ABSTRACT
TheBoerWarputanendtothewilderexpressionsoflate-Victorianimperialism. 1 'Thewarhasbeenthenation'sRecessionalafterallthepompandshowof theyearofJubilee.Ithastransmutedthecomplacentarroganceandcontempt ofothernationsbegottenoflongyearsofpeaceandprosperitytoatruer consciousnessbothofourstrengthandofourdefects,andhasawakenedan earnestdesiretomakethosedefectsgood.'Soadmittedthefirstvolumeof TheTimesHistoryoftheWarinSouthAfrica(1900).DuringtheEdwardian yearstheBritishEmpireceasedtoprovideexcitement.Instead,itsprogressevenitsultimatesurvival-becameasubjectofsoberconcern.Attheopening ofthe1902ColonialConferenceJosephChamberlainremarkedhow'theweary Titanstaggersunderthetoovastorbofitsfate.Wehavebornetheburdenfor manyyears.Wethinkitistimethatourchildrenshouldassistustosupportit'.2 YetChamberlainfoundlittlebackingattheconferenceforhisideasofimperial unification.Thesenseofnationaldifferentiationwasstrengtheningyearlywithin thewhite'Dominions'(astheself-governingcolonieswerecomingincreasingly tobecalled),uncheckedbytheintroductionofRhodesScholarshipstoOxford (1902)orofEmpireDay(1904).Newgenerationsweregrowingupoverseas whichhadneverknownBritainas'home'.NewZealandremainedthemost BritishoftheDominions;butwhenatthe1911ImperialConferenceherPrime Minister,SirJosephWard,unexpectedlyechoedChamberlain'soldproposals forformallinks,hewasopposedbothbytheotherDominionpremiersandby Asquith,theBritishPrimeMinister.Suchascheme,declaredAsquith,wouldbe 'absolutelyfataltoourpresentsystemofresponsiblegovernment'.3
