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of imperial federation, met in a number of exclusive London clubs to discuss Curtis’ s plan. Curtis's scheme had three essential Curtis very much defined all that contemporary critics disliked of imperial federation, met in a number of exclusive London clubs about Milner's Kindergarten. According to one biography of to discuss Curtis's plan. Curtis's scheme had three essential Curtis, the then young, confident, single-minded Curtis was components: considered a "flagrant example of precocious Kindergarten 1) to produce a memorandum, similar to The Selborne cocksureness" (Lavin). Curtis was also the Kindergarten's most Memorandum, which would define the "imperial problem" as a enthusiastic advocate of the "organic union" of South Africa, basis for discussion; writing its two most important propaganda tracts, The Selborne 2) to contact influential supporters of imperial federation Memorandum (1907) and The Government of South Africa throughout the Empire, especially in the press and parliaments, (1908). He possessed an unbounded zeal for extending the using the memorandum as a talking point, to establish a political project of "organic union" not only to the British Empire but also organisation to promote the cause; to the world.“ Curtis sought the support of Milner and The 3) to publish magazines and other periodicals throughout the Rhodes Trust both to refine the plan further and bring it to Empire that would carry the message of imperial unity, but under fruition. central supervision to ensure the message remained consistent. After returning to Britain in 1905, Milner turned to various As for the preferred model of imperial unity, according to other pursuits. Despite his socialist orientation, he refused a gov- Curtis biographer Deborah Lavin he proposed establishing "a cen- ernment pension and instead sought employment in the City, tral sovereign imperial authority directly elected by the people of London's financial district, subsequently joining the boards of the the Empire to conduct foreign policy and control the armed ser- London Joint Stock Bank, the Bank of West Africa and the Rio vices, raising taxation through its own officers".” Tinto Company. He also continued his work with The Rhodes Trust, becoming its "most active member" according to Marlowe. CONFERENCE AT PLAS NEWYDD At the same time, Milner renewed his acquaintance with Sidney In September 1909, Curtis's proposals to create an organisation and Beatrice Webb, founders of the Fabian Society. It was an odd to influence elite opinion in the cause of imperial federation were relationship. Milner viewed his con- debated at the estate of Lord Anglesey troversial departure from South at Plas Newydd in Wales. Africa as proof that events were mov- In retrospect, the Plas Newydd ing their way, while his “house of Ata subsequent meeting, conference became the model for cards" was “tumblin own". . other elite policy-planning groups in Beatrice Webb in turn pitied Milner, held on 23 January 191 0 in the 20th century —a model copied thinking of him as "bitter and Milner's offices in Manchester faithfully, if unwittingly, by the obsessed" and lacking in spirituality; 5 " . ion" of th founders of the Trilateral only "God and a wife", she believed, quare, organic union oO t e Commission, the Bilderbergers, the would turn him into a “great man.” British Empire was formalised Club of Rome and the World Milner also maintained his political . . Economic Forum—with the power- interests, joining two dining clubs as the ultimate aim of the elite gathering in exclusive and devoted to his pet concerns of Round Table movement. isolated locations for private imperial unity and tariff reform: the conferences on grand geopolitical "Coefficients" and the "Compatriots". schemes. Founded by Sidney Webb in 1902, Thus at Lord Anglesey's well- the Coefficients met monthly to discuss appointed estate (it even had a golf defence, imperial issues and the economy. The Compatriots, course and a cricket pavilion), with Milner leading the which concerned itself with tariff reform and imperial unity, was _—_ proceedings, the gathered supporters of imperial federation established by Leo Amery, a journalist who had associated with discussed the plans further. Curtis's blueprints for the propaganda Milner and the Kindergarten while working as a correspondent for methods of the organisation underwent little modification, and the the Times during the Boer War and who, after the Kindergarten's immediate production of a memorandum on "imperial problems" return to Britain, was employed by Milner as one of hi: tants. was endorsed. That the British Empire must unite or disintegrate Milner provided funding to these groups and other activities out was accepted as a self-evident truth; however, the options of of The Rhodes Trust. voluntary associations or alliances between Britain and its Quigley characterised the Compatriots and Coefficients as some dominions were rejected as unstable and unsuitable alternatives to of the "numerous groups and organizations founded by unity. As recorded by Philip Kerr (later Lord Lothian; Milner...to create an immense nexus of influence and patronage 1882-1940), "it was thought that in the long run some form of for directing public policy in imperial and other matters". This is organic union was the only alternative to disruption". Funding for an odd claim, given that Milner abandoned the Coefficients on the the movement was also discussed, and was obtained from a grounds that it was too divisive and then the Compatriots, once it number of benefactors including South African mining magnate was superseded by a more enduring creation—the Round Table.” Sir Abe Bailey and The Rhodes Trust. According to Quigley, The There was no network—at that stage. Instead, with the return of | Rhodes Trust was to provide almost £24,000 to the Round Table the Kindergarten in 1909 and the appearance of Curtis's plan, in its first decade.'” Milner was suddenly seized with a desire to establish a more At a subsequent meeting, held on 23 January 1910 in Milner's substantial movement for imperial federation, telling Amery of offices in Manchester Square, "organic union" of the British his newfound enthusiasm for creating a "single Imperial Unionist | Empire was formalised as the ultimate aim of the Round Table party all over the Empire". movement. According to a memorandum of the meeting, this During July and August 1909, Milner, Amery, Curtis, Oliver required the "establishment of an Imperial Government and other members of the Kindergarten, plus a host of other constitutionally responsible to all electors of the Empire and with British establishment figures who were taken by Milner's vision power to act directly on the individual citizens". The plan was to components: 1) to produce a memorandum, similar to The Selborne Memorandum, which would define the "imperial problem" as a basis for discussion; 2) to contact influential supporters of imperial federation throughout the Empire, especially in the press and parliaments, using the memorandum as a talking point, to establish a political organisation to promote the cause; 3) to publish magazines and other periodicals throughout the Empire that would carry the message of imperial unity, but under central supervision to ensure the message remained consistent. As for the preferred model of imperial unity, according to Curtis biographer Deborah Lavin he proposed establishing "a cen- tral sovereign imperial authority directly elected by the people of the Empire to conduct foreign policy and control the armed ser- vices, raising taxation through its own officers".” At a subsequent meeting, held on 23 January 1910 in Milner's offices in Manchester Square, "organic union" of the British Empire was formalised as the ultimate aim of the 40 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2005 Round Table movement. www.nexusmagazine.com