SERETSE CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 129, 16 March 1950, Page 5

SERETSE CASE

ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT NO CHANGE EXPECTED (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 10.0) LONDON, March 15. Seretse Khama the exiled chiefdesignate of the Bamangwato tribe, hasi sent a cable to his English wife, who is living in Serowe the tribal capital; saying: “Awaiting Government Q.K. to go home, fcxpectingj.it soon.” Reuter’s political correspondent, however, does not think the British Government is likely to reverse its decision oh Seretse.. The Bamangwato tribe, protesting against the five years’ exile imposed on Seretse, began “non-co-operation” today. Headmen refused to accept copies of the statement in Parliament by the Secretary for Commonwealth Relations bn the banning of Seretse. The tribal Regency of Tshekedi Khama, who is Seretse’s uncle, ended yesterday, and authority now rests with the district commissioner. - Reuter's political correspondent says that Britain’s Labour Government is expected to maintain its ban on Seretse Khama’s returning to the Baihangwato tribe in Bechuanaland in spite of the growing crisis within the Labour Party itself over the affair. The Secretary for Commonwealth Relations, Mr Gordon Walker, is expected to make another statement in l Parliament to-morrow in answer to a N question, but his answer is not considered likely to show any substantial climb-down in the Government’s attitude. , The “Evening News” says that the Seretse issue was raised at to-day’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, attended by Mr Attlee, Mr Gordon Walker, Mr Herbert Morrison and other Ministers. A group of Labour members of Parliament has enough supporters critical of Cabinet’s decision to 'exile Seretse Khama to justify a demand to the Prime Minister to reconsider the matter. Cabinet is likely to discuss this point of view at a meeting to-morrow before Mr Gordon Walker makes his statement in Parliament; The London centre of the Congress of Peoples Against Imperialism, of which the Labour member of Parliament, Mr Fenner Brockway, is chairman, to-day urged the movement to protest strongly against the Government’s decision to banish Seretse from Bechuanaland. * ’•