CAB37-17 — Page 188

Page 188

i

--- ------

Page 188

8

with the view of arriving at an understanding. If the Boers accept this proposal, as I think they will do, it would remain for us, in the course of the discussion of the situation with them, to work towards the objects we have in view. If they did not accept the proposal it would rest with us to reserve the liberty of action at any time we might find it convenient.

22. Assuming that we are able, and I think we shall be able, to arrive at a preliminary under- standing with the Boers, it would then be necessary to confer with the leaders of the Usutu party. Here I cannot doubt we should, at the outset, meet with some obstacle, because the Usutu leaders, not yet realising the full helplessness of their condition, misled as they are by their sympathisers in Natal, and believing that the English Government will sooner or later come to their assistance, might not be willing to acquiesce in any arrangement that fell short of the expecta- tions which they have been led to form. But they have appealed to Her Majesty's Government, and it would be necessary to place the state of the case very plainly before them, and to show them that their present unfortunate situation is the result of their own acts and of their disregard of the conditions laid down, and of the advice given by that Government. The truest kindness to them, in short, would be to convince them of the hopelessness of their position--for it is hopeless without our intervention-and that the only sure way of safety for them is by their placing them- selves unreservedly in the hands of the Govern- ment whose assistance they have invoked. I am persuaded that the only hope for these people lies in their coming under our rule in that part of the country which we may yet be able to save for them from the Boers, because I am persuaded that they have lost the power to govern them- selves, and that if any form of independent Government should be established under Dinu- zulu or under any of Cetywayo's brothers it will break as brittle glass breaks. Sooner or later the country must come under another rule, and the sooner therefore that it is brought under the rule that will be most careful for the rights, the inter- ests, and the welfare of the people the better.

It would be hard, no doubt, to persuade Dinuzulu and Cetywayo's brothers of this. It would be hard to persuade them and the other leaders and chiefs of the party who are tenacious of their privileges, and who would be apprehensive of losing them under any other form of Govern- ment. But that, I believe, is the true state of the case, and the sooner it is realised the better.

23. When I proposed in August last to send Mr. Rudolph into the country, my object was that he should feel the way to such a settlement-to a settlement that would secure the objects which I

Page 188

Page 188

Page 188