§ Mr. Russellasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the present constitutional position of the Northern and Southern Cameroons; and what further plebiscites are contemplated to determine their future.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Northern and Southern Cameroons together comprise the British Cameroons which is a United Nations Trust Territory. Her Majesty's Government are the Administering Authority. The territory is administered as an integral part of Nigeria, the Northern Cameroons forming part of the Northern Region and the Southern Cameroons having a separate administration within the Federation of Nigeria.
The United Nations have recommended that both parts of the territory should be constitutionally separated from Nigeria by the 1st October—when Nigeria expects to become independent—and that there should be separate plebiscites by March, 1961, in each part to ascertain whether the people wish to achieve independence as part of Nigeria or as part of the Republic of Cameroun.