Diplomacy
Category
(475)1916
January
February
March
- 15
- Austria-Hungary breaks off relations with PortugalOn 15 March 1916, six days after the German declaration of war, Austria-Hungary broke off diplomatic relations with Portugal. Its minister left Lisbon.
- Key eventAustria-Hungary at war with PortugalOn 15 March 1916 Austria-Hungary followed Germany and broke with Portugal. The two were now at war, though by contemporary sources with no separate declaration.
April
- 26
- Key eventSykes–Picot AgreementOn 26 April 1916 Russia and France exchanged secret notes. Russia accepted the Anglo-French plan to partition Asiatic Turkey and secured Armenia for itself.
- News of an agreement on prisoners in SwitzerlandThe British chronology records on 26 April 1916 an agreement to send sick prisoners of war to Switzerland. Other sources point to the beginning of May.
May
June
July
August
- 28
- Key eventGermany declares war on RomaniaOn 28 August 1916 Germany declared war on Romania, a day after it turned against Austria-Hungary. The surprise at Pless cost Falkenhayn his post.
- Key eventItaly declares war on GermanyOn 27 August 1916 Sonnino sent a declaration through the Swiss government that from 28 August Italy considered itself at war with Germany.
- 30
- Key eventTurkey declares war on RomaniaOn 30 August 1916 Turkey announced that, together with Germany and Bulgaria, it was declaring war on Romania. Enver Pasha was readying a corps for Dobruja.
- Romania breaks off relations with BulgariaOn the evening of 30 August 1916 the Romanian minister in Sofia asked for his passports and broke off ties. Two days later Bulgaria declared war on Romania.
September
- 01
- Key eventBulgaria declares war on RomaniaOn 1 September 1916 Bulgaria declared war on Romania to regain the Dobruja lost in 1913. Tsar Ferdinand called for a fight against the "treacherous neighbour".
- Russo-British agreement on Asia MinorOn 1 September 1916 the Russian ambassador in London confirmed in a note to Grey the Anglo-Russian deal on dividing Asiatic Turkey. He raised one reservation.
- Allies seize German ships at PiraeusOn 1 September 1916 an Entente squadron anchored off Salamis and seized German and Austrian ships at Piraeus. Next day the envoys demanded telegraph control.
October
November
December
- 15
- Greece accepts the December ultimatumOn 15 December 1916 the government in Athens accepted the Entente ultimatum and began withdrawing troops from Thessaly to the Peloponnese. The blockade went on.
- Britain recognises Hussein as King of the HejazIn December 1916 Britain, France and Russia recognised Sharif Hussein as King of the Hejaz, but not as King of the Arabs, as he styled himself.
- 26
- Central Powers reply to Wilson's noteOn 26 December 1916 Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey, and on 30 December Bulgaria, answered Wilson. They proposed a conference but named no terms.
- London conference on the peace notesOn 26–28 December 1916 British and French ministers met in London to discuss the reply to the peace notes, Salonika and the Nivelle plan.