A Problem Restated
The joint statement made by the Khama kinsmen, Seretse and Tshekedi, could hardly have been more cautious: they " have reached the conclusion that a basis of co-operation between them and their people and the Government is not an impossible solution." But even this goes most of the way towards meeting the main objection to Seretse's rule as stated by Mr. Gordon-Walker in March : that it would endanger the unity of his tribe. That objection was made after a succession of tribal councils had revealed a deep rift between Seretse's party and Tshekedi's. Now that uncle and nephew are prepared to compose their differences the Government can hardly refuse to reopen discussions, especially now that Seretse has arrived in London, to be joined later by Tshekedi. True, Tshekedi sticks to his opinion about the adverse effect of his nephew's marriage, but the Government insisted that its decision was not affected by the marriage. If the Khamas can show that Seretse's return as chief of the Bamangwato is no longer a threat to tribal unity—and it begins to look as if they can—and if this new rapprochement means that Seretse is learning to handle diplomatic matters diplomatically, then there is no objection left but that of the mixed marriage. So the Government faces the situation in which its critics sought to place it in March : will it stick to the principles that are accepted here, or will it try to appease the Union of South Africa ? It is not an easy problem. The whole of white South African opinion will be solidly against Seretse's recognition ; there will be a renewed agitation for the incorporation of the Protec- torates ; and the Union can make our position in them untenable. A firm stand on principle could lead, in fact, to trouble with the Union. Against that it could be argued that trouble is inevitable in the not very far future and that it may as well come with Britain's sticking to a moral principle that will be understood everywhere else in the world.
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