leftyhunter
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Location
- los angeles ca
I have a thread where I argue that it is unfair to blame the lack of foreign recognition on the earnest if unsuccessful attempts by Slidell and Mason to obtain foreign recognition.Yes, and in this sense both Washington and Lee were quite similar in that neither one could directly control whether foreign assistance would be forthcoming. That would depend on forces beyond the control of either commander. Washington of course, was fortunate to have a Benjamin Franklin in Europe working on behalf of his cause whereas Mason and Slidell just did not have the credibility (or guile) of a Ben Franklin for theirs.
No doubt Benjamin Franklin had diplomatic skills. On the other hand France was in competition with the UK for the Indian Subcontinent. Spain had long standing grievances against the UK and the Netherlands long an ally of the UK had a temporary falling out just at the right time for the Colonial Rebels. In diplomacy as in life timing is everything.
By 1861 France and the UK had recently concluded a war as allies against Russia and were a bit war weary. Spain was in decline and not looking for a foreign military confrontation.
My main point is that Washington received indispensable aid from at least three foreign nations vs the Confederacy which received no foreign troops or naval support.
Leftyhunter