The Fight Against Mau Mau
Though there is evidence of the value of the Colonial Secretary's visit to Kenya in restoring some measure of confi- dence among the Europeans and the mass of Africans in the colony, the situation remains critical and the worst thing that could happen would be that it should become the subject of party controversy at home. Mr. Lyttelton in his appreciation of the effects of Mr. James Griffiths' visit to Kenya last year, and Mr. Griffiths in promising the support of the Opposition in all measures that might be necessary to crush the manifes- tation of primitive savagery which the Mau Mau outbreak represents, have done their best to ensure that that does not happen. It is to be hoped that on their return the two Labour members, Mr. Hale and Mr.- Brockway, who have been in Kenya, will maintain the same restraint which they would seem on the whole to have observed while there. Certain steps taken on the spot, such as the temporary impounding of large herds of the Kikuyu's cattle, as a means of extracting informa- tion about murders, may have aroused some little misgiving, but in such a matter as this, and in the decision to confer temporarily increased authority on district magistrates, the Governor and the Government of Kenya must be left entirely free. Mr. Griffiths was right in saying that the appointment of the Commission of which Sir Hugh Dow is to be the chairmbn should be completed at the earliest moment possible. No doubt the Colonial Secretary is equally anxious for that. It would be a mistake to hold up the announcement of names because replies to one or two invitations are still outstanding. It is. to be hoped; and assumed, that several of the names will be non-European. An early interim report, if possible, is much to be desired. Drift in Kenya must be avoided at any cost.
Previous page
