英国东南亚特派员与粮食供应(1946—1948)

British Special Commissioner for Southeast Asia and Food Ration(1946-1948)

太平洋战争结束后,重返东南亚的英国试图全面重建战前的殖民统治。鉴于战后东南亚地区普遍的粮食危机已导致一定的社会、政治危机和外交困境,英国政府派遣凯勒恩勋爵为东南亚特派员主管东南亚地区的粮食供应并促进东南亚区域经济合作。自1946年3月16日至1948年3月27日,凯勒恩勋爵召集了一系列会议,组建了各地的联络机构,疏通粮食供应的交通渠道,促进粮食生产,并同东南亚主要产粮国(本文仅论暹罗)展开外交联系以保证英属东南亚地区的粮食进口。特派员的工作在一定程度上缓解了东南亚粮食危机,促进了东南亚各国的战后重建,为英国在该地区的经济与防务合作战略开辟了道路。

After the ending of Pacific War, Britain returned to Southeast Asia and intended to reconstruct the colonial administrations. Because the popular shortage of food in Southeast Asia had led to social, political and diplomatic crises, the British government dispatched Lord Killem as Special Commissioner to tackle the foodstuff supply problem and promote the cooperation in the region. From 16 March 1946 to 27 March 1948, lord Killearn convened a series of conferences, formed a set of liaison office system, reopened the traffic lines, and encouraged the rice cultivation. Furthermore, he negotiated with the main rice export country in Southeast Asia （that is Siam in this paper） through diplomatic channel to ensure the rice import of British territory in Southeast Asia. The contributions of Special Commissioner for Southeast Asia relieved the food crisis in Southeast Asia in a certain extent, promoted the reconstruction, and paved the way for British economy and defence strategies in the region.