CONFIDENTIAL
C.P. (51) 145
28th May, 1951
Printed for the Cabinet. May 1951
CABINET
Page 544
411
Copy No.
31
BAMANGWATO AFFAIRS: TSHEKEDI KHAMA
ま
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS
For the past six weeks I have been having discussions with Tshekedi Khama along the lines agreed by my colleagues (C.M. (51) 27th Conclusions, Minute 4).
2. The reason why these talks have taken so long is that I wanted to do everything possible to reach an amicable arrangement with Tshekedi. Moreover he continuously produced new points and new documents that needed consideration. Towards the end of the discussions I recalled the Resident Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate to London in order to save time in consultations with the man on the spot and also in order to ensure that I was making the greatest possible concessions to Tshekedi.
3. In accordance with the conclusion of the Cabinet my point of departure throughout has been to consider the good administration of the Bamangwato Reserve and above all the setting up of a more representative African Native Autho- rity to which we can as soon as possible hand over the powers that we now exercise directly.
4. Unfortunately the Bamangwato tribe is almost to a man against Tshekedi and is very fearful lest he should return and (as they fear) wreak vengeance on his enemies. They have a deep-rooted suspicion that we are trying to foist Tshekedi upon them. I am convinced by the views of my officers and by my own experience on the spot that until these fears are allayed we cannot make progress in the setting up of Councils and a Native Authority.
5. Tshekedi Khama made various proposals to me about splitting the tribal area or federating it with a neighbouring tribe. These would be bitterly resented and resisted by the tribe and I declined to entertain them. Thereafter our discus- sions have mainly concerned his private rights as a great cattle owner.
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6. Tshekedi Khama has very considerable property rights in the Reserve and I would like to find ways by which he can look after his interests as a private individual. Unfortunately it is quite impossible amongst a people like the Bamang- wato to distinguish in the case of a man like Tshekedi between his personal and his public capacities. If it were possible, there would be no problem. Tshekedi has, in my view, quite sincerely renounced all his claims to the Chieftainship but if he were to be allowed to return as a private individual all the fears of the tribe would be aroused, also their suspicions of our intentions. The fact that Tshekedr's own proposals for federation or division of the Reserve were calculated to recover for him a measure of power and authority lend weight to the people's fears. There might well be disorders: and it is, I think, certain that we could make no progress at all in setting up a more representative Native Authority. On the other hand, once we have satisfied the tribe about Tshekedi's position I think we may have a new representative African Native Authority working within 6-12 months.
7. In these circumstances. I decided to offer Tshekedi the greatest possible concessions in regard to his private rights that were compatible with the progress. and good government of the tribe. Briefly I proposed that if he would for his part give certain undertakings, including acceptance of the White Paper decisions and
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Page 545 a promise not to interfere in the politics and administration of the Bamangwato Reserve, I would allow him limited access to his cattle posts and provide for the concentration of much of his cattle in an area near his present place of residence in a neighbouring tribe. (This the tribe in Kgotlo had asked me not to do.) I told him that in the main he would have to look after his cattle through agents. I told him that we would be glad to find him employment suited to his considerable abilities in the development of the Protectorate. I told Tshekedi further that if he would not accept these proposals I would then have no choice but to enforce the White Paper in its strictest sense and permit him entry to the Reserve only in exceptional circumstances. I could not allow him concessions unless he gave cörresponding undertakings that could reasonably be expected to reconcile the tribe to these con- cessions.
8. Tshekedi has informed me that he cannot accept my proposals. I have therefore had no choice but to announce that the White Paper policy must be strictly enforced. I annex a copy of the public statement which I issued on the evening of 24th May. I arranged for this announcement also to be made to a Kgotla in Serowe. There is little doubt that this decision will please the tribe; it is indeed more or less what they asked me to do---though they wanted me to go still further and exclude all Tshekedi's followers and his cattle as well.
9. Tshekedi Khama has a number of friends in England, some with a certain influence. There may therefore be some stir in public opinion here. The chief argument that is likely to be used by Tshekedi Khama's friends is that we ought to distinguish between his private and his public capacity, which, unfortunately, for the reasons I have given, we are unable to do.
10. Tshekedi Khama has recently been having talks with Seretse and it is possible, though I think unlikely, that they may arrive at a reconciliation and both ask to be allowed to return to the tribe in their private capacities. Seretse can, even less than Tshekedi, have a private capacity in the tribe. Leading headmen of the tribe have told the Resident Commissioner and informed Seretse that, though they want Seretse back as Chief, they do not want either Seretse or Tshekedi or both of them back in a private capacity
Commonwealth Relations Office, S.W. 1,
28th May, 1951.
P. C. G. W.
ANNEX
TSHEKEDI KHAMA. STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH
RELATIONS
During the past six weeks the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations has had talks with Tshekedi Khama, ex-Regent of the Bamangwato tribe in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, who has been in London on a visit.
Tshekedi Khama asked that the order excluding him from the Bamangwato Reserve should be rescinded and that he should be allowed to return to live in the Reserve. Tshekedi contended that the order of exclusion was unjustified, as he was not a claimant to the chieftainship, and that it prejudiced his personal interests and property in the Reserve. Tshekedi further complained about interference - with his property and his followers in the Reserve. Tshekedi also advanced various proposals for the future administration of the Reserve, designed to meet the situation in which the chieftainship is in abeyance. These included federation with a neigh- bouring tribe and alternatively division of the Reserve into two areas, thus enabling his return to the southern portion.
Mr. Gordon Walker carefully considered Tshekedi Khama's representation and suggestions and has discussed them with him at length. He has informed Tshekedi that the exclusion order, imposed in accordance with the decisions set out in the White Paper, Cmd. 7913, cannot be rescinded. The reasons given in the White Paper still hold good and have been reinforced by all that has happened silagets publication. As the White Paper explained, thea Barangwatos have for long displayed tendencies to faction and feud between branches of the ruling family