This book addresses the interface of the British Foreign Office, foreign policy and commerce in the twentieth century. Two related questions are considered: what did the Foreign Office do to support British commerce, and how did commerce influence British foreign policy? The editors of this work collect a range of case studies that explore the attitude of the Foreign Office towards commerce and trade promotion, against the backdrop of a century of relative economic decline, while also considering the role of British diplomats in creating markets and supporting UK firms. This highly researched and detailed examination is designed for readers aiming to comprehend the role that commerce played in Britain’s foreign relations, in a century when trade and commerce have become an inseparable element in foreign and security policies.

John Fisher is Associate Head of History at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), UK, and the author of several books, including British Diplomacy and the Descent into Chaos (2012).

Effie G. H. Pedaliu is Fellow at LSE IDEAS, UK. She specialises in international history; the Cold War; Mediterranean Security; British and American Cold War diplomacy and strategy.

Richard Smith is Senior Historian at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK, and editor of Documents on British Policy Overseas.