A Dictionary of British and Irish History

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PACIFICO INCIDENT

A dispute resulting from an attack by a mob on the home of Don Pacifico, a Portuguese Jew, in Athens (Greece) in 1847. When the Greek government refused Pacifico’s request for compensation, he appealed to Lord PALMERSTON, the British foreign secretary. (David Pacifico, born at GIBRALTAR, was a British citizen.) Palmerston ordered a naval blockade of the Piraeus (15 Jan.–27 April 1850), and justified his action in a celebrated speech (25 June). See also GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY.

PACIFISM

Term applied from the 1900s to the principles that international disputes should be settled by arbitration, not force, and that waging and participating in war are wrong. During WORLD WAR I, the introduction of CONSCRIPTION in Great Britain (Jan. 1916) included accommodation of pacifism by tribunals; 7000 conscientious objectors accepted non‐combatant service, 3000 were sent to labour camps, 1500 ‘absolutists’ refused all service. Pacifism flourished in the 1920s–30s (e.g., Peace Pledge Union, founded 1934). Tribunals were re‐employed during WORLD WAR II (1939–45). More sympathetic than the earlier ones, they registered 47,000 men as conscientious objectors. Later movements influenced by pacifism included the CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT (founded 1958).

PAGANISM, ANGLO‐SAXON ENGLAND

The areas of former ROMAN BRITAIN settled by Anglo‐Saxons (from 5th century) contained sites used for pagan worship since the IRON AGE (e.g., distinctive natural places such as wells and springs). ...