8: Imperial and Colonial Policy
British The Colonial Office had overall responsibility for the empire but their resources were tiny
Government so they had difficulty keeping full control. Free trade did lessen their burden because
they no longer had to control colonial economies. The Foreign Office was in charge of
protectorates, the Admiralty and War Offices were responsible for defence, the treasury
controlled the finances and the India office controlled India. If there were disputes
between the departments the cabinet had to be consulted making decision making
difficult or impossible. Governors were often left to their discretion
Governors The Colonial Office selected governors, drew up their instructions and made sure there
(men on the were no infringements. They could be rebuked or dismissed if they exceeded their
spot) powers. There requests for new laws, more money or fresh troops were more likely to be
rejected than approved. Governors with friends in high places were hard to control and
still harder to remove
Administration The Viceroy was backed by the almost all white, Oxbridge, Indian Civil Service. They
of the Raj ensured the regime was secure, the natives were acquiescent and India was profitable
There were often no more than 3 or 4 officers per district so rule required the
collaboration of the natives. British intervened in economic and social development e.g.
growing cities and raising more money through taxation. The ICS used the policy of
'divide and rule' by emphasising the divisions of race, language, religion, caste,
occupation and region and asserted Britain's moral authority to bring enlightened
reform. They acknowledged some degree of educated Indian representation in
provincial councils in reform (1892, 1909) which further exploited the division between the
educated Indian and the illiterate rural masses to create an 'Anglo-Indian' administrative
elite. Many educated Indians saw British rule as the best route to the future despite some
strings of nationalism emerging. Indians gained education and employment in civil
service posts. However, although civil service positions were theoretically open to all
Indians, applicants had to travel to England to sit the entrance examinations. In 1890,
there were just 30 ICS officers and the figure barely doubled by 1914.
Viceroy There were growing criticisms from professional 'middle-class' Indians and their
Curzon 1899- representative body, the INC. The INC was cautious but criticised trading agreements,
1905 restraints on Industry and the heavy taxation. Pressure also came from social and
humanitarian groups such as 'The Servants of India' society who wanted to see reform of
old restrictive laws/practices e.g. caste system. Curzon reformed the administration so it
was cheaper and more efficient. He founded the Imperial Cadet Corps in 1901, to give
native princes and elite figures military training and 'special' officer commissions. He
reformed the universities and the police, lowered taxes and adopted the gold standard
to ensure a stable currency. A Commerce and Industry Department was set up to
promote industry and an Agricultural Department to sponsor research and overseeing
the establishment of agricultural banks
The North- In 1901, Curzon set up the North-West Frontier Province to protect the border from feared
West Frontier Russian incursions. This merged the north-westerly areas of the Pashtun lands of the
Afghan people with the Punjab and chief commissioners were put in place there. The
policy worked. Curzon counted a temporary invasion of Tibet (1903-4) to counter the
perceived Russian ambition in the area. The disputes were solved after Curzon left office
with the Russian 'entente' in 1907
The Partition October 1905, Curzon decided to divide Bengal into 2 separate provinces: a Muslim
of Bengal majority province in the east and Assam and Hindu majority province in the west. It
produced an uproar among the Hindu elite in West Bengal - many of whom owned land
in East Bengal that they leased to Muslim peasants. It led to Hindu strikes, protest and
boycotts of British made goods. The campaigns were led by Surendranath Banerjee and
helped develop a new stand of nationalist. The event split the INC between the extremist
and the moderates. The Muslim elite supported the partition and formed the All Indian
Muslim League in 1906 to safeguard the rights of Indian Muslims. Religious division was
used to justify British control as a means to avoid conflict. Bengal was reunited in 1911
and in 1913 the AIML adopted self-government as its goal. The event helped bring about
Curzon resignation in 1905. He left a legacy of bitter discontent
Viceroy Minto With the encouragement from the liberal government and John Morley, the SSfI, he
1905-10 introduced a limited program of reforms in 1909 in an attempt to appease the Bengalis.
He refused to reunite Bengal. The Indian Councils Act of 1909 enabled 27 Indians to be
elected from provincial constituencies to the Viceroy and assist the making of law. The
elections were held on a very narrow franchise and in some cases, representatives were
British The Colonial Office had overall responsibility for the empire but their resources were tiny
Government so they had difficulty keeping full control. Free trade did lessen their burden because
they no longer had to control colonial economies. The Foreign Office was in charge of
protectorates, the Admiralty and War Offices were responsible for defence, the treasury
controlled the finances and the India office controlled India. If there were disputes
between the departments the cabinet had to be consulted making decision making
difficult or impossible. Governors were often left to their discretion
Governors The Colonial Office selected governors, drew up their instructions and made sure there
(men on the were no infringements. They could be rebuked or dismissed if they exceeded their
spot) powers. There requests for new laws, more money or fresh troops were more likely to be
rejected than approved. Governors with friends in high places were hard to control and
still harder to remove
Administration The Viceroy was backed by the almost all white, Oxbridge, Indian Civil Service. They
of the Raj ensured the regime was secure, the natives were acquiescent and India was profitable
There were often no more than 3 or 4 officers per district so rule required the
collaboration of the natives. British intervened in economic and social development e.g.
growing cities and raising more money through taxation. The ICS used the policy of
'divide and rule' by emphasising the divisions of race, language, religion, caste,
occupation and region and asserted Britain's moral authority to bring enlightened
reform. They acknowledged some degree of educated Indian representation in
provincial councils in reform (1892, 1909) which further exploited the division between the
educated Indian and the illiterate rural masses to create an 'Anglo-Indian' administrative
elite. Many educated Indians saw British rule as the best route to the future despite some
strings of nationalism emerging. Indians gained education and employment in civil
service posts. However, although civil service positions were theoretically open to all
Indians, applicants had to travel to England to sit the entrance examinations. In 1890,
there were just 30 ICS officers and the figure barely doubled by 1914.
Viceroy There were growing criticisms from professional 'middle-class' Indians and their
Curzon 1899- representative body, the INC. The INC was cautious but criticised trading agreements,
1905 restraints on Industry and the heavy taxation. Pressure also came from social and
humanitarian groups such as 'The Servants of India' society who wanted to see reform of
old restrictive laws/practices e.g. caste system. Curzon reformed the administration so it
was cheaper and more efficient. He founded the Imperial Cadet Corps in 1901, to give
native princes and elite figures military training and 'special' officer commissions. He
reformed the universities and the police, lowered taxes and adopted the gold standard
to ensure a stable currency. A Commerce and Industry Department was set up to
promote industry and an Agricultural Department to sponsor research and overseeing
the establishment of agricultural banks
The North- In 1901, Curzon set up the North-West Frontier Province to protect the border from feared
West Frontier Russian incursions. This merged the north-westerly areas of the Pashtun lands of the
Afghan people with the Punjab and chief commissioners were put in place there. The
policy worked. Curzon counted a temporary invasion of Tibet (1903-4) to counter the
perceived Russian ambition in the area. The disputes were solved after Curzon left office
with the Russian 'entente' in 1907
The Partition October 1905, Curzon decided to divide Bengal into 2 separate provinces: a Muslim
of Bengal majority province in the east and Assam and Hindu majority province in the west. It
produced an uproar among the Hindu elite in West Bengal - many of whom owned land
in East Bengal that they leased to Muslim peasants. It led to Hindu strikes, protest and
boycotts of British made goods. The campaigns were led by Surendranath Banerjee and
helped develop a new stand of nationalist. The event split the INC between the extremist
and the moderates. The Muslim elite supported the partition and formed the All Indian
Muslim League in 1906 to safeguard the rights of Indian Muslims. Religious division was
used to justify British control as a means to avoid conflict. Bengal was reunited in 1911
and in 1913 the AIML adopted self-government as its goal. The event helped bring about
Curzon resignation in 1905. He left a legacy of bitter discontent
Viceroy Minto With the encouragement from the liberal government and John Morley, the SSfI, he
1905-10 introduced a limited program of reforms in 1909 in an attempt to appease the Bengalis.
He refused to reunite Bengal. The Indian Councils Act of 1909 enabled 27 Indians to be
elected from provincial constituencies to the Viceroy and assist the making of law. The
elections were held on a very narrow franchise and in some cases, representatives were
