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Britain's Pro-Federation Policy in the Caribbean: An Inquiry into Motivation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Jesse Harris Proctor Jr.*
Affiliation:
American Universityat Cairo
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Extract

The Maxim “divide and rule” has often been supposed to govern the policy of imperial powers with respect to their dependencies. The United Kingdom, however, has for many years favoured the closer association of its colonies in the Caribbean area, and since 1945 has been actively promoting their federation. As this effort approaches a successful conclusion, it is of some interest to inquire into the reasons for the adoption and pursuit of a policy which seems so much at variance with one of the classic precepts of imperialism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 1956

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References

1 Parl. Papers, 1946–7, Cmd. 7120, Closer Association of the British West Indian Colonies, 16.

2 425 H.C. Deb. 5 s., 265, July 9, 1946.

3 Cmd. 7120, 17.

4 Ibid., 13–14.

5 Col. no. 218, 1948, Conference on the Closer Association of the British West Indian Colonies. Part 2. Proceedings, 8; 168 H.L. Deb. 5 s., 33, July 4, 1950.

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10 460 H.C. Deb. 5 s., 2068, Feb. 4, 1949.

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39 Cmd. 1679, 7.

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