Délassé and the Anglo - French Agreement

Finally, France was able to take control of events in the post-Bismarck world. The weak leadership of William II allowed the political situation to turn in favor of France. The success of French efforts was due to the work of a new Foreign Minister, Theophile Délassé. Délassé was a politician of the same caliber as Bismarck. He was intelligent, and realized that France had to break the control Germany held over her.

His first diplomatic success came with Italy. Italy was suffering an economic crisis. Délassé was able to assist in with French money and trade agreements. In return, the Italians recognized French control of areas in North Africa. Relations between the two countries became very friendly and economically profitable. The friendship grew to a point that when Germany wanted Italy to renew the Triple Alliance, she agreed, but sent a secret note to France stating that Italy would never fight France.

France was now in a good position to handle the possibility of a threat by Germany. She had a military alliance with Russia and a promise of support form Italy. When England began low-level talks with France about the situation in Europe, Déclassé jumped at the chance to work with them. France and England were able to resolve many of the territorial problems they had been in conflict over during the last hundred years. With these problems removed, closer relations developed between them, which also opened the door for military discussions.