The reasons for the annexation of Lesotho 1868 a new perspective

[摘要] The annexation of Lesotho in 1868 by Great Britain has been interpreted by previoushistorians in various ways. Most have emphasised the economic, humanitarian and moral factorswhich compelled Wadehouse to declare Basotho to be British subjects. While these factors werereal and cannot be ignored, the more important immediate cause of the annexation at that pointin time were Britain's regional geo-political concerns: namely, the need Fa prevent the OrangeFree State from breaking out of the neo-colonial framework imposed on it by Britain through theBloemfontein Convention of 1854. In other words, if the OFS were to overrun Lesotho and headfor the Transkei coast, it could then establish independent relations with foreign powers throughPort St. John's. This factor has been played down or even forgotten by most historians. The newperspective articulated in this thesis seeks to place it back on centre-stage.In order to put the final act of annexation into proper historical perspective, this thesisexplores carefully the various treaties and relations which existed between Lesotho and Britainfrom 1842 onwards. During the period 1842-47, Britain was pleased to assert Lesotho' s rightto its land and protection for its citizens against the encroachments of the white settlers ofTransorangia. This period of the Treaty States gave way to that of the Orange River Sovereigntyin 1848, when Sir Harry Smith annexed the entire region for Britain and tried to establish propermechanisms for peace and justice for both black and white. As this experiment failed, a scapegoatwas needed. Moshoeshoe, previously viewed as the source of peace and as a man prepared tocompromise for the common good, now became in Smith's view the source of tension and aproud ruler who needed to be put in his place. Attacked twice by the British, Moshoeshoe wasnot humbled militarily; through skilful diplomacy, he regained the confidence of GovernorCathcart.As Britain had already decided upon a policy of abandoning the Orange River Sovereignty,the only question which needed to be answered was this: What status would Moshoeshoe, hertraditional ally, enjoy under the new dispensation. Clerk, entrusted with the task of disentanglingBritain from the ORS, gave Moshoeshoe strong assurances concerning his land claims while atthe same time he told the white settlers the opposite, thus leaving the border situation confusedand unresolved. Clerk also agreed to the white settlers' request for an embargo on arms andammunition against the Basotho. Britain's neutrality was thus highly advantageous to thenewly formed Orange Free State.Nonetheless, during the First Basotho-Boer War of 1858, the Basotho emerged victoriousdue to their numerical superiority and the Boer's realisation .that they could win individual battlesbut they could not subdue the Basotho. The British, through Governor Grey, gave more land tothe Free State however in the hope of persuading it to join a white federation of states.Moshoeshoe had thus won the war but lost the peace. Though disillusioned with the British,Moshoeshoe knew that in the long run, he had no choice but to seek closer ties with Britain ifhewas to have any hope of resisting the land hungry white settlers. In 1861, Moshoeshoe formallyasked to become a subject of the Queen. This request was followed up carefully but,unfortunately, came to nothing. Seven more years were to pass and the Basotho would be terriblyhumbled in battle during the Second and Third Basotho-Boer Wars before the British finally actedto save the Basotho from complete defeat, fearing as has been said that a victorious OFS wouldthen push on to the coast/and break out of the encirclement imposed on it by Britain.The historical legacy of injustice from this period has never been forgotten by the Basothonation. The issue of Lesothos Conquered Territory, lost to the Orange Free State with theblessing of Britain, is still alive and perhaps the time has finally arrived for justice to be done nowthat South Africa is finally ruled by a government elected by all of her people.

[发布机构] University of the Free State