BRITAIN & AMERICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1941, Page 6

BRITAIN & AMERICA

GROWTH OF FRIENDSHIP

ON EARLY FOUNDATIONS. EFFORTS OF LORD CASTLEREAGH RECALLED. (By Charles E. Payne, in the “Christian Science Monitor.”) Few Americans realise that the real founder of Anglo-American friendship —now evinced in growing measure — was Lord Castlereagh, British Foreign Secretary from 1812-1822. Castlereagh was deeply absorbed in the struggle against Napoleon to whose final defeat he contributed as much as anyone. Nevertheless, he found time to establish friendship with the United States. Between the American Revolution and the War of 1812 England had treated the United States as an inferior Power rather than as an equal sovereign Power. With the advent of Castlereagh all this was changed. He regarded the United States as an equal and as a younger brother. Castlereagh inherited his views from his step-grandfather, the great Lord Camden. As Chief Justice, Camden had opposed American taxation and had declared the Stamp Act unconstitutional. In 1807 Castlereagh as Secretary of War had written a letter in which he revealed a profund knowledge of America. He predicted, if war should come, America’s financial difficulties, her inability to carry on an offensive war, New England’s opposition, and the effects of England’s superior naval power. He also pointed out that a small force of British regulars, together with the Canadian militia, could defend Canada. When Castlereagh became Foreign Secretary in 1812, war with the United States was about to begin. He did his best to avert it by concessions, but he had come into office too late. With the military overthrow of Napoleon, the United States was in a most precarious position. England could now direct all her energies against her. A large party in England was urging such a course feeling that the United States had stabbed England in the back in the midst of her life-and-death struggle. Castlereagh, however, resolutely refused to carry on a punitive war. In the peace negotiations, partly influenced by European complications, Castlereagh yielded point after point to the American negotiators. Therefore, the peace, signed on Christmas Day, 1814, settled nothing, and merely established the status quo ante-bellum, leaving it to the Commissioners to settle outstanding differences. It was largely Castlereagh who made it a permanent peace. THE UNDEFENDED FRONTIER. In the post-war period his friendship for the United States became more and more evident. President Madison and he initiated the undefended frontier between the United States and Canada —the greatest peace achievement of the nineteenth century. Castlereagh did not attempt to settle all the issues between the two countries. “Time,” he observed, “will do more than we can.” On another occasion he said to the United States Minister, Rush, it matters little whether one side “gives a little less or a little more” so long as we reach an agreement. On one occasion Castlereagh actually averted war with the United States. Jackson had invaded Spanish Florida in an attack on the Indians. There he hanged two Englishmen who he thought had aided them. The American Cabinet would have disavowed the act if John Quincy Adams had not dissuaded it. The English Press and public were loud in their demands for war. Castlereagh, however, remained unmoved and patiently waited Adams’ statement. Though surpised at its vehemance he nevertheless quietly declared that the Englishmen by their own acts had forfeited any right to England’s protection. SLAVE TRADE ISSUES. Only in the matter of the international slave traffic was Castlereagh unable to reach an agreement with the United States. This was largely due to John Quincy Adams, American Secretary of State, who refused to adopt Castlereagh's policy of a mutual right of search for slavers on the African coast. Adams was still incensed over the right of search as formerly exercised by the British and ignored the fact that Castlereagh’s proposal provided for a mutual right in a limited area. Long afterward, in 1862, America made such an arrangement. While Castlereagh showed his friendship for America in many specific ways, the epoch-making thing was the new attitude he had adopted. For the first time American sovereignty was completely recognised—not grudgingly, but was sympathy and understanding. In the 125 years that have elapsed, all sorts of delicate and difficult questions have arisen between the two peoples. Each time one side or the other has followed Castlereagh’s example of patience and tolerance. The fact that Anglo-American relations are what they are today traces itself in large measure to his influence.