questions, that of the interests of the native races of tropical territories in the post-war settlement, and the Rhodesian land question, are still very far from being decided. It is a calamity, indeed, for the Society, that it has to carry on its work without its trusted and honoured leader whose concern for the cause of native races was so deep and so true.

Sir Victor Buxton's ability and tact in the conduct of affairs were very marked, and the Secretaries could always be assured of his counsel and help in following up in detail the matters relating to the Society's work, and they could appeal to his judgment with confidence. At the same time, the

THE LATE SIR T. F. VICTOR BUXTON, BART,

beauty of his character and gracious personality shone out so brightly that no one who met him, even for a short time, could fail to be impressed by it. Like his father, Sir Fowell Buxton, he excelled as a host and was always ready to entertain those interested in native races, and throw his house open for conferences and social gatherings to further the Society's objects.

An extract follows from the Obituary notice of our President in The Times of June 2 :

Sir Thomas Fowell Victor Buxton was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, the third baronet, his mother, Lady Victoria, being the

daughter of the first Earl of Gainsborough. He succeeded his father in the baronetcy in 1915. Born in 1865, he was educated at Harrow and Trinity, Cambridge. Like his great-grandfather, upon whom the baronetcy was conferred in 1840, in recognition of his philanthropic exertions in the cause of the abolition of slavery, Sir Victor was much interested in the welfare of native races, and held the presidency of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, having travelled extensively in Africa. He was treasurer of the Church Missionary Society and chairman of the Missions to Seamen, was interested in many other philanthropic and religious movements, and had published articles on Christian industrial missions and African native questions. He also took a prominent part in county affairs in Essex, having served as High Sheriff in 1905, as a member of the County Territorial Force Association, and as Commandant of the 1/2nd Essex Volunteer Regiment."

The Committee was represented at the funeral at Upshire Church, near Waltham Abbey, by several members of the Committee and the Secretary. The service was attended by a very large number of friends and those with whom Sir Victor worked in different Societies, especially the Church Missionary Society.

It is no small satisfaction to the Society that our President's eldest son, who succeeds him in the baronetcy, joined the Committee in April last.

Quarterly Motes.

The Committee of the Society has made every effort during Native the last three months to emphasize to Allied statesmen the Races and vital importance of adhering to the undertakings given Peace Terms. by Mr. Lloyd George with regard to the late German Colonies. It will be remembered that in the most explicit and categorical manner the Prime Minister pledged this country to some reference to the native tribes before any final decision was reached with regard to the political future of these territories. In the opinion of the Committee it is deplorable that there appears to be no prospect of these pledges being redeemed. It had been arranged that a deputation should visit Paris in order to urge upon the representatives at the Peace

A Deputa

tion to
Paris.

Conference the claim of the Natives to a voice in their own political future, and also to draw attention to the importance of the Mandates being drawn with a view to securing native rights. The lamented death of the President prevented his undertaking this journey, but Lord Henry Bentinck, Chairman of the General Committee, and Mr. Harris went over to Paris on 29th May. They were fortunate in being able to see Lord Milner, Colonel House, Lord Robert Cecil, Lord Eustace Percy, and a number of officials who are engaged upon the problem of the late. German Colonies. There is good reason for stating that the representa

tions they were able to make may have far-reaching results in the welfare of the people in Africa.

Rhodesian
Land.

A final reply has now been received from the Colonial Office to the Society's representations, making it clear that the Government is not prepared to do anything either to settle the broad question of the Natives and the land, or to meet the costs of the Natives' case before the Privy Council. The Society is therefore driven to make an appeal to the public, and this is now in preparation.

The Annual Meeting.

THE Society's Annual Meeting was held in the Central Hall, Westminster, on the afternoon of May 1, the President, Sir Victor Buxton, occupying the chair, supported by Lord Henry Bentinck, M.P., Chairman of the General Committee, Mr. E. W. Brooks, Treasurer, Mr. P. A. Molteno, Sir Charles Tarring, Sir Sydney Olivier, Mr. Noel Buxton, and other members of the Committee, Bishop Oluwole, etc.

Sir Harry Johnston and Mr. J. St. Loe Strachey, who had hoped to be present and move two of the resolutions, were unfortunately kept away by illness, while Mr. Charles Roberts, Vice-Chairman, was detained at the last moment by official business.

The PRESIDENT, in opening the meeting, said that he rose for three purposes: to ask for the adoption of the Report and Accounts, to propose the re-election of the Committee and Officers, and also to move the first Resolution.

He expressed regret at the absence of Sir Harry Johnston, by whom an article had recently appeared in the African World, to which he called attention. It was remarkable that a paper primarily devoted to trade interests, such as the African World, should publish this article, in which Sir Harry referred to the Society as an Insurance Society for Empire."

Proceeding to deal with the Annual Report, the President referred to the trouble in South Africa arising out of the sentences passed on native strikers in Johannesburg, and to the valuable report of the Moffat Commission of Inquiry. They deeply regretted the death of the Commissioner, Mr. J. B. Moffat, so soon after his appointment as Minister of Native Affairs. He referred also to the death of his father, the venerable Rev. J. S. Moffat, a son of the great Missionary, who had rendered a long course of valuable service to his country.

After mentioning the unsatisfactory and unsettled position in the New Hebrides, and the activities of the Empire Resources Development Committee, some of whose projects the Society had felt bound to oppose as being

contrary to the interests of the native peoples of West Africa, the speaker referred to the main subjects which had occupied the attention of the Society during the year,--the land question in Rhodesia and the interests of native races in the settlement of colonial territories after the war. In regard to the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council last July, Sir Victor Buxton said, We may not have got all that we wanted, but on the whole I think we may be thankful for that judgment. It made it clear that the title to the unalienated land was vested in the British Crown as trustee for the native inhabitants. It is for the Government to see to it that the principle of trusteeship is put into operation.

In October last, he said, a number of us went as a deputation to Mr. Walter Long, to urge upon him a settlement of this question, and within the last two or three days we have waited upon Lord Milner. The latter encouraged us to talk over with him at some length the matters under discussion; and though he is no doubt hindered through action already taken by the Colonial Office, we are confident of his sympathetic interest in the welfare of the native inhabitants.

At our last Annual Meeting we had the subject of Native Races and Peace Terms before us. I think I may say that the cause of native races in tropical dependencies has been helped forward by the action which this Society has since been able to take in regard to the former German Colonies. We have urged upon the Government that the principle of consulting the natives as to the government of their territories should be applied but I will ask Lord Henry Bentinck, who is better able to speak on this subject than I am, to deal with it at greater length.

The President then moved the adoption of the Report and the re-election of the Committee and Officers. This was seconded by Bishop Oluwole of West Africa in a brief speech referring in warm terms to the value of the work done by the Society for the natives in West Africa.

Sir V. Buxton next called upon the Organizing Secretary to speak shortly on the subject of Rhodesian Land, after which he proposed the resolution, which is set forth below.

Mr. JOHN H. HARRIS said the outstanding fact in the Rhodesian situation was that every native throughout South Rhodesia had been completely dispossessed of all land rights, a loss which extended even to the Native Reserves.

This situation had left the Society no alternative but to take up the cause of the Matabili and Mashona tribes, and incur the heavy liabilities attendant upon a four years' struggle before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

After twenty-five years of controversy it was now established that the

Natives had never lost their land rights by any concession. The Judicial Committee had declared that the famous Concession granted by Lobengula was valueless as a title to the land. It was further established that the Natives had not lost the ownership of their lands by any formal legislative act, either by the British Crown or by the local Legislature. It is now in the power of the British Crown to give adequate and secure tenure to all the native tribes of Southern Rhodesia, and it is to the Crown that the Committee of the Society looks to accord, if not reparation, then at least a measure of justice to a subject people so cruelly wronged.

The Society had incurred an expense of something over £7,000 in preparing the legal case, and there were the strongest reasons why this should be treated as a public charge. They still hoped to avoid a national appeal, but failing any satisfaction being given they must appeal to the British Parliament and people.

Resolution I :

'That this meeting begs to remind His Majesty's Government of the clear and definite undertaking given by the Prime Minister that in reaching any decision upon the political future of the late German Colonies the dominant factor would be the wishes and interests of the inhabitants. Further, that in the opinion of this meeting any established attempt to exert pressure upon native Chiefs and tribes in the favour of any particular Mandatory should disqualify those exercising the pressure from receiving Mandatory Authority."

LORD HENRY BENTINCK said in seconding the resolution, I think we in this room all agree that the wishes and interests of the natives in the territories that are being transferred should be the dominant factor. I personally hold that the honour and good faith of British statesmanship demand it, that our aims during the war also demand it, and perhaps what is more important still to us, the contentment and happiness of the people. in Africa require it.

Mr. Lloyd George, speaking more than a year ago in the House of Commons, said that at the Peace Conference they would apply the principle of respecting the desires of the peoples themselves. That he said, we laid down then and that we stand by now. Here you have a declaration by the Prime Minister that the fate of the German Colonies shall depend upon the wishes of the people themselves. It is true that circumstances have changed since that pledge was given. We were then fighting for our lives. We are now the victors and there is nobody to say us Nay! And I submit most strongly that although the circumstances have changed the pledge should remain good to-day. The right of self-determination is the only policy which is consistent with our honour, it is also the only policy which is consistent with our declarations and aims during the war. There are some who believe that the great war which we waged was waged only for material