The British Imperial Establishment, Post Imperial Era, and the ‘Churchillian’ World View, 1945-2016. (Adjustments & Challenges in Contemporary British Diplomatic Strategy)

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the
threat from the U.S.S.R. and the spread of Communism to the remaining and
former British colonies
persuaded Macmillan to resume normal relations with the
United States as soon as possible, in conjunction
with continuing with the
decolonisation process. This latter point requires further examination at this
point,
in the context of MacMillan’s colonial policy.

MacMillan’s speech in Cape Town in 1960, from which extracts were
quoted earlier in this chapter, was
a clear indication of his policy towards the
colonies and a reflection of Oliver Stanley’s warning,
which was seen in his
speech also in this chapter. When Macmillan took office in 1957, the spread
of
Communism and the danger that the colonial people of Africa might fall into the
hands of the
socialist states, became a preoccupation for the new Prime Minister.
In 1959, one of the main architects
of modern colonial policy in Africa, Andrew
Cohen, urged that nationalism should be turned into an ally
against Communism.
He wrote, “if we confuse nationalism with Communism, we are doing a
most
harmful thing, because successful co-operation with nationalism is our greatest
bulwark against
Communism in Africa.”42 In line with this philosophy,
MacMillan
went ahead with the process of granting of full nationhood to the
remaining colonies, mainly in Africa.
By the time he left office, in 1963, a
Modern (British) Commonwealth had virtually reached completion.
MacMillan
recalled, in his autobiography, a conversation, during his 1960 visit to Africa,
that, as
he put it, was “with one of the men most experienced in these problems,
who had spent his life in
the Colonial Service.”43 Then Macmillan continued, by
saying,
“I asked him to give me his frank opinion whether the people over whose
destinies he was now
presiding were ready for independence… for this change for
which they are shouting so vigorously?
Freedom, freedom, freedom.”44 The reply
to MacMillan’s question
was ” oh no, of course, they are not ready for it. When
will they be ready?, in perhaps fifteen or
twenty years. They are learning fast; but
it will take at least that time before their leaders are ready
to take full

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