Some Books of the Week
THE growth of a serious interest in the history of the British Empire is much to be commended. The Royal Empire Society has done a great deal to further the movement by endowing research and making possible the publication of its results in the Imperial Studies Series, under the editorship of Profeador Newton. The latest volume in this series, British Colonial Policy and" the South African Repuhlics, j848-1872, by a young South African scholar, Di. C. W. M. Kiewiet (Liinginans, 12s. 6d.), illustrates the value ''of such work. FOr here at last this troubled period'so long the prey.Of violent partisans, is examined dispasaionately, and justice is done in particular to the much abused Colonial Office. Dr. de Kiewiet makes it clear that Whitehall was trying throughout these years. not to destroy the Boer Republics nor to paint the map of South Africa red, but rather to establish a sound form of local self-government and to protect the interests of the natives, so that South Africa might be safely left to fend for itself. He shows that our annexation of Basutoland in 1867 saved the people from destruction. The book is well written and deserves very serious attention, for it dissipates many legends unfavourable to British rule.
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