The complicated situation which led to the American entry into the First World War in 1917 is often explained from the perspective of public opinion, US domestic politics, or financial and economic opportunity. This book, however, reasserts the importance of diplomats and diplomacy. Based on extensive original research, the book provides a detailed examination of British, German, and American diplomacy in the period 1914-17. It argues that British and German diplomacy in this period followed the same patterns as had been established in the preceding decades. It goes on to consider key issues which concerned diplomats, including the international legality of Britain's economic blockade of Germany, Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare, peace initiatives, and Germany's attempt to manipulate in its favour the long history of distrust in Mexican-American relations. Overall, the book demonstrates that diplomats and diplomacy played a key role, thereby providing a fresh and original approach to this crucially important subject.
Author(s): Justin Quinn Olmstead
Publisher: Boydell Press
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 218
City: Woodbridge
Frontcover......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Preface and Acknowledgements......Page 8
Abbreviations......Page 11
Introduction......Page 12
1. Traditions in Foreign Policy and Diplomacy......Page 16
Foreign Policy Traditions......Page 17
A Latent Animosity: German-American Relations......Page 20
Britain and the US: The Intimacy of Attraction and
Repulsion......Page 27
Rapprochement à la Kaiser Wilhelm II......Page 34
The Set Up......Page 41
Advancing British Interests......Page 45
2. The United States and Britain’s Blockade......Page 51
Neutrality and the Declaration of London......Page 53
The Order in Council of 20 August 1914......Page 60
Freedom of the Seas......Page 68
3. The Diplomacy of U-Boat Warfare......Page 77
The Chancellor’s Challenge......Page 78
The Chancellor’s Decision......Page 82
The President’s Protest......Page 91
The Belligerents’ Responses......Page 95
4. The Peace Option......Page 113
Posturing for Peace: 1914 to 1915......Page 116
The House-Grey Memorandum......Page 127
The Peace Offers of 1916......Page 135
5. Diplomatic Acquisition via Mexico......Page 142
Entering the Fray......Page 144
Punitive Measures......Page 148
Zimmermann’s Gamble......Page 157
Epilogue......Page 166
Bibliographical Essay......Page 173
Bibliography......Page 190
Index......Page 214
