Imperialism challenged, 1914-1947 - NEEDED FOR EXAM COPY Flashcards
Colonial policy and administration in India, Africa and the Middle East; relations with the Dominions; the Statute of Westminster; imperial defence Chapter 14 Waller
What country is Mesopotamia?
Iraq
In Iraq, what issues occurred?
Curbing costs of administration by managing internal conflicts between ethnic groups shaped by colonial policy
What were the British forced to do in Iraq in 1920 and why?
Intervene militarily (largely through airpower) when Muslim demonstrations against British rule in Baghdad turned into a recolt
When was the Cairo Conference?
1921
What was decided at the Cairo Conference?
The British allowed some local self-government, whilst retaining full British control of military and foreign affairs
When was the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty?
1922
What did the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty do?
Confirmed Faisal I to rule Syria as King but had Snr British advisors appointed to gov departments
What was Faisal I regarded as and why?
An ideal compromise candidate due to having good relations with the British and Muslim/Arabs
What did Britain control in Iraq?
Major military bases and had much influence over the Iraqi army due to training them
When was the second Anglo-Iraqi Treaty and what did it do?
1930 and it promised full consultation between the two powers on matters of foreign policy
What was an important aspect of British interest in Iraq?
The oil fields in Mosul which had become part of the Iraq mandate after WW1
Before WW1, how did Britain secure their interests in the oil fields in Mosul?
They had a deal with the Ottoman Empire for the British-controlled Turkish Petroleum Company to extract oil in exchange for the Turkish gov to have a 20% share in company
After the Iraq mandate, what happened regarding the Turkish Petroleum Company? 3 things
- The Iraqis were promised a 20% share
- British didn’t honour it and Iraqis had to accept British terms
- Company renamed to the Iraq Petroleum Company
When did Iraq become independent?
1932
Despite Iraq becoming independent, what did the British do?
Held on to their influence due to their control of the oil industry
What did WW1 do to the Dominions?
Made them aspire to be independent
What was the British gov concerned about?
The rising nationalism in the Dominions after WW1, particularly in Canada and SA
Due to the concerns about nationalism in the Dominions, what was established?
The Commonwealth
By joining a British ‘Commonwealth of nations’ what could Dominions and other colonies do?
Gradually become fully independent nations while retaining a special relationship with Britain
What was the concept of the Commonwealth based on?
The free association of equal nations while remaining loyal to the British monarch
Where was the idea of a commonwealth given substance and when?
At the Balfour Declaration of 1926
What was the Balfour Declaration?
A meeting of the British and Dominion PMs at an Imperial Conference
When was the Statute of Westminster?
1931
What 3 things did the Statute of Westminster recognise?
- Certain Dominion nations should become independent
- Laws passed in Britain couldn’t be enforced in Dominion countries without the permission of their own parliaments
- Dominion countries were free to pass their own laws without interference from or approval of Britain