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18 Gradually Russia discovered that her natural hostility toward Germany made closer relations with France advisable. This induced her to borrow vast sums of money from France for the promotion of internal improvement and industry. At the same time Russia kept a constructive foreign policy in mind. She would block German expansion on the west, British expansion in the Near East, and both German and British expansion in China. In France the dominating policy was anti-Germanic. France had neither forgot nor forgiven the Franco-Prussian peace settlement, but so long as Bismarck had been in power his pro-Russian policy had prevented the consummation of an alliance between France and Russia which their common interests required. In 1891, the French fleet landed at Cronstadt. The Marseillaise was played at the Tsar’s request while he stood at respectful attention. In 1893, the Tsar returned the visit by calling at Toulon. The two rulers exchanged complimentary telegrams and the Tsar made allusion to the bonds that united the two countries, Thus was laid the basis of a Franco-Russian alliance, the protocol of which was actually signed in 1891. The military agreement followed in 1894.

So far as Italy was concerned, the Triple Alliance had been signed for protection only. She feared both the French policy of expansion in Africa and the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Trieste and Trent. Furthermore, in the Adriatic region, there were still a number of Italian communities not yet incorporated into the Italian state which were being closely watched by the dual monarchy, Finally, Italy feared European