New Moves in Kenya
Immediately before he returned from London to Kenya, Mr. Blundell, leader of the European elected members, said that he and the Colonial Secretary were in complete agreement on the new measures needed to bring the emergency to an end. These, presumably, were fully embodied in the policy state- ment made by the. Government of Kenya last week. Malayan methods have been adopted, after much indignant pressure from the settlers; the Governor has an emergency committee to see that decisions taken are put into effect at once; General Hinde, as Director of Operations, is responsible for the con- trol of all security forces and in this has authority over all officers of the Government; and down to district level there is to be a closer co-ordination of Administration and Army. " Unofficial" Europeans are brought at all levels into the emergency organisation, and the political decision, designed to prevent discontent from spreading among Africans and Asians, that there should be no constitutional changes during the emergency, is the price they have to pay for it. Mr. Blundell supported the Government's decision at a meeting of con- stituents at Nakuru on Sunday, where he also came down on the side of those settlers who think that the land of those found to be involved in Mau Mau should be declared forfeit and handed over to the loyal Kikuyu. There is little doubt that the Government will continue to resist this suggestion. Of all the grievances which allowed Mau Mau to grow among the Kikuyu, that concerning land was the first and most formidable, and to add to it now might well be to reduce instead of increase the numbers of loyalists.
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