Changes in the East India Company's cotton trading and development policies, 1803〜1858

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  • イギリス東インド会社の綿花買付・開発政策の転換,1803〜1858年
  • イギリス ヒガシインド ガイシャ ノ メンカ カイツケ カイハツ セイサク ノ テンカン 1803 1858ネン

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Abstract

Indian cotton policies of the nineteenth century have long been analyzed within a framework of 'free trade imperialism', stress has been laid on the firm connection between British cotton manufacturing interests and the Indian government that the latter imposed 'free trade' policy to India for the former's benefit. The aim of this paper is to express doubts on this stereotyped assessment by analyzing cotton related policies of the Bombay Presidency during the pre-Mutiny period. The findings are as follows: First, the East India Company's cotton purchasing policies in Broach Pargana between 1803 and 1833, which compelled farmers to se their cotton exclusively to the Company, could be described as 'monopolistic'. The major market then was China. Second, after 1833, the Company confined their cotton policies to technical experiments such as improving cotton gins, and direct promotion of India-Britain trade by strict quality control was avoided. This prudent attitude of the Company was in contrast with that of the 1860s. Fourth, the Charter of 1833 and the establishment of direct rule in 1858 were critical factors behind the above changes in cotton policies.

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