Palmerston's Foreign Policy, 1848

Book excerpt: When the revolutions of 1848 threatened Europe's international stability, Lord Palmerston, the British foreign secretary, responded to the revolutionary challenge. This book provides a detailed account of Palmerston's foreign policy in 1848. Based upon Palmerston's previously restricted private correspondance, as well as his state papers, the work emphasizes the interplay of events. It deals with his foreign policy in terms of his personal views, the increasing social and political unrest in Britain, and the unfolding continental revolutions. In addition, the book discusses Palmerston's shifts in alignment with the great powers during 1848-1849, and long-range consequences of his diplomacy. Overall, the book presents a broad approach to Palmerston, as well as Britain's role in the revolutions of 1848.