Birth of a Nation

A new nation--the British Caribbean Federation--was born in London last week as 16 delegates from the British West Indies signed a list of agreements over disputed points in its draft constitution. After ten years of planning and two weeks of tough, full-time bargaining, the mood of the signing was one of quiet satisfaction rather than jubilation. As he wrote his name, Trinidad's Albert Gomes put the feeling into words: "I am sure this is an excellent constitution--because it does not please any of us entirely."

Typical of those not entirely pleased was Jamaica's Chief Minister Norman Manley, who at first demanded almost complete and immediate self-government for the new member of the British Commonwealth. But bringing together Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Leeward and Windward Islands, with a population of 3,000,000 spread over 1,000 miles of water, clearly called for some compromise of Manley's demands. So strong was the compromise movement that the delegates even agreed to let a committee of outsiders help choose a capital site.

The agreement reached in London was the signal for Britain's Colonial Secretary Alan Lennox-Boyd to introduce a federation bill in the British Parliament before the summer recess. And it set in motion preparations for the 1958 election of the first legislature. Such far-reaching agreement did not go unmarked; the delegates voted unanimously that henceforth the birthday of the new nation, Feb. 23, would be known as Federation Day.

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