Role And Influence Of Administrators 1914-67 Flashcards
Why was colonial administration so hard in this period?
Administrators had to collect taxes and maintain order in the face of growing nationalism that was seeking a minimum of increased representation
By 1925, how was main responsibility split up for administration of commonwealth and empire across parliament?
Three cabinet members in parliament:
. Secretary of State for Dominions
. Secretary of State for colonies
. Secretary of State for India
How was the governing of empire and the commonwealth set up by 1925?
. Secretary of states oversaw each colonial office position individually
. Permanent officials at Whitehall were beneath them
. At the bottom were the many colonial administrators and administrative services themselves that backed up and tried to exercise imperial power
How were the dominions governed before vs after statute of Westminster?
Before: Dominions recruited their own civil services but British crown appointed the governor-generals
After: Governor-general of dominions lost its power as an imperial official and became simply a representative of the crown, showing the thin ties now that kept the autonomous dominions connected to Britain
Who did colonial services change in 1930 and what did this mean?
They became unified, meaning individuals weren’t directly appointed to specific colonial governments, as there was now a general colonial service.
What happened to the quality of colonial administrators?
The quality of those recruited generally improved as they had a much more challenging task as imperialism was challenged, but places where colonial governments seemed sure in the future had the greatest quality administrators such as Africa
How did the backgrounds of administrators in this period stay the same?
Still very rigid, single-minded and well educated, although pay varied enormously
Who were the most important colonial administrators of India in this period?
. Edwin Montagu
. Harry Haig
. Lord Linlithgow
When was Montagu Secretary of State for India?
1917-22
What was the importance of Edwin Montagu?
Responsible with Lord Chelmsford for the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms which initiated movement towards the GOI act of 1919
When did Harry Haig become a member of the Viceroy’s executive Council?
1932
How was Harry Haig a more modern example of colonial administration of India?
. One of the first to start to come to terms with India being partners with Britain in the empire rather than a subject of it, although reluctantly.
. He was a life-long administrator in India so his opinion on trusting Indians should be seen as valid
When was Lord Linlithgow viceroy for India?
1935-43 (longest in history of Raj)
What was Linlithgow’s main beliefs about India’s involvement in empire?
Further reform for Indian autonomy would settle the heat of nationalism and create more ‘responsible’ Indian politicians who would see the benefits of working with British towards goal of self-government instead of fighting against them.
How had Linlithgow tried to make concessions to India by the outbreak of WW2 and how did India feel about it?
He looked for unity between India and Britain during WW2 as they did with WW1, bringing a promise of greater rights in Indian government for India people. However, many Indian politicians would have felt that Britain only sought Indian partnership when Britain needed protecting, so rejected this promise of greater rights, decelerating any sense of progress towards better Indian-British relations.
