Download Whig Foreign Policy 1830-41

Whig Foreign Policy 1830-41
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Revolts of 1830
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Revolt in France in 1830 brought Louis
Philippe to power as a constitutional
monarch – a significant reversal of Vienna
Settlement.
It also triggered a revolt next door in
Belgium (Belgium had been attached to the
expanded Holland as a buffer state against
France in 1815)
In 1830 the Belgians revolted against the
Dutch and declared their independence
British Concerns/Reactions
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Britain was mainly concerned that the Belgians who
had close linguistic and cultural links to France
would join up to form an expanded France.
At this point Wellington and the Tories were still in
power – they quickly recognised the new regime of
Louis Philippe AND got him to sign a non
intervention agreement regarding Belgium.
Britain also arranged for a meeting of European
powers in London where an armistice was agreed
and Belgian independence agreed in principle by
everyone apart from the Dutch
Fall of the Tories
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At this point the Tories fell from office (no
confidence vote) and the Whigs came to power with
Palmerston as Foreign Secretary.
Palmerston’s first challenge was to conclude the
Belgian issue.
Two questions remained – the borders of the new
state, and who was to be its monarch
Palmerston wished to avoid any prospect of
Belgium joining France and avoid upsetting the
other Great Powers
The Belgian Throne
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The Belgians themselves wanted an Orleanist
(family of Louis Philippe). Sensibly Louis Philippe
did not press for this. Instead Leopold of Saxe
Cobourg was installed.
The Dutch however reacted badly and invaded.
Palmerston and Louis Philippe repelled the Dutch
using French troops. Palmerston then had to get
the support of Prussia and Russia to insist that the
French retreated.
It was not until 1839 that Belgian independence
was finally settled in law
Crisis in the Near East 1831
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Mehemet Ali (ruler of Turkish Egypt)
resented the Sultan’s failure to pay for the
help the Egyptians had given the Turks in
the Greek War of independence and in 1831
instructed his son Ibrahim Pasha to invade
Palestine and Syria (Turkish territory). The
Egyptians made very rapid progress and
soon threatened the centre of Turkey itself.
Unkiar-Skelessi
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The Sultan had few friends to turn to and had to
seek help from his oldest enemy – Russia to protect
Turkey from the Egyptians.
Russian troops were sent to stop Ibrahim Pasha
from invading Constantinople but the price for
Russian support was high.
Russia was given in return almost complete control
of the Bosporus and Dardanelles – the passageway
between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean – of
significant strategic and trade importance.
Russia also refused to push the Egyptians out of
Palestine and Syria – just to protect Turkey itself.
Map: The Turkish Straits
Britain and the Near East
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Palmerston was far from happy with this new
advantage for Russia. It was not until 1839 and the
death of the Sultan that he had the chance to try
and reverse it.
On the Sultan’s death Palmerston persuaded the
other powers to meet and settle the questions of
Syria and Palestine through collective action.
France was actively supporting Mehemet Ali but
Palmerston aimed to both reduce French and
Russian influence in the region by bolstering up
Turkey.
Palmerston Risks War with
France
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Palmerston, behind the back of France,
patched up an agreement between Russia,
Prussia and Austria to remove the Egyptians
from Palestine and Syria.
France immediately threatened war
Palmerston sent the fleet to the region –
Mehemet Ali and his troops are removed
and France backs down from her threat of
war.
The Straits Convention 1841
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Turkey rewarded Britain for its help in
restoring its empire by agreeing to reverse
the Treaty of Unkiar-Sklessi
This was a big victory for Palmerston –
Russian and French influence reduced,
Turkey propped up and Britain also gained
the strategically important seaport territory
of Aden (now known as South Yemen)
China and the Opium Wars
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In the mid 19th century China was suffering from a
major opium addiction problem amongst its people.
The opium itself was coming from British India.
Not only was opium debilitating the population but
also China was trading lots of important and
valuable commodities such as tea and silver to get
it.
In 1839 the Emperor Tao Kwang seized all British
imported opium and banned all further trade with
Britain.
Palmerston’s Reaction
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Palmerston immediately demanded
the trade ban be lifted and
compensation for all goods (i.e. opium)
seized. China refused and war broke
out.
China suffered a heavy defeat and had
the terms of the Treaty of Nanking
virtually dictated to them.
Treaty of Nanking 1842
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All British traders claims for compensation paid in full.
China forced to hand the territory of Hong Kong to Britain
(remained British until 1997!)
Britain and British citizens also granted ‘extra territorial rights’
within China – i.e. not subject to Chinese law.
All this proved EXTREMELY profitable for Britain but is
ethically hard to defend, and led to many years of Chinese
resentment of Britain
By this point the Whigs had lost the 1841 election and the
Conservatives were back in office