2015-№4(49) Article 4
T.L. Labutina
British diplomatic attempts at upholding preferences of the trade treaty of 1766 (based on British diplomatic correspondence).P. 42-55.
UDC 942.073(093.32)
The paper treats British diplomatic attempts at upholding preferences of a trade alliance with Russia signed in 1766. The analysis of the issue is forestalled by a prehistory of Russian-British relations development since 1553–1556, when the two countries started their economic and diplomatic cooperation. The author maintains that British-Russian commercial relations were of primary importance for both countries. The author highlights active involvement of English merchants in British Russian trade cooperation and passive participation of Russian merchants, which can be accounted for by a number of objective reasons, such as week government, which tried to win European acceptance through considerable abatements. In the 18th century a stronger Russian government changed its behavior in the world arena, and managed to uphold certain preferences of the trade alliance. It can be well illustrated by the Russian-British trade agreement of 1766. In spite of numerous efforts of British diplomats (Duke of Buckingham and J. McCartney), whose work is analyzed in the present article, the trade agreement signed in 1766 was favorable to Russia. However the trade treaty was beneficial to both countries and promoted their economic relations.
Great Britain, Russia, the 18th century, British diplomats, Duke of Buckingham and J. McCartney
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