Dominions Office records, 1924-1951 [microform] / as filmed by the AJCP
- Bib ID:
- 7836114
- Format:
- Manuscript and Microform
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Related Online Resources:
- Finding aid at National Library of Australia
- Description:
-
- Canberra : Australian Joint Copying Project, [19--]
- 781 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
- Series:
- Australian Joint Copying Project part 10.
- Summary:
-
From 1801 to 1925 the Colonial Office, located in Downing Street, was responsible for Britain's relations with all parts of its Empire, apart from India and Burma, whether they be self-governing colonies, Crown colonies or protectorates. By 1900 the term 'Dominion', first applied to Canada in 1867, was increasingly preferred to the unwieldy 'self-governing colony'. At the 1907 Colonial Conference, at the instigation of Canada, the British Government adopted the term 'Dominion' to apply to all self-governing units of the Empire. At this Conference there was agitation, led by the Prime Minister of Australia, Alfred Deakin, for a separate department to handle Dominion affairs, with a permanent secretariat to organise Imperial Conferences. Such a change was opposed by the British Government, but as a concession the Dominions Division was set up within the Colonial Office. In June 1925 the Colonial Office finally relinquished responsibility for the Dominions, following the creation of the office of Secretary of State of Dominions Affairs. The Dominions Office, however, remained in the same building as the Colonial Office and for some years the two departments shared the same Secretary of State (L.S. Amery and Lord Passfield). The Dominions Office was responsible for Britain's relations with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland (which reverted to the status of a Crown colony in 1933), Southern Rhodesia, Irish Free State (until it became a republic in 1949), and the South African High Commission. The breakup of the British Empire after World War II was reflected in the changing structure and names of the Dominions Office and Colonial Office. In 1947 the Dominions Office took over relations with India and Pakistan from the India Office, its name being changed to the Commonwealth Relations Office. As more colonies became independent, the powers and responsibilities of the Colonial Office rapidly diminished and in 1966 it was reunited with the Commonwealth Relations Office, forming the Commonwealth Office. In 1968 it ceased altogether to be a separate entity, merging with the Foreign Office under the new name of Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
- Notes:
-
- National Library of Australia holds microfilm master.
- Filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project by the National Library of Australia and the Library of New South Wales.
- Dominions Office D.O. 35, 57, 114, 115, 117, 121, 126.
- Also available online https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-734990971
- Original held by Public Record Office, London.
- Cited In:
- Australian Joint Copying Project handbook. Part 10 : Dominions Office.
- Subject:
- Time Coverage:
- 1924-1951
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This is part of the Australian Joint Copying Project..
There are 10 related collections.
This collection contains 7 records. - Copyright:
-
Copyright Undetermined
If you wish to copy or order copies, contact us.
- Reason for copyright status:
- A Manuscript Collection may have a range of formats and dates.
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary, dramatic or musical work
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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