1. Lord Palmerston's Diplomacy:
- Britain's Foreign Secretary, Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, pursued a proactive and pragmatic foreign policy, balancing national interests with diplomatic considerations.
- In 1850, Palmerston worked to defuse the Don Pacifico Affair, a diplomatic crisis between Britain and Greece, by eventually accepting compensation from Greece and avoiding escalation into a conflict.
- He engaged in negotiations with the Russian Empire to resolve the status of the Danubian Principalities (now part of Romania), preventing further conflict between the two powers and maintaining stability in the region.
2. The Concert of Europe:
- The Concert of Europe, an informal grouping of European great powers, played a significant role in mediating disputes and preventing larger conflicts from erupting.
- In 1854, the Concert attempted to mediate between Russia and the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War.
- Although their efforts were unsuccessful in halting the war, the Concert represented an attempt at diplomatic resolution in a tense geopolitical situation.
While the period was dominated by conflicts and rivalries, there were instances of statesmen demonstrating efforts towards maintaining peace and fostering diplomatic solutions. Nevertheless, the broader geopolitical context made it challenging to achieve widespread intelligent and tolerant statesmanship.