A-albionic Research Weekly Up-date of 5-2-96
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        Anonymous attendee of Lothian Foundation Conference reveals that
the conference confirmed allegations of Carroll Quigley's _Tragedy and
Hope_ and _Anglo-American Establishment_.

             REPORT ON THE TENTH LOTHIAN FOUNDATION CONFERENCE

What follows is a necessarily brief and incomplete summary of
this conference, which I attended. I have not recorded the
content of every paper, only the main points of interest, and in
a disconnected fashion. What follows are basically my notes from
the conference. Some papers have been left out altogether, since
they are of less direct interest, and dealt primarily with
historical details. It was announced that the proceedings would
in due course be published. They will be available from the
Lothian Foundation, 23 Doughty Mews, London WC1N 2PF, England
(phone 44-171-242 2959). A catalogue of publications by Lothian
Foundation Press is available.

N.B. All words enclosed in double quotation marks (") are direct
quotations from the speakers.

Date: 22-23 March, 1996

Venue: London House, Mecklenburgh Square

Organizers:

Dr. Alex May, researcher from the Lothian Foundation. Dr. May
has just completed his doctorate at the University of Oxford, a
history of the Round Table, to be published by Oxford University
Press; Prof. Andrea Bosco, Jean Monnet Professor of European
Integration at South Bank University, Director of the Lothian
Foundation, author of a biography of Lord Lothian (in Italian,
to be translated), also author and editor of books (in English)
published by Lothian Foundation Press, on the idea of `world
federalism'.

Summary:

There were 8 sessions, consisting of 2 or 3 speakers, each
delivering a 30 minute paper, moderated by a chairman. Questions
and discussion followed each session. There was also a final
discussion and summing up. As far as I could ascertain, the
conference was attended almost exclusively by professional
academic historians. The attendance was about 40 people. There
was also a formal dinner, which I did not attend, addressed by
Mr. John Grigg (son of Edward Grigg, member of Milner's
Kindergarten).

The conference was introduced by Prof. Bosco (an Italian), who
noted that the Foundation now has 2 divisions, one being
historical and the other devoted to current European issues,
since the latter "coheres with Lord Lothian's vision".

Session 1: The Kindergarten and South Africa. (Chair: Dr. Iain
Smith, University of Warwick)

1) Andrew Lownie (biographer of John Buchan): John Buchan and
the Kindergarten.

Core members of the Kindergarten (apart from Milner): Peter
Perry; Lionel Curtis; Patrick Duncan; Hugh Wyndham; Lionel
Hichens; Richard Feetham; Robert Brand; Philip Kerr (Lord
Lothian); Dougal Malcolm. Most were from New College, Oxford,
many were Fellows of All Souls. All were very young, most under
30. Buchan was recommended by Leo Amery, but was not part of the
original Kindergarten; nor were Basil Blackwood, Geoffrey
Robinson/Dawson, Basil Williams.

The `Moot House' debaters became the Round Table.

Buchan's biggest influence was Milner.

The Compatriots Dining Club (1904), founded by Amery, was a
breakaway from the Coefficient Club.

The book *Alexander Hamilton* by F.S. Oliver became the `bible'
of the Kindergarten, because of its "new ideas on the State".

Chatham Dining Club was dedicated to the "effective
consolidation of the British Empire"; it included Halifax.
Buchan spoke there.

Buchan did not join the Round Table, but kept close contact.

Curtis and Buchan were involved with the League of Nations
Union.

1939-40: Buchan's ideas on federation centred on its being "a
solution of the some of the world's problems". He raised the
idea with Roosevelt. Something more than the League of Nations
was required; a surrender of national sovereignty was necessary.
The United States would have to dominate any such federation.
Buchan was conditioned by Milner, but had greater sympathy for
national self-determination than the Round Table.

2) Bill Schwartz (Goldsmiths' College, University of London):
The Romance of the Veld.

In his memoirs, Buchan says that `South Africa made me a
citizen'. His views on politics and civilization were forged in
South Africa.

His fiction, especially *Prester John* (1910) reveals Buchan's
views on civilization.

*The African Colony* (1903) contains Buchan's views on `the
master races'. The future of South Africa was crucial to the
English race. He was negative about the Boers, who were anti-
Enlightenment and had a sluggish nature, but were useful for the
English in South Africa, and were admirably a frontier people.

Buchan believed in the need for the State to raise the level of
the black miners, but not the white, which would be degrading.

Buchan helped to construct an English ethnic memory for the 20th
century, especially concerning South Africa.

*The African Colony* has its origins in Milnerite politics.

18 Oct. 1910: newspapers use the words `race riots' for the
first time, referring to riots in the USA, West Indies, etc.,
because of the boxing win by Jack Johnson. Buchan was writing
*Prester John* at the time, and in it there is a complex
discussion of black/white relations.

*Prester John* contains a Milnerite resolution: English
civilization is in command, and looks after the blacks.

Discussion after session:

Iain Smith: For Buchan, "imperialism fades into
internationalism" after World War 1.

Andrew Lownie: for Buchan, the focus was on the USA rather than
the Continent.

Iain Smith: a central feature of the Kindergarten and the Round
Table - influencing public opinion through official and
*unofficial* channels, such as dinners, the media, etc.

Session 2: The Edwardian Empire. (Chair: Prof. Andrew Porter,
Kings College, London)

1) Dr. Andrew Thompson (Corpus Christi College, Oxford):
Imperial Ideology in Edwardian Britain.

Joseph Chamberlain's Tariff Reform League was anti-laissez faire
and free trade. However, its motivation was imperial unity, not
domestic protection. He believed in "constructive imperialism",
which involved State intervention, as opposed to free trade
imperialism.

2) Dr. Peter Durrans (University of Sunderland): Parliament and
Empire, 1906-14.

No notes

3) Dr. Kent Fedorowich (University of the West of England at
Bristol): The Weak Link in the Imperial Chain: South Africa, the
Round Table and World War 1.

No notes

Session 3: The Imperial Idea: Ireland and Rhodesia. (Chair:
Prof. Thomas G. Fraser, University of Ulster at Coleraine)

1) Dr. Alan O'Day (University of North London): Federalism, Home
Rule and Self-Government Ideas of Irish Nationalism in the Age
of Isaac Butt and Parnell.

No notes

2) Gary Peatling (Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford): The Last Defence
of the Union? The Round Table and Irish Politics.

No notes

3) Dr. Donal Lowry (Oxford Brookes University): "Shame upon
`Little England' while Greater England stands!": Southern
Rhodesia and the Imperial Idea.

No notes

Session 4: The Imperial Idea: India and the Colonies. (Chair:
Deborah Lavin, University of Durham - absent)

1) Chandrika Kaul (Nuffield College, Oxford): The Round Table,
the British Press and India.

No notes

2) Dr. Philip Woods (Thames Valley University): Lionel Curtis,
the Round Table and Indian Constitutional Reform.

No notes

3) Dr. David Meredith (University of New South Wales): Colonial
Development, the Great Depression and the Origins of British
Decolonisation. (Paper read by Dr. Michael Havinden, University
of Exeter)

Session 5: The Round Table as a Pressure Group. (Chair: Dr. John
Darwin, Nuffield College, Oxford)

1) Dr. Leonie Foster (Royal Historical Society, Victoria): The
Imperial Federation League and the Genesis of the Australian
Round Table.

1884 - Imperial Federation League founded in London. Aim:
permanent unity of Empire by federation.
1885 - IFL (Victoria). Same objective.
1896 - IFL disbanded. IFL (Victoria) stayed on, despite end of
all other IFL branches.

Robert Garran - founder member of Australian Round Table.

1905 - Alfred Deakin becomes president of IFL (Victoria).
1909 - IFL of Australia founded. Objective: `permanent co-
operation'. Ideal of federation abandoned.

No evidence of Labor Party affiliation to IFL.

1912 onwards - IFL fades away.

1910 - Curtis founds Australian Round Table on visit to Sydney.
"Connections with a select group." Many former IFL members
joined Melbourne Round Table. Deakin facilitated development of
Australian Round Table. It used "slightly covert tactics".

2) Dr. Alex May (Lothian Foundation): The London `Moot',
Dominion Nationalism and Imperial Federation.

There was Dominion nationalist opposition to the imperial
federalists.

"The idea behind the Round Table was Curtis's."

1908 - Curtis wrote to Milner about the need for a common
imperial defence policy.

For the Round Table, the only 2 options were federation or
disintegration.

The Round Table early on portrayed itself as an unideological
study group, which was obvious rubbish.

The common bedrock to the Round Table was that `constitutional
federation' was a realistic objective to aim at.

The prime objective of imperial foreign policy was to keep out
of European entanglements.

Frederick Eggleston was most representative of Round Table
imperial ideology - that dominion nationalism was consistent
with imperial foreign policy, not antagonistic to it.

Curtis always viewed the Empire/Commonwealth as the centre of a
wider union involving the USA and Western Europe.

After World War 2, the idea of imperial federation was
abandoned.

3) Prof. John Turner (Royal Holloway, University of London): The
Round Table and the Policy-Making Process, c.1910-22.

No notes

Session 6: Round Tablers and the Imperial Idea. (Chair: Prof.
Terence Ranger, St. Antony's College, Oxford)

1) Dr. Stefan Schieren (Otto-von-Guericke University,
Magdeburg): Philip Kerr and Anglo-American Relations after the
Great War.
The Anglo-US `special relationship' is a myth. The US was Kerr's
ideal partner for world federation; but the US did not co-
operate, especially over the League of Nations. Why?

a) US anti-imperialism. The Empire was an alien system contrary
to US ideals (cf. Easter uprising, Amritsar).

b) freedom of the seas. There was maritime conflict (e.g. 1812).

"Between the world wars, Kerr pleaded for Anglo-US world
hegemony".

Kerr thought the Empire and internationalism were complementary.
But he was still against European entanglement.

2) Prof. Thomas G. Fraser (University of Ulster at Coleraine):
Reginald Coupland, the Round Table and the Problem of Divided
Societies.

No notes.

3) Suke Wolton (St. Antony's College, Oxford): Lord Hailey's
War-work: Defending the Empire in the United States.

No notes.

Session 7: The Round Table and British Foreign Policy. (Chair:
Christopher Seton-Watson, esq.)

1) Dr. Erik Goldstein (University of Birmingham): The Round
Table and New Europe.

*New Europe* journal (1913-20): liberal, Eurocentric.
Convergence with the journal *The Round Table* (1910-) as a
result of WW1.

Main objective of *The Round Table* (the journal) before 1914:
"to promote the federal idea within the Empire".

*New Europe*: founded by R.W. Seton-Watson. (Contributors
included O. Browning, E. Childers, S. Hoare, A. France, W.
Stead.)

1914 - discussion group including Round Table and New Europe
members. They were collaborators, personal friends, etc., but
gave the public appearance of having divergent positions. It was
a huge network, with many in government/cabinet, and in post-WW1
Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office.

There were "remarkably overlapping" contributors lists for both
journals. *New Europe* was in great demand at the Paris Peace
Conference, where it was referred to as the Orange Bible
(because of its colour).

There was a "synergy" between *The Round Table* and *New
Europe*.

"World War 1 gave the opportunity for new modes of conflict
resolution after the war - international order."

The Political Intelligence Department (and the New Europe group)
believed that creating new nation states in Europe would
maintain the balance of power - federations were the answer
(e.g. Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia): "a new internationalism based
on satisfied nationalism".

Curtis suggested the Royal Institute of International Affairs
should be a joint Anglo-American effort.

*New Europe* and *The Round Table* come together over the
question of education - "public ignorance over international
affairs".

School of Slavonic & E. European Studies (New Europe)
Chichele Chair in History of War (Oxford) (Round Table)
Beit Chair in History of British Commonwealth (Oxford) (Round
Table)

etc. etc.; and, of course, Chatham House.

RIIA is an Anglo-US effort. First met at Astors. Big role played
by Toynbee.

Newspapers heavily involved with RT/NE, e.g. Dawson (Times),
Stead (Pall Mall Gazette), Darvin (Observer).

"Journals were founded to promote their ideas" (of RT/NE).

Both RT and NE promoted a federal Europe.

At New College, Seton-Watson and Kerr were friends; this,
according to Seton-Watson's son (present at conference), was
important.

2) Prof. Andrea Bosco (South Bank University; Jean Monnet
Professor of the Theory of European Integration): Lord Lothian,
the Round Table, and Appeasement.

Round Table influenced the European Movement on the Continent.
Imperial matters were not important; it was the idea of
*federalism* that mattered (derived from Alexander Hamilton).

1918 - Lothian said the idea of imperial federation was dead.
Had row with Curtis. Instead, L. stressed Anglo-US alliance:
world naval power to prevent local wars, in lieu of world
federation. Chatham House was the main Round Table success in
respect of the alliance.

The tactics changed, but the objective was the same: `world
peace'. Chatham House *not* primarily an imperialist
organization.

Why did RT seem to lose momentum? It didn't, in effect - they
all went to Chatham House! By 1920s - Curtis more involved with
Chatham House than with Round Table.

1921 - Lothian used word `appeasement' (for first time).
Fontainbleau, Locarno - first acts of appeasement.

Lothian's position on appeasement - giving free hand to Germany
in Eastern and Central Europe, but containing Italy in Africa,
which was strategically more important. Also, a strong Anglo-US
alliance.

Till 1938, other school predominated - strong Anglo-French
alliance.

1938 (Chamberlain) - Lothian's view, RIIA's, RT's, *dominated*.
Press controlled by Astors promoted this.

Lothian's role was *big* "behind the scenes".

Appeasement had to be related to global policy and end of
Empire. Should be seen as indicative of new system of ideas.

*Birth of European integration was a consequence/by-product of
Anglo-US policy*.

Questions after paper: Seton-Watson said Woodrow Wilson was
Gladstone speaking with an American accent.

Panel and audience discussed Round Table today. Names which
arose: Douglas Jay (now dead), Harry Hodson (90), both were
`Empire First' people. Gilbert Murray, Zilliacus [used pseudonym
sometimes?], Zimmern were globalists.

Session 8: The End of Empire (Chair: Dr. Peter Lowe, University
of Manchester)

1) Dr. Alex May (Lothian Foundation): The Round Table and the
Post-War Commonwealth, 1945-66.

After WWII - Commonwealth/Imperial federalism was dead. Organic
Union not possible. Australia and Canada both saw it too. Curtis
had lost the argument.

Cold War, reliance on US, European movement, Commonwealth
loosening (independences etc.).

Round Table stopped speaking with a common voice.

Last Kindergarten member died in 1965.

What was distinctive after WWII? RT - Commonwealth still
mattered. Critical of government's lack of consultation with
Dominions.

Late 1940s - RT stopped advocating Commonwealth as organic
unity. Valued it as informal bridge between races: multi-racial,
democratic Commonwealth.

1960s - RT said Britain had to join EEC because of political and
economic self-interest. Commonwealth effectively abandoned.

2) Prof. John O'Brien (University College Cork): Canadian and
Australian Responses to Britain's First Application to Join the
EEC, 1959-61.

Australia and Canada questioned British sincerity and competence
regarding EEC and guarantees to Commonwealth.

3) Dr. Peter Lyon (Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University
of London; current Editor of `The Round Table'): The Round Table
and the Commonwealth since 1965.

`The Round Table' resurrected in 1983; Lyon made editor.

1964-6: Commonwealth watershed. Articles anonymous or
pseudonymous till 1966 ("general climate of change"). [My
interpretation of this: journal becomes more open when
Commonwealth is no longer seen by RT as a politically important
world government prototype.]

1965 - Commonwealth has 21 members. Now 53.

Tim Slack - current RT chairman: admits reduced influence of RT.

Lyon: "If you want to influence events, you need to do it behind
the scenes."

Royal Commonwealth Society being revitalised.

More Australians in current RT than any country apart from
Britain (e.g. Robert O'Neill, Prof. of History of War (Oxf.)).

Summing up at end of conference (led by Dr. John Darwin, Beit
Lecturer, Nuffield College, Oxford)

1) Why did Round Table arise?

- South Africa problem
- anxiety and confidence about Empire
- Milner's contribution. New Europe movement died because no
Milner to lead it.

2) How did it function?

- networking, sociability, friends, Curtis's activity.
- overseas: recruiting, not necessarily imperial centralisers,
but believers in the role of the Dominions in international
affairs.
- did it function like a cabal/All Souls dinners, or as an open
argument like Tariff Reform League or Imperial Federation
League? Answer - somewhere in between.

3) What did it stand for?

- `closer union'. Vague. Stood back from imperial federation,
especially if it meant keeping away from Europe.
- faith in reconciliation of clashing cultures in broader
British identity.
- RT has embraced end of Empire with little difficulty.

4) Was RT a kind of `marginalised Mafia' failing to influence
events, or the tip of the pan-Brittanic iceberg? Answer - in
between, but not clear where on spectrum.

5) Remarkable transition to historical monument worthy of study.

[Some personal impressions of this conference and related
matters. What struck me by the end was how remarkably accurate
Carroll Quigley's research was. Just about every name mentioned
at the conference is in his books: his membership lists in *The
Anglo-American Establishment* are *wholly accurate*. Just about
every major event mentioned at the conference is corroborated in
his books. *Clearly* he did, as he always said he did, have
access to the most confidential papers of the Round Table
movement. He knew *exactly* what he was talking about, both in
historical details and in interpretation of the motives of the
main players, as well as the `big picture'. No wonder, then,
that his work was suppressed.

I noted the remarkable agreement at the conference that the
Empire was sold out to world federalism. The Empire was really a
*sham* - either it was useful for world federalism or it had no
special significance and could be discarded.

European integration/political union is *clearly* the
continuation of the *same* strategy, for the *same* ultimate
objective, by other means.

The conference confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that the
Round Table existed, and that, for the most part, it acted *in
secret*.

Now that the Round Table has faded in influence in favour of the
European idea, it all comes out in the open. Contributors to the
journal are no longer anonymous/pseudonymous; conferences can be
held; books can be written (e.g. Lavin, *Lionel Curtis*, OUP,
1995; Bosco, *Lothian*, LFP, 1989; and many others).

I was somewhat surprised to learn that the conference was co-
organized by an Italian; but once I learned that he was a
professor of European integration, and saw the table loaded with
books on world federalism/government, many by him, I understood
what the point of the exercise was.]
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