British Imperialism or Not

The text is a counter response to the idea of british policy in relation to overseas trade and investment discussed by Gallagher and Robinson. Through the laters, British policy has always been "to create complementary satellite economies supplying raw materials and food, and opening markets in return for manufactured goods." To insure this, British authorities would establish a "policy of commercial hegemony in the interest of high politics, or of the use of informal political supremacy in the interest of commercial interprise"as of what both writers claimed have seen happening in the British relations in South America. The author would deny these claims and certify British intensions always remained "to encourage stable government as good investement risks... protection... to British interests threatened in civil disturbances... Naval officers and diplomats were instructed to preserve complete neutrality." The text then moves to examples pulled from trade in china. The author cited that chinese had refused British company plans to construct an in land railway, which ended not being built and nothing was done against the decision. The author further explains that violences that proceeded the opening of chinese ports to world trade and the priveleged position of British trade and finance in the area brings a misleading image in the minds of people.