§ Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the agreement made in London recently with the Chief Minister of Malaya for the granting of independence to the Federation by the 31st August, 1957, contained a provision that this date should be adhered to if possible; that this restrictive provision has created some confusion; and if he will therefore clarify what is meant by it.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere is no such confusion. Paragraph 75 of the agreed Report of the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Conference makes it clear that a constitution providing for full self-government and independence within the Commonwealth will be introduced at the earliest possible date consistent with the importance of the task before the proposed Constitutional Commission, and that every effort will be made by Her Majesty's Government and the Federation Government to achieve this by August, 1957.