South Africa Conciliation Committee
Encyclopedia
The South Africa Conciliation Committee was a British anti-war
organisation that opposed
the Second Boer War
.
It was formed in 1899 in response to the outbreak of the war, for the "dissemination of accurate information" on the war, and to seek an early "peaceable settlement between this country and the Boer Republics
".
The Conciliation Committee campaigned chiefly for formal negotiations to end the war. Among other movements, the Conciliation Committee was seen to be taking the centre ground, aiming to keep South Africa in the British Empire rather than pressing for the British to withdraw unilaterally, making non-partisan
appeals to reason.
Its president was the veteran politician Leonard Courtney
.
Courtney recruited Emily Hobhouse
as secretary.
Jane Cobden Unwin, daughter of Radical and Liberal stateman Richard Cobden
, was a founder member.
Other prominent members included John Clifford, president of the Stop the War Committee
,
Allan Heywood Bright
MP,
publisher Thomas Fisher Unwin
, left-wing journalist Henry Brailsford, and Robert Spence Watson
, author of The History of English Rule and Policy in South Africa.
There was a considerable overlap with the members of the Society of Friends of Russian Freedom.
The 1900 general election
was generally considered a "khaki election
" and candidates such as Bright, who were identified as "anti war", were heavily defeated.
Against this background the Committee drew considerable public opposition to its campaigning, particularly when it organised a women's demonstration against the war in the same year. However, the antagonism was not as strong as that provoked by the Stop the War Committee, with its religiously inspired utopian approach.
The Conciliation Committee's distinctive role was seen by The Spectator
as providing authentic information about the war. Emily Hobhouse visited South Africa in 1900–1, and her 1901 report on the British concentration camps led to the Fawcett
Commission which formally confirmed her findings.
Anti-war
An anti-war movement is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many...
organisation that opposed
Opposition to the Second Boer War
Opposition to the Second Boer War in Britain was modest when the war began on 11 October 1899 and was always less widespread than support for it, let alone prevailing indifference. However, influential groups formed immediately and ineffectually against the war, including the South African...
the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
It was formed in 1899 in response to the outbreak of the war, for the "dissemination of accurate information" on the war, and to seek an early "peaceable settlement between this country and the Boer Republics
Boer Republics
The Boer Republics were independent self-governed republics created by the northeastern frontier branch of the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of the north eastern Cape Province and their descendants in mainly the northern and eastern parts of what is now the country of...
".
The Conciliation Committee campaigned chiefly for formal negotiations to end the war. Among other movements, the Conciliation Committee was seen to be taking the centre ground, aiming to keep South Africa in the British Empire rather than pressing for the British to withdraw unilaterally, making non-partisan
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
appeals to reason.
Its president was the veteran politician Leonard Courtney
Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith
Leonard Henry Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith PC was a British politician, academic and man of letters...
.
Courtney recruited Emily Hobhouse
Emily Hobhouse
Emily Hobhouse was a British welfare campaigner, who is primarily remembered for bringing to the attention of the British public, and working to change, the poor conditions inside the British concentration camps in South Africa built for Boer women and children during the Second Boer War.-Early...
as secretary.
Jane Cobden Unwin, daughter of Radical and Liberal stateman Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden was a British manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty...
, was a founder member.
Other prominent members included John Clifford, president of the Stop the War Committee
Stop the War Committee
The Stop the War Committee was an anti-war organisation that opposed the Second Boer War. It was formed by William Thomas Stead in 1899. Its president was John Clifford and prominent members included Lloyd George and Keir Hardie...
,
Allan Heywood Bright
Allan Heywood Bright
Allan Heywood Bright was a British Liberal politician.-Early life:He was the son of Henry Arthur Bright JP of Ashfield, Knotty Ash, Liverpool and his wife Mary Elizabeth née Thompson of nearby Thingwall Hall...
MP,
publisher Thomas Fisher Unwin
Thomas Fisher Unwin
Thomas Fisher Unwin was an English publisher. He founded the publishing house T. Fisher Unwin in 1882 and was a joint founder of the First Council of Publishing Association.-References:...
, left-wing journalist Henry Brailsford, and Robert Spence Watson
Robert Spence Watson
Robert Spence Watson was a solicitor, reformer, politician and writer. He became famous for pioneering labour arbitrations.On the 9th June 1863 he married Elizabeth Spence Watson....
, author of The History of English Rule and Policy in South Africa.
There was a considerable overlap with the members of the Society of Friends of Russian Freedom.
The 1900 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
was generally considered a "khaki election
Khaki Election
In British political history, a khaki election is any national election which is heavily influenced by wartime or postwar sentiment. In the British general election of 1900, the Conservative Party government of Lord Salisbury was returned to office with an increased majority over the Liberal Party...
" and candidates such as Bright, who were identified as "anti war", were heavily defeated.
Against this background the Committee drew considerable public opposition to its campaigning, particularly when it organised a women's demonstration against the war in the same year. However, the antagonism was not as strong as that provoked by the Stop the War Committee, with its religiously inspired utopian approach.
The Conciliation Committee's distinctive role was seen by The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
as providing authentic information about the war. Emily Hobhouse visited South Africa in 1900–1, and her 1901 report on the British concentration camps led to the Fawcett
Millicent Fawcett
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, GBE was an English suffragist and an early feminist....
Commission which formally confirmed her findings.