Uproar In House

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 13

Uproar In House

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, May 9.

Parliament erupted in near-chaotic scenes of anger tonight, with Nazi salutes and “Fascist” taunts, over the seizure of a former British Colonial Governor’s passport. Political tensions over Rhodesia flared into some of the worst uproar seen in the House of Commons for years.

a ence that I would be going to t other countries to do a job of sanction-busting—that is 0 what he means. It is well r known that I came here for t my step-son’s wedding, and f was due to leave tomorrow s for a holiday in Portugal, i- after which I was returning to Rhodesia.” s He had received no reply e to his request to see Mr - Thomson, he said. But later r tonight, the Commonwealth :■ Office said that Mr Thomson - had ordered a letter be sent . to Sir Frederick Crawford in- - viting him to get in touch with the department. » Lord Shepherd, Commonr wealth Minister of State, told ■ the House of Lords tonight s that the Government with- ; drew Sir Frederick Crawi ford’s passport because he s had given comfort to the I illegal Rhodesian regime, but in no way in a criminal sense, s he said. r ’ Posthumous Award ! i Baron Hasso Ruedt von Coli lenberg. First Secretary at the I West German Embassy in - Saigon, who was killed by 1 Viet Cong troops on Sunday. has been posthumously de- > clared an officer of the Viet- : namese Order of Merit by the [ Foreign Minister (Mr Tran ■ Van Do). —Saigon, May 10.

Conservative Opposition members jeered Government Ministers for their refusal to say why the former Governor of Uganda, Sir Frederick Crawford, now a resident of breakaway Rhodesia, had his passport confiscated at London Airport on Tuesday. Conservative Party leaders tonight tabled a censure motion condemning the Government’s treatment of Sir Frederick Crawford, a director of a giant gold and coppermining firm in South Africa. It will be debated next Tuesday. The row erupted after the Commonwealth Secretary (Mr Thomson) had told questioners that it was not in the public interest to disclose the reasons for impounding the passport, or to let “this gentleman go travelling round to other countries.” He denied a taunt by the Conservative leader, Mr Heath, that it was a “nasty, petty, spiteful, arbitrary act." Sir Frederick Crawford’s passport was confiscated on tiis arrival by air in London on Tuesday. He was issued with travel documents instead, which would get him back to Rhodesia. Informed of Mr Thomson’s statement. Sir Frederick Crawford told reporters: “I strongly deplore the infer-