The Triple Entente

·         Growing concerns and frustrations in Berlin worsened in August 1907 when Britain and Russia signed an entente. With France now close to Britain as well as allied to Russia, this agreement closed the circle and underlined Germany’s isolation.

·         The Anglo-Russian entente was fundamentally a colonial agreement to settle differences in Asia over Tibet, Persia and Afghanistan by regulating spheres of influence; again, like the Anglo-French entente, it was not overtly directed at Germany.

·         Yet, Germany’s growing military power and diplomatic pressure had shaped British foreign policy under grey. The agreement clearly underlined Germany’s isolation and it closed the circle of the Triple Entente: Britain, France and Russia.

·         By 1907 the major powers of Europe were already divided along lines that would parallel those of 1914. Germany was alone except for Austria and the doubtful support of Italy in any war with Britain, which left the country much less secure than in 1890. Perhaps understandably, German newspapers accused the Triple Entente of an ‘encirclement’ aiming to undermine Germany.

·         On the other side, there were also certainly growing suspicions within the entente of German aggression.

·         It might be thought that there was now no turning back. However, such a view cannot be held with certainty. A series of crises in Bosnia ( 1908-9) and Morocco (1911), as well as the Balkan Wars (1912-3), passed off without the outbreak of major European war. It should also be remembered that genuine efforts were made during that time to improve the relationship between agreed, then the situation that arose in 1914 would have been very different.