第一次世界大戦期イギリスにおける通商政策構想 : 新たな解釈を目指して

抄録

The purpose of this article is to present a new interpretation of the trade policy plan during the First World War, especially from November 1915 to February 1917, while also taking into account the trade policy after the war. Previous research has focused on the clash of the "imperial expansion" and "imperial preference" lines, from the latter part of the 19th century to the 1930s. Most assert that the latter triumphed during the war. A famous Tariff Reformer, W.A.S. Hewins, advocated the trade policy plan on the "imperial preference line". He planned a close relationship between the British Empire and the Allies based on tariff preference, which was closed to other nations. However he shortsightedly neglected the possible problems from such a plan. On the other side, most Chambers of Commerce and Lord Balfour of Burleigh, a free trader and chairman of a famous committee, sought a more open Empire which would trade with as many countries as possible, taking into account the importance of trade with neutral countries. They recognized the tariff policy as only part of over all trade policy, which contributed to the maintenance of a more open Empire. The resolution of "imperial preference" adopted by the Balfour committee also contained the plan of a more open Empire, not excluding the possibility of tariff policy. After the war, Britain had a tariff policy for strategic products, aiming at omnidirectional trades and maintaining a more open Empire. This policy stemmed from the trade policy plan developed during the war and resulted in Britain searching for a 'third line' different from the "imperial expansion" and "imperial preference" lines.