EXILED AFRICAN CHIEF

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 123, 9 March 1950, Page 5

EXILED AFRICAN CHIEF

WIFE TO REMAIN IN SEROWE BRITISH GOVERNMENT CRITICISED (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) -CAPE TOWN, March 8. Mrs Ruth Khama announced in Serowe last night that, although her husband, Seretse Khama, Chief designate of the Bamangwatos, had been exiled from Bechuanaland, she would not leave the country.

Mrs Khama said she had a premonition that her husband would not be allowed to return to Bechuanaland from London, where he had gone for consultations with the British Government. Mrs Khama said the first news she had had of the British Government’s decision to bar Seretse Khama from Bechuanaland for five years came in a cablegram from him which said: “Tricked by British Government. Government to take over territory. Am barred from .the whole of Bechuanaland Protectorate.” Mrs Khama commented: “This is unbelievable. This sort of thing just cannot happen in Britain. I have always believed that the Socialist Government has no colour bar. What is poor Seretse going to do in London for the next five years How could any British Government be so wicked? “It is like a bad dream, and to think they nearly got me there too. It makes one ashamed of being British. Seretse is a good man. I love him with all my life. The tribe loves him, and wants him to be chief. “Those little nitwits in the Administration who have been hoping and praying that I would get fed up in a few weeks and scamper off back to London are going to be disappointed, I shall stick here till they carry me out, feet first.” The Serowe correspondents of the “Daily Express” and the “Daily Mail” report that Mrs Khama summoned a ngotla —a meeting in council of the whole Bamangwato tribe—to consider her position and that of her exiled husband. Mrs Khama’s marriage to Seretse Khama split the Bamangwato tribe into two factions. One wants Seretse Khama as Chief, and the other wants his uncle, Tshekedi. The news of Mrs Khama’s decision to stay in Bechuanaland' and bea.’ her child among Seretse Khama’s people is being spread over the whole vast territory by the drum beats of the bush telegraph. The summons to the tribal meeting will take about 24 hours to reach the remote villages. Observers in Serowe fear troube. STATEMENT INi COMMONS GOVERNMENT ACTION DEFENDED

(Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. Mr Patrick Gordon-Walker, Secretary: for the Commonwealth Relations, said in the House of Commons to-day that the Government had decided that recognition of Seretse Khama as chief of the Bamangwato tribe must be withheld for at least five years. The situation would be reviewed at the en<J of that period, he added. Seretse would hayfe to stay outside the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and could not visit it without permission. He would be paid a suitable allowance to provide for himself and his English wi £ e - , . „ , Mr Gordon Walker said that Seretse’s uncle, Tshekedi, would be required to reside outside the Bamangwato reserve while the chieftainship was in suspense. The District Commissioner would continue close supervision of the administration, and would exercise the functions of native ity. The British Government would explore every opportunity to give the native administration a more repiesentative character^ The leader of the Liberals, Mr Clement Davies, said he deeply regretted that the Government had felt compelled to reach such a decision. Mr Churchill described the Government’s handling of the affair as a “very discreditable transaction.” Replying to questions from other members, Mr Gordon Walker denied that the Government had tricked Seretse into coming to London. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR AMERICAN NEGROES’ TELEGRAM (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON', Mar. 8. • In London to-night Seretse said he might take the case to the Privy Council, but intended as soon as possible to return to Bechuanaland to see his wife. “I shall return by air, but whether I will be allowed to enter my territory I do not know.” Reuter’s Serowe correspondent says that Mrs Kliama to-day received a cable from Seretse, saying: “Do not leave unless on express orders from me.”

A trader in Serowe said he had seen lorry-loads of security police from outside the territory patrolling the sandtrack roads last night.

In Cape Town Sir Evelyn Baring, territorial High Commissioner, said he was arranging a meeting of Bamangwato headmen for Monday at Serowe, but the headmen said they would hold their own council and not attend his. Seretse’s banishment beeame an international affair to-night when Seretse received from a representative of United States negroes a message saying: “Fight on. We are with you.” At the same time the British National Council for Civil Liberties protested against the .“discrimination,” saying that Seretse’s marriage to a white woman was at the bottom of it.

In making the Government stateament which Seretse said “h(id been influenced by a petticoat government of wives and girls,” Mr Gordon Walker denied that Seretse’s marriage had influenced the Government’s decision. Seretse had been banished to prevent disorder among the tribe’s people, some of whom sided with Seretse’s uncle, the ex-Regent Tshekedi. Members on both sides of the House made it clear that they would raise

the subject again. They questioned Mr Gordon Walker, as to whether Britain could legally banish Seretse. Mr Churchil asked: “Is he to be stopped by force from returning?” to which the Government’s answer was “no.” The “Daily Exress,” in a leading article says the Government was guilty of monstrous conduct in sentencing Seretse to five years’ banishment. The man was freely and constitutionally chosen as leader by his own people, and had been rejected by the British Government because lie married the woman of his choice. By banishing Seretse, the Socialists have reduced the prestige of British justice throughout the world.