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Edward Grey
Person page: Edward Grey →
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(39)
1907
August
31
Britain and Russia sign the St Petersburg convention
On 31 August 1907 Nicolson and Izvolsky signed a convention on Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet. It ended the Great Game and completed the Triple Entente.
1913
May
30
Treaty of London ends the First Balkan War
On 30 May 1913 Turkey ceded to the Balkan allies its European lands west of the Enos–Midia line. Albania's fate was left to the great powers.
1914
July
24
Grey proposes an international conference to prevent war
On 24 July 1914 Sir Edward Grey proposed that four powers jointly mediate between Vienna and St Petersburg before the crisis turned into a war.
27
France and Italy accept the British proposal for a conference
On 27 July 1914 France and Italy backed the British plan for an ambassadors' conference in London. The same day Germany rejected it.
28
German government rejects British conference proposal
On 28 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg confirmed that Germany would not take part in the conference of the powers proposed by Britain.
29
Germany proposes an agreement on British neutrality
On the evening of 29 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg tried to secure British neutrality in the event of war with France and Russia.
30
Britain rejects Germany's neutrality proposal
On 30 July 1914 Edward Grey rejected a German offer. He judged that neutrality at the expense of France and Belgium would be a disgrace for Britain.
August
02
Britain guarantees protection of the French coast
On 2 August 1914 the British government promised France that the Royal Navy would defend its coasts against the German fleet in the North Sea and the Channel.
03
Britain pledges to defend Belgian neutrality
On 3 August 1914 Sir Edward Grey set out Britain's obligations to Belgium and France in the Commons. London promised support for the Belgians.
04
Key event
Britain declares war on Germany
At 11 p.m. London time on 4 August 1914 the ultimatum expired. Britain and its whole empire found themselves at war with Germany.
September
05
Pact of London
On 5 September 1914 in London Britain, France and Russia pledged not to make a separate peace. The Entente became a formal wartime alliance.
October
30
Allied ultimatum to Turkey
On 30 October 1914 London gave Turkey 12 hours to expel the German missions and the crews of Goeben and Breslau, or face a break in relations.
November
09
Anglo-French prize convention
On 9 November 1914 Britain and France signed a convention in London that settled whose courts would rule on ships seized by the warships of the two countries.
December
07
A British envoy to the Vatican
In December 1914 Sir Henry Howard became Britain's envoy to Benedict XV. He was London's first official envoy in Rome since the 17th century.
29
London defends its blockade against a US protest
At the end of December 1914 the US government protested against the detention of American ships and cargoes. London replied by defending its control of trade.
1915
January
24
British offer to Greece
On 24 January 1915 London promised Greece gains in Asia Minor in return for helping Serbia. Venizelos at once proposed to the King ceding Kavala to Bulgaria.
February
11
US note on neutral flags
On 11 February 1915 the US ambassador in London delivered a note urging the British not to let their ships fly the American flag in the war zone.
15
Entente urges Greece to help Serbia
On 15 February 1915 the British and French ministers urged Greece to help Serbia, promising divisions at Salonika. Venizelos refused at once.
March
12
London agrees to a Russian Constantinople
On 12 March 1915 Britain agreed that Russia would get Constantinople and the Straits after the war. In return it wanted, inter alia, Persia's neutral zone.
17
France lays claim to Syria and Cilicia
In mid-March 1915 France demanded Syria and Cilicia for itself after the war. It was the price of its consent to Russian rule over Constantinople.
April
26
Italy signs the Treaty of London
On 26 April 1915 Italy signed a secret pact with the Entente in London. In return for lands on the Adriatic it pledged to enter the war within a month.
May
07
Grey promises Serbia Bosnia and Herzegovina
According to the British chronology, on 7 May 1915 Sir Edward Grey assured Serbia's envoy that after victory Serbia would get Bosnia-Herzegovina and the sea.
24
Allied declaration on the Armenian massacres
On 24 May 1915 France, Britain and Russia called the massacres of Armenians crimes "against humanity" and threatened Ottoman ministers with punishment.
August
15
Entente offers Serbia territorial gains
On 15 August 1915 the envoys of Russia, Britain and France promised Serbia Bosnia, Syrmia, Bačka and part of Dalmatia in return for concessions in Macedonia.
30
Grey gives assurances to Supilo
On 30 August 1915 Grey assured the Croat Frano Supilo that, if Serbia agreed, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Dalmatia, Slavonia and Croatia could decide their fate.
September
28
Greece rejects the offer of Entente troops
On 28 September 1915 Athens thanked London for its offer of troops, deeming them unnecessary for now. A day later the Greeks asked for this reply to be ignored.
October
02
Venizelos asks for an Allied landing at Salonika
On 2 October 1915 Venizelos asked France and Britain to send troops to Salonika at once. A day earlier he had ordered the ships bound there to turn back.
13
Britain breaks off relations with Bulgaria
In mid-October 1915 Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. The Bulgarian minister left London, and the Bulgarian army moved against Serbia.
15
Britain declares war on Bulgaria
On 15 October 1915 the Foreign Office announced that from 10 p.m. Britain was at war with Bulgaria, an ally of the Central Powers fighting Serbia.
16
Britain offers Cyprus to Greece
On 16 October 1915 London offered to cede Cyprus to Greece. The only condition was that the Greek army be sent at once to help Serbia.
24
McMahon's letter to the Sharif of Mecca
On 24 October 1915 Sir Henry McMahon promised the Sharif of Mecca British recognition of Arab independence. The letter's reservations are still disputed.
November
30
Italy accedes to the Pact of London
On 30 November 1915 Italy openly acceded to the Pact of London. In London the five Entente powers pledged that none would conclude a separate peace.
1916
February
08
Britain asks Japan for naval help
On 8 February 1916 the Admiralty framed a request for Japanese warships. Tokyo refused to send destroyers to Europe but stepped up patrols in the Indian Ocean.
23
Robert Cecil becomes Minister of Blockade
On 23 February 1916 Asquith announced that Lord Robert Cecil, with Cabinet rank, would direct the whole blockade of Germany. So the Ministry of Blockade arose.
May
09
Anglo-French exchange of notes on Asia Minor
On 9 May 1916 French ambassador Paul Cambon sent Grey a note with terms for dividing Ottoman lands. It was the French text of the Sykes-Picot Agreement.
16
Grey approves the Sykes-Picot Agreement
On 16 May 1916 Edward Grey answered a French note and accepted the plan to partition Ottoman lands, on condition that the Arabs rose against the Turks.
23
Britain recognises Russian gains in Asia Minor
On 23 May 1916 Edward Grey offered Russia an agreement in which Britain recognised its claims to Erzurum, Trebizond, Van, Bitlis and part of Kurdistan.
September
01
Russo-British agreement on Asia Minor
On 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.
December
11
Lloyd George's coalition government
On 11 December 1916 the press published Lloyd George's government. Grey left the Foreign Office for Balfour, Derby took the War Office and Carson the Admiralty.