International Relations And Colonial Structure Of Affairs From Britain’s View (1890-1914) Flashcards
What is jurisdiction?
Official power/authority to make legal decisions and judgements
Why were colonial governors the main area of concern to Britain?
The colonial office selected them poorly, often based on friends as a ‘governor with friends in high places’ was very difficult to move
What was the role of colonial governors in the colonial office?
Not important at all, waste of space:
. ‘Could be rebuked or even dismissed if they exceeded their powers’
What was the role of the colonial office?
Preferred to just ‘watch carefully’ over colonies to make sure they are maintained but weren’t too interested in developing the colonies, as national efficiency needed to be solved at the time in Britain
What did the colonial office manage and what were they responsible for?
Managed various colonies of Empire and responsible for overseeing administration and policy
How did the colonial office change during this period?
Continued to have overall responsibility for the Empire
What did the foreign office do?
Handled UK’s foreign affairs such as diplomacy and international relations
How did the responsibility of foreign office change in this period?
Grew as newly acquired African protectorates came under its jurisdiction
What was the role of the India office and how did it change in this period?
Specifically managed the administration of British Raj
It’s remit/task was expanded in this period
Who was responsible for external defence in Britain and what did they do?
Admiralty: oversaw the Royal Navy, the maritime arm of the British armed forces
War office: responsible for the administration of the British army
What did the Treasury do?
Managed UK’s economic and financial matters, including budget, taxation and public expenditure
How could mixing the authorities of external defence and the treasury cause problems?
Could cause disputes as they have very different responsibilities
Why was government decision-making very hard at this time?
The Cabinet had to be consulted if disputes arose
Under what conditions were governors and colonial officials generally left alone?
If they kept order of the empire
. Safer for administrators to lie low
. Too much intervention could cause a rebellion which loses order
. Administrators therefore avoided controversy and took cautious decisions (not nationally efficient)
What did governors and colonial officials need to stay in power?
The confidence/support of the ministers
Who was seen as main threat to Britain in early-mid C19? (Under Palmerston and Disraeli)
Russia due to expansion south
Where was Russia a main threat to British empire?
In India, specifically in Afghanistan
When did Germany become a threat to Britain?
1871: Germany unified, economic and military rival to Britain now
How did France try and establish its ‘rightful place’ in the world?
Established a foothold in Indo-China in 1860s
How did Britain respond to France’s foothold in Indo-China?
Annexed Malay in 1874, Sarawak in 1881 etc. (many annexations)
Which rivals mainly threatened British interests in Africa?
France and Germany, scramble for Africa
How did international relations try to become greater by late C.19 as war became a possibility?
Alliance system emerged
What is ‘splendid isolation’?
Deliberate avoidance of permanent alliances
What did splendid isolation show about Britian’s confidence?
Confidence in Empire and its resources, didn’t need extra help
What was ‘the Great Game’?
When Afghanistan provided a constant source of conflict between Russia and Britain in C.19 to early C.20 as it was a buffer state between India and Russia. The Great Game never became a full-blown war except the Crimean war, highlighting Russian and Indian tensions like a Cold War
Why was Britian worried about Russia before 1907?
. Expansion of Russia
. Establishment of Russian railway to Tashkent (within striking distance from Afghanistan)
. Feb 1900: 300k Russian troops manoeuvred and mobilised near Afghanistan when Britain were already in Boer War and had less than 100k soldiers in Indian army to defend North India
. Russian naval presence in Toulon (Mediterranean towards suez) following 1892 military agreements with France further worried Britain’s fears of Russian ambitions in Middle East
- seemed to threaten Suez Canal and therefore British India too
Why was India vulnerable from 1899-1902?
Boer war meant British Empires military power was concentrated in SA
Why did Britain abandon splendid isolationism?
Both new alliances in Europe (triple entente and Grand alliance) left Britian vulnerable to the ambitions of both alliances
. Britain had conflicted with Russia, France and Germany over colonial expansion previously but disputes in Africa were resolved peacefully such as Fashoda incident, chance to better relations
. Other rivals catching up in power to Britian, they slightly lack supreme confidence in the empire now
What was A.J.P Taylor’s argument about the intentionalism of splendid isolationism?
He claimed it was intentional
. British isolation was more of a matter of focus outside of Europe, maintaining relationships with continental powers for non-European affairs, particularly in the Near East
What was the Franco-Russian alliance created in response to?
. Strengthening of German Empire
. 1882 creation of Triple alliance
When was the Franco-Russian alliance ratified?
1894
Why were France and Russia willing to ally?
Both driven by mutual economic ties and strategic military interests
What did the Franco-Russian alliance provide?
Mutually military aid in case of German attack
What was the impact of the Franco-Russian alliance on Britain?
Made Britain consider abandoning splendid isolationism as alliances and growing rivalry with a powerful Germany could be a threat to the Empire’s power
Why did Britain and Japan have to assist each other in early C.20, allowing them to get on?
Mutually had to safeguard their interests in China and Korea
What did the Anglo-Japanese alliance do?
Protect against Russian expansion in the far east
