This is a study of Britain's attempts after the Manchurian crisis of 1931-3 to redefine her aims in east Asia and to develop a viable policy of friendship towards China and goodwill towards Japan. The author emphasizes the part played by economic problems, pacifist sentiment and the failure of the disarmament conference in influencing the thinking of policy makers, and discusses Britain's dilemma of trying to provide for defence in Europe while maintaining the facade of an imperial power. Although Britain did not seek to challenge Japan's China policy, she was not prepared to give Japan a free hand in China, or to grant concessions elsewhere. In practice, British attempts to rehabilitate China appeared as a challenge to Japan. This was particularly true of the Leith Ross mission in China in 1935, which is considered in detail in this book.

I værket vurderes og undersøges den britiske udenrigspolitik i Østasien i perioden 1937 - 1941. Hovedemnerne er: Den britiske reaktion på den japanske aggression i Kina og førsøget på med diplomatiske midler at forsvare en indflydelse, som ikke kunne bevares samt samarbejdet med USA og optakten til krigsførelsen i Stillehavet

This study describes the British government’s policy towards China during the first phases of the undeclared Sino-Japanese war, starting in July 1937 when the conflict in North China culminated in all-out hostilities; and ending in September 1939 when the outbreak of the war over Poland forced the British government to turn almost all its attention to Europe. The dilemmas confronting British policy-makers in the Far East are analysed together with the implementation of their subsequent solutions. Attention is focused on the question of British interests in China and on the decisive factors and considerations which determined British policy and Britain’s role in the Sino-Japanese war. Questions concerning the safety of the British subjects and the commercial community in China and their influence on the decision making process, the attitude towards Soviet influence in China and prospects of Communist take-over are also discussed. In the final analysis the book examines the widely debated subject of appeasement in its Asian context. It is argued that Britain pursued a policy towards Japan which gained strength without producing a Far Eastern Munich

Containing over 25,000 entries, this unique volume will be absolutely indispensable for all those with an interest in Britain in the twentieth century. Accessibly arranged by theme, with helpful introductions to each chapter, a huge range of topics is covered. There is a comprehensiveindex.

A milestone in the understanding of British history and imperialism, this ground-breaking book radically reinterprets the course of modern economic development and the causes of overseas expansion during the past three centuries. Employing their concept of 'gentlemanly capitalism', the authors draw imperial and domestic British history together to show how the shape of the nation and its economy depended on international and imperial ties, and how these ties were undone to produce the post-colonial world of today. Containing a significantly expanded and updated Foreword and Afterword, this third edition assesses the development of the debate since the book’s original publication, discusses the imperial era in the context of the controversy over globalization, and shows how the study of the age of empires remains relevant to understanding the post-colonial world. Covering the full extent of the British empire from China to South America and taking a broad chronological view from the seventeenth century to post-imperial Britain today, British Imperialism: 1688–2015 is the perfect read for all students of imperial and global history.