20: Colonial Policy and Administration
Labour aims To guide Colonial Territories to responsible self-government within the Commonwealth in
1945-51 conditions that ensure to the people concerned both a fair standard of living and
freedom from oppression. Self-government was the ultimate goal, but self-government
was considered far distance. Premature withdrawal would only result in anarchy, Soviet
subversion, dictatorship and the loss of British influence
Relationship Regarded as Britain's most reliable friends, tied to Britain by common interest and
with the Old ancestral and cultural ties. However, they had their own interests and were prepared to
Dominions assert separated identities. ANZUS military pact formed between Australia, NZ and the
USA in 1951 which implied that the USA had taken over Britain's responsibilities in the
Pacific
New Common- An association of 'free and equal' independent states which would transcend race,
wealth colour and creed (belief). Seen as a way of surrendering costs of formal control whilst
maintaining informal ties which would protect Britain's global economic interests and
influence. It liked to think of the Commonwealth as a family of friendly nations around
the world which could lend critical support and mediate over disputes. Atlee declared
to parliament in 1948 that 'we are not solely a European power, but a member of a
great Commonwealth and Empire'
Problems with India, Pakistan and Ceylon did not share the enthusiasm of the white Dominions for the
New Common- great power pretensions of Britain, still less their support of British colonial rule elsewhere.
wealth Members of the commonwealth enjoyed no natural unity and its members had little in
common with each other. Britain could not offer enough reward for association in the
form of trade, investment and defence {it may have been better for these nations to
remain non-allied with any country because they didn't want to get drawn into
conflict}. Talk of a racial partnership did not appeal to white SA who had implemented
policy of apartheid in 1948. Given SA's strategic and economic importance (major
source of uranium and gold), Attlee's government toned down its criticism of Nationalist
policies. However, SA policies remained an embarrassment for Britain and at odds with
the idea of the new commonwealth
Compromises Before 1948, Dominions had been required to recognise the British Crown as their head
in the of state. In 1947-8, Britain made no effort to bend the rules to allow Eire or Burma to
Common- become republics and stay within the Commonwealth. India's determination to be a
wealth republic in 1948 was a major concern - it was a potentially vast trading partner and a
seemingly vital ally in a continent where communist influence was advancing rapidly. A
compromise was finally worked out whereby republican Indian would remain in the
Commonwealth, accepting the British monarch as 'Head of the Commonwealth' rather
than as head of India
Sterling Area Britain was struggling economically after WWII, and looked to the USA for an economic
partnership. However, Britain's post-war economic weakness served to reinforce the
Commonwealth solidarity in trade and finance too. Almost all the Dominions and
several independent countries (e.g Iraq) used the pound sterling as the basis of their
currency and banked their overseas earnings in London - the area helped to maintain
the value of the pound. Britain remained the most important market for most members
of the sterling area. For many countries, they had to support Britain economically
because of the tied currencies - the danger of the collapse of the pound in 1947
threatened the all with bankruptcy. In 1947, various measures tied the sterling area
members more closely to a common trade policy, obliging them to purchase more of
their imports from Britain. It became more of a closed economic bloc. With ¼ of the
world's population and trade, it exceeded its main rival of the dollar area
Aims for Hoped that it would supply them with mineral wealth and a source of men for its armed
African forces to replace the Indian army. In 1950 it was estimated that Africa could provide 400
Colonies 000 troops for an imperial army. Development of colonial economies would boost the
purchasing power of colonial consumers thus helping to compensate British industry for
markets lost during WW2
Development Labour politicians had long talked in vague terms of 'developing' the colonies. Arthur
Creech-Jones, Attlee's CS was determined to aid British colonies as he regarded
colonial economic and social development as the crucial precondition for progress to
self-government. A Colonial Development and Welfare Act 1945 allocated £120m over
10 years to assist the colonies' development - much more substantial amount of money
compared to previous acts at a time when Britain had less money and was suffering
economically, had large debts from the war and was also intending large social reforms
Labour aims To guide Colonial Territories to responsible self-government within the Commonwealth in
1945-51 conditions that ensure to the people concerned both a fair standard of living and
freedom from oppression. Self-government was the ultimate goal, but self-government
was considered far distance. Premature withdrawal would only result in anarchy, Soviet
subversion, dictatorship and the loss of British influence
Relationship Regarded as Britain's most reliable friends, tied to Britain by common interest and
with the Old ancestral and cultural ties. However, they had their own interests and were prepared to
Dominions assert separated identities. ANZUS military pact formed between Australia, NZ and the
USA in 1951 which implied that the USA had taken over Britain's responsibilities in the
Pacific
New Common- An association of 'free and equal' independent states which would transcend race,
wealth colour and creed (belief). Seen as a way of surrendering costs of formal control whilst
maintaining informal ties which would protect Britain's global economic interests and
influence. It liked to think of the Commonwealth as a family of friendly nations around
the world which could lend critical support and mediate over disputes. Atlee declared
to parliament in 1948 that 'we are not solely a European power, but a member of a
great Commonwealth and Empire'
Problems with India, Pakistan and Ceylon did not share the enthusiasm of the white Dominions for the
New Common- great power pretensions of Britain, still less their support of British colonial rule elsewhere.
wealth Members of the commonwealth enjoyed no natural unity and its members had little in
common with each other. Britain could not offer enough reward for association in the
form of trade, investment and defence {it may have been better for these nations to
remain non-allied with any country because they didn't want to get drawn into
conflict}. Talk of a racial partnership did not appeal to white SA who had implemented
policy of apartheid in 1948. Given SA's strategic and economic importance (major
source of uranium and gold), Attlee's government toned down its criticism of Nationalist
policies. However, SA policies remained an embarrassment for Britain and at odds with
the idea of the new commonwealth
Compromises Before 1948, Dominions had been required to recognise the British Crown as their head
in the of state. In 1947-8, Britain made no effort to bend the rules to allow Eire or Burma to
Common- become republics and stay within the Commonwealth. India's determination to be a
wealth republic in 1948 was a major concern - it was a potentially vast trading partner and a
seemingly vital ally in a continent where communist influence was advancing rapidly. A
compromise was finally worked out whereby republican Indian would remain in the
Commonwealth, accepting the British monarch as 'Head of the Commonwealth' rather
than as head of India
Sterling Area Britain was struggling economically after WWII, and looked to the USA for an economic
partnership. However, Britain's post-war economic weakness served to reinforce the
Commonwealth solidarity in trade and finance too. Almost all the Dominions and
several independent countries (e.g Iraq) used the pound sterling as the basis of their
currency and banked their overseas earnings in London - the area helped to maintain
the value of the pound. Britain remained the most important market for most members
of the sterling area. For many countries, they had to support Britain economically
because of the tied currencies - the danger of the collapse of the pound in 1947
threatened the all with bankruptcy. In 1947, various measures tied the sterling area
members more closely to a common trade policy, obliging them to purchase more of
their imports from Britain. It became more of a closed economic bloc. With ¼ of the
world's population and trade, it exceeded its main rival of the dollar area
Aims for Hoped that it would supply them with mineral wealth and a source of men for its armed
African forces to replace the Indian army. In 1950 it was estimated that Africa could provide 400
Colonies 000 troops for an imperial army. Development of colonial economies would boost the
purchasing power of colonial consumers thus helping to compensate British industry for
markets lost during WW2
Development Labour politicians had long talked in vague terms of 'developing' the colonies. Arthur
Creech-Jones, Attlee's CS was determined to aid British colonies as he regarded
colonial economic and social development as the crucial precondition for progress to
self-government. A Colonial Development and Welfare Act 1945 allocated £120m over
10 years to assist the colonies' development - much more substantial amount of money
compared to previous acts at a time when Britain had less money and was suffering
economically, had large debts from the war and was also intending large social reforms
