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$21.
in the African scramble was a vague reflection of the
attitudes of politicians and civil servants who saw
expansion of the Empire as an extension of European
rivalries. But the public paid little precise attention
to the repercussions of foreign diplomacy.
J. A. Robson's nodal of financial Imporislicu
for outlets for surplus capital,
(11
"a
found only a slight
echo in the motives put forward by pressure groups or
by the publics for expansion.
There was come profitable
trade in West Africa, but only potential trade in the
Sudan, Uganda or Central Africa. Economic arguments
search
in relation to tropical Africa did not rent on their own
morste, but were an extension of the anti-elavery or
missionary cones Investment possibilities only applied
to Egypt and South Africa. Economic motives played
come part in the development of an Imperialist ideolo y,
but they were only one aspect of the Imporialiat-case; '
humanitarian arguments were at least ae im-poriant.
The official rreoccupution with the-route to-India via
(1) J. A. Robson Iriperiulir mn, a ntudy w London 3rd edition 1938,
A. K. Cairncrosc
TM
$ Rome and 'oroirn Inveietment 1870.1 913,
London 1933,, concludes that at quarter of total urltinh
foreign investments in this period went to the Empire,
but the great bulk of this went to the nvlf""Govorninr
colonies.