Diplomacy
Category
(475)1917
January
- 11
- Central Powers' note on responsibility for the warOn 11 January 1917 Germany and Austria-Hungary answered the Entente's refusal in notes to the neutrals, blaming their enemies for the continuing war.
- German-Turkish treaty in BerlinOn 11 January 1917 Germany and Turkey signed a package of ten legal agreements in Berlin. Based on equality, they were to replace the abolished capitulations.
February
- 01
- Norway changes its submarine rulesOn the eve of unrestricted submarine warfare Norway eased its ban on foreign submarines entering its waters. It was the price of a settlement with Germany.
- Petrograd ConferenceOn 1 February 1917 a conference of Russia, Britain, France and Italy met in Petrograd. It was to agree the 1917 offensives and arms deliveries to Russia.
March
April
May
June
- 11
- Jonnart's ultimatumOn 11 June 1917 High Commissioner Jonnart demanded that Prime Minister Zaimis secure King Constantine's abdication within a day. The king gave way that day.
- Dominican Republic breaks off relations with GermanyIn June 1917 the American military government in Santo Domingo withdrew the exequatur of German consuls, so the occupied Dominican Republic broke with Germany.
July
August
September
- 21
- The Bernstorff affairOn 21 September 1917 Lansing released a cable in which Ambassador Bernstorff asked Berlin for $50,000 to influence Congress. Washington was in uproar.
- Costa Rica breaks off relations with GermanyOn 21 September 1917 Federico Tinoco's government, not recognised by Washington, broke off relations with Germany, hoping to win over Wilson.
October
November
- 02
- Key eventBalfour DeclarationOn 2 November 1917 Arthur Balfour assured Lord Rothschild that Britain supported the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.
- Lansing–Ishii AgreementOn 2 November 1917 Lansing and Ishii exchanged notes on China in Washington. The US recognised Japan's "special interests"; both upheld the Open Door.
- 15
- Alsace and Lorraine a war aimOn 15 November 1917 Lord Robert Cecil assured the Commons that the return of Alsace and Lorraine to France had been a British war aim from the outset.
- Japan refuses to send battlecruisersOn 15 November 1917 Tokyo rejected a British request for two Japanese Kongō-class battlecruisers to join the Grand Fleet in the North Sea.
December
- 03
- Armistice negotiations open at Brest-LitovskOn 3 December 1917 at Brest-Litovsk Adolph Joffe's Bolshevik delegation sat down to armistice talks with the Central Powers' officers under Gen. Hoffmann.
- Allied Maritime Transport CouncilOn 3 December 1917 a conference in Paris decided that the Allies would allocate their ships jointly. This gave rise to the Allied Maritime Transport Council.
- 07
- Key eventUnited States declares war on Austria-HungaryOn 7 December 1917 Congress, at Wilson's request, declared the United States at war with Austria-Hungary. Only one congressman voted against.
- Ecuador breaks off relations with GermanyOn 7 December 1917 Ecuador broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, following Peru and Uruguay, which had done so in October.