The suspension of the Constitution, 1953-1954

folder

Held at the Weston Library

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Contains:

(fols. 1-39) correspondence, arranged alphabetically, Jan-Nov 1953:

(fols. 1-4) correspondence with Robert Adams, an Independent candidate during the recent elections. Topics include the Constitutional crisis (Oct 1953), the policy of the People's Progressive Party, the report of the Constitutional Commission (Chairman: Sir James Robertson), and George Padmore's book, Gold Coast Revolution, 26 Oct 1953 - 26 Jul 1954
(fols. 5-6) cable from John Carter to Rita Hinden about an alleged case of discrimination over a commission in the British Guiana (Guyana) police, [1953?]
(fol. 7) letter from Beryl Cross, on a visit to the West Indies, about her tour of British Guiana (Guyana), including the Lethem district, with references to consumer co-operatives, sugar, rum, forestry, cattle-ranching, the Colonial Development Corporation, community development at Bartica, and the rice and sugar stabilisation fund. There are references to the need for factory legislation and housing in Trinidad, to possible Questions, and to the Trinidad press, 1 Mar 1954
(fol. 8) letter to Cyril A. David, Income Tax Office, Georgetown, about the Bureau's work and publications, written in reply to a query about the Fabian Society and socialism, 7 May 1953
(fols. 9-10) correspondence with J.I. Fraser, introduced by Beryl Cross, about FCB publications, the Rice Marketing Board and stabilisation fund, and his visit to the University of Puerto Rico, 21 May-16 Jun 1954
(fols. 11-14) letter from Greenidge to Hilda Selwyn-Clarke covering a copy of his letter to Griffiths about the suspension of the Constitution; and a letter to Marjorie Nicholson about the Report of the Constitutional Commission (Cmd 9274). Both letters contain detailed comments on conditions in British Guiana (Guyana), the Peoples' Progressive Party (PPP) and the colony's political alignments (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/138, folder 2A, fols. 101-112), 12 Oct 1953-5 Nov 1954
(fol. 15) letter from Colin Hughes to Marjorie Nicholson about the constitutional crisis, Peoples' Progressive Party (PPP) policy, and the West Indian Socialist Party. There are references to Lyttelton, Savage, the Jagans, and Burnham (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/134, folder 3, fols. 2-54), 8 Oct 1953
(fols. 16-36) correspondence with Jacob about British Guiana (Guyana)'s affairs, with related enclosures, including copies of correspondence between Jacob and Fenner Brockway, and of correspondence between Brockway and Henry Hopkinson, Minister of State for Colonial Affairs; correspondence between Jacob and local government officials; and a memorandum by Jacob on the Report of the Robertson Commission and conditions in the colony. Topics include: the suspension of the Constitution, causes of unrest, and the Robertson Commission; trade union affairs, in particular the position of the Man-Power Citizens' Association (MPCA); Colonial Development Corporation policy, rice and drainage schemes, land settlement and development, with particular reference to the Manaka timberlands; a proposal by the East Indian Association that British MPs investigate conditions in the colony (see also: MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 365/137, folder 1, fols. 3-75), 3 May-24 Nov 1954
(fol. 37) letter from Marjorie Nicholson asking Rita Hinden to write to The Times on the Bureau's behalf about the British Guiana Constitution, 26 Oct 1953
(fols. 38-39) correspondence with E.G. Taharally, East Coast Demerara, about membership of the Bureau and its work, 19-23 Jun 1954.

The remainder of the folder consists of printed papers and newspaper material:

(fols. 40-46) Central Office of Information Sheet No. R. 2565: 'Constitutional Progress in British Guiana', 10 Mar 1953
(fol. 47) Colonial Office Press Release about the appointment of K.S. Stoby as Puisne Judge for British Guiana (Guyana), 15 Jul 1953
(fols. 48-58) Colonial Office Information Sheets giving the text of a Statement by H.M. Government and of a Broadcast by the Governor announcing the suspension of the Constitution and declaring a state of Emergency, 9 Oct 1953
(fols. 59-70) FCB (53)5: 'The Crisis in British Guiana', by Rita Hinden (draft and four cyclostyled copies), 19 Oct 1953
(fols. 71-87) 'Challenge to British Guiana', by Jagan, sent to Socialist Outlook via an intermediary. Attached are two complete issues of Thunder, edited by Janet Jagan (Feb and March 1952) and cuttings from an earlier issue (Jun 1951), 20 Oct 1953 (arrival date)
(fol. 88) House of Commons Order Paper No. 156, containing a marked notice of a proposed motion by the Prime Minister on British Guiana (Guyana), and of a proposed amendment, 22 Oct 1953
(fols. 89-92) Labour Party Research Department - 'Talking Points': 'Crisis in British Guiana', 31 Oct 1953
(fols. 93-95) cutting of article from Illustrated about Rita Hinden's views on the British Guiana (Guyana) crisis and on Savage's policy, 31 Oct 1953
(fols. 96-99) Colonial Office Releases about visits to British Guiana (Guyana) by advisers on drainage, irrigation, and land settlement, and about the Report of the Timber Mission, 2-19 Nov 1953
(fols. 100-102) Central Office of Information - Appendix to Commonwealth Survey No. 134: 'The Suspension of British Guiana's Constitution', 6 Nov 1953
(fols. 103-104) cutting from Labour Monthly: 'British Guiana - Our Case', by Janet Jagan, Nov 1953
(fols. 105-106) cutting from Fact: 'Troubled Guiana', Nov 1953
(fol. 107) International Free Trade Union News: 'Behind the Crisis in British Guiana', by Serafino Romualdi, inter-American representative of the American Federation of Labor [sic], 1953
(items 1-5) Daily Chronicle Air Mail Edition: four complete issues mainly relating to the suspension of the Constitution, a visit by Hopkinson, and the Constitutional Commission, 29 Sep 1953-16 Mar 1954.