‘Trade War’: Sekatan Perdagangan Jerman di Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu, 1914-1918

Abstract

This article examines the trade blockade on German and British enemies in Federated Malay States (FMS) by the Federal Council (FC). The British trade blockade in the FMS attempted to secure the state’s position as a valuable world raw material exporter to prevent the enemies from getting their supplies for their armory development. The establishment of an FC in 1909, marked the British successful effort to gain more control over the state’s administration and perform the blockade policy. The history methodology was used to analyse the important documents such as the F.M.S Shorthand Report, British High Commissioner files, F.O 371 and 372 and C.A.B 38. The British High Commissioner had an autonomous power in FC administration which was to transact the legislative and other business of the FMS, especially on the financial administration to develop colonial capitalism. It argues that the British economic interest in the FMS was protected by the FC during the First World War. The British’s failure to compete with the German economic growth at the international level was an important factor on the trade blockade. Furthermore, the trade blockade was also a war strategy by the British government to weaken German’s military strength through the economic war. The findings have shown that the trade blockade policy of the FC succeeds to weaken German economic interest in the FMS, and the FMS was directly involved as a British proxy in World War 1. This article concludes that the trade blockade policy has been a long-term strategy by the British to protect her economic interest since before the war.