WHITE SETTLERS’ HOPES DASHED Macmillan On Future Of Federation

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 13

WHITE SETTLERS’ HOPES DASHED

Macmillan On Future Of Federation

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SALISBURY, January 20. The British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) yesterday dashed the hopes of white settlers that the Central African Federation would get Dominion status in the near future.

The Federal Prime Minister (Sir Roy Welensky) has repeatedly said that his aim is Dominion status at the 1960 constitutional talks.

Today Mr Macmillan said his Government would not withdraw protection from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (which together with Southern Rhodesia make up the Federation) until it was clear that it was the expressed will of their people to enter into a full and independent federation.

Only when the northern territories advanced to fully responsible government could the Federation reach full independence and full partnership. Mr Macmillan also said his remarks at a press conference in Lagos last Wednesday had been misunderstood in some quarters. (He has been quoted as saying that the people of Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia would themselves decide in the end whether to stay in the Federation.) The Prime Minister quoted the “exact words” from a tape recording made at the Lagos press conference. “The Government of the United Kingdom has made it clearabundantly clear—that we will not remove the protection of the British Government to either of the northern territories—Northern Rhodesia or Nyasaland—until it is clear that the expressed wish of these peoples is to enter into a full and independent Federation,” he said. Mr Macmillan told his audience: “As you will see, I was speaking of an independent federation of the future.” Mr Macmillan said the Monckton Commission’s function was to advise how federation could best go forward. That was clear from

its terms of reference. “And I should like to make it plain that my Government stands by those terms of reference and looks to the commission to do a valuable and constructive job. I am confident that it will.” he said He made his remarks in an address to the Rhodesian National Affairs Association, and afterwards members said it was a clear hint that dominion status would not be given until the two northern territories wanted the Federation to achieve such status.

In - the meantime the more politically, socially and economically advanced Southern Rhodesia would have to wait. Observers saw in Mr Macmillan’s speech several implied criticisms of white Rhodesian attitudes.

When praising multi-racial education at the university, he said: “I look forward to the day when the same spirit will inspire your technical colleges and secondary schools.” He also stressed the point that all communities should have “their due share in government-” Demonstrators were conspiciously absent from outside the meeting. The only sign of political activity was the distribution of pamphlets by the League of Empire Loyalists.