CAB129-36 — Page 164

Printed for the Cabinet. July 1949

5.0p.m.

Page 164

80

Copy No. 31

SECRET

C.P. (49) 155

19th July, 1949

CABINET

BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE

SUCCESSION TO

CHIEFTAINSHIP OF THE BAMANGWATO TRIBE

MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS

A difficult problem, to which some prominence has been given in the Press recently, has arisen from the marriage to an English girl of Seretse Khama, the Chief Designate of the Bamangwato Tribe in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. This is the largest and most important tribe in the Protectorate. Owing to Seretse having been a minor when his father died, his uncle Tshekedi has been for a considerable time the Acting Chief of the Tribe and has achieved the position of being one of the most prominent Africans in South Africa. Under the local native custom the Chieftainship is hereditary, descending from the father to the eldest son, but the local Native Administration Proclamation provides that, upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the Chieftainship, the tribe must designate the former Chief's successor according to native customs and cause the name to be submitted to the Resident Commissioner, with a view to seeking the High Commissioner's recognition and the Secretary of State's confirmation of such designation.

2. Seretse, who is now a man of 27, has had an unusually prolonged education, which was arranged for him by Tshekedi at the cost of tribal funds. He was sent two years ago to England, where he spent a year at Balliol College, Oxford, and afterwards became a law student at London University. When in London he met an English girl-Ruth Williams-at some social function for Colonial students, and they were married last year, in spite of vigorous warnings given to both parties by interested friends that such a marriage would be resented by the Bamangwato tribe. Ruth Williams is, apparently, a fairly well educated girl, interested in Church matters, and there is nothing against her character personally.

3. Shortly after the marriage, Seretse proceeded by air to South Africa to discuss his position with the tribe. A series of meetings took place and the local Resident Commissioner reported that, although there was no opposition to Seretse's claim to be chief, there was almost solid disapproval of the marriage among the Bamangwato. This disapproval was based upon the following grounds :-

(a) General racial bias.

(b) Seretse's neglect to conform to the formalities required in an African

marriage.

(c) Aversion to a possible half-caste heir.

The result was that Seretse returned to England to complete his law studies and the position remained unresolved.

4. Last month Seretse went out again by air to the Bechuanaland Protec- torate and further meetings were held. Tshekedi and his chief followers reiterated their strong objection to the marriage which Seretse had made it the final meeting, however, Seretse made an emotional appeal, which resulted in a very

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