§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements are being made for the conference with representatives of the Federation of the West Indies and of the Governments of which it is composed planned for September, 1959; and if Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to accept 22nd April, 1960, as the date for the recognition of the independence of the Federation.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Conference, which is due to open in Trinidad on 28th September, has been arranged by the Government of the Federation. It will be attended by representatives of the Federal Government and the ten federated territories. Its purpose is to consider the desirability of amending the Federal Constitution.
Recognition of the Federation dates from the 3rd January, 1958, when it came into existence. If the hon. Member 109W has in mind the achievement of independence, I would invite his attention to my remarks on this subject at the opening of the recent Leeward and Windward Islands Constitutional Conference, of which I am sending him a copy.