The Anglo-Russian Entente
In 1907, writes A.W. Palmer, two empires that had three times been on the verge of war in the preceding thirty years reached a hopeful accommodation.
On August 31st, 1907, in the Foreign Office at St. Petersburg, the Russian Foreign Minister and the British Ambassador concluded three conventions by which outstanding differences between their two countries in Asia were settled. At the time, this seemed a major triumph for British diplomacy.
Two empires that had been on the verge of war three times in the preceding thirty years had reached an accommodation. Today, the document that Isvolski and Sir Arthur Nicolson signed that afternoon is little more than a historic curiosity; fifty years ago, however, it afforded a chance of ending deep and bitter estrangement.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
