opinion between Stead and the others can be traced in F. Whyte, The Life of W. T. Stead
(2 vols., Boston, 1925), Ch. 21.
The failure of the plotters in Johannesburg to revolt so haunted the plotters elsewhere
that they salved their wounds by fantasy. Stead wrote this fantasy for The Review of
Reviews annual of January 1897, and consulted with Garrett, who had similar plans for
the Christmas 1896 number of the Cape Times. In Stead's story, the Jameson fiasco was
to be turned into a smashing success by a heroic South African editor, who, when all
appeared lost, would rush to Johannesburg, stir up the revolt, and save the day. Garrett,
who was to be the original model for the hero, wrote back: "A suggestion which will help
to keep us distinct, give you a much grander theme, and do something for C.J. R. which
no one has yet dared—I went nearer to 'Cecil Rhodes' Dream' but that was a hint only:
viz. Make world see what he was driving at and what would have come if all had come
off and if Johannesburg had played up.... As to making me the hero. No.... But he must be
not only me but you also, and A. Milner, and a few more rolled into one, and he must do
what I dreamed of doing but time and space prevented." For the name of this hero Garrett
suggested combining the three names into 'Milner Garsted" or "Milstead." Ultimately,
Stead made the hero a woman. The new model was probably Flora Shawl The story
appeared with the title "The History of a Mystery." See F. Whyte, The Life of W. T.
Stead, 94-95
10. Even after the view of the majority prevailed, Stead refused to yield and published
his version of a proper defense in The Scandal of the South Africa Committee (London,
1899). It was Stead's belief that preparation for"a raid" was a patriotic act which, if
confessed, would have won public acclaim rather than condemnation.
11. On this see Journals and Letters of Reginald, Viscount Esher, (4 vols., London,
1938N, 1, 196-202.
12. The History of The Times (4 vols., London, 1935), 111, 244. It is clear from Miss
Moberly Bell's biography of Flora Shaw (183-188) that Buckle knew this fact at least by
24 May 1897, although Miss Shaw had previously written him a letter stating explicit!)
(probably for the record) that she had been acting without either Buckle's or Bell's
knowledge. The night before Miss Shaw testified before the Select Committee, Buckle
sent her a detailed letter of instruction on how to answer the committee's questions.
13. W. S. Blunt, My Diaries (London, 1932), 226.
14. See The History of The Times (4 vols., London, 1935), 111, 315-316.
Chapter 7
1. L. Curtis, Dyarchy (Oxford, 1920), 41.
There can be no doubt that the original inspiration for the Round Table movement was
to be found in anti-German feeling. In fact, there are some indications that this was the
primary motive and that the stated purpose of working for imperial federation was, to
some extent at least, a mask. The Round Table, in 1940, in its obituary of Abe Bailey
(September 1940, XXX, 743-746) attributes its foundation to this cause as follows:
"German ambitions to destroy and supplant the British Commonwealth were manifest to
those who had eyes to see.... [These asked] 'Can not all the Dominions he brought to
realize the common danger that confronts them as much as it confronts Great Britain and
think out in mutual discussion the means of uniting all the force and resolution of the
Empire in its defense?' To the solution of this question the founders of the Closer Union
Societies resolved to apply a similar procedure. Round Table Groups were established in
all the British Dominions to study the problem." A similar cause for the founding
appeared in The Round Table as recently as the issue of September 1948.
2. The original leader of the Round Table Groups in New Zealand was apparently
James Allen (Sir James after 1917), who had been educated in England, at Clifton School
and Cambridge University, and was an M. P. in New Zealand from 1887 to 1920. He was
Minister of Defense (1912-1920), Minister of Finance and Education (1912-1915), and
Minister of Finance (1919-1920), before he became in 1920, New Zealand's High
Commissioner in London. He was a member of the Royal Institute of International
Affairs.
In the Round Table Group for New Zealand, Allen was soon supplemented and
eventually succeeded by William Downie-Stewart as the most important member.
Stewart was at the time Mayor of Dunedin (1913) but soon began a twenty-one-year
period as an M.P. (1914-1935). He was also Minister of Customs (1921-1928); Minister
of Internal Affairs (1921-1924); Minister of Industries and Commerce (1923-1926);
Attorney General (1926); Minister of Finance (1926-1928, 1931-1933); Acting Prime
Minister (1926); New Zealand delegate to the Ottawa Conference (1932); Vice-
Chancellor of Otago University; prominent businessman, and president of the New
Zealand Institute of International Affairs (1935- ). According to Dove's letters, he
attended a Milner Group discussion meeting at Lord Lothian's country house in October
1932.
3. The chief leaders in Australia were Thomas Bavin (Sir Thomas after 1933) and
Frederic W. Eggleston (Sir Frederic since 1941). The former, who died in 1941 (see
obituary in The Round Table for December 1941), was a barrister in New South Wales
from 1897, Professor of Law and Modern History at the University of Tasmania (1900-
1901); private secretary to the first Prime Minister of Australia, Sir Edmund Barton, in
1901-1904; Secretary and Chief Law Officer of Australia in 1907; It. commander in
naval intelligence in 1916-1918; an Australian M.P. in 1919-1935; held many cabinet
posts in New South Wales from 1922 to 1930, ending as Premier (1927-1930). He
finished his career as a judge of the Supreme Court in 1935-1941. He was one of the
original members of the Round Table Group in Australia, a regular contributor to The
Round Table, and an important member of the Australian Institute of International
Affairs.
Eggleston was a barrister from 1897; a member, correspondent, and chief agent in
Australia for The Round Table from 1911; a member of the Legislative Assembly of
Australia, (1920-1927); Minister for Railways, (1924-1926); chairman of the
Commonwealth Grants Commission, (1934-1941); Minister of China (1941-1944) and to
the United States (1944-1946). He was one of the founders and chief officers of the
Australian Institute of International Affairs and its representative on the council of the
Institute of Pacific Relations.
4. Glazebrook, although virtually unknown, was a very important figure in Canadian
life, especially in financial and imperialist circles, up to his death in 1940. For many
years he had a practical monopoly in foreign exchange transactions in Toronto, through
his firm, Glazebrook and Cronyn (founded 1900). Like most members of the Milner
Group, he was interested in adult education, workers' education, and university
management. He promoted all of these in Toronto, lecturing himself to the Workers'
Educational Association, and at the University of Toronto where he was assistant
Professor of Banking and Finance (1926-1937). He was the chief adviser of leading