No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
V. The Policy of Isolation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 December 2010
Extract
That Britain's attitude towards foreign powers for a considerable part of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth was governed by a so-called ‘policy of isolation’, often, although not invariably, linked with the epithet ‘splendid’, was long accepted by many historians. Indeed, it would be easy to compile a list of distinguished writers, in whose works these words are to be found. There has, however, been some disagreement both as to when the alleged policy originated and as to when it came to an end. Moreover, in recent years the very existence of the ‘policy of isolation’ has been called in question. The late Dame Lillian Penson dismissed it as a ‘legend’.
- Type
- Articles
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1967
References
1 I wish to acknowledge the gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen to make use of material from the Royal Archives, Windsor Castle. I am also indebted to the marquess of Salisbury for permission to use the papers of the third marquess at Christ Church, Oxford. Extracts from Crown Copyright Records in the Public Record Office appear by permission of the controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
2 Penson, Lillian M., ‘Obligations by Treaty: Their Place in British Foreign Policy, 1898-1914’, in Studies in Diplomatic History and Historiography in Honour of G. P. Gooch, ed. Sarkissian, A. O. (London, 1961), p. 88.Google Scholar
3 The Later Correspondence of Lord John Russell, 1840-78, ed. Gooch, G. P., 11, 99.Google Scholar
1 Hansard, 3rd ser. CLXXVI, 1013, 1023, 7 07 1864.Google Scholar
5 Die grosse Politik der europdischen Kabinette (cited hereafter as G.P.), 11, 158, 251; Monypenny, W. L. and Buckle, G. E., Life of Disraeli (London, 1929), II, 1132.Google Scholar
6 Hansard, 3rd ser. CCXCIV, 853–4, 19 02 1885Google Scholar ; Cecil, Gwendolen, Life of Robert Marquis of Salisbury, III, 226Google Scholar.
7 The Times, 10 11 1894.Google Scholar
8 Malet to Kimberley, 14 Dec. 1894, F.O. 64/1326, no. 263.
9 Hamburgischer Correspondent, 11 11 1894.Google Scholar
10 Standard, 12 Nov. 1894.
11 Ibid. 16 Nov. 1894.
12 Hamburgischer Correspondent, 18 11 1894Google Scholar ; Kolnische Zeitung, 20 11 1894Google Scholar ; Standard, 19 and 21 11 1894Google Scholar , quoting various German newspapers.
13 Standard, 5 08 1895.Google Scholar
14 Drummond to Salisbury, 24 Aug. 1895, F.O. 9/270, no. 38.
15 The Times and other newspapers, 19-20 12 1895Google Scholar , quoting various German newspapers.
16 The Times and other newspapers, 9-10 01 1896Google Scholar , quoting various Austrian, German, Italian and Russian newspapers.
17 Deym to Goluchowski, 23 Jan. 1896, Slavonic Review, XXIX (1950-1951), 277Google Scholar.
18 Malet to Kimberley, 8 Dec. 1894, F.O. 64/1326, no. 256.
19 As reported by Malet to Kimberley, 16 Jan. 1895, F.O. 64/1350, no. 13.
20 Memorandum by William II, 25 Oct. 1895, G.P. XI, 10.
21 As reported by Swaine, memorandum, 20 Dec. 1895, F.O. 64/1351, no. 317, enclosure.
22 G.P. XI, 68, 71; Die geheimen Papiere Friedrich von Holsteins, ed. Rich, Norman and Fisher, M. H., III, 520Google Scholar ; Lascelles to Salisbury, 21 Dec. 1895, F.O. 64/1351, no. 317.
23 For German policy towards Britain at this juncture see Langer, W. L., The Diplomacy of Imperialism (New York, 1956), p. 247Google Scholar ; Carroll, E. M., Germany and the Great Powers, 1866-1914 (New York, 1938), p. 370Google Scholar ; Anderson, Pauline R., The Background of Anti-English Feeling in Germany (Washington, D.C., 1939), pp. 233–41Google Scholar.
24 Salisbury to Queen Victoria, 12 Jan. 1896, Letters of Queen Victoria (cited hereafter as L.Q.V.), 3rd ser. III, 21.
25 History, XLVII (1962), 36–7.Google Scholar
26 The earliest example of the use of the term ‘policy of isolation’ that I have found occurs in a speech in the Commons by Sir Robert Peel, third baronet, on 17 Feb. 1871 (Hansard, 3rd ser. cciv, 397). There may well be earlier examples. On 4 Feb. 1864, also in the Commons, Goschen referred to ‘an utterly selfish and isolated policy’ (Hansard, 3rd ser. CLXXIII, 81). Cf. also the speech by Labouchere, 14 June 1867 (Hansard, 3rd ser. CLXXXVII, 1910).
27 E.g. Contemporary Review, LXVIII (1895), 629Google Scholar , LXIX (1896), 166; Saturday Review, 25 01 1896Google Scholar ; Speaker, 18 01 1896;Google ScholarSpectator, 25 01 1896Google Scholar.
28 The Times, 27 02 1896.Google Scholar
29 Hansard, 4th ser. xxxvil, 1523, 2 03 1896.Google Scholar
30 The Times, 4 03 1896.Google Scholar
81 Garvin, J. L., Life of Joseph Chamberlain, III, 260Google Scholar ; G.P. xiv, 196-7.
32 The Times, 14 03 1898.Google Scholar
33 , Garvin, op. cit. III, 260.Google Scholar
34 Hansard, 4th ser. LVII, 1338–9, 10 06 1898.Google Scholar
35 Langer, W. L., The Diplomacy of Imperialism, p. 189.Google Scholar
36 Speech to the Primrose League, 4 May 1898 (The Times, 5 May 1898).
37 Salisbury to Monson, 4 Feb. 1896, F.O. 120/721, no. 17.
38 E.g. L.Q.V. 3rd ser. III, 21, 22; British Documents on the Origins of the War, ed. Gooch, G. P. and Temperley, Harold (cited hereafter as B.D.), 1, 282, 11, 68-9, IX(I), 775–6Google Scholar ; Salisbury to Lascelles, 10 March 1896, Lascelles Papers, F.O. 800/9, fo. 49.
39 Hansard, 4th ser. LVII, 1513, 17 05 1898.Google Scholar
40 Hansard, 4th ser. LVIII, 1350, 10 06 1898.Google Scholar
41 The Times, 14 05 1898.Google Scholar
42 Hansard, 4th ser. LVIII, 1432, 10 06 1898.Google Scholar
43 Monson to Salisbury, 8 Sept. 1898, B.D. 1, 162.
44 Lascelles to Lansdowne, 25 Aug. 1901, B.D. n, 73.
45 Cf. Derby (fourteenth earl), speech in Lords, 9 July 1866 (Hansard, 3rd ser. CLXXXIV, 736); Harrington, speech at Rawtenstall, 32 March 1880 ( The Times, 23 03 1880)Google Scholar ; Derby (fifteenth earl), speech at Blackburn, 10 Oct. 1885 (The Times, 12 Oct. 1885); Temperley, Harold and Penson, Lillian M., Foundations of British Foreign Policy, pp. 137, 344, 356, 476, 479Google Scholar.
46 , Cecil, op. cit. IV, 25, 404–5Google Scholar ; L.Q.V. 3rd ser. 1, 268, 271; Documents diplomatiquesfranpais (cited hereafter as D.D.F.), 1st ser. VII, 369, 545. It would be interesting to know precisely when Salisbury first employed this argument. The first example of his use of it that I have been able to trace was in February 1887 (L.Q.V. 3rd ser. 1, 268). It is also noteworthy that the term ‘policy of isolation’ was not one habitually favoured by Salisbury with reference to his own handling of foreign affairs.
47 , Temperley and , Penson, op. cit. p. 313.Google Scholar
48 Cf. , Bismarck, Gedanken and Erinnerungen (Stuttgart, 1898), 11, 234Google Scholar ; B.D. 1, 249; , Garvin, op. cit. III, 263Google Scholar ; Dugdale, Blanche, Arthur James Balfour, 1, 259Google Scholar . There are many other examples.
49 Heeren, Arnold, Historische Werke (Göttingen, 1821), 1, 272–3.Google Scholar
50 Saturday Review, 25 01 1896.Google Scholar
51 That is, as distinct from other treaties and conventions, which were and are popularly referred to as constituting a ‘guarantee’ of territory or of institutions, but which did not, in fact, contain any mention of that term. For ‘treaties of guarantee’ see Sir Headlam-Morley, James, Studies in Diplomatic History, pp. 105–25Google Scholar.
52 Hansard, 3rd. ser. CLXXXVII, 379, 13 05 1867; CLXXXVIII, 968-74, 4 July 1867.Google Scholar
53 Hansard, 3rd ser. CLXXXVII. 1922–3, 14 06 1867Google Scholar ; , Temperley and , Penson, op. cit. pp. 313–14Google Scholar
54 Session of 1899, CIX (c. 9088), 1.
55 Session 2 of 1859, XXXII, 593.
56 Session of 1871, LXXII (274.1), 449.
57 Hansard, 4th ser. LXI, 1195, 15 07 1898.Google Scholar
58 D.D.F. 2nd ser. VI, 551.
59 Speech at Southwark, 20 July 1878, The Times, 22 07 1878.Google Scholar
60 Address to electors of North-east Lancashire, The Times, 11 03 1880.Google Scholar
61 Hansard, 4th ser. XXXIX, 449, 30 03 1896.Google Scholar
62 See , Penson, ‘Obligations by Treaty, etc.’Google Scholar , in , Sarkissian, op. cit. p. 80Google Scholar.
63 Granville to Howden, 7 Feb. 1852 (copy), Granville Papers, G.D. 29/20.
64 B.D. 1, 51. Granville's acknowledgement of the British obligation to Portugal was not without reservation (see ibid. p. 52). In 1875 Derby was less definite than Granville in his recognition of the obligation (see , Temperley and , Penson, op. cit. p. 342Google Scholar ). For the question of Portugal's overseas possessions see ibid. pp. 341-2, 512-13.
65 B.D. 1, 50.
66 Session of 1899, CIX (c. 9088), 79.
67 Salisbury to Soveral, 8 Oct. 1899 (copy), Salisbury Papers, A. 128/109.
68 B.D. 1, 93-4.
69 Cromwell, Valerie, ‘Great Britain's European Treaty Obligations in March 1902’, H.J. VI (1963), 279.Google Scholar
70 Bertie to Bigge, 28 Nov. 1899, Royal Archives (cited hereafter as R.A.), I, 62/71.
71 Hansard, 3rd ser. CCIII, 1787, 10 08 1870Google Scholar , and CCX, 1178-80, 12 Apr. 1872.
72 Fortnightly Review, XLI (1887), 26–7, reprinted in The Present Position of European Politics (London, 1887), pp. 45-7.Google Scholar
73 Standard, 4 02 1887Google Scholar ; Pall Mall Gazette, 4 02 1887Google Scholar ; Morning Post, 5 02 1887Google Scholar ; National Review, VIII (1887), 856Google Scholar.
74 Vivian to Iddesleigh, 7 Jan. 1887, F.O. 10/498, no. 7; to Salisbury, 18, 28 and 31 Jan., S and 12 Feb. 1887, F.O. 10/498, nos. 17, 26, 29, 33 and 39; to Salisbury, 1 Feb. 1887, Salisbury Papers, A. 49, 1.
75 Vivian to Salisbury, 26 Feb. 1887, F.O. 10/498, no. 60. See also , Cecil, op. cit. IV, 61.Google Scholar
76 For differing views on this subject see: , Gladstone's speech in the Commons, Hansard, 3rd ser. CCIII, 1786, 10 08 1870Google Scholar ; , Cecil, op. cit. 11, 368, III, 259Google Scholar ; , Dilke, Fortnightly Review, XLI (1887), 24–7Google Scholar , and Present Position of European Politics, pp. 42-7; H.J. VI, 275-6, 278-9.
77 Salisbury to Monson, 4 Feb. 1896, F.O. 120/721, no. 17; J. A. S. Grenville, ‘Goluchowski, Salisbury and the Mediterranean Agreements, 1895-1897’, Slavonic Review, XXXVI (1957-1958), 358, n. 49.Google Scholar
78 Salisbury to Lascelles, 10 March 1896, Lascelles Papers, F.O. 800/9, fo. 49.
79 Grenville, J. A. S., Lord Salisbury and Foreign Policy (London, 1964), p. 86.Google Scholar
80 B.D. 1, 73.
81 Globe (Toronto), 16 01 1896.Google Scholar
82 For the 1887 Agreements see Langer, W. L., European Alliances and Alignments (New York, 1956), pp. 465–7Google Scholar ; see also Hansard, 3rd ser. CCCXXII, 1172–95, 22 02 1888Google Scholar ; D.D.F. 1st ser. VI (2), 147-8, VII, 545; Annual Register, 1897, p. 135Google Scholar ; , Garvin, op. cit. III, 273–4Google Scholar . For the 1898 Convention see Hale, O. J., Publicity and Diplomacy (New York, 1940), pp. 175–80Google Scholar.
83 , Grenville, op. cit. pp. 260–3Google Scholar . The secret of the 1899 Declaration was much better kept.
84 Balfour, memorandum to Lansdowne, 12 Dec. 1901, Add. MS. 49727, fo. 159. For the probable date of the Cabinet meeting see Salisbury to Edward VII, 5 Nov. 1901, R.A., R. 22/57.
85 Add. MS. 49727, fos. 162-3, ‘75-7.
86 Salisbury, memorandum, 7 Jan. 1902, Salisbury Papers; copy in P.R.O., Cab. 37/60, no. 3. See also , Grenville, op. cit. pp. 413–14.Google Scholar
87 Beach, Victoria Hicks, Life of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, 11, 362Google Scholar . Hicks Beach’s opinion was expressed in 1914.
88 Hansard, 4th ser. CII, 1175–6, 13 02 1902Google Scholar; The Times, 13 02 1902Google Scholar. See also Daily News, 13 02 1902Google Scholar. There were numerous other comments to similar effect. Cf. G.P. XVIL, 152Google Scholar; D.D.F. 2nd ser. 11, 106-7.