POLICY ON MAU MAU

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 13

POLICY ON MAU MAU

Report Clears Officials

(N.Z. Press Association .Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 28. A report by a delegation of British M.P.’s has cleared the Kenya Administration of using harsh methods in the Mau Mau emergency, but a dispute is brewing because the report will not be available to the general public, says the “News Chronicle.” The delegation of seven, Conservative and Socialist M.P.’s was made up of members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It went to Kenya in January after long criticism of the Kenya Government’s methods. Its report is very favourable to the Administration and white community. It finds little to complain about detention camps, but recommends that detention without trial under the emergency should be abolished as soon as possible. It states its belief that the end of the colour bar will not be long delayed and gives the highest praise for the work of administrative and special departmental officers. It says the Administration displays leadership of the highest quality.

By tradition, reports of this sort are restricted by the association to full members —which means about 1000 copies to 545 M.P.’s, 267 peers and some Commonwealth branches. The main reason for the restriction is that it gives M.P.’s an opportunity of being more candid in their reports The “News Chronicle,” in a leading article, says the association should modify tradition and allow the public to share its discoveries.