U.K. Race Speech Causes Storm

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31660, 22 April 1968, Page 11

U.K. Race Speech Causes Storm

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, April 21. A fiery speech about “immigration madness” by the Conservative defence spokesman, Enoch, Powell, provoked bitter argument today on Britain’s racial policies.

Mr Powell chose a sensitive issue—the continuing arrival of Asian, African and Caribbean immigrants, whose

numbers now total Political commentators said his speech in Birmingham, demanding drastic curbs on coloured immigration, was one of the most violent made in recent years on this topic. It left the opposition Conservative Party further split on the Labour Government’s race relations bill, which is due for debate in the House of Commons next Tuesday, and it shattered an uneasy truce that has kept explosive subjects, such as race, out of the party political debate. “Must Be Mad"’ He said that in 20 years the country would have 3,500,000 immigrants. “We must be mad, literally mad, as a nation to be permitting the annual inflow of some 50.000 dependants.” Mr Powell described the Government's proposed race relations bill, aimed at protecting the rights of the country's one million coloured people, as “like throwing a match on gunpowder.”

roughly one million. He told a party meeting that it was Conservative Party policy to stop immigration and encourage a policy of “re-emigration.” “Nobody can make an estimate of the numbers which, with generous grants and assistance, would choose either to return to their countries of origin or to go to other countries anxious to receive the manpower and skills they represent. “Nobody knows, because no ; such policy has yet been attempted," Mr Powell said. Bill Attacked He said immigrants living in his own constituency, Wolverhampton, came to him from time to time asking for assistance to return home. Mr Powell strongly attacked the new race bill, which is designed to prevent an explosive racial situation similar to that in the United States ever arising here. It provides for special courts to hear allegations of discrimination and permits coloured people to claim damages if they are discriminated against. The “New York Times” News Service reported that

Mr Powell said "whole areas” of Britain would come under black domination. The coloured influx had already made many white people “strangers in their own country.” He spoke of a white woman in his constituency being followed down the street by taunting “piccaninnies.” and another constituent as saying: “In this country in 15 to 20 years time the black man will have the whip hand over the white man.” David Ennals, Minister at the Home Office in charge of race relations, said the speech was extremely damaging and irresponsible. “Sheer Fantasy” He said Mr Powell’s figures on the growth of the coloured population were sheer fantasy and could have been given only to stimulate illfeeling and colour prejudice. A London Conservative member of Parliament. Nicholas Scott, said: “I am saddened to see the eager-1 ness with which Mr Powell is I assuming the mantle of Governor Wallace of Alabama.” Dr David Pitt, chairman of the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination, said the speech was irresponsible and a tragedy. Mr C. S. Panchi, leader of the Sikh community in Britain, said Mr Powell’s use of words like “funeral pyre” would make relations worse. A spokesman for another migrant organisation, Mr John Salakov, secretary of the Middle East African League, said he was considering prosecuting Mr Powell and had telegraphed Birmingham police that the speech was “incitement to racial hatred.” The “Sunday Mirror” in an j editorial today called the ! speech “rabble-rousing.” The i independent “Sunday Times” I said Mr Powell was crudely 'inflammatory. “By predicting la racial war in this country Ihe does his bit towards I bringing it about.”