A Sacred Trust: The League of Nations and Africa, 1929-1946
This book completes a two-volume history of the impact of the mandates system on Anglo-French colonialism in Africa from 1914 to 1946. The second volume explains how the League of Nations mandates system fused two of the predominant and compelling global forces of the twentieth century: imperialism and Wilsonian internationalism. After the First World War, Britain and France administered most of Germany's former tropical African colonies as "mandates" under the supervision of the League as "a sacred trust of civilization". This system of international trusteeship changed British and French rule in Africa. In short, "mandates" were not "colonies". Mandates meant less militarism, more commercial equality, a greater emphasis on the interests of Africans, and an end to the extension of European national sovereignty over colonized peoples. Accountability to the League also required the British and French to reconsider traditional economic, strategic, and ideological assumptions about their empires. In the process, the "sacred trust" sowed the seeds of self-doubt about the very purpose and future of European imperialism. The mandates system continued to represent a genuine internationalization and reformation of colonialism and had long-term economic, political, and cultural consequences for Africans and Europeans within the mandated territories. Despite the Depression, repeated Anglo-French foreign policy failures, growing humiliations for Geneva, and war in Africa and Europe, the principles and practices of international trusteeship proved persistent. Mandates demonstrated the relevance of international law, the importance of the League of Nations, and the impact of Wilsonian principles on international relations and European imperialism.
1111923015
A Sacred Trust: The League of Nations and Africa, 1929-1946
This book completes a two-volume history of the impact of the mandates system on Anglo-French colonialism in Africa from 1914 to 1946. The second volume explains how the League of Nations mandates system fused two of the predominant and compelling global forces of the twentieth century: imperialism and Wilsonian internationalism. After the First World War, Britain and France administered most of Germany's former tropical African colonies as "mandates" under the supervision of the League as "a sacred trust of civilization". This system of international trusteeship changed British and French rule in Africa. In short, "mandates" were not "colonies". Mandates meant less militarism, more commercial equality, a greater emphasis on the interests of Africans, and an end to the extension of European national sovereignty over colonized peoples. Accountability to the League also required the British and French to reconsider traditional economic, strategic, and ideological assumptions about their empires. In the process, the "sacred trust" sowed the seeds of self-doubt about the very purpose and future of European imperialism. The mandates system continued to represent a genuine internationalization and reformation of colonialism and had long-term economic, political, and cultural consequences for Africans and Europeans within the mandated territories. Despite the Depression, repeated Anglo-French foreign policy failures, growing humiliations for Geneva, and war in Africa and Europe, the principles and practices of international trusteeship proved persistent. Mandates demonstrated the relevance of international law, the importance of the League of Nations, and the impact of Wilsonian principles on international relations and European imperialism.
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A Sacred Trust: The League of Nations and Africa, 1929-1946

A Sacred Trust: The League of Nations and Africa, 1929-1946

by Michael D. Callahan
A Sacred Trust: The League of Nations and Africa, 1929-1946

A Sacred Trust: The League of Nations and Africa, 1929-1946

by Michael D. Callahan

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Overview

This book completes a two-volume history of the impact of the mandates system on Anglo-French colonialism in Africa from 1914 to 1946. The second volume explains how the League of Nations mandates system fused two of the predominant and compelling global forces of the twentieth century: imperialism and Wilsonian internationalism. After the First World War, Britain and France administered most of Germany's former tropical African colonies as "mandates" under the supervision of the League as "a sacred trust of civilization". This system of international trusteeship changed British and French rule in Africa. In short, "mandates" were not "colonies". Mandates meant less militarism, more commercial equality, a greater emphasis on the interests of Africans, and an end to the extension of European national sovereignty over colonized peoples. Accountability to the League also required the British and French to reconsider traditional economic, strategic, and ideological assumptions about their empires. In the process, the "sacred trust" sowed the seeds of self-doubt about the very purpose and future of European imperialism. The mandates system continued to represent a genuine internationalization and reformation of colonialism and had long-term economic, political, and cultural consequences for Africans and Europeans within the mandated territories. Despite the Depression, repeated Anglo-French foreign policy failures, growing humiliations for Geneva, and war in Africa and Europe, the principles and practices of international trusteeship proved persistent. Mandates demonstrated the relevance of international law, the importance of the League of Nations, and the impact of Wilsonian principles on international relations and European imperialism.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781845196509
Publisher: Sussex Academic Press
Publication date: 03/01/2018
Pages: 320
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgmentsvii
List of Abbreviationsviii
Map of Africa, 1931x
Introduction1
1Mandates and Empire in 192916
The PMC and Imperialism18
Wilsonianism in Africa23
Germans and Africans27
"Belonging to No Country"29
2Transition, 1929-193333
"A Peculiar Obligation"35
The Problem of Sovereignty40
Conceptions of Colonialism45
The Petitions of Africans48
Ethiopia and Liberia52
Humanitarian Intervention and Territorial Integrity60
3Tribulation, 1933-193663
Mandates and Nazis65
Restraint and Reform70
"Abyssinia Breaks the Heart"78
"Mandated Territories are Not Colonies"87
The Plymouth Report94
4Turning Point, 193697
Lugard Leaves the League98
Mandates and "Indirect Rule"102
The Popular Front and the Labour Party110
Mandates between Geneva and Germany113
5Testing Hitler118
"Rumour and Uncertainty"120
Mandates and Metropolitan Politics124
The League of Nations and Africa in 1937130
Chamberlain Considers Colonies134
"A New Plan Based on Higher Ideals"141
"A Complicated New System"146
6Tenacity, 1938 and 1939150
Mandates after Munich151
Mandates and Preserving Peace154
Some Old and New Problems161
"As Caesar's Wife"167
War in Europe and "the Local Imperialists"174
7Termination, 1939-1946177
The PMC and Mandates, 1939-1940178
War and the World Order180
Debating the Future of the Mandates System183
Continuing the "Sacred Trust"191
Conclusions194
Appendices198
AArticle 22 of the League of Nations Covenant198
BText of the Mandate for the Tanganyika Territory199
CText of the Mandates for Togo and Cameroon202
DConstitution of the Permanent Mandates Commission204
Notes206
Bibliography273
Index296
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