Abstract
ABSTRACTDuring the July Crisis, the United Kingdom was put under strong pressure from Russia and the latter's ally, France, to declare it would fight alongside them. Britain had made the entente cordiale with France in 1904 and a Convention with Russia in 1907. The British Ambassador to St. Petersburg, George Buchanan, was the key figure in diplomatic communication between Britain and Russia at this time and his performance has drawn diverse comments over the decades. Some analysts believe he genuinely sought to restrain Russia from war, but was undermined by his own government, who too easily accepted St. Petersburg must mobilise its army. But others feel Buchanan's reports of Russian mobilisation were ill-informed and unhelpful to the government in London. This article examines Buchanan's performance, arguing that he attempted to preserve peace for a time and does not deserve some of the criticisms levelled at him. Nonetheless, the preservation of the Triple Entente was a priority for him and, after about 28 July, once it became clear that European war could not be avoided, he became tardy in reporting Russia's war preparations, appearing more interested in defending his hosts’ behaviour than in providing an accurate analysis of events.
Highlights
During the July Crisis, the United Kingdom was put under strong pressure from Russia and the latter’s ally, France, to declare it would fight alongside them
In late June 1914, at an embassy dinner in the presence of foreign minister Sergei Sazonov, Britain’s ambassador, Sir George Buchanan, expressed confidence that Anglo-Russian friendship had ‘taken such root that it will be able to weather all the storms that may beat round it in the future.’[1]. Days later, the heir to the AustroHungarian throne was assassinated by a Bosnian Serb
The Russian ambassador in London, Count Alexander Benckendorff, in post since 1902, was an efficient diplomat and an anglophile, well-connected in high society and respected in the Foreign Office.[6]. He only met with Grey three times after the crisis broke: on 25 and 27 July, he pressed for a warning to Germany that Britain would enter the war; on 30 July he set out Sazonov’s position on peace talks, which had already been reported to London by Buchanan
Summary
During the July Crisis, the United Kingdom was put under strong pressure from Russia and the latter’s ally, France, to declare it would fight alongside them.
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