HC Deb 13 December 1960 vol 632 c30W
74. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give an indication of the likely pace of constitutional advance in Nyasaland, following the introduction of the new Constitution agreed at the conference last August.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The Report of the Nyasaland Conference makes it clear that all delegates recognised that it would be necessary to give the new Constitution a reasonable period of trial; and for my part I said that I should require to be satisfied that the necessary experience in working the Constitution had been gained before recommending a further advance. These matters therefore do not depend upon me alone but in far greater measure on those who will be taking responsibilities in the new Legislature and the new Executive. I hope indeed that they will show the necessary sense of responsibility, but am equally certain that if I attempted to fix any term of years I would not be assisting them in their task or in creating the stability which all delegates to the Lancaster House Conference recognised was the necessary prerequisite for further constitutional advance.

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