On The Attlee Government's Indian Policy

The connection of the United Kingdom and India was built up along with the British colonial conquest. This situation continued until August 15, 1947 when India gained independence. With India's independence, the relationship between the United Kingdom and India had transited from the direct control to the equality countries under the framework of the Commonwealth. The targets of the British foreign policy towards India had also changed. Meanwhile, after World War II, the United Kingdom had declined as a"middle powers". Owing to the sterling crisis in 1947 and 1949, the British concept of its great power status needed the support of the Commonwealth countries. At last, the United Kingdom also paid attention to the India because of its unique geographical location and the volatile situation of the South Asia.For this reason, the Attlee Government carried out a series of foreign policies to maintain India's economic, political stability and protect British interests overseas. Firstly, the United Kingdom pursued the policy of maintaining stability in the South Asian region. Facing to the oppositional situation of India and Pakistan, the British government tried its best to mediate and eased the situation. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom had also taken measures to prevent the expansion of communism in Asia. Secondly, the United Kingdom tried to consolidate and strengthen economic ties with India to promote the British exports for maintaining a balanced budget and dealing with the American challenge. This was mainly manifested in the following aspects. Such as consolidating the superiority of investment, trade and assistance to India, dealing with the balance of pounds, strengthening the arms exports to India and promoting the implementation of the Colombo Plan. Thirdly, the United Kingdom and India paid attention to coordinate each other's positions. The United Kingdom conferred with India actively on its remaining in the commonwealth as a sovereign Republic. The United Kingdom and India both considered that the People'Republic of China should be recognized as a means of containing the Soviet Union and Taiwan should be a part of China. After the outbreak of the Korean War, the two countries both protested to restrict the Korean War on the size and solve the question peacefully.During this period,American influence should not be underestimated. After World War II, the United States expected to realize its goals in South Asia by means of the British influence within the commonwealth. Therefore, they had appeared cooperation at a certain extent. But their different views on India's role led to a re-assessment of the British role in the region. As for the fear of being replaced by the United States eventually, the United Kingdom expected to show its influence more than the United States on Asian affairs. The differences and suspicions between the United States and the United Kingdom also restricted the effectiveness of the British foreign policy towards India.The British foreign policy embodied the following characteristics. Firstly, the policy contained a profound historical trace. The United Kingdom still wished to rely on the military bases in India to serve its global strategy. Their difference often reflected Indian old feeling of restraint position under the British rule. Secondly, the policy contained the realistic characteristics. Facing to the actual situation in the subcontinent and British practical demands, India had different emphasis. the United Kingdom sought political stability in the framework of the commonwealth, retained its absolute superiority in the trade and the investment, strengthened in arms and technology exports to India and paid attention to the coordination in diplomatic field. Thirdly, the policy had the far-reaching impact. In particular, the negotiation pattern in the Commonwealth as a platform continued and it played an important role in building a more sensible and mature relations.In conclusion, the British foreign policy was the product of the process of changing international environment. It embodied the specific requirements of British national interests under the new historical conditions. In the face of the Changing relations with the subcontinent, the Labor Government strived to adjust its policy to promote the economic development and the political stability in the subcontinent.Compared with India's relatively indifferent relations with the United States of America and the Soviet Union, the relations between the United Kingdom and India were in a more harmonious state during this period. The United Kingdom preserved the most important external influence on India and India also played a huge influence through its membership in the British Commonwealth in British foreign policy, especially the Asian policy. However, there was also some divaricating between the two sides during this period. For one time, this was because of British overly self-confidence of its influence on India. For the other, this was also because of India's diversified foreign policy. At the same time, American influence on British foreign policy could not be underestimated. This destabilizing factor behind the smooth exchanges also indicated to some extent the further unconcern prospects for the bilateral relations.