Editing Splendid isolation (section)

==Appraisal by historians==
Diplomatic historian [[Margaret MacMillan]] argues that by 1897, Britain was indeed isolated, but far from being "splendid"; Britain had no real friends, and was engaged in disputes with the United States, France, Germany, and Russia.{{sfn|Macmillan|2013|p=40}}

Historians have debated whether British isolation was intentional, or dictated by contemporary events. [[A.J.P. Taylor]] claimed it existed only in a limited sense: "The British certainly ceased to concern themselves with the Balance of Power in Europe; they supposed that it was self-adjusting. But they maintained close connection with the continental Powers for the sake of affairs outside of Europe, particularly in the Near East."{{sfn|Taylor|1954|p=346}} For [[John Charmley]], splendid isolation was a fiction for the period prior to the [[Franco-Russian Alliance]] of 1894, and reluctantly pursued thereafter.{{sfn|Charmley|1999|loc="Introduction"}} 

E. David Steele argues that although Salisbury once referred to splendid isolation, he "was being ironical at the expense of those who believed in the possibility."{{sfn|Steele|2002|p=320}} Another biographer claims the term "unfairly affixed itself to (his) foreign policy" and that Salisbury discouraged its use, considering it dangerous to be completely uninvolved with European affairs.{{sfn|Roberts|2000|p=629}}