or could be accomplished, there was a wide difference of opinion in the British parliament.

The conservative party, under whose administration the war had been conducted, argued: (1) that selfgovernment could not be granted to the conquered provinces without an assurance of British supremacy; (2) that this could not be obtained except by an increase of the British population in the territory; (3) that there was no inducement for English settlers unless the economic conditions were greatly improved, especially by the revival of the mining industry now stagnant on account of the war; and (4) that on account of the practical impossibility of obtaining the requisite number of white and native laborers, it would be necessary to resort to the importation of Chinese coolies,-in other words, that the importation of Chinese labor was a necessary condition of granting free government to the Transvaal and Orange River colonies. As the result of this elaborate piece of sophistry about 50,000 Chinese coolies were introduced into South Africa in 1904.

This whole policy met with violent opposition by the liberal party, which held that the only way to secure British supremacy was to obtain the loyalty of British subjects. This was one of the important issues which brought into power the liberal administration of Campbell-Bannerman in 1906.

Then it was that the British government first adopted a rational and generous policy, which partly atoned for years of mismanagement and injustice. If this ministry had done nothing else to its credit, it would be entitled to everlasting gratitude for respecting the highest moral judgment of the English nation and the conscience of mankind, by totally reversing

the traditional policy of Great Britain in its treatment of the Boers in South Africa.

In 1906 Chinese coolie labor was abolished and provisions were made for the return of all Chinese to their native country. It was announced in the English House of Commons that the last Chinaman was due to leave South Africa on January 1, 1910.

But more than all this and as a fitting consummation of the new liberal policy, the conquered people of the Transvaal and Orange River colonies received in 1907 the constitutional grant of a popular government with a responsible ministry—which placed them at last upon a plane of equality with the other South African colonies and with the colonies of Canada and Australia. As a result of this humane treatment the racial animosities have gradually disappeared and the Boers have become among the most contented and loyal of British subjects.

§ 7. THE UNION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COLONIES

The only thing that now seemed necessary to ensure the prosperity of South Africa was the closer union of the four colonies under some common system of government. The idea of "federation" was the means first proposed to effect this union. As early as 1857 Sir George Grey, the governor of Cape Colony, had suggested that by a federal union only could the South African colonies maintain themselves against the native tribes. Later, in 1876, the British ministry, becoming convinced of the success of the Canadian federation, tried to establish an African federation on a similar plan; but this plan did not meet with the approval of Cape Colony. It

was evident that a plan of union to be satisfactory and successful must come from the colonies themselves. Accordingly the British parliament passed an act enabling the South African governments to unite in a confederation whenever they might see fit.

The chief causes which finally led to the union were of an economic character. The discovery of diamonds and gold in the eighties led to a heated rivalry between the different railroads for the control of the traffic of the mining districts. These railroads were owned by the separate colonies; hence the commercial rivalry led to colonial jealousies. At first, Cape Colony, by uniting her lines with those of the Orange Free State, controlled the situation. To counteract this advantage, the Transvaal made an arrangement with the Portuguese colony on the coast, by which an all-rail route was established to Delagoa Bay, the nearest seaport to the mining districts. This shifted the advantage from Cape Colony to the Transvaal line.

Another cause of discontent was the imposing of custom duties by the coast colonies-the Cape and Natal-which duties rested as a burden upon the inland colonies-the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. These differences led to many inter-colonial conferences and to partial custom-unions. But such expedients never proved satisfactory, for whatever arrangements were thus made had to be ratified by each of the four legislatures before they could become effective.

Such was the general condition when in May, 1908, a conference of the several governments was held at Pretoria to amend the various and conflicting customs and railway rates. This conference was unable to

agree upon any satisfactory changes, but took a practical step towards union by adopting the following resolution: "In the opinion of this conference the best interests and permanent prosperity of South Africa can only be secured by an early union of the selfgoverning colonies, under the crown of Great Britain." This resolution was immediately approved by each colonial parliament, and delegates were appointed to draft a constitution for the common government.

The delegates met at Durban in Natal in October, 1908, and closed its sessions at Cape Town in February, 1909. The fact that all the members of this conference were impressed with the transcendent importance of the end to be reached, is evident from the great harmony which marked their deliberations and the spirit of compromise that prevailed. Even the difficult problem as to the location of the capital of the new government was solved by establishing two capital centers, the executive center being fixed at Pretoria, in Transvaal, and the place for the meeting of the legislature at Cape Town. All differences relating to custom duties were healed by the adoption of free-trade within the Union. The vexed question relating to the official language was settled by making the Dutch and the English alike official languages, all public documents to be published in both.

This draft constitution was submitted to the colonies; and as the result of criticisms and suggestions, a second national convention was called in May, 1909, at Bloemfontein in the Orange River colony, to redraft the constitution. This second draft was submitted to the several governments and within a month was adopted by all the colonies. The draft was then laid before the British parliament in July, and under

the name of the "South Africa Act," was passed by both houses without amendments (1909). Although strong objections were made to certain features of the act, it was deemed hazardous for Parliament to make any changes which might not be acceptable to the colonists and thus wreck the whole union scheme.

§ 8. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN UNION

In considering the nature of the union effected by the South Africa Act of 1909, the most distinctive and remarkable feature that impresses one is the fact that it does not follow the lines adopted in the CanaIdian and Australia federations. It does not establish a federal commonwealth, but a unitary government. The political autonomy hitherto exercised by the several African colonies is given up, and all legislative power is transferred to the central authority. This seems the more remarkable when we consider the desperate efforts previously made by the Boer republics to secure their own independence.

The Boers are now among the most loyal supporters of the South African Union, although their respective territories have scarcely more independence than that of local administrative districts. This can be explained only by the fact that they have become convinced that their interests are identical with those of the other South African people; and while subject to a common Colonial parliament, they will be relieved from the dictation of the Imperial government at London.

The common government of the South African Union, which was put into operation on May 31st, 1910, is, under the supremacy of the British Crown, constituted as follows: