It is no use blinking our eyes to the fact that a strong and efficient colour bar exists at present and to the probability that the Europeans will do their best to preserve it. [Africans] are becoming increasingly conscious of it and everything is set for a struggle between the races, which is certain to come eventually, unless an unexpected change in the European attitude takes place or the managements are in a position to resist pressure from the European union.
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References
1.
The Elwell Incident is mentioned only briefly in Robert I. Rotberg, The Rise of Nationalism in Central Africa: The making of Malawi and Zambia, 1873-1964 (Cambridge, Mass., 1965).
2.
See ibid., chapters 5-7.
3.
Elwell to Saffery, 10 January 1946, Elwell Papers, privately held. Unless specified otherwise, all references hereafter are from the Elwell Papers. Mr. Archibald H. Elwell generously has allowed me to quote extensively from his collected correspondence. He has also shared his views orally with me. Here and elsewhere in this article I let the text of the original documents speak eloquently for themselves.
4.
Elwell to the Provincial Commissioner (Ndola), 25 January 1946.
5.
Sec/Nat/311: J. B. Hall to G. S. Fane Smith, 19 January 1946, Lusaka archives.
6.
Sec/Nat/311: Robert Moffat to W. S. Stubbs, 24 January 1946.
7.
Sec/Nat/311: Rowland S. Hudson to Sir John Waddington, 28 January 1946.
8.
Hall to Achiume, 22 January 1946.
9.
Elwell to Percy Ibbotson, Secretary to the Southern Rhodesian Federation of African Welfare Societies, 25 January 1946.
10.
Achiume to Hall, 23 January 1946; Sec/Nat/311: Achiume to Mbikusita Lewanika, 22 January 1946.
11.
A. B. Simpson to Achiume, 23 January 1946.
12.
Achiume to Hall, 24 January 1946.
13.
Elwell to Ibbotson, 25 January 1946.
14.
Elwell to Coppens, 26 January 1946.
15.
Elwell to Fane Smith, 25 January 1946.
16.
Coppens to Achiume, 29 January 1946.
17.
Coppens to Achiume, 30 January 1946.
18.
Coppens to Elwell, 30 January 1946.
19.
Hall to Elwell, 29 January 1946. The Rhokana Corporation owned Kitwe's two coppermines.
20.
Sec/Nat/311: Hall to Fane Smith, 25 January 1946.
21.
Welensky to Elwell, 31 January and 27 February 1946.
22.
Hudson to Elewll, 28 January 1946.
23.
Elwell to Hudson, I February 1946.
24.
Sec/Nat/311: Fane Smith to Elwell, 4 February 1946.
25.
Sec/Nat/311: minutes of the administrative conference of September 1945.
26.
Sec/Nat/311: District Circular No. 1, 13 February 1946.
27.
Sec/Nat/311: Hudson, record of a conversation, 21 February 1946.
28.
Sec/Nat/311: circular minute, 26 February 1946.
29.
Elwell to Hudson, 28 March 1946.
30.
J. H. Wallace (Acting Chief Secretary) to Elwell, 11 June 1946. Four years later, Waddington, by then retired, promised to recommend Elwell for a position in Mauritius. 'As for your work in Northern Rhodesia frankly I thought that your lack of experience of Africans had led you to misjudge the effect on them of advice tendered by a Welfare Officer on matters which bordered on the political. I had no doubt about your sincere wish to promote the welfare of the Africans or your devotion to your work.' Waddington to Elwell, 28 February 1950. Elwell retired from the British home civil service in 1965, having attained the rank of Assistant Secretary. His career was apparently not affected adversely by his experience in Northern Rhodesia.
31.
Achiume to Elwell, 21 June 1946.
32.
Achiume to Elwell, 12 August 1946.
33.
Ibid.
34.
Sec/Nat/311: Gore-Browne, report of meetings on the Copperbelt, 6 March 1946.
