‘Second Colonial Occupation’: The United States and British Malaya 1945-1949

Sah-Hadiyatan Ismall

doi:10.5539/ach.v4n1p29

Abstract

This article examines the development of events after the World War II and how these events influenced the decolonisation process of British Southeast Asia. Britain returned to claim its colonial possessions in Southeast Asia after the defeat of Japan and proposed the Malayan Union plan to further consolidate its power in Malaya. However, Britain’s plan was met with furious opposition from the Malays who demanded a better deal to protect their interest as natives of Malaya. This article also focuses on how the United States reacted towards the British policy in Southeast Asia. International events such as the Cold War, the fall of China to the Communists and the Korean War have deep impact on the policies of both Britain and the United States in Southeast Asia. The United States supported Britain to retain Malaya as one of its colonies and helped Britain in dealing with the Communists. The American and British policies of returning to their former colonies before World War II were also contrary to the Atlantic Charter formed by the allies during World War II. This article showed that the Western powers had no intention to immediately renounce colonialism at the end of World War II.

Highlights

The return of the British, Dutch and French to their former colonies in the Southeast Asia after the defeat of Japan is often referred as the ‘Second colonial occupation’
This article has shown that the British government were committed to retain Malaya and introduced the Malayan Union plan in 1946 in order to strengthen its position in Malaya
The British government later changed the Malayan Union with the Federation of Malay States in 1948 and gave a very limited chance to the Malays to be involved in the administration of Malaya

Summary

Introduction

The return of the British, Dutch and French to their former colonies in the Southeast Asia after the defeat of Japan is often referred as the ‘Second colonial occupation’. British did not intend to abandon their old commercial role in East Asia and China when the war ended To guard their eastern sea routes they were determined to re-establish themselves firmly in Singapore with a stronger Malaya under British rule to protect its hinterland. During the post-war period, while the Labour government imposed an austerity policy at home, the British generously spent money and effort on Malaya in an effort to reconstruct the triangular trade. First they attempted to revive rubber and tin production. The agreement was reached in June 1946 when the British government agreed to take over the possessions, interests and sovereign rights of the company against a provisional sum of £860,000. (Note 13)

The Malayan Union Plan

The Emergency

The United States’ Intentions in Southeast Asia

Findings

Conclusion