International records / OpenAlex research

Macmillan and the ‘Wind of Change’, 1957–63

One of Harold Macmillan’s first moves was to instruct the Cabinet’s Colonial Policy Committee, on 28 January 1957, to do three things. First, it was to consider future constitutional developments and indicate which colonies would be ripe for independence in the near future. Secondly, it was to identify those which would qualify as full members of the Commonwealth and suggest an appropriate future for those which would not. Thirdly, he called for ‘something like a profit and loss account’ for each colony so that ministers would be aware what would be gained or lost by granting independence. 1 T…