Question 1

What principles guided Palmerston’s foreign policy?

Paragraph One

• Defend Great Britain’s interests and prestige abroad. He told Parliament: ‘We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies’ and ‘Our interests are eternal, and those interests it is our duty to follow’.
• Willing to take any action necessary to do this
• Examples include:
  • The China trade
  • GB position in India (from Russian threat)
  • Against spread of French influence in Spain
  • Protecting interests of Great British citizens abroad (Don Pacifico)

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• Wanted public to be aware of these interests
• Skilled use of the press to publicise issues and get support of all social classes

Paragraph Three

• Wanted spread of constitutional governments like Great Britain’s
• 1832 Reform Act convinced him Great Britain’s system was ideal
• Similar systems should replace European autocratic monarchies
• This should be done even if it meant revolutions
• Welcomed revolutions in France (1830) and Greece (1843 & 1862)

Paragraph Four

• In favour of nationalism – actively if Great Britain’s interests were helped
• Belgian revolt against Holland (1830-9)
• Italian Unification (1859-60)

Paragraph Five

• Maintain world peace
• Great Britain ‘to be the champion of justice and right’
• Diplomacy preferred to war if possible

Paragraph Six

• Preserve the balance of power – no country to be allowed to dominate Europe

Paragraph Seven

• Only the first of these principles was absolutely binding in practice
• He was a great improviser – used events and circumstances to promote Great Britain’s position as a great power
• Although he approved of nationalism he was pragmatic – sent no help to Poles and Danes (1863 & 1864) as it was not practical to do so
• Although he wanted liberalism to spread he continually supported Turkey against Russia – because it protected Great Britain’s interests against Russia