ABSTRACT
Stung by criticism that it had overreacted to events in British Guiana, the Colonial Office issued a defensive White Paper just prior to the arrival of Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham and the opening of debate in the House of Commons. The White Paper stated that, neglecting their constitutional obligations, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) ministers had fomented strikes for political ends, attempted to oust established trade unions by legislative action, removed the ban on the entry of West Indian communists, and flooded the territory with communist literature. Hoping to be fully exonerated when James Griffiths rose to speak, Burnham and Jagan were dismayed when the former Labour colonial secretary expressed his grievous disappointment at the great opportunity “missed” by the PPP. The actions and policies of the PPP resembled those “which have led in other countries to the establishment of a totalitarian Communist State”.
