Editing William Ewart Gladstone (section)

===American Civil War===
Palmerston's government adopted a position of British neutrality throughout the war while declining to recognise the independence of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]]. In October 1862 Gladstone made a speech in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] in which he said that [[Jefferson Davis]] and the other Confederate leaders had "made a nation", and that the Confederacy seemed certain to succeed in asserting its independence from the North, and that the time might come when it would be the duty of the European powers to "offer friendly aid in compromising the quarrel."<ref>''The Observer'' (12 October 1862), p. 3.</ref> The speech caused consternation on both sides of the Atlantic and led to speculation that Britain might be about to recognise the Confederacy.<ref name=":0">''The Times'' (20 October 1862), p. 7.</ref><ref>''The New York Times'' (25 October 1862), p. 4.</ref> Gladstone was accused of sympathising with the South, a charge he rejected.<ref>Quinault, p. 376.</ref><ref name=":5"/> Gladstone was forced to clarify in the press that his comments in Newcastle had not been intended to signal a change in government policy, but to express his belief that the North's efforts to defeat the South would fail, due to the strength of Southern resistance.<ref name=":0"/><ref>''The Times'' (24 October 1862), p. 7.</ref>