'Conservative governments in the year 1951 to 1964 were successful in their imperial policy’. Assess the validity of this view.

Agree: Macmillan accepted the ‘Winds of Change’ 1960, recognised independence movements and carried out decolonisation 1957-1968 in an effective wayPolicy carried out with support of world leaders and public opinionBritain ensured it led the process - so appearing strong rather than waiting for nationalist groups to force GB out and so appearing weakIt was completed with much less violence than experienced by other European nationsTransition from Empire to successful creation of Commonwealth by 1964 was realistic & successful; showed Britain was able to adjustIain McLeod (Sec, of State for the colonies 1959-1961) oversaw the independence of Tanzania, Nigeria, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, British Somaliland and British CameroonDisagree:  Central aim of imperial policy pre-1960 was to crush nationalist forces and maintain control over colonies but this was not achievedTrying to contain nationalist revolts was draining the UK economy and meant defence spending escalated e.g. Mau Mau Rebellion 1952British forces could cope so GB force to accept ‘Winds of Change’ which was more of an admission of defeatBritain pushed into speedy decolonisation when the granting of independence to Ghana 1957 led to an unexpected ‘rush’ from others (Nigeria, Cyprus 1960, Sierra Leone 1961, Uganda 1962 & Kenya 1963)By 1964 Commonwealth seemed to be thriving but legacy of imperialism was still present and problems imminent eg Rhodesia ‘Britain had lost an Empire and not yet found a role’ – Dean Acheson; position in the world undermined