asked the Prime Minister what reply he received to his message to President Nkrumah congratulating him on his escape from assassination.

I have received a personal message from President Nkrumah thanking me for the message I sent after the recent attempt on his life.

While I am sure that the House accepts the fact that it is perfectly permissible and understandable for the Prime Minister to congratulate any other Prime Minister who has escaped assassination, will the right hon. Gentleman answer two points? First, in the case of Ghana, is he aware that there are certain specific circumstances and the repression of black men by black men is no less repugnant than the repression of black men by white men? Will he make it perfectly clear that any congratulations he sent to President Nkrumah in no way implied the support of Her Majesty's Government for the policies of the Government of Ghana?

There are no circumstances I can think of which justify attempts at assassination.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has conveyed to President Nkrumah his congratulations on the part which the President played so nobly in attempting to arrest his would-be assassin?