ABSTRACT

This analysis examines the British government’s failure to commit adequate resources to defend the Netherlands from the threat of revolutionary France in the campaigns of 1793, 1794, and 1795. Alongside well-known military and diplomatic setbacks, the inadequacy of Britain’s engagement remains best understood by examining ministers’ preconceptions of the Netherlands and Dutch national character. These understandings largely derived from British public opinion concerning the Netherlands. The analysis shows that British perceptions of Dutch strength, wealth, and national character led ministers to presume too much of their ally and contributed to limiting their own commitments.

摘要

这项分析考察了英国政府在 1793 年、1794 年和 1795 年的战役中未能投入足够的资源来保卫荷兰免受法国革命的威胁。除了众所周知的军事和外交挫折之外，英国参与的不足仍然是由检查部长们对荷兰和荷兰民族性格的先入之见。这些理解主要来源于英国公众对荷兰的看法。分析表明，英国人对荷兰的实力、财富和民族性格的看法导致部长们过多地假设他们的盟友，从而限制了他们自己的承诺。