colonial trusteeship

Idea that colonies were held by the colonial power in trust for the indigenous population. This became an important and widely accepted principle of colonial policy in Britain in the 19th century. It was implicitly and explicitly invoked in support of Britain's efforts to eradicate the slave trade and slavery and, in the pursuit of political, social, and economic policies, would, it was argued, prepare indigenous peoples for self-government.

Origins of the concept In the broader sense the concept of colonial trusteeship is generally regarded as having originated with Edmund Burke's famous declaration, in his speech on the India Bill in 1785, that Britain had become directly responsible for the welfare of the Indian peoples ‘as a sacred trust’. Many critics of colonialism dismiss the concept of trusteeship as an excuse for economic exploitation and imperial expansion, but although this undoubtedly occurred, there is little doubt that many colonial administrators and British politicians held a sincere belief in trusteeship.

The 20th century In the 20th century the concept of trusteeship has been put into practice through the League of Nations and the United Nations. Under the League the colonial territories of the defeated states were mandated to the victorious allies after World War I (see mandate). For example, responsibility for German East Africa (Tanganyika) passed to Britain, and responsibility for former German colonies in west and central Africa was divided between Britain, France, and Belgium. Most of these mandated territories became trust territories under the United Nations after World War II, although South Africa refused to place the former German colony of Southwest Africa (now Namibia) under UN trusteeship. In the case of mandated and trust territories the administering country was under an obligation to pursue policies which would eventually lead to self-government.

The last territory remaining under the UN trusteeship system, the Republic of Palau, became independent in 1994.