Canning’s Foreign Policy

• Canning (1770 - 1827):

  • Known for his liberal policies as foreign secretary and as prime minister for 4 months during 1827
  • eldest son of an irish landowner and actress mother -> taken away by a wealth uncle
  • He had served under Pitt
  • personal enemy of Castlereagh and had been in a dual with him
  • Disliked the congress system
  • he died
• More aloof about European Affairs:

  • Castlereagh had been criticised for involving Britain too closely in European affairs ->and by the time of his death his Congress system was breaking down
  • when Canning took up the role of foreign secretary , he was less concerned about good relations with Monarchal powers of Europe -> Congress System was hastened
  • Canning has little faith in the Congress System and its value
  • disliked Austrian Metternich
• The Spanish Crisis:

  • 1820 —> a liberal revolution in Spain and had established a constitutional monarchy
  • Russia, Prussia and France wanted to intervene
  • wished to restore the authority of Ferdinand VII
  • Castlereagh did not want to see any extension => French Influence and argued against it with Metternich
  • Canning lost Austrian support -> pulled representatives
  • Unable to prevent French invading Spain in 1823
• Portugal:

  • established a constitutional monarchy and feared intervention by European powers
  • Canning openly supported an appeal for aid and sent a naval force of 5000 marines to Lisbon
  • gesture of defiance to the European powers
  • continued British support -> resisting French expansion during the Napoleonic wars
  • commercial rather than nationalist
  • Canning persuaded Brazil to accept a member of the Portuguese royal family as its viceroy rather than a republic -> allowed trading while upholding the principle of monarchy
• The USA:

  • most important republic on the American Continent
  • Castlereagh had made considerable efforts to maintain good relations with the USA after the war ended in 1812
  • Treaty of Ghent in 1814
  • Advantageous to maintain good trading relations to protect Canada by friendship
  • Canning was less sympathetic -> disliked the Monroe Doctrine
  • Trade talks broke down in 1825 -> Canning openly expressed his disapproval of US statesman
  • no liberal policies towards the US
• South America:

  • Canning wished to ensure that French Intervention in Spain and the alliance between Ferdinand VII and the French King XVIII -> no freedom for the colonies in S.America
  • needed to prevent a Franco-Spanish American Empire
  • supported independence for trade.
  • Mid-1820s ==> 10% of British exports were to latin America
  • Canning refused to co-operate with any plans for Spain or Portugal to regain control
  • 1825 -> recognition of the independence of Mexico, Buenos Aires and Columbia
  • block French expansion as it was against British interests for them to have influence in S.America
• A liberal foreign policy:

  • Historians used to claim that Canning was more liberal in his policies than Castlereagh had been
  • his main challenges —>

  Spanish Crisis, South American independence movements, establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Portugal, USA and the Monroe Doctrine, Greek revolt against Turkey
• Holly Alliance vs Canning:

  • Holly Alliance pledged to restrain liberal and revolutionary movements in Europe -> going against Canning and Castlereaghs beliefs
  • put Canning at odds with the other members at eh Quintuple Alliance
  • after a defeat over Spain -> Canning took a unilateral approach to other problematic issues
• Monroe Doctrine:

  • 1823 ==> James Monroe -> Stated that any further European interference to colonise or otherwise interfere with independent states in the Americas would be seen as an act of aggression and thus war
  • Assertion that the USA claimed legitimate interests in the whole of the american continent -> growing power and confidence
• The Greek Revolt:

  • growing challenge that Canning inherited
  • Greek revolt began in 1821 against the Turkish control since the Ottoman empire was struggling to maintain control in the Balkans
  • felt a deep admiration for the Greek culture due to it creating democracy, philosophers etc …
  • but Greek independence could allow Russia to expand into the Balkans
  • 1826 —> Turkey got help from Mehmet Ali (ruler of Egypt) and Canning sent Wellington to negotiate with the Tsar
  • Russo-Turkish war 1828-29
  • Supported Greek independence
• Was Castlereagh more successful:

  • Quadruple and Quintuple Alliance
  • Congress System
  • close relationship with Metternich of Austria
  • Signs that the cooperation of the former allies was strained —> Holy Alliance + Austrian intervention in Naples
• Was Canning more successful:

  • Poor relationship with other European statesmen
  • could not prevent the French invasion of Spain
  • poor relations with the USA
  • More success with Greece and S.America