Subjects:
Oxford, mutual friends, the two world wars and the politics of Britain and South Africa.
Also 101 letters from Hofmeyr to Underhill, 1928-1948, typed extracts from the letters and a letter from Underhill to Mrs Hofmeyr, 13 February 1950, re Alan Paton's biography of Hofmeyr.
1928 Need to form a central party of moderates.
1928 Hofmeyr's indecision about his future: refusal of the High Commissionership in London and dislike of another 5 years as Administrator.
1928 Madeley's ousting from the cabinet.
1929 Election campaign and Hofmeyr's success in being elected for Johannesburg North.
1930-1931 Financial crisis.
1930 Select Committee on the native question.
1930 Problem of detribalised urban Blacks.
1930 Question of South Africa's right to secede from the Commonwealth.
1931-1932 Effect of the depression on poor whites and unemployment.
1932 Natal threatening secession from the Union.
1932 Hofmeyr trying to improve party organisation on the Witwatersrand.
1932 National Party defeat at the Germiston by-election.
1933 Tielman Roos' return to politics, with the intention of ousting Smuts and Hertzog.
1933-1934 Negotiations for the coalition of the South African and National Parties.
1933 Hofmeyr's appointment as Minister of the Interior, Education and Health.
1934-1937 Question of the Protectorates being added to the Union.
1935 Fragmentation of the opposition in parliament and future of the Dominion Party.
1935-1936 Native Bills and the abolition of the Cape native franchise.
1935-1936 Abyssinian question and the League of Nations.
1936 Hofmeyr's visit to India.
1936 Change of cabinet portfolios to Mines, Labour and Education.
1936 Comments on the appointment of Patrick Duncan as governor general.
1936 Abdication of Edward VIII.
1937 Danger of Hofmeyr resigning over Asiatic Bills: now being regarded as the leader of liberal opinion.
1938 Election campaign result a defeat for colour prejudice.
1938 National anthem question.
1938 Hofmeyr's resignation from the cabinet over Fourie's nomination as Senate representative for Blacks.
1938 Possibility of South Africa remaining neutral even if the Commonwealth goes to war.
1939 Question of Germany taking over South West Africa.
1939 Caucus motion censuring Hofmeyr for voting against the Asiatic Bill.
1939 Outbreak of 2nd World War and South Africa's decision to support Britain.
1939 Hofmeyr's return to the cabinet as Minister of Finance and Education.
1940 Problems in suppressing the opposition to the war.
1940-1945 Comments on the war and on the heavy burden carried by Hofmeyr in the cabinet, particularly during Smuts' absences overseas.
1942 Incendiary bomb found on Hofmeyr's verandah.
1943 Disagreement with the party over the Asiatic Bill may prevent Hofmeyr from succeeding Smuts as leader Parliamentary election.
1944 Bi-centenary of the arrival of the Hofmeyr family in South Africa.
1944 Hofmeyr's visit to Egypt and Italy.
1945 Fears for the post-war world and the threat of the atomic bomb.
1945 D.C.L. conferred on Hofmeyr by Oxford University.
1946 Hofmeyr appointed an honorary fellow of Balliol.
1946 Hofmeyr's acceptance of compromise over the Asiatic Bill.
1946 Question of South West Africa and U.N.O.
1946 Problems of the peace conference.
1947 Royal visit.
1947 Government suffering from post-war discontent.
1948 Election campaign result sad for the party but is providing Hofmeyr with a much-needed respite from over-work.
1948 Hofmeyr asked by Q.U.P. to write Smuts' biography.
