Economic Aspects of British Policy

Abstract

It has been suggested in preceding chapters that Britain’s chief interest in the Spanish conflict was seen by her policy-makers to lie in the political position which would ensue at the close of hostilities, and that they recognised that Britain must remain on good terms with whichever power emerged victorious at the end of the war. This did not mean, however, that the Cabinet and Foreign Office were able to ignore the economic difficulties presented by the war. On the contrary, a large portion of the work of the Foreign Office in connection with Spain during these years was concerned with economic questions. But it does mean that rather less emphasis than has sometimes been suggested was given to such aspects, which were viewed from an almost wholly political perspective. For, as in other areas of British policy towards Spain, the delicate balance of British impartiality had to be seen to be upheld at all costs — even if these proved to be very great indeed.