Why Did British Diplomacy And Defence Policy

Come To Be Linked With Understandings To France And Rus Essay, Research Paper

The chain of events which brought Europe to the brink of war in 1914 is very complicated. Historians have constantly argued over whether conflict was inevitable and tried to attribute the blame for the conflict of World War I. The possibility of war had existed for some time prior to 1914 as huge powerblocks emerged across Europe. The alliance of Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy was balanced by the understanding that existed between the might of France and Russia.

Britain however had attempted to remain as separate from European matters since the Crimean War.Britain was the largest Imperial power on earth and chose to retreat into the massive wealth and trade afforded to her by overseas territories. At the turn of the century it was by no means certain to whom British alliance would be given in the event of war.Anglo-Russian relations were tense during this period due to the threat the Russian Bear posed to Britain’s most important overseas possession, India. Prior to 1904 Russia had been increasing incursion into Persia and thus threatening Afghanistan which lay within Britain’s sphere of influence. Russia was therefore Britain’s main rival to her hegemony in Asia. For this reason the majority of the British army was stationed in India whilst the responsibility for Guarding the British Isles and British shipping (the annual revenue of which amounted to £1,200,000,000 sterling) to the formidable British Navy.In 1903, despite great attempts from the then foreign minister Landsdowne to avert it, war broke out between Russia and Japan. Japan and Britain were on good terms but the decision was made to avoid involvement in the crisis. To the great surprise, however, of the European powers by 1905 the Japanese forces had soundly defeated Russia. This however did not allay British fears for her frontiers in India particularly one of their alternative routes into Asia had been blocked. Politicians such as Lord Curgon favoured using direct force to temper Russia’s ambitions but the resources for such a course of action were not at the governments disposal.The defeat of Russia also severely shook the balance of power in Europe. Just as the British army’s weaknesses had been highlighted by the Boers, so defeat in Asia showed the disarray of Russian troops. Compared to the formidable power of the ever expanding German army, Russia seemed weak. It seemed increasingly important that Britain avoid conflict in Asia whilst maintaining the balance of power in Europe. For these reasons negotiation with Russia seemed the logical step.Talks were opened in 1906 in St Petersburg against the backdrop of potential revolution. Despite the frosty nature of the talks and the constant danger of the talks collapsing, eventually progress was made. Persia, it was agreed, was to remain an independent power. It was however to be separated into three spheres of influence. The Russian sphere in the north a British sphere and a third neutral sphere which was open to the commerce of both. Thus the Chief negotiator Arthur Nicholson had succeeded in gaining a buffer against Russian interests in India.The previously anti-Tsarist liberal government under which the talks had been concluded, were thus absolved from the need to build a large Indian army. This allowed Britain to concentrate on European issues particularly on the worrying ambitions of the increasingly powerful Germans. Entente with Russia also served to lessen the chance of any Russian-German understanding which would have had a disastrous effect on the balance of European power. As well as having an imperial aspect, Britain’s understanding with Russia kept Germany separate in Europe and complemented a new entente that was developing between Britain and France, Russia’s national ally.France like Britain was a huge imperial power and a rival to British domination in Africa. Prior to 1904 if suggestions had been made by the France for a convergence of interests in North Africa. Eventually it was the crisis of the Russo-Japanese war, which threatened to give Russia hegemony in China or to involve Britain in an unwanted conflict which pushed her towards Russia’s ally France. As with Russia it was colonial factors which facilitated entente with France. The entente showed France and England reaching agreement over the running of several colonies including vital North African territories.It was a conservative government who signed the entente with France in 1904 giving verbal assurances that ‘under certain eventualities’ that France could rely on British support. The clear shift of British policy towards France was highlighted on the 24th of June 1905 when the Admiralty prepared embryonic plans for a naval war between Britain and Germany, with Britain acting to defend France.This entente however was by no means stable especially after the 1906 election. The French establishment distrusted the new liberal government seeing them as too pacifist and possible pro-German. The liberals seemed to be overtly interested in introducing German style social reforms. This combined with the Liberals traditional anti-Tsarist stance stood the entente on infirm ground.It was for these reasons that in 1906 a entourage led by Edward Grey met with their French counterparts to discuss the liberal view of the Entente. Whilst secret assurances were given that if France were attacked by Germany