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dated April 13, 1957: Accord on Singapore

Britain has agreed to grant full internal self-government to Singapore. The agreement on transfer of responsibility to the hands of elected representatives of the island was signed in London on April 11 by the Colonial Office and the five-man Merdeka delegation led by the Chief Minister, Lim Yew-hock. Under the agreement, Singapore will be known as the "State of Singapore" and will have a new Constitution with full say in internal matters of the island. External affairs, defence and the ultimate right to suspend the Constitution will, however, remain in the hands of Her Majesty's Government. The success of Lim's mission to London marks the symbolic march of Singaporeans towards Merdeka after 130 years of complete British rule in this vital port of South-East Asia. The earlier mission led by the former Chief Minister, Mr. David Marshall, failed when it visited London last year. The abortive talks led to the resignation of Mr. Marshall and the taking over of the office by Mr. Lim. The agreement was signed by the members of the delegation which included representatives of the Opposition parties in the Singapore Assembly. The new Constitution will come into force on a date after January 1, 1958. Under it, the number of elected members to the Assembly will be 51 and there will be no nominated or ex-officio members.

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