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all members shared of the pressing need to reach a practicable solution of Central Africa's major problem.
100p In our sketch of the federal constitution for the-associated territories we have included no specific provision for its amendment. We do not, of course, regard the structure as one which should be immutable, but when the time comes-as we hope it shortly will-for establishing the federal Govern- ment we consider that Governments should indicate their intention that no major changes in the constitution should be made in the first five years of its existence. At some stage thereafter the detailed working of the scheme might require reviewing, but we suggest that the Governments should not commit themselves to any specific time for this.
101. We would emphasise once more our very real sense of urgency in this problem of bringing the Central African territories into an effective form of closer association. In order to assist our Governments in consulting public opinion in the territories we have drawn up our recommendations in detailed and concrete terms and in a form suitable for publication.
Acknowledgments
102. The members wish to express their indebtedness to Professor Wheare and to say that it has been of the greatest value to have had con- stantly at the disposal of the Conference the immense knowledge and the practical sagacity of one who is a pre-eminent authority on the science of government.
103. We all desire to place on record how much the Conference has been helped by the outstanding quality of the secretarial work. The Joint Secretaries, Mr. J. A. Atkinson (Cabinet Office), Mr. D. Williams (Colonial Office) and Mr. P. B. Lewis (Commonwealth Relations Office), working under conditions of great pressure, have most ably responded to all the severe demands upon them.
K. C. WHEARE W. L. DALE
Advisers.
J. A. ATKINSON
D. WILLIAMS
P. B. LEWIS
Secretaries.
On behalf of the Conference:
G. H. BAXTER
(United Kingdom), Chairman.
A. B. COHEN
(United Kingdom).
A. H. STRACHAN
(Southern Rhodesia).
R. C. S. STANLEY
(Northern Rhodesia).
C. W. F. FOOTMAN
(Nyasaland).
A. E. T. BENSON
(Central African Council).
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