Proof copy of the Selborne memorandum

William Waldegrave Palmer Selborne (1859-1942), 2nd Earl of Selborne, was appointed British High Commissioner in South Africa in 1905. In 1906 he gave approval for a report, proposed by Lionel Curtis, on the British South African colonies. Curtis enlisting the help of his fellow members of 'Milner's Kindergarten', and held discussions and meetings at which successive drafts were produced. This process was presided over by Selborne, who gave his name to the resulting memorandum.

'A review of the present mutual relations of the British South African colonies', with corrections and notes, 183 pages. This copy is a proof dated 19-21 December 1906, and was amended by Lord Selborne, according to a manuscript note by Lionel Curtis of 14 January 1925. This proof is not the final revision, since there are some portions, such as p. 5, where the proof version and the amendment differ from the eventual publication. In addition to Lord Selborne's amendments, some portions have marginal notes in pencil, possibly by Curtis, apparently intended to summarise the argument.

Presented by the R.I.I.A., April 1976, which received the memorandum from Lionel Curtis.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Proof copy of the Selborne memorandum, RCMS 205

Basil Williams, 'The Selbourne memorandum' (1925), pp. xxii-xxiv, describes the publishing history of the memorandum, including the method by which it was given official status (pp. xix-xx). Williams notes that there were several proofs (p. xviii).

MSS Addenda, vol. III. Indexed

This collection level description was created by RAS using information from the original typescript catalogue.