ouses, interested itself in agriculture, fruit-growing, farming and
cattle-breeding all over the Colony. It managed to acquire shares in all
the new mining enterprises whether in the Transvaal or in Rhodesia.
Politically it controlled the elections, and there were certain districts
in the Cape Colony where no candidate unsupported by De Beers could hope
to be elected to a seat in Parliament. The company had its own police,
while its secret service was one of the most remarkable in the world,
having among its archives a record of the private opinions of all the
people enjoying any kind of eminence in the country. In presence of De
Beers the Governor himself was overshadowed; indeed, I do not think that
if the Home Government had tried to oppose the organisation it would have
had much chance of coming out on top.

Sir Alfred Milner was the first man who saw that it would be impossible
for England to have the last word in South Africa unless those who, both
in Cape Colony and in the Transvaal, were the real masters of the
situation were broken, and financial concerns persuaded to occupy
themselves solely with financial matters. Though Sir Alfred was wise
enough, and prudent enough, not to allow his feelings on the subject to
become public property, Rhodes was shrewd enough to guess that he would
encounter a resolute adversary in the person of the High Commissioner.
Perhaps had he kept his suspicions to himself instead of communicating
them to others he might have been persuaded in time to recognise that
there was a great deal in the opinions which Sir Alfred held as to the
participation of financial organisations in political matters. If only
each could have had a chance for a frank understanding, probably Milner
would not have objected to Rhodes continuing to control the vast machine
into which the diamond mines amalgamation had grown, so long as it
confined its operations to commerce.

If Government is exercised by a single person it is possible for it to
possess the elements of justice and equity, and to be carried out with few
mistakes of such gravity as would compromise the whole system. But,
unfortunately, the South African autocracy meant an army of small
autocrats, and it was they who compromised Rhodes and then sheltered
themselves behind his gigantic personality from the unpopularity and
detestation which their actions aroused in the whole of South Africa.

I feel personally convinced that if, during the period