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Gibraltar—where two monologues do not make a dialogue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2009

Martin Edmonds
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Extract

Gibraltar provides an instrumental lesson in the study of international affairs. In some areas, and on some subjects, reasoned rational compromises and solutions to disputes and differences between peoples and sovereign states are rendered impossible because of the emotional arguments which are introduced and which lead to entrenched, immutable negotiating positions. No issue is more likely to generate these situations than disputes over areas of land and differences over sovereignty. History supports this conclusion; territorial disputes concerning rights to entitlement have proved the most common cause of disagreement leading, first, to acrimonious relationships, then to the breakdown of communication and, finally, to overt physical hostilities and war.

Type
Research Article
Information
Review of International Studies , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , October 1981 , pp. 217 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © British International Studies Association 1981

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References

1. Wright, Q., A Study of War (Chicago, 1970), pp. 42–50Google Scholar.

2. Park, Robert E., ‘The Social function of war’, reproduced in Bramson, L. and Grethsin, G., (eds.), War (New York, 1968), p. 230–31Google Scholar.

3. The Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Great Britain and Spain, signed at Utrecht 2/1 3 July 1713: Article X (translated from the Latin).

4. Gibraltar: Fact Sheet, British Information Services FS/1 Classification 7(c) (London, C.O.I. April, 1979). For example, the Treaties of Seville (1729), Vienna (1731), Aix-la-Chapelle (1756), Paris (1769) and Versailles (1783).

5. Cmnd 3131, Gibraltar, Talks with Spain, Miscellaneous No. 13 (1966) (London HMSO November, 1966), pp. 7–36Google Scholar.

6. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, 26th Annual Conference, Zambia (1980)Google Scholar. Gibraltar paragraph 4 + Annex A (London, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1980)Google Scholar.

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8. Ibid, paragraph 3.

9. Reynolds, P. A., An Introduction to International Relations (London, 1971), p. 21Google Scholar.

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11. Ibid p. 266.

12. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Ibid, paragraph 5.

13. For a detailed and illuminating discussion of the legal issues, see Fawcett, J. E. S., ‘Gibraltar: the legal issues’, International Affairs, 43 (1967), pp. 236–251CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

14. Garcia, Joseph, ‘Gibraltar: a European Solution?’ World Today, (1972), p. 470–1Google Scholar.

17. Ibid p. 471–472.

16. Jorge Calvar Cross, ‘Gibraltar the strategic theatre’, Paper presented at the Spanish Institute of International Affairs, Seminar on Gibraltar, Segovia 6–8 November 1979.

17. Barclay, Brigadier C. N., ‘Gibraltar, 711–1967’ Army Quarterly (1967)Google Scholar.

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21. A good illustration of the charged, emotional nature of the dispute is the refusal of the King of Spain to attend the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer when it was learnt that they intended to join the Royal Yacht, Britannia, at Gibraltar at the start of their honeymoon, August 1st 1981. Needless to say, the Gibraltarians were highly delighted, seeing the decision as a symbolic gesture of Britain's commitment.