SINGAPORE: Step to Freedom

In Singapore last week, the British took the longest step towards self-government in 136 years of colonial rule. They staged the island colony's first really representative general election. In steaming heat, the Chinese, Malayan, Indian, Eurasian and European people of polyglot Singapore (pop. 1,200,000) went to the polls, where six political parties contended for 25 seats in a new Legislative Assembly, the winner to form a Cabinet and take over Singapore's internal administration—subject only to the veto of the British colonial governor. Often trailed by as many as four interpreters speaking...

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