CAB129-45 — Page 282

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that this did not necessarily mean that Seretse would Tshekedi nor anyone else would ever be imposed as people.

Page 282 then return; and that neither Chief against the will of the

I saw Tshekedi later, but he produced so many documents and talked at such length that I agreed to continue the talks in London. I intend to tell him that the White Paper policy must be enforced and that he must not enter the Reserve save for the most exceptional reasons. I will make this decision public so that it shall be known to the Bamangwato. I hope Tshekedi, who is extremely able, will accept some useful job in connexion with the economic development of the Territory.

This whole affair is tricky. I am hopeful that the Bamangwato will settle down and develop a more democratic council system. I have received reports (including letters from leading tribesmen to people in this country) that the Bamangwato are prepared to accept the decisions I announced to them and to get on with the job of getting the Native Administration going again. They received my speech at the Kgotla well. All signs of non-co-operation have disappeared.

20. I met a good many of the Chiefs in all three High Commission Territories. I have no doubt that the institution of Chieftainship in these Territories is essential. It is very strongly established, and only through it can the administration (e.g., in anti-erosion work) be carried on. There are stirrings against the old order due to the emergence of a small minority of able and well-educated Africans, who are usually more capable than the Chiefs. The widened experience of the thousands of Pioneers who served overseas in the war has also led to a desire for greater participation by the people in their own administration. We must therefore pre- vail upon the Chiefs to work with elected councils and to decentralise their authority to local councils. I stressed this in all my speeches in the Territories and in my private talks with leading Chiefs. These developments are already in hand. They will need delicate and skilful handling.

The ablest man among the Chiefs is Sobhuza, Paramount Chief of the Swazi. He is well educated and speaks excellent English. His general policy is to be very progressive in the establishment of schools, &c., and in pressing on anti-erosion work; and at the same time to preserve and share in all the old tribal customs and traditions. When I first met him in his own tribe he was naked to the waist and decked in gorgeous feathers, beads and a skin-kilt. Later than afternoon he turned up at the Resident Commissioner's garden party and was the best-dressed man there in a beautifully cut suit. He has ten wives. I had à long talk with him and found that he was very satisfied with the way things are going. He is strongly against Seretse's marriage, and thinks that he should be compelled to choose between Ruth and the Chieftainship. If he wants to stick to Ruth, he should abdicate. Sobhuza plans to have a meeting of all the leading Chiefs of the three Territories (including the leading men of the Bamangwato) to discuss the whole matter.

The Paramount Chief of the Basuto is a lady called 'M'antsebo Seeiso. She is famous for her smart Western hats (no-one knows how she keeps them on her short, frizzy hair) and highly coloured shoes.. She is, unfortunately, not a very strong ruler, and like too many Chiefs is rather too fond of gin). She was almost certainly involved in a number of medicine murders, though the proof was never complete. She became very scared when two other Chiefs were hanged for such murders and she is now co-operating in stamping them out.

Unfortunately Bechuanaland has no Paramount Chief, but consists of a number of separate and equal tribes. On the whole, the level of the Chiefs is not very high. Tshekedi was the outstanding one when he was Regent of the Bamangwato.

21. I was impressed by the calibre of our senior officials in the Territories, though I think it will be necessary for the junior officials to acquire more experience of administration'in other of our African territories.

As His Majesty's Government, through the Secretary of State, is directly responsible for the administration of these three Territories, I gave particular atten- tion to the question whether the machinery for discharging this responsibility can be improved. I found little that need be done. But I think the three Territories need to be treated rather more as a single entity than has been the case in the past. I am making detailed arrangements to secure this. I am also considering the enhance- ment of the status of the Chief Secretary by making him a Deputy High Commis- sioner. He could then, on the one hand better co-ordinate policy in the three Territories, and on the other hand better serve as a chahnbetween them and the Secretary of State. The Deputy High Commissioner would, of course, be under