SIR,—Taper's usual urbanity sharpens the point of his observations on
Lord Malvern, and his prophecy of a vast facial conflict only repeats of the Federation what had since the war been the only reasonable con- clusion to draw froth the internal policies of South Africa. As the ideologies of white South Africa rspread northward they will, and with increased momentum, bring about the same inevitable result. But even now when despair seems the only reason- able attitude I should be grateful if someone could explain why one possible chance would not work. Would not Dr. Banda and other African leaders be willing to withdraw for the present their claim for independence if Nyasaland were asked to link up and progress with Tanganyika? The advantage would seem to be the, at present, relatively harmonious atmosphere which in Tanganyika and Uganda goes with a lack of any major European settlement. The mention of settlers might lead some to fear that this proposal will only bring the conflict line farther north still, by some future attempt to foist a Rhodesian-type 'partnership' upon the East African territories with Kenya playing the role of senior 'partner.' It would be unrealistic not to fear this, but on the other hand the overwhelmingly African character of such a confederation would suggest grounds for hope.
At all events the Rhodesias must be denied the huge labour reserve that they hope to find in Nyasaland. And if in the future the settlers of Kenya iearn to live in a State of which Nyasaland forms a part, Lord Home's pet phrase 'apartheid in reverse' will be shown for the ludicrous thing it is.—Yours faithfully,
DAVID POCOCK 103 High Street, Kidlington, Oxford *
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