Sarawak (Mr Anthony Brooke)

5.

Mr. William Teeling
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is yet in a position to state when Mr. Anthony Brooke will be allowed to land in Sarawak.

Mr. Creech Jones
No, Sir. The Government of Sarawak have recently stated that the entry of Mr. Anthony Brooke into Sarawak is still prohibited.

Mr. Teeling
Does the right hon. Gentleman remember that in the December Debate on the subject he said that six months was the period which they would wait and that if things were then going well in Sarawak there would be no reason why Mr. Brooke should not enter the country; and are we to understand either that things are not satisfactory in Sarawak or that Mr. Brooke has been doing something which we should disapprove? Is he not, after all, a perfectly ordinary British subject who should have the right of entry?

Mr. Creech Jones
I am not aware that I gave any such promise of a six months' period, but if Mr. Anthony Brooke wishes to go to Sarawak, surely, he should make application to the Government there?

Mr. Teeling
Is it not true that the right hon. Gentleman has said that the Government have stated that he would not be allowed to go?

Mr. Creech Jones
I said that the Government of Sarawak had recently stated that Mr. Brooke was still prohibited from entering the country. Surely, it is still open for him to make application?

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge
Since it is true that Mrs. Anthony Brooke has recently made application and has in fact been allowed to enter Sarawak does it not seem extraordinary that her husband cannot accompany her?

Mr. Creech Jones
But surely the wife is not the husband?