ABSTRACT
The defeat of Russia in the Far East was also a defeat for German foreign policy, which had encouraged Russia to expand in Asia. After 1907 the Slav factor again became important in Russian foreign policy. An obvious reason is that Russia, beaten in the Far East, sought compensation in her traditional field of interest, the Balkans. But there is also another reason, which arises from Russian internal politics. The conference of Algeciras, and the subsequent French loan to Russia, had consolidated Russo-French relations. The conference had also strengthened Anglo-French co-operation, and had thus brought Russia and Britain together in support of France. The Anglo-German naval rivalry of the preceding decade did not cause the war: it ensured that when war had broken out, Britain would be on the side of Germany's enemies. The isolation of Britain in the Boer War had suggested to Muraviev a more ambitious project of joint action with France and Germany against Britain.
