Knaplnnd—A Study in British Colonial Policy 
19 
from to arise and develop a happy, prosperous, strong and healthy 
nation. ’ 
These appeals were apparently necessary in order to arouse 
the colonists, many of whom seemed quite apathetic. The Times^ 
correspondent feared lest disagreements among the unionists might 
“wreck the whole scheme in presence of the unenthusiastic 
many. ’ 
Fortunately, the difficulties were overcome and the constitution 
for a united South Africa came into existence. This was affected 
by a series of compromises on important issues, but without them 
the attempt would surely have failed. Breadth of view and a 
willingness to sacrifice unessentials characterized the attitude of 
both Britons and Boers during the critical months in 1908 and 
1909.®® Most remarkable was perhaps the spirit of loyalty towards 
the empire manifested by such men as ex-president Steyn and 
Generals Smuts and Botha. Without the aid of these great Boer 
leaders the task could never have been accomplished. 
The attitude of the high commissioner. Lord Selborne, remained 
studiously fair and correct. Loyal to his conviction that the 
problem was one for the people of South Africa to settle in their 
own way, he proved helpful and courteous without attempting to 
meddle or volunteer advice. The home government was likewise 
friendly and sympathetic, following strictly a policy of “hands 
off.” 
The constitution as completed met with general approval in 
England.®^ The Times described it as “a political achievement of 
which the statesmen who modelled it and the people who endorsed 
it have every reason to be proud of.”®® A delegation from South 
The Times, Oct. 12, 1908. 
Ibid., Oct. 5, 1908. 
Prominent among the Boer representatives at the constitutional convention were, 
ex-President Steyn and generals Botha, Smuts, De Wet, de la Eey, and Herzog. These 
worked side by side with Sir Starr Jameson, Sir G. H. Farrar, and others who had 
taken a leading part in the controversies which preceded and to some extent caused the 
outbreak of the Boer War. A number of books have been written on the situation in 
South Africa during the unification period, but no authentic source of information exists 
for the actual work of the convention. The nearest approach to a contemporary account 
of what happened behind the closed doors when the future constitution was debated is 
Sir Edgar Walton’s The Inner History of the National Convention. The author was a 
prominent member of that body, but the book itself is written partly from memory and 
partly from rather incomplete notes; and it cannot be considered a full and complete 
account of what took place. 
For its reception in South Africa and the attitude of the separate states to it see 
Worsfold, The Union of South Africa, p. 128; Walton, History of the Convention, pp. 
321-328. 
Leading Article, July 26, 1909. 
