50. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements have been made with the United Nations and the new Cameroons Government regarding the future government of the Southern Cameroons, the administration and security of the British region of the Trust Territory, the position of the Colonial Development Corporation and schemes under Colonial Development and Welfare funds, the British administrative and technical personnel and financial and other assistance.
§ Mr. MaudlingIn accordance with the United Nations Resolution of April last, British Trusteeship of the Southern Cameroons terminated on 1st October, 1961, on its joining with the Cameroun Republic in the new Federal Republic of Cameroon. The former Republic and Trust Territory are, as East and West Cameroon, both States in this 41W Federation and the division of responsibility between the Federal and State Governments is set out in the Federal Constitution.
I understand that the Federal Government have posted adequate security forces to West Cameroon to replace the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards which has now returned to this country. Some fifty British officers in administrative and technical posts have remained to serve the new Government and a former member of the Southern Cameroons Public Service is serving as British Consul at Buea.
Subject to Parliamentray approval, Her Majesty's Government intend to make a grant of £575,000 to the West Cameroon Government. Colonial Development and Welfare assistance has ceased because the Southern Cameroons as part of a foreign country is not eligible for it under the terms of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. While the Colonial Development Corporation will not be able to undertake new schemes in West Cameroon it will be able to continue its planned investment in the Cameroons Development Corporation.