Imperial Federation League
Encyclopedia
The Imperial Federation League was a 19th century organisation which aimed to promote Imperial Federation
.
in 1884. Branches were established in Canada
, Australia
, New Zealand
, Barbados
and British Guiana
. It aimed to promote Imperial Federation
. Canada confederated in 1867 and continued to expand westward. In England a movement arose to federate the empire, much as Canada had recently confederated. The United States and Canada were concrete examples of how vast territories could be effectively managed while maintaining a central representative authority.
While the proposal was often associated with segments of the British Conservative Party
, it was also popular among proponents of Liberal
or New Imperialism
such as E. M. Forster
. The movement was also a vehicle for British race nationalism and ideas of a greater Britain
encompassing the largely white self-governing colonies and dominions. Its modern descendents are those who favour closer ties between the Old Commonwealth.
In 1884 the Imperial Federation League combined politician
s, journalist
s, and intellectuals, like Sir John Robert Seeley
, James Bryce
, and Froude
.
The Imperial Parliament (Westminster
, stripped of its local responsibilities) would handle foreign affairs, the army, the navy, and those colonies (including India
) which had a population the bulk of which was “alien”. The centre would also have a final court of appeal. Local Parliaments would exercise control over Home Affairs
, the police and education.
Supporters of Imperial Federation presented the argument that the two choices for Britain were Imperial unification or Imperial disintegration. In their view the future importance of Britain depended on it federating what is now called the “Old Commonwealth”.
The League was divided between those who wanted to establish a clear pathway for Imperial Federation and those whose view was that the programme could best be advanced by general discussion, aiming to move opinion in favour of federation with specifics to be worked out later (Parkin, in Canada
, argued that that was the method used to bring about Canadian Confederation).
Another point of division within the League was the question of free trade
or tariff
protection.
(Prime Minister from March 1894 to June 1895) was Chairman of the English Branch from 1885 until 1892.
In Britain the League had a concrete accomplishment in the calling of the First Colonial Conference
in 1887 at the time of Queen Victoria
's golden jubilee. The Branch was dissolved in 1894.
in 1887. It was spurred on by a United States initiative for a commercial union between the US and Canada.
in 1885.
Alfred Deakin
was a supporter of the League and in 1905 became the President of the Victorian Branch.
Partly through the efforts of Henry D'Esterre Taylor
the Victorian Branch survived the dissolution of the London Branch.
The Victorian Branch was a supporter of the notion that Imperial Federation could be encouraged best by not enunciating a clear plan.
Many in the Victorian Branch regarded the Federation of Australia
as a first step towards Imperial Federation.
Imperial Federation
Imperial Federation was a late-19th early-20th century proposal to create a federated union in place of the existing British Empire.-Motivators:...
.
Formation
It was founded in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1884. Branches were established in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
. It aimed to promote Imperial Federation
Imperial Federation
Imperial Federation was a late-19th early-20th century proposal to create a federated union in place of the existing British Empire.-Motivators:...
. Canada confederated in 1867 and continued to expand westward. In England a movement arose to federate the empire, much as Canada had recently confederated. The United States and Canada were concrete examples of how vast territories could be effectively managed while maintaining a central representative authority.
While the proposal was often associated with segments of the British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, it was also popular among proponents of Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
or New Imperialism
New Imperialism
New Imperialism refers to the colonial expansion adopted by Europe's powers and, later, Japan and the United States, during the 19th and early 20th centuries; expansion took place from the French conquest of Algeria until World War I: approximately 1830 to 1914...
such as E. M. Forster
E. M. Forster
Edward Morgan Forster OM, CH was an English novelist, short story writer, essayist and librettist. He is known best for his ironic and well-plotted novels examining class difference and hypocrisy in early 20th-century British society...
. The movement was also a vehicle for British race nationalism and ideas of a greater Britain
Anglosphere
Anglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
encompassing the largely white self-governing colonies and dominions. Its modern descendents are those who favour closer ties between the Old Commonwealth.
In 1884 the Imperial Federation League combined politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, and intellectuals, like Sir John Robert Seeley
John Robert Seeley
Sir John Robert Seeley, KCMG was an English essayist and historian.-Life:He was born in London, the son of R.B. Seeley, a publisher. Seeley developed a taste for religious and historical subjects...
, James Bryce
James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce
James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce OM, GCVO, PC, FRS, FBA was a British academic, jurist, historian and Liberal politician.-Background and education:...
, and Froude
Froude
Froude may refer to:* Derek Froude* Fred Froude , Australian rules footballer* Hurrell Froude , Anglican priest* James Anthony Froude , British historian* William Froude , British engineer...
.
Programme
The league promoted closer union of the British Empire and advocated the establishment of an Imperial parliament to be composed of Britain and the self-governing members of the Empire.The Imperial Parliament (Westminster
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, stripped of its local responsibilities) would handle foreign affairs, the army, the navy, and those colonies (including India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) which had a population the bulk of which was “alien”. The centre would also have a final court of appeal. Local Parliaments would exercise control over Home Affairs
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, the police and education.
Supporters of Imperial Federation presented the argument that the two choices for Britain were Imperial unification or Imperial disintegration. In their view the future importance of Britain depended on it federating what is now called the “Old Commonwealth”.
The League was divided between those who wanted to establish a clear pathway for Imperial Federation and those whose view was that the programme could best be advanced by general discussion, aiming to move opinion in favour of federation with specifics to be worked out later (Parkin, in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, argued that that was the method used to bring about Canadian Confederation).
Another point of division within the League was the question of free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
or tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
protection.
United Kingdom
Lord RoseberyArchibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
(Prime Minister from March 1894 to June 1895) was Chairman of the English Branch from 1885 until 1892.
In Britain the League had a concrete accomplishment in the calling of the First Colonial Conference
First Colonial Conference
The First Colonial Conference met in London in 1887 on the occasion of Queen Victoria's jubilee.Among other things discussed, the colonies in Australia and New Zealand agreed to pay £126,000 per annum towards the Royal Navy to help pay for the United Kingdom's naval deployments in the Pacific...
in 1887 at the time of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
's golden jubilee. The Branch was dissolved in 1894.
Ontario
Whilst Branches of the Imperial Federation League spread throughout the Empire, a large branch formed in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1887. It was spurred on by a United States initiative for a commercial union between the US and Canada.
Victoria
A branch of the League was established in VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1885.
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
was a supporter of the League and in 1905 became the President of the Victorian Branch.
Partly through the efforts of Henry D'Esterre Taylor
Henry D'Esterre Taylor
Henry D'Esterre Taylor, , was an Australian banker and Federationist.-Early life:He was born on 11 January 1853 at Richmond barracks, Melbourne, the eldest child of Robert Crofton Taylor, a policeman, and his wife Mary Jane, née D'Esterre...
the Victorian Branch survived the dissolution of the London Branch.
The Victorian Branch was a supporter of the notion that Imperial Federation could be encouraged best by not enunciating a clear plan.
“Most of the supporters of Imperial Federation have hitherto indulged in very vague generalities. The Victorian Branch of the league weds itself to no scheme, and will have nothing to do with ways and means to effect its object. … This promised land seems just a little indefinite.”
Many in the Victorian Branch regarded the Federation of Australia
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
as a first step towards Imperial Federation.
External links
- Australian Dictionary of Biography – Entry of Henry d'Esterre Taylor
- Carnegie, Andrew; The Gospel of Wealth And Other Timely Essays
- Papers of Alfred Deakin, 1804-1973 (bulk 1880-1919) Collection number: MS 1540
- Commonwealth miscellanea
- Foster, L.; The Imperial Federation League in Victoria after Australian Federation (B.A.Bachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Hons thesisThesisA dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
, Monash UniversityMonash UniversityMonash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, 1979) - Morris, Edward E.; Imperial federation : a Lecture for the Victorian Branch of the Imperial Federation League 28 Aug 1885, Melbourne
- Review of Parkin, George A.; Imperial Federation: The Problem of National Unity, MacMillan & Co. London/New York 1892, e-book at The Anglosphere