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| 1890, March 18 |
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| DISMISSAL OF BISMARCK, resulting at least in part from the dissatisfaction of the young emperor William II with Bismarck's policy toward Russia (See March 18) and his desire for closer relations with Austria and Britain. | 1 |
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| March 23 |
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| A German ministerial conference decided, on the advice of Baron Fritz von Holstein (long a collaborator of Bismarck, who had recently drifted from him), not to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia. It lapsed on June 18, despite numerous Russian attempts to reopen the question of renewal. | 2 |
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| July 1 |
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| Anglo-German colonial agreement (Heligoland treaty), by which Germany gave up large claims in East Africa and received in return the island of Heligoland, which Britain had obtained from Denmark in 1815. Since the island at that time was regarded as practically useless, the whole treaty was looked upon as a striking demonstration of German readiness to purchase the friendship of Britain. | 3 |
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