Was the German Battlefleet Programme the Main Reason for the End of Britain’s “Splendid Isolation”?

Nathan Brewster

doi:10.4148/2373-0978.1069

Abstract

This historiographical essay challenges the common historical narrative that Britain left 'splendid isolation' as a result of perceived German aggression - particularly considering Germany's battlefleet programme. Investigating closer Anglo-American ties, the Anglo-Japanese agreement and the Entente Cordiale show that Britain started to abandon an isolationist policy due to its vast, global and often burdensome empire before the German battlefleet started to present itself as a problem. Rather than pinning Britain's alliances at the turn of the twentieth-century on one factor in Europe, this essay investigates the impact the Americas, Africa, Central Asia and the Far East had on Britain's changing international position.

Highlights

“Splendid isolation” has been, and continues to be, a phrase of convenience rather than widely agreed and undisputed historical fact
Investigating closer Anglo-American ties, the Anglo-Japanese agreement and the Entente Cordiale show that Britain started to abandon an isolationist policy due to its vast, global and often burdensome empire before the German battlefleet started to present itself as a problem
It has been argued that splendid isolation ended only when Britain was obligated to become militarily involved in Europe, which would place the end of splendid isolation much later

Summary

Introduction

“Splendid isolation” has been, and continues to be, a phrase of convenience rather than widely agreed and undisputed historical fact. This essay will explore splendid isolation as both: ending on 30 January 1902, with the signing of the Anglo-Japanese agreement and ending in 1905-06, with Britain becoming embroiled in European affairs during the Moroccan Crisis. The Anglo-Japanese agreement, despite being a regional pact, ended splendid isolation as it was a peacetime alliance with terms that theoretically obliged Britain to go to war under. It had a minor impact on Britain’s decision to become involved in the Moroccan Crisis, as the age of Anglo-German Naval rivalry was later Another explanation must be given as to why Britain left splendid isolation and signed a defensive alliance with Japan, and why they became embroiled in European quarrels during the Moroccan Crisis siding with France over Germany. Britain turned to Japan due to engagements in the Far East, Central Asia and Africa around the same time, while retaining ad hoc treaties to deal with the Americas

The Moroccan Crisis

Conclusion