|
|
Diplomatic History of World War 1:
Negotiations During the War
1. Japanese
Intervention
2. Turkish
Intervention
3. Italy's
Entry into the War
4. Bulgaria,
Rumania & Greece
5. Plans
for Partition of the Ottoman Empire
a. Constantinople Agreement
b. Egypt
c. Nejd Treaty and McMahon Letters
d. Sykes-Picot Agreement
e. St.-Jean-de-Maurienne Agreement
Diplomatic History of the War
NEGOTIATIONS DURING THE WAR
At the outbreak of war in 1914 the German and Austro-Hungarian
empires were united by an alliance that dated back to 1879. Though each
of the two governments declared war separately on the common enemies and
neither invoked the formal alliance, both emperors declared that the two
states would fight together to the end, neither making peace without the
other.
Of the nations on the opposing side, only two, France
and Russia, were formally allied. The British government had understandings
with both, but was not committed to join them in war, and in fact the
London cabinet debated for several days before deciding on its course.
Then, on August 4, Britain declared war against Germany not because France
and Russia had done so, but because Germany had invaded Belgium, and Belgian
neutrality was guaranteed by an 1839 treaty of which Britain was one of
the signatories. On Sept. 5, 1914, however, the British, French, and Russian
governments signed the Pact of London (see LONDON, PACT OF), pledging
themselves to make no separate peace. The three powers which before the
war had formed the Triple Entente thus became allies. In addition, each
entered into comparable engagements with other states fighting the Central
Powers: Serbia, which had been the first belligerent; Montenegro, which
was Serbia's ally; Luxembourg, which the Germans invaded on Aug. 2, 1914;
and Belgium. Portugal affirmed her long-standing alliance with Britain,
even though the Central Powers did not formally declare war on her until
1916. All these states together were known as the Allies.
|
|
