TRADING WITH THE ENEMY: ECONOMIC WARFARE AGAINST GERMANY IN THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, 1914-1921

Abstract

The dynamics of international relations saw two great powers of Europe, Germany and Britain, confront each other continually over issues of colonialism and naval ambition. The state of relations reached a point where antipathy between the two nations became explosive. The situation was not very much different in the Straits Settlements, where the threat of German ambition was manifested by the progress made by the Germans in trade. The purpose of this thesis is two-fold. Firstly, it tells the story of an integrated economic warfare system that came to be used in the prosecution of the First World War against Germany. In the process, it highlights the problems posed by such legislation; the impact upon the economy and the German businesses of the Straits Settlements; and the measures taken to get the Colony back on the track of trade success. Secondly, this is a study of post-war British economic policy that was essentially the continuation of war against Germany by economic means. The efficiency with which German businesses were obliterated during the war was but the forerunner of actions taken to prevent the resurgence of German trade in the Colony and the re-emergence of the German threat to British dominance.