Re: WW2 and the disintegration of British empire

L2007 wrote:
You have to look at the British Empire and how it came about. Britain acquired the empire by default and really didn't want one. The British were, and still are, a free trade nation, the main aim was to freely trade around the world.

As fond as I am of "accidental imperialism" to describe facets of the British imperial experience, it's not universally applicable. The early empire was established under mercantilist principles. Mercantilist tendencies persisted well into the 19th century.

In the 1800s Britain was not empire buildings yet still acquired territory - after WW1 even more to look after. They governed very well, and the locals appreciated that - it took only 30,000 men to police it.

30,000 men? That's off by an order of magnitude, not counting the Indian Army.

The British were "invited" into Egypt (which was never in the empire).

That's a blatant misrepresentation.

Those countries who are supposed to have detested Britain because of empire are all now in the British Commonwealth - ex empire countries. So much was the evil of the this empire.

While many ex-Empire countries did join the Commonwealth, a number did not, e.g., Burma and Egypt.

The empire was run largely by consensus.

I don't know of an imperial historian who would agree with this statement.

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