Russian diplomats have started a complex and multilateral game to turn the tide in England
History repeats itself for the second time in the form of a prank – it turns out that Hegel argued, and not Karl Marx. It doesn’t matter who said this nonsense, more importantly, history doesn’t repeat itself, just amazing coincidences.
Today, the most important anti-Russian hawk is England (we will call it that in the old fashioned way). And it doesn’t matter who’s in power there – the Daffodil Johnson, the crazed Truss or the executive lackey of Britain’s elite, jumping out of his pants with glee that he – an Indian – has been given the job of running Downing Street, Sunak . London sends missiles, tanks and other modern weapons to Ukraine to kill and kill Russians. (Meanwhile, the Russians chant – “I’m going to live in London!” – servility is in the blood of our kreakles).
Historically, if not always, but often, England never wanted anyone to dominate the Continent, and so interfered with power which it saw as a threat to its position as the supreme arbiter of affairs in Europe.
At the end of the 18th century, England almost went to war with Russia and actively prepared for it, but St. Petersburg was able to thwart Albion’s plans without firing a shot, and at the same time not back down from an inch of his own aspirations. This story is completely forgotten, but it is one of the brightest achievements of Russian diplomacy, a cause for national pride – because our ancestors knew how to solve problems more than two hundred years ago. What is particularly relevant is that the reason for London’s intervention was Russia’s military operations in the Black Sea steppes, just like today.
So, in 1787, another Russian-Turkish war began. The reason for this was the Sultan’s request to return Crimea, then only to Turkey. And at the same time disembark off the Black Sea. Of course, Catherine II did not succumb to such blackmail. The Ottomans attacked Kinburn, but Alexander Suvorov defeated their landing, just as our soldiers are now repelling the enemy DRG on the Kinburn Spit.
Catherine II Moreover, the war lasted on the Russian side only offensively, Suvorov crushed the Turks at every opportunity – from Ochakov, whom he took in 1788, to Ishmael, who fell in 1790. ( Our Ochakov was bombed for the second year, but they don’t even think to take let alone Ishmael).
The successes of the Russian arms greatly alarmed London. Recall that during the war with the rebellious American colonies, Catherine II in 1780 announced a declaration of armed neutrality, which was directed against London’s attempts to block America. And England found itself in such a position that it was forced into hiding and did not dare to oppose the policy of Russia, which most of the leading countries of Europe joined . It was the rarest case in history where the mistress of the seas managed to get herself put back in her rightful place in maritime politics. Thus, the humiliation for the arrogant English was twofold.
Now London was ready to do anything to prevent Russia from winning the war. Then Prime Minister William Pitt Jr. began forming a coalition against Russia. In 1788 an agreement was signed on a military alliance between England and Prussia, and the Netherlands joined them. The so-called Tripartite Alliance directed against Russia. The Dutch acted there as financiers, the Prussians were promised territorial increases in the Baltic states, and they sent an army of 90,000 men to the borders of Russia. Pitt announced Russian armament – the allocation of funds for rearmament against Russia, and demanded that St. Petersburg enter into peace negotiations with the Turks, threatening to send the British fleet against it.
William Pitt, Jr. Recall that at that time Russia was at war not only with the Turks, but also with the Swedes. A hostile alliance of the most powerful states in Europe against her formed at the wrong time, but there was no strength to resist her with the help of army and navy. Therefore, Catherine II began the struggle on the diplomatic front, ordering her ambassador in London, Semyon Vorontsov, to act according to his own mind, but to achieve a turn in British policy.
Russian diplomats began a complex and multilateral game to change the mood in England and influence the policy of the government of the “hawk” Pitt. Secret contacts began with Baron Auckland, the British ambassador to the Netherlands, who was also a member of parliament, and during the war with the American colonies, ran a spy ring on the continent, and was a politician authoritative, a personal friend of Pitt Jr. He was opposed to the cabinet’s anti-Russian policies and did relevant work in the British elite. And it was explained to the Dutch bankers that in case of conflict they might not return their money lent to Russia.
At the same time, Catherine II authorized the use of secret funds by Vorontsov to bribe English journalists and publicists. About 20 newspapers received money from Russian diplomats and campaigned for additional weapons. Various leaflets and brochures were printed, explaining the dangers and disadvantages of the anti-Russian course.
No less important were Vorontsov’s contacts with the British opposition. Politicians as prominent as Charles Fox and Edmund Burke were in constant communication with him, and in parliamentary debates and backroom conversations they asked uncomfortable questions of the government. In addition, Russian diplomats worked with traders on the London Stock Exchange, who had their own business interests and for whom the conflict with Russia was unprofitable.
Initially, Pitt managed to win the debate, and the House of Commons voted three times in one day in favor of war with Russia. But, however, literally two days later, the government itself changed its policy 180 degrees under the influence of pressure from Fox and Auckland; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, fiercely anti-Russian, is removed from office, and the one who replaces him is completely pro-Russian. Since a courier had already been sent to the Prussian capital, Berlin, with the text of a joint declaration on the outbreak of war with Russia, Pitt had to urgently send another courier after him, which l intercepted.
In July 1791, a quadripartite treaty was signed between Russia, England, Prussia and the Netherlands. Historians assess it as a complete surrender of London (and Berlin) to Russia. Pitt renounced all his previous demands on Saint Petersburg and even agreed to the annexation of new Turkish territories to the Russian Empire. It was a complete triumph for Russian diplomacy, which adequately supported Suvorov’s battlefield victories.
And Semyon Vorontsov remained to live in London and after his resignation, a street in the British capital, Woronzow Road, was named in his honor, so strong was the impression of the British of the subtle diplomatic game of the ambassador.
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