Dolid V. Transvaal crisis in the assessment of British politics and society (1895 - 1896)

The thesis is devoted to the complex analysis of the position and policy of parliamentary parties, Great Britain's community and press concerning Transvaal crisis in the middle of 90th of the XIX century. It was investigated that the parliamentary election in England in 1895 realized the influence on intensification of offensive colonial country's policy. At this time the colonial government policy in South Africa was characterized by the dominant imperial idea, which stemmed from an attempt to expand the British Empire in Africa. Evaluating the activities of English colonial administration, it should be noted that it was offensive aims to implement the concept of foreign policy. Events that occurred at that time clearly showed that the British government circles, reviewing its strategy of colonial policy, not abandoned plans for unification of South Africa under the British flag. Successful implementation of this project was to strengthen the position of Great Britain in its rivalry with other colonial powers on the African continent. It was examined the interdependence and interplay of the policy and position of the British government concerning the South African crisis, on the other hand the development of public thought. Conservative policy on this issue was marked by two aspects. Condemning the action of Dr. Jameson, while the government tried to strengthen its position in the Transvaal. Approved on this event were mainly antigerman character. External threat, which emerged after the Jameson's raid from Germany, led to the unification of the opposition and government. It was clarified that the government's expansion policy wasn't hostile to foreign policy conception of liberal party. The liberals couldn't pay attention to South African incident which was supported by English society. The interference to German Kaiser's affair consolidated the work of government and opposition. Despite the significant opportunities for criticism of foreign policy conservatives during Transvaal crisis, liberals abandoned any action aimed at degrading the authority of their political opponents. Moreover, even some differences in views on the role of preference in the South African incident did not prevent the majority of party members speak liberal welcomed the government's foreign policy. Attempts by individual members of the opposition to condemn the scandalous act of aggression in South Africa that still were insufficient. These interventions were likely struggle to change the methods of colonial policy. Course in support of conservatives vividly demonstrated that the imperial views as liberals and conservatives were quite close. Given the immanent tendency to defend the first course to expand the British Empire, not surprisingly, they justify any means to achieve the ultimate goal. South African incident became the British political elite lesson later allowed her flexibility to respond to the international political situation rapidly changed. It was proved that from this time the psychology of Englishmen changed and the untigerman mood raised from the creating of German empire in 1871. In England at this time it wasn't perceived the concept Germany. The fear of Germany was preserved till the beginning of World War I. It was analysed the question of the role of press in forming social idea, which influenced on foreign policy government. The rapid reaction of the British public largely contributed to the popular imperial idea in the country, the desire to retain Great Britain in intensification of the struggle for colonies of European countries, those territories that have become objects of colonial actions and the desire to provide favorable conditions for further implementation of its colonial takeovers on the continent. It was determined the position of press correspond to the government's official position. The editorships of most newspapers aimed to account the international situation, the temper in British society and government. It constrained to support and sometimes to justify the governmental policy. The nature of publications on the pages of British periodicals devoted to Transvaal crisis of 1895 - 1896's, coincided with the political mood among British politics - the desire to maintain dominance of Great Britain in the south of African continent. That is why the pages of English newspapers and magazines appeared publications that were intended to persuade British society to support the foreign policy of the government. Resonance, which caused the English press, challenged a negative trend in the bilateral Anglo-German relations and eventually led to bloody events in 1914.