Colonial Defence Committee
The Colonial Defence Committee was a standing committee of the British Colonial Office between 1885 and 1904.
Background and establishment
In 1807-71 the government withdrew standing army garrisons from self-governing colonies of the British Empire. This was a key stage in the development of the Empire and removed a significant cost burden from central government. Colonial governments were expected to make their own arrangements to raise forces to carry out internal policing and border defence duties. The move also allowed the British Army to centralise its forces and become more efficient.[1]
The colonial governments were slow and reluctant to raise troops, the costs of which would fall upon colonial taxpayers. The colonies were hampered by the withdrawal of regular troops, which could have acted as models for colonial forces and provided advisers and trainers. Apart from ad hoc advice from Royal Navy officers stationed in adjacent seas or from a small number of officers seconded from the War Office the colonial governments had been left to their own devices.[1]
The British government was concerned that colonial defence was being neglected.[1] This was particularly worrisome during the Russian war scare of 1878-79, which followed Russian victory in the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish War.[2] During the war the Secretary of State for the Colonies Sir Michael Hicks Beach had appointed a special committee to inspect the defences of some key ports in the colonies. They found them deficient, requiring £265,00 of improvements, and only 35-40 suitable cannon in Britain to augment them. After the war ended the committee was disbanded.[2]
After the war Hicks-Beach remained concerned about the defence of the colonies and established the Royal Commission Appointed to Enquire into the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad under former Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord Carnarvon. The commission found many colonial governments were unable to answer their queries, requiring investigation by Royal Navy officers.[2]
The commission recommended that imperial garrisons in Barbados be withdrawn but colonial under-secretary Robert Henry Meade halted this, concerned that the colonial government lacked the necessary expertise to secure the ports.[2] Meade consulted with the permanent under secretary Sir Robert Herbert and military officers who agreed that a small Colonial Office standing committee was necessary to coordinate defence arrangements.
The Colonial Defence Committee was approved and met for the first time on 22 April 1885, to disucss the defence of Barbados.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Gordon, Donald C. (1962). "The Colonial Defence Committee and Imperial Collaboration: 1885-1904". Political Science Quarterly. 77 (4): 526. doi:10.2307/2146245. ISSN 0032-3195.
- ^ a b c d Gordon, Donald C. (1962). "The Colonial Defence Committee and Imperial Collaboration: 1885-1904". Political Science Quarterly. 77 (4): 527. doi:10.2307/2146245. ISSN 0032-3195.
- ^ Gordon, Donald C. (1962). "The Colonial Defence Committee and Imperial Collaboration: 1885-1904". Political Science Quarterly. 77 (4): 526. doi:10.2307/2146245. ISSN 0032-3195.