At the time of the Splendid Isolation Britain believed they could fight the entire world on their own, and win. However Britain soon had many worries about other great powers.
At the start of the 1900’s Britain was not on friendly terms with Russia, France or Germany. She had growing apprehensions about an increasing Russian influence in the Far East. Towards the end of 1900 Russian troops occupied the northern part of China called Manchuria.
Lansdowne was determined to form some sort of alliance to check Russian ambitions. However there was a widespread feeling of hostility toward Britain following the Boer War, and finding an ally proved difficult. So it was important to find a country with similar interests to Britain. They found that interest in the Japanese who wanted to check Russian power towards Korea. The Japanese were determined not to allow the Russians control both Korea and Manchuria. So, both Japan and Britain found common interest in containing Russia.
The British also had concerns in the form of the French and the Germans. The French were hostile and resented the presence of the British in Egypt and the Sudan. This posed a threat to Britain as with their ally Russia, France had great naval power in the Far East.
It was thought that the Germans were setting out to match Britain’s naval power. This was suggested through the Navy Law of June 1900.However Japan was strategically placed to ease the strain on the British Navy.
After the Boer War it became evident that Britain needed to form alliances and abandon its policy of Splendid Isolation. The British had found it difficult to defeat the Boers and they were farmers with little/no fighting experience; what would happen if Britain were to be attacked by one or more of the great powers?
The terms of the 1902 agreement were:
- Japan recognized Britain’s interests in China and the Pacific, and Britain recognized Japan’s rights in Korea.
- If Japan was involved in a war with Russia, Britain would remain neutral, but if another power (presumably France) joined in to help Russia, Britain would help Japan.
The alliance resulted in both powers having a greatly strengthened position in the Far East. This alliance also played a part in gaining Britain her second ally, France in 1904.
