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Immorality Debate Speech In April 1957 two members of Todd’s party moved to amend the Immorality Act that forbade sexual relations between black males and white females outside of marriage proposing: “That the Immorality and Indecency Suppression Act be amended to prohibit illegal sexual intercourse between a European male and an African female.” Todd and other liberals in the Rhodesia United Party wanted to abolish the act, believing that the law was anachronistic, unenforceable, and simp m ply racially motivated. Ian Hancock argued that Todd’s opposition to the Immorality motion marks Todd’s transition to a true liberal that set him on a collision course with his cabinet and party.23 Hardwicke Holde m erness explained that whatever were Todd’s “reasons and however well expressed,” his opposition counted “as an indelible black mark against him as a politician looking for white votes and as a Prime Minister depended upon by his colleagues to command them.”24 Holderness correctly noted, “Garfield’s speech was well-researched and as conc m ciliatory as possible but uncompromising.”25 Todd presented carefully crafted arguments refuting the protection the law supposedly brought to women, exposing its racial nature, and showing it was unenforcea m able. He also thoroughly researched all the previous legislative debates from Rhodesian history. It shows Todd’s reasoning and argumentative abilities at his best. Despite Todd’s efforts the vote was 15 in favor of the motion, including all four of Todd’s cabinet ministers and 9 against, including Todd.26 The speech text is from the Southern Rhodes sian Legislative Debates, vol. 39, pp. 1327–39. The speech was delivered May 1, 1957. The Prime Minister: Mr. Speaker, I do not think any of us, whether we are for the motion or against the motion, are particularly happy this afternoon in this debate; but I know the hon. member who brought the motion forward did so with the very best of intentions, and I am sure whether we are for or against it we are all sincere in our intentions. At first glance, the motion which is before us seems perfectly clear. It is concerned prima facie, anyway, with morality. It sets a high standard and it treats European men and African women in the same way as the law of 1903 treats European women and African men, and on the face of it that would seem to be fair play. I would like to be on the side of morality and fair play. IMMORALITY DEBATE SPEECH 227 Casey.Rhetoric.indd 241 1/9/07 11:12:21 AM 228 POLITICAL SPEECHES But, Mr. Speaker, this is frankly a racial measure and not a measure which is concerned with morality. The hon. member for Eastern (Dr. Alexander) came nearer the point. I do not know whether he said he would support a Bill, but he almost went as far as to say that there should be a Bill to make all sexual relations outside of marriage illegal. That, at least, is being honest and going the whole way. I believe that the Act of 1903 has nothing whatever to do with the prese m ent situation, has nothing whatever to do with the protection of the women today. I would be the last person to suggest that we do away with any law which is really there to protect the women and girls of either the European race or the African race and if we do not have enough legal sanctions to prot m tect the women of both races, then I would certainly agree to sponsor such legislation in this House. But let us consider the legislation which we have already on our statute books and also, of course, to the provision under comm m mon law for some of the protection that is provided. Indeed, a great deal of it comes under the common law. As far as assault of any kind, whether ordin m nary assault or rape or attempted rape are concerned there are no statutes, but these matters are covered by the common law and covered fully. Then, in regard to indecent assault of any kind we have the Criminal Law Amendm m ment Act of 1953 and against other assaults of different kinds, immorality and so on, we have the Immorality and Indecency Suppression Act, Section 4. I hold that we have adequate laws to protect the women and girls of all races in this Colony. Then you may ask why...

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