Nyasaland almost universal rejection of Federation. Finally, it suggested that the British government should negotiate with African leaders on the country's constitutional future. The Devlin Commission's report is the only example of a British judge examining whether the actions of a colonial administration in suppressing dissent were appropriate. Devlin's conclusions that excessive force was used and that Nyasaland was a "police state" caused political uproar. His report was largely rejected and the state of emergency lasted until June 1960. At first, the British government tried to calm the situation by nominating additional African members (who were not Malawi Congress Party supporters)
1958 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland election 1958 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland election Federal elections were held in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland on 12 November 1958. The result was a victory for the ruling United Federal Party, with Roy Welensky remaining Prime Minister. The Federal Parliament had 59 seats, of which four were elected by an African electoral college in the northern territories, two were nominated by governors in the northern territories, with one seat reserved for an elected European representing African interests. The remaining 52 were directly-elected using two electoral rolls; a general roll mainly consisting of Europeans and a special roll with