In 1837, the 18-year-old Victoria of Kent ascended the throne as Queen of England until her death in 1901. During the more than sixty years of Queen Victoria's reign, Britain controlled global sea power and dominated world trade. Its vast colonies were spread across all continents. The "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets" seemed to "be able to compete with the world." During the Victorian period, Britain emerged with Maxwell, the greatest scientist since Newton, Dickens, the most outstanding writer since Shakespeare, Gladstone, the pioneer of liberal policy, and Palmerston, the famous diplomat. It can be said that there are many talents in the UK.
The name Palmerston may be unfamiliar to Chinese people, but many Chinese people know his famous saying: "The British Empire has neither eternal allies nor eternal enemies, only eternal interests." ." In mid-nineteenth-century Europe, Lord Palmerston was a well-known figure. The Duke first served as the British Foreign Secretary in 1830 and served as Foreign Secretary for sixteen years. He also served as the British Prime Minister twice in 1855 and 1859 until he became Prime Minister in 186 Died five years ago. During these thirty-five years, the foreign policy of the Victorian Empire was deeply influenced by Palmerston. His strategies are far-reaching, his techniques are superb, and his calculations are precise. Looking at the history of world diplomacy over the past several hundred years, no one can compare with him except Zhou Enlai, the great Chinese diplomat.
The Opium War that the Chinese people will never forget was launched by Palmerston, who was then the Foreign Secretary. On the occasion of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, the blockbuster film ">" shot by the famous director Xie Jin truly recorded this period of history. As the epigraph at the beginning of this masterpiece says, "Only when a nation truly stands up can it face up to and reflect on its history of humiliation."
In 1839, Lin Zexu's Humen was sold out Yan is the heroism that turns the tide from a fallen situation, and it also represents the loyalty to serve the country knowing that it is inevitable. However, with Lin Zexu's shrewdness and ability, as long as he had a basic understanding of the overseas situation, he would never choose to ban opium in 1839. Lin Zexu's failure was that he failed to realize that his real opponent was not the group of opium dealers in Guangzhou, but Palmerston in London.
History is a mixture of necessity and contingency. It was inevitable that the British would march eastward until they broke through the Qing Dynasty with strong ships and cannons. However, the outbreak of this war in 1839 was also accidental. The Qing Dynasty, which lacked a basic understanding of the West, chose the worst time by mistake. It was precisely in 1839 that Palmerston accomplished a major event with far-reaching influence in the history of European diplomacy: he created a country.
The coastal areas of northeastern France and southern Netherlands are an undefended plain. Any hostile force that controls this area will put tremendous pressure on the British Isles. It was on this plain at Waterloo in 1815 that the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon and removed the greatest threat to Britain in history. Since then, it has been Britain's goal to ensure that this land does not fall into the hands of any continental European power. Britain's first attempt failed. As a result of the peace conference of Vienna, which transferred this land to the Netherlands, the revolution broke out in 1830. For a time, French, Prussian, Russian and Austrian armies gathered, and a big war was about to come.
Palmerston, who had just become Foreign Minister, clearly realized that the only way to ensure that this plain did not become a springboard for anti-British forces was to make it an independent country. This country must not only be independent but also neutral, and her neutrality must be unanimously recognized by Europe. After nine years of unremitting efforts to mediate and unite, and using the British main fleet several times to demonstrate in the English Channel at critical moments, Palmerston finally became the creator of miracles. In 1839, the five major European powers, Britain, France, Prussia, Austria and Russia, signed a convention recognizing Belgium's independence and solemnly swore to recognize Belgium as a permanently neutral country. The troops of the contracting states are not allowed to enter Belgium without Belgium's request.
If Lin Zexu had banned smoking in 1830, Palmerston, who was fully engaged in Belgian affairs, would probably have had no time to visit eastward, and the British fleet, which was concentrated in the mainland, would not have been able to send troops to the Far East. The Belgian Convention of 1839 had just been signed, and the whole of Europe trembled at the mention of Lord Palmerston's name. At the cabinet meeting to discuss the "Guangzhou Incident", the Foreign Secretary banged his fist on the table and roared: "This is not only related to the interests of British businessmen, but also related to the dignity of Her Majesty the Queen." The decision for the war was thus decided.
The Belgian Convention has little to do with Russia and Austria, and they are happy to be a favor; France and Germany are both restricted by this buffer zone; only the United Kingdom takes advantage. Palmerston's success established Britain's foreign policy of "balance of power on the European continent" in one fell swoop, and the national interests of the British Empire became Europe's "justice and justice." During the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, British Prime Minister Gladstone invoked this convention to require the warring parties not to violate Belgium's neutrality, acting like a defender of the European order. In 1914, Britain also invoked the Belgian Convention when it declared war on Germany. In his speech, Lloyd George publicly denounced Germany's treacherous invasion of Belgium as "an out-and-out villain."
Compared with the United States, which fully accepted China's conditions in the "Shanghai Communique" back then, and now continues to slap the hat of a villain everywhere, it cannot but reflect how sophisticated the British gentlemen's "imperial skills" are!
Had Palmerston’s first-class methods been used, he would have signed a peace treaty with Saddam from a superior position after the Gulf War, and then resumed trade with Iraq; at the same time, he would have signed treaties with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Legally determine the right of the United States to station troops; then seize the opportunity to pressure Israel to make concessions and achieve the partition of Israel and Palestine in accordance with the United Nations resolutions formulated by the United States itself. If Israel is worried, it can formally sign a US-Israel mutual defense treaty or even arrange for Israel to join NATO. Looking back now, that was the only chance to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute peacefully and free the United States from its burdens in the Middle East. If these three moves had been made back then, the Middle East would have already become the sphere of influence of the United States. Why is it so passive now!
The Decline of the Victoria Empire
No matter how powerful the "imperial skill" is, it must be based on strength. Palmerston dared to launch the Opium War, not because the British Admiralty told him: "As long as one British warship can wipe out the entire navy of the Qing Dynasty in half a summer." The dominance of the Victoria Empire was paved the way in 1865 The climax was reached at the time of Merston's death: "The plains of North America and Russia are our barns; Chicago and Odessa are our mining districts; Canada and the Nordic peninsula plant our trees; Australia herds our sheep; and Argentina We raise cattle; the Poles send us silver, and South Africa sends us gold; the Indians and the Chinese grow tea for us, and the Mediterranean is our orchard; and our cotton plantations are spreading from the southern United States to all warm places on the earth." p>
Slightly changing these words can be used to describe Americans’ feeling of being the masters of today’s world: European countries are the little brothers of the United States; the Russians are the defeated generals of the United States; Indians write for the United States Computer programs; the Chinese manufacture daily necessities for the United States; the defeated Japan is a slave country under the leadership of the United States; OPEC pays tribute to oil, and the Taiwanese ask for arms; the United Nations is the mouthpiece of the United States; NATO is the royal thug of the United States. ; The World Bank is an American charity; from Georgia to the Philippines, American soldiers are acting as protectors; from East Asia to Africa, the green dollar is a symbol of wealth; as for things that are not convenient for Uncle Sam to take action, there are Turkey, Israel, Australia, and Pakistan Waiting for countless little guys to get back on their feet...
The current time is the "Victorian Period" in the United States, and the United States is even more powerful than the Victorian Empire back then. However, when Queen Victoria died in 1901, how many British people could realize that the century-old heyday of the British Empire was about to end with her, and foresaw the two terrible wars that were coming? In fact, the reasons for the rise of the Victorian Empire were precisely the reasons for its inevitable decline. How can the rise and fall of great countries be forced by human power?
England's overwhelming manufacturing industry, England's indestructible maritime superiority and England's unparalleled financial system formed the three pillars of the prosperity of the Victoria Empire. In 1860, with only 2% of the world's population, Britain produced 53% of the world's steel and 50% of its coal, consumed half of the world's raw cotton, and controlled three-thirds of the world's raw cotton. One of the world's shipping. The British Empire's annual energy consumption is one hundred and fifty-five times that of Russia! Economists estimate that at that time, Britain's industry accounted for about 60% in Europe and about 45% in the world. It was truly a "world industrial wave."
Powerful production The capabilities and unique geographical conditions of Britain gave her a dominant position at sea. As an island country, Britain's security did not rely on a strong army like the European continental countries. When Napoleon's army was invincible, the Royal Navy's almost crazy shipbuilding movement made it possible. The strength of the Russian fleet was far greater than that of its main opponents combined. In the Crimean War, the Russian fleet showed off its prowess before the British entered the war, and the Russians hid in Tibet under the bombardment of long-range artillery, which left a deep mark on the entire Europe. Impression. The monopoly of sea power allowed the British to expand their colonies. The British Empire's "overseas possessions" increased at a rate of 100,000 square miles per year during the Victorian period. When Britain's first postage stamp was issued, wherever the sun rose. There are portraits of Queen Victoria everywhere.
The British Isles under the protection of sea power have become a safe paradise in Europe. The developed industry and commerce and vast colonies provide an ideal investment place, and the Parliament has formulated a plan. Various laws protect the rights and interests of investors. Since the mid-19th century, London's financial industry has entered a period of unprecedented prosperity, and the United Kingdom has become a center of manufacturing, trade, and capital flows. It can be seen that these three advantages of the United Kingdom complement each other and form a cycle. A virtuous cycle supported the sun that never sets on the empire.
However, the sun also sets. After the global depression of 1873, the three pillars of the British Empire were shaken at a rapid pace. The speed seems to be directly proportional to Britain's arrogant dominance.
Under the impact of the Great Depression, the free trade system collapsed. The emerging United States and Germany built tariff barriers, which severely hit British exports. However, German and German companies quickly absorbed the latest technology and management and caught up. In 1913, Britain's industrial output had dropped to 13.6% of the world's total, falling behind the two countries.
In the field of technology, the UK has also lost its advantage. The car first invented by Europeans was mass-produced in the United States; the Germans, known for their rigor and seriousness, occupied a leading position in the chemical industry. Technological progress rapidly extended to the military field, and the introduction of air force and submarines into the battlefield dealt a fatal blow to England's sea power. In the past, maintaining Britain's security with a long fleet was like a critical moment. Continental powers could now threaten the British Isles from the air or attack Britain's maritime lifeline from underwater. The days of the British safe haven in Europe are over. The loss of the local "absolute security" and manufacturing dominance will inevitably impact the British financial system, and a large amount of funds will flow from Europe to North America. The late-comer Germany demanded a re-partition of the world, which seriously threatened Britain's colonial interests. A series of chain reactions pushed the British Empire into a dangerous downward spiral. Churchill won two wars against Germany, but could not prevent Britain from falling into a middle power with neither more nor less.
The automotive technology invented in Europe was fully developed in the vast United States, and the network technology launched in the United States today is also more promising in Asia. Using missile defense to maintain "absolute security" on the homeland is a distant dream, but people have discovered that the Americans have made more false accounts than anyone else. Isn’t this strikingly similar to the past in the Victorian era? Isn’t it worth pondering for those “patriots” who are anti-American in words but admire American in their hearts? Lin Zexu failed in the Opium War, but who does Hong Kong belong to today? Whoever laughs last will laugh best.
It is said that when the King of Wu became the hegemon, he rewarded the meritorious officials. Unexpectedly, Sun Wu, who had made the greatest contribution, resigned from the post of prime minister and insisted on returning. The king of Wu asked Wu Zixu to help him, and the grandson replied: "When summer passes, cold comes, and when spring returns, autumn comes. Now there are no worries in the four realms. The king relies on his strength, and pride and joy will surely arise. I don't want to protect myself, but also want to protect my son. ." Even Lord Palmerston, who is well versed in Spring and Autumn techniques, may not be able to understand this level.
Western civilization liberates people’s desires and produces amazing power from them. Therefore, people are always superstitious about the power of power, thinking that power can bring eternity. But from Rome to the Soviet Union, among the most powerful empires in Western history, which one can last through the ages? Which one can escape the "saddle curve" that rises first and then falls? No, they will not understand why this is, and they will not understand why Lin Zexu wrote the most proud couplet in his life: The sea embraces all rivers, and tolerance is great; standing on a wall of thousands of feet, without desire is strong.