EVIDENCE DENIED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28958, 28 July 1959, Page 13

EVIDENCE DENIED

African Told Lies

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. Mr Dingle Foot, Q.C., a British Labour member of Parliament, confirmed last night that last month in London he called Mr Thomas Kama as a witness before the Devlin commission into the recent disorders in Nyasaland. A few hours earlier Mr Karua, a 25-year-old Tanganyika-born radio shop owner with stores in Blantyre and Tanganyika, had told reporters in London he had appeared before the commission in London and admitted that his earlier evidence before it on a “massacre plot” in Nyasaland was “all lies.” He added that he had come to London to tell the commission the truth. Mr Karua said he was at the bush meeting, from which he alleged the “massacre plot” was said to have originated, for about 20 minutes taking photographs.

He was arrested. He said he and others were detained under the emergency regulations. He was given a typewritten document which he was asked to sign.

It said that at the bush meeting it was agreed that in the event of Dr. Hastings Banda (Nyasaland African Congress leader) being arrested. Europeans, including Goverment officials, Asians and moderate Africans who were “considered to be Quislings, men, women, and children, should be murdered and that there should be general sabotage.” Mr Karua today said the bush conference was conducted in languages which he did not know, but he was satisfied that there was no suggestion of a massacre at the meeting. “There was no-one to defend us,” Mr Karua said, “and I thought it best to sign the document if they would release me.” He signed it, Mr Karua said, and was then released.