19世紀初頭の英国のアジア通商政策に対する地方商人及び製造業者の影響力 : 1812年から1813年にかけてのグラスゴー東インド協会による東インド貿易開放運動を中心に
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概要
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The purpose of this article is to reassess Cain and Hopkins' gentlemanly capitalist explanation of British imperialism in Asia during the first half of the nineteenth century through an examination of the lobbying activities of the Glasgow East India Association (GEIA) against the renewal of the East India Company's charter during the period 1812-1813. The organisation represented both mercantile and manufacturing interests in Glasgow, and was remarkable in particular for the presence of those involved in the West India trade and the cotton industry. The involvement of various different economic interests in the campaign indicated that their lobbying activities were widely supported by the business elite of the city. However, at the same time, the case of the West Indian merchants, who during the campaign demanded protection for their existing trade at the expense of the East India trade, shows that there were some divisions among provincial interests. Nevertheless, it is difficult to argue that such divisions critically affected the provincial lobbyists' ability to organise their campaign. After their initial negotiations with the Government in April, 1812, the representatives of Glasgow and other provincial towns and ports recognised that the Government would change their position if it could be proved that the opening of the import trade from India to provincial ports would not have a negative impact on the secure and efficient collection of customs duties. Therefore, they set this topic as their main focus and strongly lobbied the Government. This case study shows that the limited influence of the provincial lobbyists and the significance of the opinion of the Board of Trade in the East India question, on which Webster insists, appear to be overstated. The GEIA's records show clear evidence that provincial interests strongly lobbied the Board of Trade. Regarding the decision on the opening of the India trade, although Webster stressed the significance of the government's economic strategies during the wartime period, this was in fact a response to demands from the provincial mercantile and manufacturing interests who needed a stable supply of cheap food and raw materials and the resolution of social unrest. From Lord Buckinghamshire's statements and the provincial lobbyists' influence on the Board of Trade, it is clear that the Government's change of opinion on the import trade from India was the result of strong lobbying organised by provincial interest groups. In relation to the Scottish contribution to the formation of Britain's imperial policy, although the GEIA made attempts to encourage other Scottish towns to join the campaign, their activities were not confined to Scotland. Close communication with other major provincial towns throughout the UK helped them develop their national lobbying strategy.
- 2010-01-30