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'The Affairs of a Distant Dependency': The Nigeria Debate and the Premiership, 1916

2001; Oxford University Press; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/tcbh/12.4.397

1477-4674

Peter J. Yearwood, Cameron Hazlehurst,

African history and culture studies

We provide the first full account of the intertwined corporate conflicts and political tensions behind the ‘Nigeria Debate’ of 8 November 1916, the beginning of the crisis that toppled the Asquith coalition The debate had its ongins in an attempt by the Lagos authorities and the Colonial Office to break the emerging monopoly of a ‘Ring’ of British firms over Nigerian trade The government sought to encourage foreign (especially American) investment with a highly publiazed sale of former German assets. Sir Edward Carson, the recognized leader of political discontent, took up the firms' agitation against the policy, alleging official neglect of British interests. Bonar Law, who as Colonial Secretary was the minister responsible, decided to counter-attack. He argued that Carson, while claiming to be a disinterested patriot, was defending the private interests of profiteering firms. Spurning compromise, and demonstrating that the issue was not a simple tariff reform/free trade choice, Bonar Law treated the debate as a test of Unionist support for his leadership. Carson's followers privately acknowledged that Bonar Law won; but the strength of Carson's support, even with a bad case, and uncertainties about Lloyd George's position, persuaded Bonar Law that the administration could not continue on its present basis. For Asquith the endgame then began