Churchill and Imperial and Foreign Policy 1930 to 1939
- Created by: Jessica
- Created on: 24-04-13 13:26
Chuchill's view on India and the Empire
India:
- Lord Irwin (later Halifax + Viceroy of India) proposed Round Table Conference - Dominion status for India (like Australia etc.)
- Churchill disagreed strongly with Irwin and most of Conservative party + Government of India Act (1935)
- called Mahatma Ghandi a "half-naked fakhi" and opposed his nationalist ideas.
- Churchill was part of the Indian Empire Society - reactionary imperialist organization to stop reform + he founded India Defence League.
- Against self-government during war - needed Indian troops - Churchill tightened control.
- Cripps Mission
- Set up by Clement Attlee (deputy from 1942) to bring about more government in India but failed
- Bengal Famine
- claimed three million lives 1942-43
- Churchill's government accused of failing to send enough relief.
Abdication Crisis:
- Edward VIII wanted to marry Wallis Simpson (divorced) - against public opinion (apart from Churchill and a few others who supported his right to marry)
- Churchill tried to raise issue in Commons - was howled down - people didn't want to see a private matter discussed publicly (Churchill didn't see this)
Reputation:
- Seen by most as a reactionary, eccentric old man
- damaged reputation due to return to gold
- his Free Trade Policy was replaced by a policy of Protection
- wartime misjugdements (eg Gallipoli) were still held against him.
Churchill's attitudes towards rearmament and appeasement:
Germany:
- Churchill thought that Baldwin permitted German naval expansion and didn't care about rearmament
- Churchill thought Hitler should not have been allowed to re-militerise the Rhineland…
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