This book examines the history of the relationship between Liberia and Britainthe world's first black republic, founded by former slaves, and the world's strongest colonial power. Jyotirmoy Pal Chaudhuri excavates a wealth of archival sources to reconstruct a turbulent narrative spanning key points in twentieth-century Liberian history. Pal Chaudhuri argues that the Black Republic was never a serious item on the British agenda for constructive action in West Africa, as seen in the repeated failure of their concessionaires, their interference with the Firestone rubber project, and their efforts to have Liberia expelled from the League of Nations. Untangling the conflicts and contradictions between Britain's colonial interests and humanitarian ideals, Whitehall and the Black Republic is a long overdue contribution to the history of Liberia and the British Empire.

Presents the first in-depth study of Anglo-Liberian relations from the early twentieth century to the eve of World War II Draws upon an array of government archives, journalism from the period, and secondary sources Appeals to scholars of Liberian history, African history, diplomatic history, colonial and imperial studies, and twentieth-century global history

Autorentext
Jyotirmoy Pal Chaudhuri is the author of numerous articles on African history and Liberian history. He is a former professor and history department chair at the University of Liberia and Cuttington University, Liberia, as well as the John Cadbury Fellow at the Centre of West African Studies, University of Birmingham, England.

Inhalt

1. An Outline of the Past.- 2. The British Foreign Office and Liberian Neutrality during World War I.- 3. The Sequel to the Declaration of War.- 4. The British Reaction to the Firestone Investment in Liberia.- 5. The Fernando Po Labour Crisis of 19291930.- 6. The League of Nations Plan of Assistance.- 7. The British and the Unrest on the Kru Coast.- 8. An Improving Image Abroad 19341939.<p