Labour government Flashcards
1
Q
US loans to Britain
A
-Keynes negotiated a £930mil loan with convertibility string for sterling
2
Q
British economic problems
A
- £3.5billion debt in 1945
- Convertibility crisis 1947
- British military expediture overseas accounted for the entire budget deficit in 1946
3
Q
Historiography
A
- John Darwin refers to this period as 4th british empire
- W.R. Louis argues that American anti-colonial campaign was reviving in early 50s
4
Q
Colonial dev policy: economic
A
- Groundnut scheme in Tanganyika 1946-51
- Formation of Colonial Development Corporation in 1948
- Egg farming in Gambia
- Timber in Guiana
- fishing in Nyasaland
5
Q
Nationalisms/ protests
A
-Accra riots Feb 1948, 29 killed
6
Q
Primary sources: Labour gov policy
A
- Creech Jones local government despatch Feb 1946 promoting efficient local government
- Future African Policy Report by colonial office May 1947, argued internal self-government not for a generation in Africa
- Watson Report 1948, appointment of all-African ‘moderate’ committee in Gold Coast
- Macpherson constitution of 1951, led to semi-responsible government and definitive end of Indirect rule
7
Q
Labour colonial reassertion?
A
- James Griffiths proposed Central African Federation
- Malaya fight
- didn’t withdraw form egypt
- Colonial Office grew
8
Q
Role of UN
A
-Trusteeship Council
9
Q
British resistance to UN
A
-in 1948 General Assembly meeting, Britain voted against or abstained on 7 out of 8 resolutions regarding trust territories
10
Q
Labour politician views
A
- Hugh Dalton, Chancellor of the Exchequer, very skeptical about retaining colonies, waste of money to oppose nationalisms
- Ernest Bevin, foreign sec, saw holding on to empire as vital to Britain’s future.
11
Q
Political reform of African colonies
A
- Northern Nigeria British officials inserted educated Africans into some native administration councils.
- 1946 Burns constitution in Gold Coast with an elected African majority
- 1948 Watson commission in Gold Coast led to appointment of all-African committee to recommend constitutional changes
