LONDON: Racial discrimination was referred to in a question when Independent Member, Mr. Driberg asked if the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs Mr. Emrys Evans, had considered the statement on colour bar and racial discrimination issued by the conference of Mis­si­onary Societies in Britain and Ireland and if he would try to secure observance of the principles therein outlined by His Majesty’s Dominions, in which current practice fell short of these principles.

Mr. Evans replied: So far as self-governing territories are concerned, this is essentially a question of domestic jurisdiction and Viscount Cranborne, Dominion Secretary, is accordingly not in a position to take action in the sense suggested. [He] said that it would be very undesirable from every point of view to interfere in the affairs of one of the Dominions.

Mr. Driberg: Does the Minister endorse the sentiments of this noble document? No reply was given.

Sir Alfred Beit (Cons): Is it not a fact that few, if any, of the signatories of this document have had any recent experience in Southern Rhodesia and South Africa and are consequently entirely ignorant of the more tolerant attitude growing up there.

Mr. Driberg: That is quite misleading.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2020