Abstract
MOST of Britain's tropical possessions were acquired by accident rather than by design. The home government has never exhibited any particular anxiety to undertake the obvious initial responsibilities of the administration of new territories. It has left to poorly paid local administrative officers the task of meeting expenditure on the essential services out of taxation of the populations committed to their care. The efficiency of these officers is measured by the home authorities, nut by the development of the potential resources of a country, not by the happiness, health, and growth of the native populations, not by any enterprise they display in fostering the introduction of new varieties of economic crops, but solely by their success in balancing their budgets. As a general rule, the governors have been “safe” conventional-minded men, unable even in a crisis to stir the home authorities into action.
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An Imperial Research Committee. Nature 115, 861–863 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115861a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115861a0