Did Dr EML Endeley initially advocate for an "Autonomous Southern Cameroons" OR an "Autonomous Region In an Independent Federation Of Nigeria"?
Why did John Ngu Foncha resist the whole idea of ending the trusteeship system 'abruptly', before settling down on the option of "independence by joining La Republique?
Did Any of them highlight the third option: "Complete Independence Of Southern Cameroons" ?
Future Of Southern Cameroons, Rival Policies Argued At The UN
Source: The Times Of September 24, 1959
What Sir Andrew Cohen, the British representative on the Trusteeship committee, described as an example of British parliamentary democracy at work occurred today when Mr. Foncha, Premier of the Southern Cameroons, and Dr. Endeley, leader of the Opposition in that country, appeared before the committee and argued different policies for settling the future of that territory.
The Southern Cameroons is to hold a plebiscite under United Nations auspices some time between December 15 and the end of April, 1960, to decide how and when the Present British trusteeship shall be ended; and there are conflicting views among its leaders on how the plebiscite should be framed and what issues should be put to the people.
Mr. Foncha argued in favour of continuation of the
trusteeship system "as an. interim measure" for economic reasons, so as
to " give the administering authority the chance to see what is wrong
with the territory's economy and to help us build it." He felt that any
abrupt decision to bring the present system to an end might bring
certain development schemes financed by the United Kingdom to a
standstill.
On the other hand, Dr. Endeley in effect asked that the
territory be allowed to continue " as an autonomous or self- governing
region in an independent federation of Nigeria," and he wanted this
to be the first alternative offered to his people at the forthcoming
plebiscite.
As the second alternative he wanted them to be asked
whether they wished to secede from Nigeria to effect reunification with
the Cameroons Republic (that is, the area formerly under French
administration). The British attitude towards these proposals is one
of benevolent neutrality, and the administering authority is prepared
to abide by the wishes of the people of the territory. The debate
continues.
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