Colonial Despatches

 

The Foreign Office was formed in 1782 to oversee Britain's foreign affairs, which had previously been co-administered by the Southern and Northern Departments of the Secretary of State. In addition to foreign affairs, the Foreign Office was also responsible for British protectorates like Cephalonia.1

As the territory of the British empire shifted, the responsibility boundaries between the Foreign and Colonial Offices were not always clear. As regards HBC Governor J. H. Pelly's inquiry about the Oregon Territory treaty,2 Benjamin Hawes suggested to Lord Grey that the issue should be forwarded to the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office was merged into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1968.

• 1. Boys to Cuffe, 11 October 1852, 9263, CO 305/3, p.495.
• 2. Pelly to Grey, 7 September 1846, 1074, CO 305/1, p.1.