THE BASUTO'S FUTURE Stit,—In your issue of June and an
article on "The Basuto's Future" draws attention to General Smuts's wish to incorporate the Protectorates in the Union. Your correspondent vividly describes the Basutos' freedom as contrasted with the condition of natives in the Union, but indicates that because of the terrtory's backwardness incorporation may be necessary provided there are "careful guarantees" that the Basutos will receive the treatment they have become accustomed to under the British flag. Even a cursory glance at the evolution of South African native policy since 1936 will make it clear that no such guarantee could be given or accepted. But your correspondent completely ignores the revolution in the affairs of Basutoland which began just before the present war and continues at increasing tempo. Professor Hancock in his "Survey of Commonwealth Affairs" described its beginning, and the latest develop- tnents were praised in a recent issue of the South African magazine Libertas. The Union is renewing.its claim to the territories now precisely because it knows that in a very short time they will be economically in such a position that the argument of their poverty will no longer apply. The Basutos themselves, and the Swazis and Bechuana, are more deter- mined than ever not to come under Union rule.—Yours, &c.,
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