У. Пітт-Молодший та позиція Великої Британії в російсько-турецькій війні 1787-1791 рр.

Abstract

В статті аналізуються події російсько-турецької війни 1787-1791 рр., а також позиція Великобританії та кабінету У. Пітта-Молодшого у вирішенні даного конфлікту. Особлива увага приділяється дипломатичним відносинам Британського королівства з іншими європейськими державами, що мали відношення до військового конфлікту, та безпосередньо впливу У. Пітта-Молодшого на міжнародні відносини королівства з цими країнами. Окрім цього у статті описано причини втручання Великобританії у справи європейських держав і методи до яких вдавався У. Пітт-Молодший задля здобуття необхідних йому результатів. Також аналізуються дії головного суперника британського прем’єр-міністра на міжнародній арені - Катерини ІІ та її дипломатів, у тому числі і посла у Великобританії С. Воронцова.

В статье анализируются события русско-турецкой войны 1787-1791 гг., а также позиция Великобритании и кабинета У. Питта-Младшего в решении данного конфликта. Особое внимание уделяется дипломатическим отношениям Британского королевства с другими европейскими государствами, имевшими отношение к военному конфликту, и непосредственно влиянию У. Питта-Младшего на международные отношения королевства с этими странами. Кроме этого в статье описаны причины вмешательства Великобритании в дела европейских государств и методы к которым прибегал У. Питт- Младший для получения необходимых ему результатов. Также анализируются действия главного соперника британского премьер-министра на международной арене - Екатерины II и ее дипломатов, в том числе и посла в Великобритании С. Воронцова.

The article analyzes the events of Russo-Turkish war of 1787-1791 and the position of the UK and the Cabinet of William Pitt the Younger in resolving this conflict. Special attention is paid to the British diplomatic relations of Kingdom with other European states that were related to the war and directly the influence of William Pitt the Younger to international relations of the United Kingdom. In 1783 at the age of 24 William Pitt the Younger became British Prime Minister. Young Prime Minister believes that his main task in foreign policy is British withdrawal from the state of political isolation. For decrease the Russian Empire and active dissemination of British goods to the Russian market William Pitt the Younger pushed the Ottoman Empire to the war with Russia. Due to the failed beginning the Russian Empire in the early period of war and coordination of the Turkish side actions with Britain the importance of London is growing rapidly in international relations. The key importance in the confrontation between the Russian and British empires took Ochakiv problem, because strong fortresses such as Ochakiv, Bendery and Ackerman were on this territory. A country that owned this territory could easily control the mouth of the three largest water communications in Eastern Europe - Dnieper, Dniester and Bug. Definitely, the main task of William Pitt the Younger was to prevent the transfer of the territory under the rule of the Russian Empire. Ochakiv problem was the starting point for solving other international problems, such as the requirement of Prussia to transfer Danzig and Torun, political autonomy Danubian principalities, the fate of the Polish state and so on. So there is no wonder in anti- Russian policy of London, which is currently entirely dependent of the will of William Pitt the Younger. But, thanks to the military genius Alexander Suvorov, Ochakiv was taken and British- Russian confrontation ended in favor of the Russian Empire. In 1790 a vivid manifestation of William Pitt the Younger in international European contradictions was intervention in the Austro-Prussian conflict with the aim of removing Austria from the Treaty with the Russian Empire. As a result Russia was alone in the war against Turkey and its ally Sweden. But, again thanks to successful military actions and international relations Russians captured the fortress of Izmail (the key to the Balkans) and made peace with ally of Turkey Sweden. These events were for the British Prime Minister only the catalyst to the beginning of an open confrontation with Russia. Moreover, most of all William Pitt the Younger feared that Turkey’s position was threatened. March 22, 1791 British cabinet convened its extraordinary meeting where it was approved the text of the ultimatum to Russia and it was decided to send in the Baltic Sea to the Russian coast 36 battleships and the same number of frigates, and for direct assistance to Turkey in the Black Sea 10 or 12 battleships. But this policy of William Pitt the Younger met fierce resistance in parliament. This is explained by the fact that the UK received from the growing Baltic trade with Russia the huge benefits, and the gap with Russia threatened their loss. Seeing as it melts advantage in parliament and what public resonance was caused by the preparation for war, the Prime Minister announced Berlin court that the British fleet will not come to the Baltic Sea and simultaneously withdrawn the ultimatum the British Crown to St. Petersburg, which had not been given the Russian Empress Catherine II yet. And though the British Prime Minister lost the confrontation with Russia, his main goal in foreign policy, especially the removal of the UK from the state of political isolation completely fulfilled. Due to the efforts of William Pitt the Younger Great Britain began to play a significant role in the events that occurred on the European continent. The Prime Minister very quickly managed to regain the prestige in the international arena, which was lost after the defeat in the war with the American colonies.