he used m Parliament four years ago: '? He did not belong to axly single State or nation; he fought for his own counky, he thought for the whole world."

The Speaker recalled that it was in 1951 that Lord Attlee, then Pnme M;nister, proposed to the House of Commons the idea of this memorial)



QUARTERLY C,flRONICLE

md his words were warmly echoed by Sw Winston Churchill and Mr. Clement lEanes, on behalf of the other tuto parties. A general election superriing, it fell to Sir Winston Churchill's lot as Prime Mixiister tcs set in motion the train of Parliamentary procedure to pse effect to the Houses decision.

So much had been said about Jaxl Smuts by vo.c ulore competent thm his own, the Spealer continueds that he hesitated to add his own impressions. He had his first talk with Smuts in Pretoria in 1934 d several m*tings with him afterwards. He remembered the last utterance he heard ?rom Smuts when he left this country for the last te. After a dtscussion, which ranged over heaven and earth; Smats said goodbye, and finally fised him th his bright steel-grey eyes and said with immense mealiing: '? h!lorrisont it is a great thing to be a mall-a great thing;" Those words did more tllan sum up Smuts's own achevemel:ts; they were m epitcxme of his attitude towards his fellow-men of all nations and creeds. He had never met a man lilie Smuts for combining harmoxliously two quaSities that in other mell often fought agst each sther. He we a much at home m the abstract as in the concrete sphere of actinty. He reve3Hed mv speculative philosophic discussion. His mind flew on strong pnions in that rrefied atmosphere. He was an intensely practical man of affairs and a formidable soldier; there was nothing of the absent-mmded professor about Smuts. His specula- tions were ennched by a great fund of practical krlowledge-<f menJ of beasts, of b?ds, of plts, of geolopcal formations. On the other hand, his immense practical energies were chastened arsd directed by visions of wider concepts and rnore ultirnate goal%.

After his gallant fight agst us, as one of Presidex}t Eruger's most able lieutenants, the Speaker believed his allegiance was first won for the Bnl:ish Comxnonwealth by the intellstual conception that with its ideals it was potentially a grsat force for the good of humw. It might be that later on he acquired an x?fection for the Bntish {ra.y of liE and for the fortitude of the Bntish people in war. But he remained throughout his life a great South African; his earliest loySty remed his lastw So it was fitting that his statue ffiould stand in that place upon a pedestal of South African grte. That wu the base on which he stood so EniLy and surely throughout his illustnous life.

The Speaker then unveiled the statue. It shows the Field Manhal, bare headed, face upred, hands behind his back, legs astride, d learling for- wardymbolising energy and concentration. The block of Trsl graIiite on which the statue stands bears the simple inscuption: " Jar Christian Smuts 187S1950."

A STATEMENT issued by the Southern Rhodesia Government says

agreement in principle has been reached between it on the one hand and

leading British steel manufacturers and other Bntish and Rllodesian financial interests on the otherJ to dbnationalise the Rhodesian Irc)n and Steel Industry. The agreement iIl detail has now beers drawn up alld, subjact to



16 AFRICAN MFAIRS

it being approved by all interested parties, a new Rhodesian public limited liability company under the name of the Rhodesian Rhodesian Steel Iron and Steel CoIporation Limited will be formed De-Nationalised ediately and will talie over the responsibilities of controlling and developing Rhodesian Iron and Steel Commission (RISCOtI) wth effect from January 1, 1957. Those likely to be involved in the new undertakings are: The Lmcashire Steel Coxporation LimitedJ Stewarts and Lloyds, Limited, Colonial Development Corporation, Anglo Amencan Corporation of South Africa, Limited, Messina (Transvaal) Development Company, Limited, Rhodesian Selection Trust Iixnited, The British South Africa Company, and the Southern Rhodesia Government. The compasy will be under the control of a board of directors on which the Sauthem Rhodesia Government will be represented. No one company will ive a controlling interest. The Lancashire Steel Coxporation, together with Stewarts and Lloyds, are arranging to be directly responsible to the board for the development programme of the iron and steel works at Redcliff and Bulawayo which are to be developed to conform with a more economic unit and to provide a greater tonnage and variety of stee] products. It is a condition of the agreement that extensive development will be put in hand immediately, and the necessaly finance has now been secured. The initial programme contemp]ates the completion within four to five years of a weQl-balanced unit producing 150,000 tons of ingots per annum and 500/600 tons of plg irorX per week for sale nsing later to 250,000 tons of firiished steel, and has been careflllly planned to coincide with the production of power from Kariba d the consequent easing of coal transport problems. It is estimated that the total development cost of the initial programme will be approximately eight million pounds (?8,000,000)^ and will include the erection of coke ovens, sintering plant, a large blast furnace, two additional open hearth furnaces alld extensive alterations to the rolling mills, together with the acqliisition of the RISCOM and Bukwe ore reserves. It will not be possible in the initial programme to erect a rod mill as the Erst essential is to increase the ingot production. The Government is, however, authonsed to state that the Lancashire Steel Corporation intends erectiDg for its own account a redrawing plarlt, and until it becomes econ- omically feasible to produce urire rod at Redcliff, rods will be imported from the Uxiited Kingdom. After a detailed independent investigation into the fixed and movable assets of the Commission including stock in trade, it has been accepted that subject to very minor adjustments the Southern Rhodesia Govemment's present investment is fairly represented by physical assets and as previously announced, this investment will be re-invested partly in eqliity shares in the new companyt and the balance in 4 per cent. Second Debenture Stock maturing in 30 years. The Government's ore reserves will not be capitalised, but in lieu a royalty will be paid on all iron ore and lime ertracted. In order to assist in financing the new development programme, the Government will re-illvest all interest accruing during the first five years.



17 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE

The Redcliff township, with the exception of the club and sports fields, will be retained by the Government but the new company will hold a five year option to take over this asset, valued at present at approximately 800,000 at book value. Du ing this option period all cost to the Government of runIiing the township including redemption and interest will be chargeable to the new company. To ensure continuance of an equitable system of distnbuting RISCOM products to consumers, The Rhodesian Steel Sales Company Limited will continue to operate and a Government representative will be appointed to this board.

Further detailed information will be announced later, when a Bill amend- ing the Iron and Steel Industry Act is presented to Parliament. The Govern- ment is, however, satisfied after a most detailed investigation, which has included no less than three independent technical reports, that the proposed de-nationalisation of the iron and steel industry in the Colony, accompanied as it will be by an expansion programme in keeping with development, is in the best interests of the Federation not only because it will give the greatest fillip to and foIm the foundation of industrial expansion particularly iIl the Rhodesian Midlands, but it will also enable the Federation to produce steel at a price which will compare favourably with the other steel producing countries of the world. Indeed) if an expansion programme is not proceeded with as soon as possible, the industry will be unable to absorb the inevitable rise in costs with the result that the price of steel will once more go out of balance as compared with other countries. The technical reports have indicated that not only can this be done once a balanced unit has been created, but that when this stage of development has been reached, profits can be made which will give a fair cash return to shareholders and, at the same time, will be sufficient to make an extensive contribution to the financing of further developments as the Federation expands. This is the policy adopted by all large steel concerns in the world, including South Africa, and it is the policy which will be adopted by the new organisation with the full support of the Government.

The statement concludes by saying that the vast improvement in production and management at RISCOM has been a major factor in bringing these negotiations to a successful conclusion and the Government of Southern Rhodesia wishes again to place on record its appreciation of the most valuable services of the Chairman and his Board and of the General Manager and Staff at Redcliff.

T EGISLATION providing for important changes in the structure of 12 government in Zanzibar and proposals for the introduction of common roll elections have recently been approved by the Zanzibar Legislative Council. The Arab unofficial members of the Legislative Council, who with- drew from its proceedings in June 1954, and refused to co-operate in dis- cussions on future constitutional advance, have resumed their seats, and



18 AFRICAN A1?FAIRS

Arab agreement to the new lwslation and pr Zanzibar posals has been obtained. In Marc}l 1956, the

Government Legislative Council passed a Bill giving legislative effect to proposals announced by the Bndsh

Resident in October 1955. Under these proposals the Sultan and his Heir will withdraw from the Executive Council, and a Privy Council, consisting of the British Resident, the Chief Secretary, the Attorney-GeneraJ, and three appointed members, will be established to advise the Sultan when requested.

The Executive Council as the chief instrument of policy, will compnse the Resident and seven ex-officio and official members together with three unofficial members of the Legislative Council who will have particular interests in certain departments and thus prepare the way for a miIiisterial system. The Legislative Council in addition to the Resident, who presides, will have 13 ex-officio and official members and 12 unofficial members.

In January 1956 Mr. W. F. Coutts (now Kenya Minister for Education, Labour and Lands) undertook an enquiry on behalf of the Zanzibar Govem- ment into the best method of choosing the 12 unofficial members of the expanded Legislative Council. In his report published on March 3, Mr. Coutts recommended that six of the seats should be filled by common roll elections. For this purpose the report proposed that three constituencies each returning two members, should be established and that voters, voting by secret ballot, should be adult males who are British subjects or British- protected persons and who possess certain qualifications of education property, income or Gosrernment service. The report also recommended that the remaining six seats should be filled from names submitted by the various racial communities.

In a sessional paper laid before the Legislative Coullcil the Zanzibar Government stated that it had studied Mr. Coutts's report and come to the conclusion that " it prorrides in general a sound basis for the next stage in constitutional development after the enlargement of the Legislative Council.... " The Government therefore proposed that the recommendations in the report be adopted, subject to certain modifications. The main modifications made by the Zan2ibar Government concern the nationality of electors the number of constituencies and the method of filling the remaining six unofficial seats in the Legislative Coullcil. The Govermnent proposed, in new of a widespread wish that this should be done, that the franchise should be restricted to subjects of the Sultan. It also proposed that instead of three two-member constituencies there should be six single-member constituencies.

To fill the remaining six unofficial seats, the Government proposed that, after a general election, any person qualified as a candidate for election should be entitled to offer himself as a candidate ?or one of the remaining seats provided he could obtain support for his candidature from not fewer than 100 registered electors, none of whom was similarly supporting another candidate. The final choice would rest with the Sultan, who would be advised by the British Resident. Although the Government proposals were



19 QUARTERLY CHRONICLE

adopted llnanimously by the Lepslative Council certain further changes may be made as a result of views expressed in the debate.

T ORD Malvern the first PIime Miriister of the Federation of Rllodesia and ]> Nyawlarld, announced his retirement at Salisbury on October 31,1956. He had been Pe Minister of Southern Rhodesia and subsequently of the Federation for a total unbroken time of 23 years. On his retirement, Lord Malvern received messages of congratulations from the Queen, Sir Anthony Eden, Pe Minister of Great Bntain, Lord Home, Secretaxy of State fx

Commonwealth Relations, Lord Llewellin, Gov- Lord Malvern ernor-General of the Federation, and Sir Robert

Retsoes Tredgold, Chief Justice of the Federation. Following the resignation of Lord Malvern

Sir Roy NVelensky was sworn in as Federal Pre Miruster by Sir Robert Tredgold, on November 1. At his first Press conference a few hours later Sir Roy aounced the members of his Cabinet.

The follog are the new Miriisterial appointments: The Hon. Sir Roy Welensky, C.M.G., M.P., Pnme Minister and Minister of External Affairs; Minister o? lDefence. The Hon. Sir Malcolm P. Barrow, C.B.E., M.P.- Minister of Home Affairs, Miniister of Power. The Hon. D. Macintpe, C.B.E. M.P; Miriister of Finance, Minister of Posts. The Hon. J. M. Caldicott, C.M>G., M.P.; Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Health, Minister of the Public Service. The Hon. J. M. Greenfield, C.M.G., Q.C., M.P.; Minister of Law, Minister of Education. The Hon. S. F. Owen, M.P.; Minister of Commerce and Industry. The Hon. W. H. Eastwood, C.B.E., MeP*; Minister of Transport and Works.

A message from the QueeIl to Lord Malvern on his retirement said: (' 0n your resignation from the high office of Prime hRinister of the Federation of Rl20desia and NyasaIand I wish to express to you my warm appreciation of your long and distmpshed service to your cotlatry and to the Common- wealth. I send my best wishes for your future happiness to you and Lady Malvern."

Born at Salisbury, Rhodesia, in 1907 of Polish father arld a Dutch South Afacan mother, Sir Roy Welensky became a firemaxl on the Beira and Mashoniand Railway at the age of 17. Two years later he became profes- sional heavyweight bog champion of Rhodesia and held the title against all comers until he gave up boxing three years later.

In 1923 he joined the Legislatlve Council (he was its youngest memVber) and he became a member of the Executive Council in 1930. In 1941 he accepted the post of Director of Manpower, and he was subsequently made C.M.G. for his services. In the penod immediately following the war he led the fight to have the system of royalties owned by the Chartered Com- parly rewsed.

2 Vo]. 56



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