Conclusion

The Cain and Hopkins theme of 'gentlemanly capitalism' has its limita­tions both in explaining the causes of imperialism and in presenting the whole picture of Britain's imperial experience.

The concept of 'gentlemanly capitalism' invented by Cain and Hopkins is also misleading because of its ambiguity. Does 'gentlemanly capitalism' only mean the capitalism of gentlemen or also the capitalism that is gen­tle or gentleman-like? Reviewers have not yet discussed this problem and the work of Cain and Hopkins does not exclude such an interpretation.

History is a form of science and should be based on historical facts - impartial and complete. In order to write a scientific and objective history it is necessary to consult research material as widely as possible. To do so, a historian needs to consult records kept in different languages. On topics relating to international affairs, it is particularly necessary to consult the literature of 'both sides'. Cain and Hopkins failed to consult original materials written in Eastern languages. The chapters on China do not make use of original Chinese materials. It is perhaps unfair to crit­icize them on this score, for it would be impossible for any historian to consult original documents written in many different languages. In writ­ing generally on a subject like imperialism, one needs to depend largely on secondary sources, as Cain and Hopkins did. However, imperialism concerned not only the colonial powers, but also the colonies and semi­colonies.

The British Empire was the largest of the European colonial empires and was an integral and massive component of modern world history. In the centuries of its existence, it changed the world considerably. The destructive influence of British imperialism brought down established institutions in many societies, and replaced them to a large extent with British institutions during the era of colonial rule. The pressure imposed by British imperialism forced the societies concerned to respond. This, in turn, led to fundamental changes in these societies. Britain's 'gentle­manly capitalism' certainly had a great impact on global history. The Empire ended, but it evolved into the Commonwealth, an international body now consisting of more than fifty countries across the world. Today there is no formal empire in the world, but Cain and Hopkins's 'gentlemanly capitalism' is still there and it will continue to impose its influence upon global history.

Notes

1 Raymond E. Dumett (ed.), Gentlemanly Capitalism and British Imperialism: the New Debate on Empire, Longman, 1999.

2 D.K. Fieldhouse, 'Gentlemen, Capitalists, and the British Empire', The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, Vol. 22, No. 3 (1994), p. 536.

3 PJ. Cain and A.G. Hopkins, British Imperialism: Innovation and Expansion 1688-1914, Longman, 1993, p. 470 (2nd edition, p. 400); PJ. Cain and A.G. Hopkins, British Imperialism: Crisis and Deconstruction 1914-1990, Longman, 1993, p.

4 PJ. Cain and A.G. Hopkins, British Imperialism: Innovation and Expansion 1688-1914, pp. 42-3 (2nd edition, p. 54).

5 Ibid., p. 34 (2nd edition, p. 47).

6 Here are some English publications on the embassy: Earl H. Pritchard, The Crucial Years of Early Anglo-Chinese Relations 1750-1800, Pullman, 1936; Robert A. Bickers (ed.), Ritual and Diplomacy: the Macartney Mission to China 1792-1794, Wellsweep, 1993; James L. Hevia, Cherishing Men from Afar: Qing Guest Ritual and the Macartney Embassy of1793, Duke University Press, 1996.

7 An Embassy to China: Being the Journal Kept by Lord Macartney during his Embassy to the Emperor Ch'ien-lung 1793-1794, edited with an introduction and notes by J.L. Cranmer-Byng, Longmans, 1962, p. 150.

8 The Macartney embassy brought with it many presents to the Qing Court. Among them there were quadrants, glass lustres, watches, porcelain and broadcloth.

9 Hu Sheng, Cong Yapian Zhanzheng Dao Wusi Yundong (From the Opium War to the May 4th Movement) (Red Flag Publishing House, 1982), pp. 317-25.

10 For an example, see Wang Jingyu (ed.), Zhongguo Jindai Jingji Shi (Modern Economic History of China) (People's Publishing House, 2000), Vol. 1, ch. 2, 'The Financial Activities of Foreign Countries in China', ch. 3, 'China's Foreign Debts in the Control of the Power Politics of Powers' and ch. 4, 'Foreign Investments in Industry, Mining and Transportation in China'.

11 PJ. Cain and A.G. Hopkins, British Imperialism: Crisis and Deconstruction 1914-1990, p. 7 (2nd edition, p. 408).

12 Ibid., p. 290 (2nd edition, p. 639).

13 Ibid., p. 174 (2nd edition, p. 543).

14 CAB 128/8, CM 104 (46) 3, 10 Dec 1946, 'India: Constitutional Position: Cabinet Conclusions', British Document on the End of Empire, Series A, Vol. 2: The Labour Government and the End of Empire 1945-1951 (edited by Ronald Hyam), London: HMSO, 1992, part I, Doc 13.

15 CAB 128/6, CM 107 (46) 2, 19 Dec. 1946, 'Burma: Constitutional Position: Cabinet Conclusions', Ibid., Doc 14.

16 In an article entitled 'On British Decolonization', I first gave an explanation of what 'decolonization' should mean. See World History (a journal edited by the Institute of World History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences), No. 6, 1996.

17 I made an inquiry into this story in the book Da Ying Diguo De Wajie (The Collapse of the British Empire) (in Chinese by Shunhong Zhang, et al., China Social Science Documentation Publishing House, 1997), see ch. 3 'British Suppression and Separation of Colonial Nationalist Movement' and ch. 5, 'Constitutional Reforms and Transfer of Power'.

18 CCM (54) 8, 21 Sep. 1954, CAB 134/786. Quoted in W. David McIntyre's 'The Admission of Small States to the Commonwealth', Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, vol. 24, No. 2, May 1996, p. 257.

19 PJ. Cain and A.G. Hopkins, British Imperialism: Crisis and Deconstruction 1914-1990, p. 313 (2nd edition, p. 658).

20 Zhang Shunhong, Meng Qinglong and Bi Jiankang, (Ying Mei Xin Zhiminzhuyi) (Anglo-American Neocolonialism) (in Chinese), China Social Science Documentation Publishing House, 1999.

21 Ibid., pp. 314-15 (2nd edition, p. 659).

22 I have made a general survey of the treaties and agreements in the course of British imperial retreat, see ch. 6, 'Treaties and Agreements: the Transition of Relations' in The Collapse of the British Empire, written by Shunhong Zhang, et al., China Social Science Documentation Publishing House, 1997.

23 Here are a couple of examples of such agreements: United Kingdom-Ceylon Defence Agreement, see Cmd. 7257 Proposals for Conferring on Ceylon Fully Responsible Status within the British Commonwealth of Nations, HMSO, Nov. 1947; DO 118/353 (Public Record Office, London): Exchange of Letters between the United Kingdom and Kenya concerning the Provision of British Military Personnel to Assist in the Staffing, Administration and Training of Kenya Armed Forces, 27 Nov. 1964; Cmnd 3110 Agreement on Mutual Defence and Assistance between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Malta (21 Sep. 1964), HMSO, Oct. 1966.

24 For example, see Cmnd. 2285 Public Officers' Agreement between Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of Kenya, HMSO, Feb. 1964, Cmnd. 3109 Public Officers Agreement between the Government of the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Guyana, HMSO, Oct. 1966.

25 CAB 128/34 CC (60), ‘Overseas Civil Service', 26 July 1960.

26 Cain and Hopkins, British Imperialism: Innovation and Expansion 1688-1914, Longman, 1993, p. 446 (2nd edition, p. 380).