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| 1896, Jan. 3 |
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| The KRUGER TELEGRAM was sent by Emperor William to President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic (Transvaal), congratulating him on the defeat of the raiders led by Dr. Jameson (See 1895, Dec. 29–1896, Jan. 2). German interests in the Transvaal were considerable, but not decisive. The Germans made themselves the advocates of the Transvaal because they hoped (this was Holstein's plan) to demonstrate the value of German friendship to Britain by annoying the British into better relations. When news of the Jameson raid reached Berlin, the emperor, assuming that the British government was privy to the scheme, demanded strong measures and even military intervention on behalf of Kruger. This created a storm of indignation and recrimination in Britain, especially when it became known that the real purpose of the German government was to beat the British into friendship. Loud demands for an agreement with France and Russia were met by the British government by an agreement with France (Jan. 15) in which the British abandoned many of their claims in Siam, and by approaches to Russia, which, however, led to nothing. | 1 |
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| Feb |
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| Limited reconciliation between Russia and Bulgaria. The new tsar, Nicholas II, desired to bring the feud to an end, and Prince Ferdinand expressed his readiness to baptize the crown prince Boris in the Orthodox faith. Russia took the initiative in securing the recognition of Ferdinand by the powers (See 1887–1918). | 2 |
| Outbreak of the insurrection in Crete (See 1896–97), fomented by Greeks who were intent on the annexation of the island. Under pressure from the powers, the sultan eventually agreed (July 3) to the restoration of the Pact of Halepa (1878), which had introduced a large measure of self-government in the island and had been curtailed after the suppression of a rising in 1889. Greek support of the insurgents continued. The sultan accepted a new reform scheme (Aug. 25) drawn up by the ambassadors of the powers (Crete was to have a Christian governor, named by the sultan with the approval of the powers; the Cretan Christians were to have two-thirds of all offices, and the Cretan assembly was to have wide powers; a European commission was to reorganize the gendarmerie, courts, and finances). This program was accepted by the insurgents (Sept. 12). | 3 |
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| March 1 |
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| Battle of Adua. Disastrous defeat of the Italians by the Ethiopians (See 1896, March 1). | 4 |
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| March 12 |
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| British decision to begin the reconquest of the Sudan by an advance on Dongola, to protect the Nile. There was a danger of French advance in that region, as well as from the west (second Monteil mission, July 1895; Marchand mission, Feb. 1896), despite the famous Grey declaration (March 28, 1895) stating that Britain would regard such action as “unfriendly,” which obliged the government to reestablish control of the Sudan itself. | 5 |
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