How far was Britain’s declaration of war in 1914 a consequence of her Ententes with France and Russia?
How far was Britain's declaration of war in 1914 a consequence of her Ententes with France and Russia?
Whether or not Britain's declaration of war was a consequence
of her ententes with France and Russia cannot be answered easily, and other factors will be brought into the argument. The consequences of the Balkan wars during 1912 and 1913 directly led to the outbreak of war. I will be looking at Britain's ententes with France and Russia; Belgium neutrality, Germanys economic threat, Political decisions for Britain and how they contributed to the declaration of war.
France and Britain reached a series of agreements in 1904: The Entente Cordial. The agreements settled their old disputes. (There were many conflicts between Britain and France in Africa, and in 1898 these conflicts nearly brought then to a war) The most important agreement was that France recognised Egypt and the Sudan as British sphere of influence and that Britain recognised Morocco as French sphere of influence, and in addition would support each other if their spheres of influence were challenged by a third power.
France now had a military alliance with Russia and a friendly agreement with Britain. France succeeded in getting Russia and Britain to resolve their disputes, and the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907 was formed. This triple entente was mainly formed because of the German threat and how its navy challenged Britain, France and Russia for naval position, but was not anti-German. Britain now considered Germany more dangerous then Russia as a rival for her interests in the Balkans.
This Entente may have been a consequence for the declaration for war because it was done in secret, creating general suspicion and preventing their diplomats from a solution to the crisis's leading to the war. The alliances heightened war tension and led to a naval race amongst the European powers; thus leading to war in 1914. Although the ententes between Britain, France and Russia said that they would go to war for the other, this was only a vague promise, and wouldn't have completely pushed Britain for declaration of war.
The Treaty of London signed 19 ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
This Entente may have been a consequence for the declaration for war because it was done in secret, creating general suspicion and preventing their diplomats from a solution to the crisis's leading to the war. The alliances heightened war tension and led to a naval race amongst the European powers; thus leading to war in 1914. Although the ententes between Britain, France and Russia said that they would go to war for the other, this was only a vague promise, and wouldn't have completely pushed Britain for declaration of war.
The Treaty of London signed 19 April 1839, Britain together with Austria, France, Prussia and Russia, established after the revolt of 1830, that Belgium should form an independent and neutral state. Because of this Britain had a moral reason to go to war, P.Hayes: Modern British Foreign Policy states;
'Britain might claim that war was declared...to protect freedom'
Although some historians my have a view that it was not preferred for Belgium to be invaded, but if it was there would have to be a British declaration of war. As B.Gilbert expresses;
'the conclusion that the event of a German attack upon France,
Britain would have to act on whether or not the Germans invaded Belgium. '
Personally I think that Britain was not too bothered about Belgium, but used this moral issue as an excuse for her declaration of war. This is because of the Schlieffen plan, which Count Schlieffen had drawn up; so Germany could concentrate her military forces against France, by an attack through neutral Belgium, as this was already known by the British, it is obvious from what they have said that they will have to declare war anyway, This idea of Britain obviously knowing about the Schlieffen Plan is supported by Dilke. At the beginning of 1887 Dilke, a well-informed observer of international affairs in an anonymous article pointed out that France and Germany's rivalries were so strong now that if war did break out, Germany in all probability would send troops through Belgium. On the 1 February 1887 Vivian wrote to Salisbury about raising anxiety in Belgium regarding its position to the war and that it was
'inevitable if not imminent'
that Germany would send troops through Belgium.
There were economic conflicts between Germany and Britain from 1890 onwards. Germany was unified in 1871 and rapidly became the strongest economic and military power in Europe, the products of her industry were competing with British manufacturers everywhere and German merchant ships threatened Britain's carrying trade, this is also looked at for a reason for Britain's declaration of war. Germany was now Britain's main rival as her main concern was to preserve her overseas empire and trade by maintaining a large army, which Germany posed a threat to. In 1896 Dr Jameson after convincing the Government raided Transvaal in South Africa, which Britain had long desired to have as a colony. The raid failed, the Boers (Dutch farmers) in Transvaal captured the British. Kaiser congratulated the Boers by sending a telegram, and therein weakening the Anglo-German relations.
European reactions the Boer War suggested that Britain had no support in Europe, showing Britain's slow decline. The British Foreign office was known to be anti-German, increasing their decline in relations. Their anti-German views were expressed through the press, here is an example, it is from a secret memorandum of Francis Bertie of the Foreign Office;
'Germany is a dangerous situation in Europe...surrounded by governments who distrust her...and...dislike her.'
This dislike for the Germans and their naval threat may also have been part of Britain's motive for declaration of war.
Britain and Germany were rivals at sea. Under state Secretary of the Imperial Naval Office from 1897 a long-term shipbuilding programme began. In 1900 Germany passed a Navy Law, which doubled the German battle fleet. Between1909 and 1911 Germany built nine dreadnoughts while Britain completed eighteen. This increased military and naval rivalry led to belief that the war was coming. As a result of the armaments race, all European powers were prepared for a war by 1914. Germanys rivalry may have also been a factor contributing to British declaration of war.
Britain's position was slowly declining and this weakness would have been feared for keeping the British and French Empire. Britain had to join the ententes with France and Russia; otherwise it would be vulnerable to the rest of Europe. This meant that if Britain didn't go to war, France and Russia would not have to keep to their side of the entente, leaving Britain defenceless during and after World War One, especially if France lost, and this could have accelerated Britain's declaration of war because of fear of not having supremacy.
Public opinion was also in Britain's interests, which P.Hayes: Modern British Policy has looked upon as;
'the public had become imbued with social Darwinist theories...it was believed that the choice lay between third-rate obscurity and fighting Germany.'
This public theory would have pushed Britain towards declaration of war as to keep the public satisfied.
The assassination of Francis Ferdinal at Sarajevo in June 1914 was the final event that lead to the war. Austria was still determined to destroy Serbia, and declared July 28 1914. Russia could not be defeated again, and mobilised first, urged by France in fear of German attack, and so on July 30 ordered full mobilization. Germany feared that she would face attacks from both Russia and France. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1 and war on France on August 3.
On August the 4th the German troops crossed the Belgium frontier, thus Britain declared war on Germany. Britain's given reason for declaration of war was the invasion of Belgium, thought to be a moral crime. In conclusion Britain's decision to declare war was partly because of her Ententes with France and Russia, but also a decision made upon the fear of loss of supremacy to the rest of Europe and possibly the loss of its publics trust
