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Introduction
In 1850, Foreign Secretary Viscount Palmerston sent the British fleet to Athens, to force the Greek Government into paying compensation to David ‘Don’ Pacifico, a British subject, for losses suffered during a riot. In a stormy session on June 25th Palmerston won over the Commons by asserting that a British subject should enjoy all the security once enjoyed by Roman citizens. William Gladstone disagreed.
WHAT then, Sir,* was a Roman citizen?* He was the member of a privileged caste; he belonged to a conquering race, to a nation that held all others bound down by the strong arm of power. For him there was to be an exceptional system of law; for him principles were to be asserted, and by him rights were to be enjoyed, that were denied to the rest of the world.
Is such, then, the view of the noble Lord, as to the relation that is to subsist between England and other countries? Does he make the claim for us, that we are to be uplifted upon a platform high above the standing-ground of all other nations? It is, indeed, too clear, not only from the expressions, but from the whole spirit of the speech of the noble Viscount, that too much of this notion is lurking in his mind; that he adopts in part that vain conception, that we, forsooth, have a mission to be the censors of vice and folly, of abuse and imperfection, among the other countries of the world.*
* This speech in the House of Commons was, as all speeches there are, addressed to the Speaker.
* “As the Roman, in days of old,” Palmerston summed up “held himself free from indignity, when he could say Civis Romanus sum; so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England, will protect him against injustice and wrong.” Vocal opponent Richard Cobden (1804-1865) responded that by blockading Piraeus, Britain had caused financial loss to Russians and Frenchmen, and on Palmerston’s logic French and Russian ships should now be menacing the Thames.
* In 1847, David ‘Don’ Pacifico (?1784-1854) was caught up in an Athens riot which caused damage to his home. The Greeks had an objectionable Eastertide tradition of burning Judas Iscariot in effigy (much as we do with Guy Fawkes on November 5th), and the riots kicked off after the Greek Government banned it so as not offend a visiting financier of Jewish heritage. When the Athens courts did not award Pacifico (who was himself Jewish) the compensation he demanded, Palmerston sent in the fleet and blocked the harbour at Piraeus. The House of Lords censured the Foreign Secretary by a majority of 37 but the Commons backed him by a majority of 46. It subsequently turned out, however, that Pacifico had grossly misrepresented his losses. His claim for over £26,600 was eventually whittled down to just £150 by an Anglo-Franco-Greek Commission sitting at Lisbon, on the basis of official documentation Pacifico thought had been destroyed.
Précis
In 1850, Viscount Palmerston promised military protection to British subjects anywhere in the world, and proudly likened his policy to that of Imperial Rome. William Gladstone reminded the Foreign Secretary that it was as conquerors and oppressors that Roman citizens enjoyed their protected status, and condemned the arrogance that justified one supposedly exceptional people or State in policing the rest. (60 / 60 words)
In 1850, Viscount Palmerston promised military protection to British subjects anywhere in the world, and proudly likened his policy to that of Imperial Rome. William Gladstone reminded the Foreign Secretary that it was as conquerors and oppressors that Roman citizens enjoyed their protected status, and condemned the arrogance that justified one supposedly exceptional people or State in policing the rest.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, despite, may, not, unless, whereas, who.
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