Russian Shadows on the British Northwest Coast of North America, 1810-1890

Russia threw her shadow on the Northwest Coast before the Britishcame to what is now known as British Columbia. Spanish fears of a'Muscovite' advance on her possessions from Alaskan outpostswere well known in eighteenth-century Europe. This book focuses on thedevelopment of British and Canadian perceptions of Russian navalstrength in the Pacific during the nineteenth century and weighs theconsequences -- psychological, political, and military -- of thereluctance of both countries to assume coastal defenceresponsibilities.

Early chapters reveal that both before and after the Crimean War,Vancouver Island residents had glimpses of Russian naval power and feltexposed and vulnerable. The Stikine Incident of 1834 and tensionsbetween Britain and Russia in the Balkan and Afghan wars increased the'Russophobia' of many settlers. In response to their fears,Britain established a naval base at Esquimalt but continuallydiscounted any danger. Barratt argues that the Russian threat wasgenuine, but that Britain's main concern was for the military powerof the United States and the possibility of a Russo-American ententewhich would weaken British influence in the North Pacific.

After 1871, Canada adopted Britain's attitude and declined toprovide West Coast defences or to strengthen provincial militia,continuing to rely on the protection of the Royal Navy until takingover the Esquimalt garrison in 1906.

Barratt shows how central Canada's failure to assumeresponsibility for defence strained federal-provincial relations andsowed the seeds of future dissension. He further maintains thatBritain's habit of underestimating the Russian threat helped toshape Canada's traditionally non-aggressive, non-militaristicnationalism.