Devonshire White Paper

The Devonshire White Paper, or Devonshire Declaration, was a document written in 1923 by Colonial Secretary Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, regarding the status of settlers and natives in the Kenya Colony and more broadly East Africa. It stated that whenever the interests of the native Africans clashed with those of Asian, European or Arab settlers, those of the native Africans should prevail.

That blocked the move towards self-government, which was advocated by the white settlers, and in its place advocated a policy of trusteeship whereby the British Empire would protect the interests of the native Africans. Although the White Paper had little effect on the welfare of native Africans, it nonetheless set a precedent for future conflict resolution between the various groups that lived in the colony.