ABSTRACT
By these and similar precautions Bismarck had, it is true, succeeded in preventing war between the Great Powers, in the first place between England and Russia; but no statesman, be he ever so great, can do away with the causes of international conflicts and thereby dispel the general danger of war. For this peril has its root often in the inner state of affairs of other countries and in the weakness of Governments who, for political or for personal reasons, allow a dangerous agitation to go on against a neighbouring country. Such agitations were the Pan-Slavist movement in Russia and the Revanche idea in France. It did not help Germany that Bismarck had allowed Russian aspirations to seek an outlet in a war against Turkey, nor that he gave France assurances of his peaceful and benevolent attitude which allowed her to make considerable colonial conquests, like that of Tunis, Indo-China, Madagascar, and others, and that he had gone so far as to recognize the predominant position of France among the Latin nations. Nothing approaching recognition had ensued in the countries thus
favoured by Bismarck; on the contrary, they held him responsible for what they had not attained. The PanSlavist aspirations, the susceptibility and ambitions of France remained unabated, and the hostility towards Germany had drawn those nations closer together, betraying even while Bismarck was still in office a tendency to unite in an alliance against her. And if this alliance were joined or merely favoured by any other Great Power, the very existence of Germany would be at stake. Bismarck's cauchemar des coalitions (nightmare of coalitions), was caused by Germany's real situation. In vain did the old statesman seek the security for Europe in an alliance, or in what was later called an entente with England. Lord Salisbury still adhered to the then prevailing idea that England must continue in her 'splendid isolation'. He explained that the rule of a democratic and parliamentary system made such commitments as Bismarck seemed tò propose impossible for England.
