SERETSE CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 127, 14 March 1950, Page 3

SERETSE CASE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED THE KING ASKED TO INTERVENE (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright) LONDON, March 13. A largely-attended meeting in London last night decided to petition the King against the handling ‘ of' the Seretse Khama case. Seretse Khama, Chief-designate of fTie Bamangwato tribe in Bechuanaland, was recently banned by the British Government from returning to Bechuanaland for five years. Copies of a resolution carried at last night’s meeting will be sent to Mr Attlee, the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr P. Gordon Walker), the Colonial Secretary (Mr James Griffiths), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Churchill), and the United Nations. The meeting, which was organised by the recently formed Seretse Khama Fighting Committee, heard addresses by Seretse Khama, Mr Leary Constantine, the West Indies cricketer, and by speakers from several parts of Africq, India, Burma and the 'West Indies. The resolution accused the British Government of a flagrant violation of civil liberties, of acting contrary to the principles of Western democracy, of bowing to the “racialist doctrines” of the South African Government, and df weakening the Bamangwato tribe. It appealed to the British people to see justice done, and asked that Seretse Khama be returned to the Bamangwato tribe as Chief. One speaker at the meeting was a Labour member of the House df Commons. He said, he hoped to raise the issue of Seretse Khama in the House. Meeting Boycotted London political quarters say that the Government is likely to make an early statement clarifying its decision, to exile Seretse Khama and his white wife from bechuanaland. Some Labour members* of the House of Commons are deeply concerned by ‘ the human and political issues which the decision has raised, and they are expected to force a debate on the affair. Reports from Serowe say that the elders of the tribe have ordered, the Bamangwatos to boycott the tribal meeting to-day, when the British High Commissioner in Bechuanaland (Sir 1 Evelyn Baring) is scheduled to announce the decision to ban Seretse Khama’s return from London. The elders said that the Administration had promised not to hold any t meeting in Seretse Khama’s absence —and anyway, only the Chief could call such a meeting. ft, is the first time in more than ufi years of British rule that the tribesmen have snubbed a representative of the King. Seretse Khama’s white wife at first opposed the boycott, but when she heard the elders’ decision she said: “This will boost Seretse’s morale no end.” 'ln spite of the boycott, Sir Evelyn Baring arrived in Serowe yesterday for the meeting. He will talk to reporters instead of to the tribesmen.

WILL PAY NO TAXES DECISION BY TRIBE (Rec. 10 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, Mar. 13. Bamagwato tribesmen to-day completely boycotted the Kgotla (tribal gathering) called by Sir Evelyn Baring, British High Commissioner, to announce the decision banning Seretse Kharria frorh. the chieftainship of the tribe for five years. The spokesman of the tribe later informed the British Administration that, the tribe would pay no further taxes without Seretse Khama’s authority, and would not co-operate with the Administration. The tribal decision was contained in a statement on future policy, prepared and signed by the tribal leaders. It said: “The tribe pledges undivided loyalty to Serfetso and the Royal House of Khama, and dedicates itself to fight action by the British Government to the utmost limit of its resources. There will be no co-operation whatever during Seretse’s exclusion from the territory between the tribe and the Administration. Any orders by or emanating from the newly-constituted African authority will not be obeyed by the tribe. To that end the tribe shall henceforth cease to pay taxes without the authority of its hereditary chief.” The statement added that the introduction of direct rule without the consent of the tribe and prior consultation with it was “totally unacceptable.” Gathering Called Off Elders and headmen of the tribe are .preparing a press statement listing their complaints against the British Government. The High Commissioner called the tribal gathering off when he found present only a few traders, reporters, photographers, newsreel men and police. He told a press conference that Seretse would be allowed to be with his wife when their child was horn, “unless consideration of law and order dictates otherwise.” The Commissioner said that Ruth Khama’s movements would not be interfered with either. The presence in the territory of Seretse or his uncle, Tshekedi Khama, former Regent, who went into exile, would he a danger to peace and good order, but he felt that the presence of Seretse at the present moment would be a lesser danger. He felt the Governmnt had to stop the development of what might have become “one of the worst dynastic feuds ever seen.” At the Commissioner’s request, (50 members of the Southern Rhodesian Police Force have been sent to Bechuanaland to preserve order.