東インド会社解散以前のイースタンバンク問題,1847～1857年

抄録

Drawing upon recently published research and previously unseen archival sources, the article provides a new explanation of the foundation of eastern banks during the mid-19th century. The main focus is on the Oriental Banking Corporation, the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, and the Chartered Bank of Asia. Previous considerations have attributed the motivation for the establishment of the banks to the powerful support of British manufacturing interests in opposition to the old colonial system of the East India Company. But the article criticizes the classic explanations for the development of eastern banks in the wider global context of British industrial expansion, making reference to a new interpretation of British imperialism, especially the Cain and Hopkins thesis of 'gentlemanly capitalism'. The article emphasizes the role of London-India-based 'new' Indian interests as well as 'old' India interests of the East India Company. In the process, new insights on two circles of Indian interests within the City of London are revealed to understand the historical context of eastern banks versus the East India Company. At the same time, the article reassesses the important role of the British government (namely, Whitehall), especially the Treasury, as the control tower of British expansionism. In solving many problems surrounding the foundation of eastern banks, the Treasury, the Board of Trade, and the Board of Control for India reached an agreement within Whitehall on preserving the British rule of India as a matter of national interest.