ABSTRACT
In 1948, Britain’s prestige was very high and the Somalis looked for the British to ‘open their eyes’, and hoped for some form of continued association. 1 The return of the Italians and the loss of unrestricted access to the Ogaden were shocking, but until 1954, most Protectorate Somalis appeared disposed to move toward a moderated independence slowly. They hoped that preparation for independence would not mean either abandonment, or acceleration of political change beyond the absorptive capacity of the Protectorate. 2 By 1953, Somali representatives appointed to the new Advisory Council were asking for a date for independence and for assurances that the Somalis would be trained to act for themselves when that date came. In response to a question of this nature, put by Haji Ibrahim Osman from Hargeisa, in August 1953, Chief Secretary Shirley assured the Somalis present that Britain would do its best to ensure that the Somalis were ready, and that independence would be granted as soon as they were ready: ‘the actual date on which the Somalis would eventually get their independence depended solely on the Somalis themselves’. 3 In 1953, that assurance was all that was desired.
