Intrigues Between World Powers 1900

London - Pax Britannica

France

British and French "intrigue" around 1900: the path to the Entente Cordiale

In the early 1900s, Great Britain and France were transitioning from centuries of rivalry to a more cooperative relationship, driven in part by a shared concern over Germany's growing power. This shift, culminating in the 1904 Entente Cordiale, involved complex diplomatic maneuvering, or "intrigue," as each nation sought to protect and expand its interests while navigating the changing European landscape.

Key areas of intrigue and diplomatic activity

Colonial rivalry and agreements

• Egypt and Morocco: Britain sought a free hand in Egypt, while France aimed to expand its influence in Morocco. The Entente Cordiale resolved these disputes, granting Britain dominance in Egypt and France a free hand in Morocco (with some consideration for Spanish interests).

   Other colonial disputes: The agreement addressed various other colonial issues, including territories in Africa (e.g., Los Islands, Nigeria, Gambia) and Asia (e.g., Siam, New Hebrides). 

German threat and strategic shifts

• Britain's "Splendid Isolation": Britain initially pursued a policy of "splendid isolation," focused on its vast empire. However, Germany's increasing naval power and expansionist ambitions prompted Britain to seek allies.
• Failure of Anglo-German alliance talks: Britain's attempts to form an alliance with Germany around 1900 were unsuccessful, partly due to anti-British sentiment in Germany stemming from the Boer War.
• Seeking new alliances: This led Britain to turn to France and Russia, laying the groundwork for the Triple Entente.

Diplomatic Initiatives and Key Figures

• French Foreign Minister Théophile Delcassé: Delcassé believed that a Franco-British understanding was essential for French security against Germany. He actively pursued rapprochement, including reaching agreements with Britain on African spheres of influence in 1899.
• British diplomats and pro-French sentiment: British officials like Sir Thomas Barclay organized exchanges and treaties, including the 1903 Anglo-French Treaty of Arbitration. King Edward VII's visit to Paris in 1903 was well-received and helped warm relations.
• The Entente Cordiale: The series of agreements signed in 1904, while not a formal military alliance, resolved colonial disputes and paved the way for diplomatic cooperation and military discussions between Britain and France. It was crucial in the lead-up to World War I, ultimately positioning Britain and France against Germany.

This period demonstrates how, even amidst diplomatic overtures and the search for cooperation, the complex and sometimes secretive negotiations surrounding colonial ambitions and the balance of power could be seen as a form of "intrigue" in shaping the alliances that defined early 20th-century Europe.

French Agents

-- Mauricette Bourreau -- (Deuxième Bureau: French Second Desk - French Counter Intelligence)

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Germany

Between 1900 and 1914, Germany and Great Britain were locked in a complex relationship characterized by both intense rivalry and fleeting attempts at rapprochement, often described as an atmosphere of intrigue . This era witnessed several key elements of intrigue:

• Naval Arms Race: Kaiser Wilhelm II's ambitions for a powerful German Navy (Weltpolitik) directly challenged Britain's traditional naval supremacy, leading to a costly and tense naval race, particularly after the launch of the HMS Dreadnought in 1906. This was seen by Britain as a direct threat to its national security and empire.
• Failed Alliance Attempts: Despite the growing tensions, some British politicians initially favored an alliance with Germany, and attempts at negotiation took place between 1898 and 1903. However, anti-British sentiment in Germany, fueled by events like the Boer War, and the Kaiser's perceived erratic diplomacy hindered these efforts, according to EBSCO.
• Shifting Alliances & Fears of Encirclement: Driven by a desire to counter Germany's rising power, Britain abandoned its policy of "Splendid Isolation" and sought alliances with France (Entente Cordiale, 1904) and Russia (1907), forming the Triple Entente. This left Germany feeling increasingly "encircled" and fearing a coordinated threat to its continental ambitions.
• The Morocco Crises: German attempts to challenge French influence in Morocco (1905 and 1911) served only to strengthen the Anglo-French agreement and reinforce solidarity against Germany, according to Britannica.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II's Policies and Personality: The Kaiser's personal involvement in foreign policy and his often tactless and aggressive statements further exacerbated tensions. His desire for Germany to be a global power and his efforts to expand the German Navy were key factors in the deterioration of Anglo-German relations.

This period of intense Anglo-German rivalry, marked by diplomatic maneuvering, naval competition, and shifting alliances, created an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust that cast a long shadow over their pre-war diplomacy and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

German Agents

-- Ignaz Koch -- Attache of the German Consulate to Britain (N Nachrichten-Abteilung: German Naval Intelligence)

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Russia

The Great Game was a rivalry between the 19th-century British and Russian empires over influence in Central Asia, primarily in Afghanistan, Persia, and Tibet. The two colonial empires used military interventions and diplomatic negotiations to acquire and redefine territories in Central and South Asia. Russia conquered Turkestan, and Britain expanded and set the borders of British India. By the early 20th century, a line of independent states, tribes, and monarchies from the shore of the Caspian Sea to the Eastern Himalayas were made into protectorates and territories of the two empires.

Though the Great Game was marked by distrust, diplomatic intrigue, and regional wars, it never erupted into a full-scale war directly between Russian and British colonial forces.

Russian Agents

-- Konstantin Germogen Novikov (Russian Okhrana)

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