Political transfers between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary before the First World War and national question – draft
Political transfers between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary before the First World War and national question – draft

Summary/Abstract: The paper analyses the British foreign policy towards the Austria-Hungary from the beginning of 20th century until the First World War (next WW I) 1 on a background of the whole world political context. Its goals is to define main characteristics of the policy, particularly toward the solution of national problems in the Habsburg monarchy. Britain at the period was interested first of all for preservation of its own colonial empire across the world, so that Europe did not belong between its priorities. Therefore Britain applied a non-active foreign policy towards European countries including the Austria-Hungary and its ally – expanding Germany. Moreover, therefore a liberal party in power in Britain, who tried to avoid wars and played the role of a peace-maker. However, crisis in South Europe and Balkan wars rapid changed the British foreign policy that became more active towards the Habsburg monarchy. The authors also analysed whether Britain was interested for solution of national problems in the Austria-Hungary, including effort of Slovaks for the independence, which was similarly as Britain a conglomerate of many nations. Britain was not very keen to find solution of these problems because it was a similar multinational empire with own troubles. A overcautious British foreign policy towards Europe on the contrary provoked at some intellectuals in Britain, such as R.W. Seton-Watson and Wickham Steed, the interest for solution of the national problem. They presented in the press articles their own proposals for foreign policy. According to them if the British government more supported national question it could help the Austria-Hungary to become more powerful and stabile Central European power and the barrier of German expansion.

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