Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Hi J
The Reinsurance Treaty is the treaty whereby Russia agreed to observe benign neutrality should France attack Germany. In exchange, Germany agreed to observe benign neutrality in case Austria-Hungary attacked Russia. This arrangement made it very difficult for Germany to find itself in a two-front war. Bismarck also undertook in a secret and sinister annex to this treaty that Germany would make no objections to Russian occupation of Constantinople and the Dardanelles.
After Germany refused to extend the Reinsurance Treaty, Russia became allies with France. To preserve the balance of power, German diplomats tried to enlist Great Britain the their side. Russia was a threat to the British in India and Egypt, where as France's navy was designed to sever the trade routes between the British Isles and British colonies. Even so, Britain refused to make any deep commitment to Germany's defence. Bülow complained that the British had no understanding of European affairs. Now Sarkozy is making the same complaint.
I read this chapter in the US diplomat's book the night before and was amused by how history was repeating itself.
XXXXXXXX A
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