Foreign Policy
Gladstone’s First Ministry (1868-74) Foreign Policy
- Wanted to protect Britss interests and respect tse rigsts of otser natons to avoid war – maintain balance
of power
- Tse Britss army was not in tse same league as tse German army
- Financial consideraton as Palmerstone’s policies sad been expensive
- Gladstone appeared weaker for being reasonable and realistc
Events in Gladstone’s frst ministry
Problem Acton Success
Franco-Prussian War 1870-1 - Treaty of London – Prussia - Treaty of London seen as a
Remained neutral in war. Issues and France signed to triumps for Gladstone
facing Britain – guarantee Belgian neutrality - Little could be done about
- Possible invasion of Belgium and 20,000 Britss troops Russia, tse Britss public felt
(France wanted to annex), ready to be sent just in case Gladstone sad acted weakly
Britain didn’t want tsis as it - Black Sea clauses cancelled (AJP Taylor- Historian –
was strategically placed and Lord Granville (Foreign Russia signed general
- Russia announced it was no Minister for Britain) secured agreement in all good faits)
longer bound by tse Treaty general agreement tsat no
of Paris (1856) meaning tsey gov’t ssould break parts of
could enter and fortfy Black treaty unless otser
Sea, destroying Britain’s signatories agree.
advantage gained from
Crimean War.
- Russian navy now in Black
Sea
Alabama Case - Gladstone agreed to pay - No, ssortly afer Gladstone
Ssip called Alabama was built by £3.25 million compensaton booed at St. Pauls for
Britss for tse Souts USS during Civil – sumiliatng tsanksgiving, Disraeli
War – wanted compensaton for tse - Altsougs sensible and moral applauded
damage it sad caused. USpset it occurred afer Black Sea - Public opinion gatsering
relatons and USS could attack Canada affair – Gladstone seen to momentum against peaceful,
tsat Britain could not defend save no back bone and etsical policies
contributed to growing
unpopularity
Wsat did Gladstone want in Foreign Policy?
Aims Obstacles
Free Trade around world Otser industrial countries and self-governing colonies
(Canada, Australia) wanted to tax imports to selp
industry
Settle disputes using concert of Europe – Meant great Bismarck sad different ideas, se was prepared to use
powers working out agree solutons to problems and concert system but tsougst more in terms of power
using tseir power to enforce tsem politcs
1|Page
Gladstone’s First Ministry (1868-74) Foreign Policy
- Wanted to protect Britss interests and respect tse rigsts of otser natons to avoid war – maintain balance
of power
- Tse Britss army was not in tse same league as tse German army
- Financial consideraton as Palmerstone’s policies sad been expensive
- Gladstone appeared weaker for being reasonable and realistc
Events in Gladstone’s frst ministry
Problem Acton Success
Franco-Prussian War 1870-1 - Treaty of London – Prussia - Treaty of London seen as a
Remained neutral in war. Issues and France signed to triumps for Gladstone
facing Britain – guarantee Belgian neutrality - Little could be done about
- Possible invasion of Belgium and 20,000 Britss troops Russia, tse Britss public felt
(France wanted to annex), ready to be sent just in case Gladstone sad acted weakly
Britain didn’t want tsis as it - Black Sea clauses cancelled (AJP Taylor- Historian –
was strategically placed and Lord Granville (Foreign Russia signed general
- Russia announced it was no Minister for Britain) secured agreement in all good faits)
longer bound by tse Treaty general agreement tsat no
of Paris (1856) meaning tsey gov’t ssould break parts of
could enter and fortfy Black treaty unless otser
Sea, destroying Britain’s signatories agree.
advantage gained from
Crimean War.
- Russian navy now in Black
Sea
Alabama Case - Gladstone agreed to pay - No, ssortly afer Gladstone
Ssip called Alabama was built by £3.25 million compensaton booed at St. Pauls for
Britss for tse Souts USS during Civil – sumiliatng tsanksgiving, Disraeli
War – wanted compensaton for tse - Altsougs sensible and moral applauded
damage it sad caused. USpset it occurred afer Black Sea - Public opinion gatsering
relatons and USS could attack Canada affair – Gladstone seen to momentum against peaceful,
tsat Britain could not defend save no back bone and etsical policies
contributed to growing
unpopularity
Wsat did Gladstone want in Foreign Policy?
Aims Obstacles
Free Trade around world Otser industrial countries and self-governing colonies
(Canada, Australia) wanted to tax imports to selp
industry
Settle disputes using concert of Europe – Meant great Bismarck sad different ideas, se was prepared to use
powers working out agree solutons to problems and concert system but tsougst more in terms of power
using tseir power to enforce tsem politcs
1|Page
