ese Government concerning
the Manchurian railroad. This made it possible for Russia in the
following year, 1910, to reject the suggestion of the United States
Government to internationalize this railroad, in which attitude
Russia had the support of Japan, England and France.

During the Franco-German difficulties about Morocco in 1911 Russia
put itself squarely on the side of France and its announcement to
that effect, made officially to the German Government, was a decided
step forward toward French intimacy and German enmity. Having helped
out France in this manner, Russia promptly pushed its own cause in
Persia. With England and France indifferent to this unfortunate
country's fate, with Germany not sufficiently interested to risk a
break with any or all of the members of the "Triple Entente," and
with the United States much in the same position as Germany, Russia
had its own way and Persia had to submit to Russia's demands and to
its gradual enslavement under Russian rule.

In 1912 and 1913--before, during and after the two Balkan
Wars--Russia acted in concert with the other European powers and
refrained from active participation although its sympathies were
clearly enough with Serbia. So promising was the outlook then for a
lasting understanding between the nations of Europe that Russia and
Austria found it possible--as we have already heard--to agree, in
March, 1913, on a demobilization of their armies along their
respective borders.

A little more than a year, however, sufficed to bring about a change
in this friendly attitude of the two empires, a change fateful alike
to both and to all the world. For one day after Austria-Hungary's
declaration of war against Serbia on July 28, 1914, Russia began her
mobilization--a necessary measure with Austria at war for increased
power in the Balkans. By July 31, 1914, Russia's general
mobilization had taken place.

CHAPTER IV

FRANCE

The chief characteristic of the second empire established after
Napoleon III's coup d'etat in 1852 was expansion. Napoleon III's
ambition in this direction was twofold. He desired to make the
French Empire not only the most advanced and strongest state in
Europe, but also to have it count as the strongest influence in
world politics. In regard to the first part of his ambitious plan,
both the emperor and his various governments were quite successful.
For during the twenty-odd years of the existence of the second
empire, the p