African Federation
Mr. Lyttelton on Tuesday cleared up most of the uncertainties which had been caused by the news that the London confer- ence on Central African Federation had been put forward from July to April. He made it clear in the Commons that the April conference would not be asked to pronounce any final word on Federation. It would, if all went well, draw up a plan for Federafion; there would then be an interval for further reflection, and a second conference would meet in July at which, again if all went well, the constitution of the Federation would be ratified. African opinion would be represented at both conferences, and African delegates had been invited to come to London before the April conference opened so that they would be able to share with the four Governments concerned in drawing up the agenda for it. The principle of full African participation has therefore been unequivocally laid down; indeed, after the Victoria Falls conference had taken place there could be no going back on it. The only doubt which remains concerns what happens it full agreement— between the four Governments and the African delegates— cannot be reached in April. Recent misunderstandings, and some tactless speeches, have encouraged African apprehensions, and if their delegates arrive here in an incurably suspicious frame of mind it will be difficult to reason them out of their fears. African opinion should, however, take note, not only of the guarantees for their rights which Mr. Lyttelton stated should be an essential part of any constitution, but of the almost unanimous opinion in all parties that Federation is the best guarantee for Central Africa of political as of every other form of progress. •
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