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581 Chapter Twelve Declassified Secret Files 1960 NOTE OF A MEETING HELD IN THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON FRIDAY MORNING THE 25TH JANUARY, 1960 Present Mr. Eastwood (In the Chair) Sir Andrew Cohen U.K. Mission New York Mr. Caston U.K. Mission New York Mr. Jerrom Colonial Office Mr. Emanuel Colonial Office Mr. Ryrie Colonial Office Mr. Burr Colonial Office Mr. Browning Colonial Office Mr. Boothby, Head of African Department, Foreign Office Mr. Johnston, Ambassador-Designate to the Republic of the Cameroons Mr. Mitchell Foreign Office Mr. Hale Foreign Office The meeting was convened to discuss the question of what approaches should be made to the Republic of the Cameroons, in order to find out on what terms the British Cameroons would join the Republic of the Cameroons if the people so decided in the plebiscite. The meeting had before it a letter of 9th January from the Governor-General to Mr. Eastwood on this subject, enclosing a copy of Mr. Caston’s minute of the 6th January on the discussions which Sir Andrew Cohen had had in Nigeria on the Southern Cameroons. 2. Mr. Eastwood opened by reviewing the position on the terms on which the British Cameroons would go in with one or other of its neighbours. He said that it was hoped that the new Nigerian Government would renew the offer of Regional status for the Southern Cameroons; it was not practical politics to envisage the Northern Cameroons as a separate Region, 582 The Secrets of an Aborted Decolonisation but it might be offered the status of a separate province within the Northern Region. However, there was no certainty about the terms of association of either the Northern or the Southern Cameroons with the Republic of the Cameroons, and there had been little recent progress in discussions on this subject. Ahidjo had mentioned the possibility of a federation, but there was considerable doubt about the degree of autonomy which he had in mind. In reply to a question by Mr. Jerrom, Mr. Mitchell said that the report of the Committee on the constitution of the Republic of the Cameroons was scheduled to appear at the end of February. There would then be a referendum on the constitution followed by elections, but it was likely that the elections would be delayed until the summer. Sir Andrew Cohen said that at least in the initial stages M. Ahidjo’s internal position would be shaky. Nevertheless, he had accepted Mr. Foncha’s invitation to go to Buea in February to discuss terms of association. Mr. Foncha had in mind that general principles would be discussed at this meeting and details would be worked out subsequently. It was important that there should be no premature announcement of any purported decision on terms of association before the implications had been fully worked out. Southern Cameroons’ ministers should be approached with a view to preventing this and if possible it should be arranged for Mr. Johnston, our new Ambassador to the Republic, and Mr. Field to be present. In the discussions on points of detail which will follow an expert or experts should be present to ensure that the terms were reasonable and practicable. 3. Mr. Eastwood said that Mr. Wieschoff had spoken about the Cameroons problem on his recent visit to the Office. Mr. Wieschoff’s view (which he claimed was supported by the Secretary-General) was that there should be a meeting between Mr. Foncha, Dr. Endeley, M. Ahidjo, representatives of the Nigerian Government and possibly the U.K., presided over by the Secretary-General, to resolve the whole matter finally, thus avoiding the necessity of a plebiscite which was felt to be undesirable because of the security situation. Sir Andrew Cohen said that this did not seem acceptable; the United Nations had made a definite decision that a plebiscite should be held and he did not think that we should be a party to circumventing that decision. Nor was there any need for Nigeria to be involved in any talks with the Cameroons Republic. This was generally agreed. Mr. Boothby agreed with Sir Andrew Cohen that a diplomatic approach to the Cameroons Government would be the best way of handling the situation. 4. Mr. Eastwood said that it was not the object of the U.K. to obtain the best terms possible from Mr. Ahidjo, but simply to obtain from him a clear statement of his intentions; there was no question of the U.K. [18.118.140.108] Project...

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