Whig Foreign Policy

Revolts of 1830 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 In the mid 19 th 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 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 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