Fossildog

What happened next?

scrubbedexpat141

Very good

Eeyore

As has been pointed out, though, the Falklands situation is different. It's not as if the British sailed in to islands that were already supporting a thriving indigenous population and, in best empire-building fashion, said "Hello everybody, we're in charge now".

When the British claimed sovereignty in 1765, the only inhabitants of the islands were a French military garrison (certainly not Argentinians) and the British didn't actually know they were there - the British were on West Falkland and the French were 100 miles away on East Falkland. Fast forward past the various ructions over the islands to the present day, and the population of the Falklands considers itself British and wants to remain British.

scrubbedexpat141

A bit unfair, we normally offered rum, blankets and guns without ammo for the land in return. We weren't complete bastards.

Beakersful

But wasn't anthrax suspected to be wrapped up in those blankets? After all, a land with no natives living on it was stakeable.

scrubbedexpat141

Either which way, we got the land fair and square.

scot47

You guys must have missed the news on 15 February 1942. The Raj is OVER. !

scrubbedexpat141

Eh? Never.

Piers Morgan got called a redcoat the other night, it's still here and we're still feared.

Cypselos

That's the Fall of Singapore, not the Raj.

scot47

Fall of Singapore was the Beginning. End of Empire. Khalas !