However after growing concerns Britain signed an alliance with Japan in 1902 which played a part in Britain gaining her second ally. This alliance was signed with France in April of 1904.
It was seen as a highly unlikely development as for years relations had been strained over colonial matters; during the Boer War the French press had been violently anti-British and extremely rude about Queen Victoria and Edward VII.
Though the French resented British colonial power, they did not want a war with Britain; which was becoming more likely due to the changing circumstances in the Far East. Both Britain and France were alarmed by the growing danger of war between Japan and Russia.
If there was a confrontation between Russia and Japan, the Russians would expect help from France which in turn would provoke British help for Japan.
Both countries worked hard to improve relation. On the British side it was Chamberlain who made the fist move; his motive was to solve the colonial squabbles. However Lansdowne had an entirely different motive believing it to be a counter move against the build-up of German naval strength. Although this was denied by the British government it certainly did make Britain feel more secure.
The outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War in February of 1904 made an agreement urgent and speeded up the final negotiations.
The terms of the 1904 alliance were as follows;
- France would give Britain a free hand in Egypt and the Sudan while Britain recognized French interests in Morocco.
- France gave up her claim to the Newfoundland coast in exchange for land in Gambia (West Africa). Agreement was reached in disputes over Siam, Madagascar and the New Hebrides.
The results of the Entente had the desired effect or limiting the Russo-Japanese War. However the Kaiser soon began to view it as an anti-German move and announced that Germany also had interests in Morocco. Over the next few years German attitude pushed Britain into a closer commitment to France and the next move was to be a similar agreement with France’s ally Russia in 1907. (Triple Entente)
