Anglo-Russian Convention Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907
${{{image_alt}}}$ Map of southwest Asia, showing British and Russian areas of rule or influence.
Signed	31 August [O.S. 18 August] 1907
Location	Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Signatories	United Kingdom Russian Empire

The Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 was an important agreement signed on August 31, 1907, in Saint Petersburg. It was also known as the Convention between the United Kingdom and Russia relating to Persia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. This treaty helped end a long-standing competition between the United Kingdom and Russian Empire in Central Asia.

By working together, these two powerful countries aimed to stop Germany from expanding its influence. Germany was planning a new railroad that could connect Berlin to Baghdad, which might have brought the Ottoman Empire closer to Germany. The Convention helped create a stronger bond between Britain and Russia, leading to the formation of the Triple Entente, a major alliance before World War I.

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Why the Agreement Happened

The Great Game

For many years, the British and Russian Empires were rivals. They both wanted more power and control in Asia. This rivalry was sometimes called "The Great Game." Their main disagreements were over Afghanistan, Iran (then called Persia), and Tibet. These countries were like buffer zones between the two empires.

Germany's Growing Power

Around the early 1900s, Germany was becoming a very strong country. In 1882, Germany formed an alliance called the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary. Germany also started building up its military.

Germany wanted to increase its influence around the world. While its main focus was Europe, Germany also looked towards the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. Germany's growing power made Britain and Russia realize they needed to settle their differences and work together.

Trouble in Persia

In 1905, there was a revolution in Tehran, the capital of Persia. The Shah (ruler) had to agree to a constitution and allow a parliament to be formed.

However, neither the British nor the Russian governments liked this new, unstable political setup. They preferred a stable government that they could influence. To achieve their goals, Britain and Russia discussed dividing Persia into different zones of influence.

What the Agreement Said

The Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 recognized Persia's independence but also divided it into three zones:

Russian Zone: The northern part of Iran, bordering Russia, became an area where Russia had special interests. This zone included important cities like Tehran and Isfahan.
British Zone: A smaller area in southeastern Iran, bordering British India, became a zone for British interests. This included places like Kerman and Bandar Abbas.
Neutral Zone: The area between these two zones was called a neutral zone. In this part, both Britain and Russia, along with their citizens, could compete for business and influence.

The agreement also stated that neither country would interfere in Tibet's internal affairs. It also recognized Britain's special influence over Afghanistan.

Impact of the Agreement

For Britain and Russia, this agreement was very important. It helped them become allies, which lasted until World War I.

However, the Persian government was not asked about the agreement. They were only told after it was signed. The Persian government refused to accept the agreement because it felt it threatened their country's independence. Many Iranian nationalists were especially angry with Britain, as they had seen Britain as a supporter of democracy during their revolution. This led to a rise in anti-British sentiment and other anti-Western feelings in Iran.

Even though the agreement didn't stop all competition between Britain and Russia in Iran, it encouraged them to work together more often. They even supported the royalists (supporters of the Shah) against the constitutionalists (supporters of the parliament) in Iran's internal politics. The agreement ended in 1918 when the new revolutionary Soviet Russia cancelled it.

Anglo-Russian Convention facts for kids