Negotiating the End of the British Empire in Africa, 1959-1964: Conferences, Commissions and Decolonisation (Cambridge Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies)

"This book examines conferences and commissions held for British colonial territories in East and Central Africa in the early 1960s. Until 1960, the British and colonial governments regularly employed hard methods of colonial management in East and Central Africa, such as instituting states of emergency and imprisoning political leaders. A series of events at the end of the 1950s made hard measures no longer feasible, including criticism from the United Nations. As a result, softer measures became more prevalent, and the use of constitutional conferences and commissions became an increasingly important tool for the British government in seeking to manage colonial affairs. During the period 1960-64, a staggering sixteen conferences and ten constitutional commissions were held for British colonies in East and Central Africa. This book is the first of its kind to provide a detailed overview of how the British sought to make use of these events to control and manage the pace of change. The author also demonstrates how commissions and conferences helped shape politics and African popular opinion in the early 1960s. Whilst giving the British government temporary respite, conferences and commissions ultimately accelerated the decolonisation process by transferring more power to African political parties and engendering softer perceptions on both sides. Presenting both British and African perspectives, this book offers an innovative exploration into the way that these episodes played an important part in the decolonisation of Africa. It shows that far from being dry and technical events, conferences and commissions were occasions of drama that tell us much about how the British government and those in Africa engaged with the last days of empire. " Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction Imperial Control: ‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ Measures The Turn to Softer Measures in Africa Conference and Commission Engagement in Africa The Effect of Conferences and Commissions on the Decolonisation Process Commissions and Conferences as Subjects of Study The Commissions and Conferences Examined Sources Available Chapter Outlines Chapter 2: Breathing Spaces and Leverage: Reasons Behind the African Conferences and Commissions Part One: The African Conferences and Commissions in Context Conferences Commissions Part Two: Why the Commissions Were Held Part Three: Why the Conferences Were Held Conclusion Chapter 3: Commissions and British Governmental Control Choosing the Chairmen Choosing Commission Members Commission or Committee? Setting the Terms of Reference Commission Supervision Conclusion Chapter 4: Conferences and British Governmental Control Part One: The Conference Objectives of the British and Colonial Governments General Considerations The Specific Conference Objectives of the British Government 1. Gradual Constitutional Advance 2. Trade-offs 3. An East African Federation 4. Acceleration of British Withdrawal 5. Cementing Post-Colonial Relations? Muddled Objectives Who Determined British and Colonial Conference Policy? Part Two: Tactics Used by the British and Colonial Governments to Achieve Their Conference Objectives Conference Location and Venue Vetting Delegates ‘Softening Up’ Talks Use of Intelligence Services Tactics Used at the Conference Sessions Hospitality Control of Proceedings Use of Experts Private Dialogue Press Management Use of the Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury? Management of Post-Conference Matters Conclusion Chapter 5: Strengthening Voices: Constitutional Commissions and Popular Opinion and Politics in Africa Introduction Popularity of the African Commissions The Importance of Commissions to Local Populations Nature of Representations Made to the Commissions The Influence of the Commissions on African Politics Conclusion Chapter 6: Conferences and Popular Opinion and Politics in Africa in the Wind of Change Era Part One: Popular Opinion Part Two: African Politicians and Party Politics Use Made of Conferences by Politicians in Africa Hastings Banda Kenneth Kaunda Milton Obote Political Alliances and Divisions Party Submissions and Conference Tactics Part Three: Women at the Conferences Conclusion Chapter 7: Successes, Failures, and Consequences of the Commissions and Conferences Commissions and British Disappointment Difficulties in Exercising Control Commissions and the Pace of Change Conference Outcomes Failures Decolonisation Through Conferences The Use of Conferences and Commissions by Other Colonial Powers in Africa Conferences and Conservative Party Politics Conclusion Chapter 8: Conclusion Appendix A: London Decolonisation Conferences 1930–1965 Appendix B: Key Information Relating to the Commissions Basutoland Central African Federation Kenya Swaziland Tanganyika Uganda Zanzibar Bibliography A. Unpublished Primary Sources B. Online Sources C. Government Publications Great Britain Colonial Governments Lesotho Tanzania Uganda Zambia D. International Organisations E. Published Primary Sources Autobiographies and Memoirs Printed Collection of Primary Resources Contemporary Articles and Books Newspapers F. Interview G. Published Secondary Sources PhD Theses and MA Dissertations Books and Articles Index "Peter Docking's book successfully presents a crucial stage in the decolonisation of Africa by covering the vital conference and commission factor. These are often mentioned, but seldom investigated in depth in the existing literature, despite their significance. This invaluable book provides this missing analysis and much more." --H. Kumarasingham, University of Edinburgh, UK This book examines conferences and commissions held for British colonial territories in east and central Africa in the early 1960s. Until 1960, the British and colonial governments regularly employed hard methods of colonial management in east and central Africa, such as instituting states of emergency and imprisoning political leaders. A series of events at the end of the 1950s made hard measures no longer feasible, including criticism from the United Nations. As a result, softer measures became more prevalent, and the use of constitutional conferences and commissions became an increasingly important tool for the British government in seeking to manage colonial affairs. During the period 1960-64, a staggering 16 conferences and 10 constitutional commissions were held for British colonies in east and central Africa. This book is the first of its kind to provide a detailed overview of how the British sought to make use of these events to control and manage the pace of change. The author also demonstrates how commissions and conferences helped shape politics and African popular opinion in the early 1960s. Whilst giving the British government temporary respite, conferences and commissions ultimately accelerated the decolonisation process by transferring more power to African political parties and engendering softer perceptions on both sides. Presenting both British and African perspectives, this book offers an innovative exploration into the way that these episodes played an important part in the decolonisation of Africa. It shows that far from being dry and technical events, conferences and commissions were occasions of drama that tell us much about how the British government and those in Africa engaged with the last days of empire. Peter Docking is a visitor in the history department at King's College, London, where he gained his PhD. He is a former solicitor. Peter has research interests in decolonisation and the role of international conferences.