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18. Sir Maurice Holmes said that he had been concerned

with ways of achieving unification of the public services

in the British Caribbean, Unification would be a step

forward, but he thought it was but an indifferent substitute

for federation of the services, the latter would make for

both greater efficiency and greater economy. He had, however,

found little enthusiasm for unification except from civil

servants and he thought that, unless federation could be

demonstrated beyond argument as being a cheaper form of

government, individual territories would be unwilling to

Co-operate. For this reason, he considered that it was

essential that the cost of a federal constitution should be

met by compensating savings in the local governments. In

some cases 50% and even 60% of the total colonial income was

spent on personal emoluments in spite of the fact that

salaries were generally low. He emphasised most strongly the

parochial outlook in most of the West Indian islands. Yet

they could never, he thought, achieve economic self-sufficiency

with the present top-heavy constitutional structures. He

agreed with Sir Hubert Rance in thinking there was little

realization in the West Indies that not only the pace, but

the nature of political advance must vary in different

territories. Many people from the smallest and least

economically viable islands confidently expected to attain

to full self-government. The sooner that they learnt from an

authoritative source what they could look for in the way of

constitutional advance, the better.

Future Arrangements: (Not on the Agenda)

19. It was suggested and agreed that Mr. A.B. Cohen C.M.G. 0.B.E. the Assistant Under-Secretary of State in the Colonial Office in charge of the African Division, should be invited

/to