Milner's Kindergarten is an informal reference to a group of Britons who served in the South African Civil Service under High Commissioner Alfred, Lord Milner, between the Second Boer War and the founding of the Union of South Africa. They were in favour of the South African union and, ultimately, an imperial federation of the British Empire itself. On Milner's retirement, most continued in the service under William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne, who was Milner's successor. Many of these men themselves attained public prominence after their South African experience, hence the 'kindergarten' tag. A civil servant or public servant is a civilian career public sector employee working for a government department or agency. ... A High Commissioner is a person serving in a special executive capacity. ... Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner (23 March 1854 _ 13 May 1925), was British statesman and colonial administrator. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada Cape Colony Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Redvers Buller Frederick Roberts Herbert Kitchener Paul Kruger Martinus Steyn Louis Botha Christiaan de Wet Casualties 22,000 6,500 Civilians killed [mainly Boers]: 24,000+ The Second Boer War, commonly referred to as... National motto: Ex Unitate Vires (Latin: From Unity, strength} Official languages Afrikaans, Dutch and English. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... William Waldegrave Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne (1859 - 1942), was a British politician. ...

Other key members were:

• Sir Patrick Duncan - Governor General of South Africa, 1937-1943
• Philip Henry Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian - British Ambassador to the United States of America, 1939-1940
• Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand - managing director of Lazard Brothers till 1944
• Lionel Curtis - Royal Institute of International Affairs founder
• Richard " Dick" Feetham - Lawyer, later, first Chief Justice of the Union of South Africa,
• George Geoffrey Dawson - Times Editor, 1912-1917
• John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir - novelist and Governor General of Canada, 1935-1940

Many of these men continued to associate formally after their South African service through their founding of The Round Table Journal, which was established to promote Imperial Federation. Patrick Duncan's obituary in the journal's September 1943 edition, may best describe their ethos: Sir Patrick Duncan (1870 1943) was Governor General of the Union of South Africa between 1937 and 1943. ... The Governor General of the Union of South Africa was the representative of the British Crown in South Africa between May 31, 1910 and May 31, 1961. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... Philip Henry Kerry, 11th Marquess of Lothian (1882-1940) was a British politician who briefly served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1931 and later as British Ambassador to the United States of America from 1939 to 1940. ... The British Ambassador to the United States is in charge of Britains diplomatic mission to the USA. His official title is Her Majestys Ambassador to the United States of America. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand (October 30, 1878 – August 23, 1963) was a British civil servant, businessman, and Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. ... Lazard Ltd. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Lionel Curtis (1872–1955) British official and author who advocated British Empire Federalism and, late in life, a world state. ... Chatham House (formerly the Royal Institute of International Affairs) is an institute based in London for the analysis of current affairs around the world. ... George Geoffrey Dawson (October 25, 1874, Skipton-in-Craven, Yorkshire - November 7, 1944, London) was editor of The Times from 1912 to 1919 and again from 1923 until 1941. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, GCMG, GCVO, CH, PC (26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940), was a Scottish novelist and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada. ... The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneure générale du Canada or Gouverneur général du Canada) is the representative of the Canadian Monarch. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs is a policy matters journal relating to the British Commonwealth. ... Imperial Federation was a mid-19th Century proposal to create a federated union in place of the existing British Empire. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

"Duncan became the doyen of the band of brothers, Milner's young men, who were nicknamed . . .The Kindergarten, then in the first flush of youthful enthusiasm. It is a fast ageing and dwindling band now; but it has played a part in the Union of South Africa colonies, and it is responsible for the foundation and conduct of The Round Table. For forty years and more, so far as the vicissitudes of life have allowed, it has kept together; and always, while looking up to Lord Milner and to his successor in South Africa, the late Lord Selborne, as its political Chief, has revered Patrick Duncan as the Captain of the band."

Theories

Based on the early wills of the South African diamond magnate, Cecil Rhodes, and other indirect evidence, the American historian Carroll Quigley argued that the Kindergarten was a front organisation for the 'Society of the Elect', a secret society that he claimed was founded in 1891 by Rhodes and Milner. Cecil Rhodes. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A secret society is an organization that conceals its activities from outsiders. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

References

• The Anglo-American Establishment, Carroll Quigley, 1949
• Round Table Movement - Past and Future, 1913
• Papers relating to the application of the principle of DYARCHY T0 THE GOVERNMENT OF- INDIA, 1920
• Harry Hodson on the Round Table