The Anglo-French Entente, 1904
Philip Pedley sees fateful flaws in a famous agreement.
One hundred years ago this April Britain signed the 'Entente Cordiale' with France. A few observers expressed reservations at the time in what would today be denounced as the extreme right-wing, 'Little England' press, but such protestations were drowned by a wave of enthusiasm for such a startling Diplomatic Revolution. The agreement was hailed as a triumph of reason, progress and diplomatic agility. Britain had at last ended her age-old enmity with France, abandoned imperial adventurism, and had emerged from her self-imposed chauvinistic isolationism. Instead, she was to embrace a more communitaire spirit of diplomacy with our neighbours across the Channel. In reality, however, the Entente proved disastrous both for Britain and for the peace of Europe. The Entente was largely the inspiration of a Francophile social and political elite and was founded upon a flawed appreciation of the contemporary strategic position.
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