Why did the Royal Navy not stop the Second Pacific Squadron after the Dogger Bank incident?
Short answerRussia apologized and diplomacy prevailed, although the Channel Fleet was ready to destroy the squadron if the crisis escalated.
NotesBritain allowed the Russian squadron to continue because political leaders chose not to turn the Dogger Bank attack into a war. Russia apologized quickly, while the Channel Fleet under Beresford was prepared for a short and overwhelming action if it did not. London also had to consider its developing understanding with France and the risk of wider diplomatic damage. France nevertheless signaled that it would not support Russia if refusal to apologize for killing unarmed fishermen brought on the conflict.