300 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART It
High Commissioner for South-eastern Africa, and formerly the
Governor of Natal was also a Special Commissioner for Zulu-
land, which was annexed in 1897 to the Colony.! Moreover,
in the early days of the Cape the Governor as High Com-
missioner was invested with control over the Crown Colonies
which were gradually absorbed by the Cape : British Kaffraria,
(annexed in 1865 under Act No. 3), Griqualand West (annexed
in 1880 under Act No. 39 of 1877), British Bechuanaland
annexed in 1895 under Act No. 41 of 1895),2 and minor
territories. In all these cases the High Commissioner was
expected to manage affairs on his own responsibility, but
to accommodate matters so far as possible to the views
of his ministers. This was not always easy, and for a time
Sir H. Robinson had great trouble in carrying on affairs,
and the Rev. J. Mackenzie, who was for some time in charge
of Bechuanaland, proposed that the posts of Governor
and High Commissioner should be separated.? The reasons
against this proposal were, however, then overwhelming.
There was not sufficient work for a High Commissioner who
had no other duties; the protectorates were held in the
interests of the Cape and Natal, and the adoption of a
policy of separation would have been idle and useless, the
real aim being to secure the interests of the Colonies.
On the other hand, annexation was not always wise; for
example, Basutoland. after a premature annexation in 1871
and a rash attempt at disarmament, had to be retransferred
to the direct Imperial control in 1884.
' See Parl. Pap., C. 8782.
! See Parl, Pap., C. 7932. It was made a Crown Colony in 1885.
See Parl. Pap., C. 5488 (1888).
Yor the powers of the High Commissioner before Union, see Parl, Pagp.,
H. C. 130, 1905. He still controls the protectorates and Basutoland, and
represents the control of the Imperial Government over Rhodesia, which
is administered by the Chartered Company. In his functions as regards
Rhodesia he acts on his own responsibility, but in general harmony with
the views of his Government in the Union. Cf. the discussion of the
Umteli outrage question in February 1911.
