The Colonial Secretary further went on to suggest the inclusion in any enacting legislation for such a Union a provision for their possible future absorption, which might also further address the question of “native consent”
Lord Crewe’s favourable response to the initial protests of Kgosi Sebele I and the Basotho monarch Letsie proved to be and an important turning point. The Colonial Office’s position was further clarified in September-October of 1908. In a secret September 17, 1908 memorandum on the proposed “South African Federation”, the head of the Dominions Department, Sir Charles Lucas, proposed that they: