This is a study of Britain's economic and political relationship with its tropical colonies between 1850 and 1960. These colonies stretched right round the world from the West Indies, through West, Central and East Africa to Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Fiji and the smaller Pacific islands. The study focuses on the former colonies and their development problems (rather than on Britain) because this provides a crucial background to understanding the present opportunities and difficulties facing these countries since their independence. The gradual evolution of policy, the early successes and later frustrations, are analysed in detail to see what light they can shed on today's problems.