rential treatment. In December, 1902, Great
Britain and Germany presented a joint ultimatum to Venezuela
concerning the payment of debts, and established a joint blockade
after having seized the Venezuelan fleet. The South American
republic appealed to the United States, at whose suggestion the
matter was referred to the Hague Tribunal of International
Arbitration.

The friendship between France and Great Britain manifested
indisputable signs of rapid growth in 1903 when President Loubet payed
a three days' visit to England in July, and was followed later that
month by a deputation of French deputies and senators. In 1903 it was
also that Joseph Chamberlain, then Secretary for the Colonies, began
his campaign against free trade and for a policy of a retaliatory
tariff and reciprocity with the colonies. Throughout 1902, 1903, and
1904 British troops were fighting in Somaliland, where a revolution
had broken out among the natives under the leadership of the "Mad
Mullah." In 1904 the Franco-English entente became still more cordial,
and in April of that year, 1904, an agreement was signed between the
two countries regulating their relations in Newfoundland, Morocco,
Egypt, West Africa, Siam, and Madagascar, and removing thereby a
prolific source of misunderstandings and irritation. A military
expedition was sent to Tibet, one of the few important parts of Asia
which had hitherto escaped from the attention of European powers.
After many difficulties and considerable fighting this force reached
the Tibetan capital, Lhassa, the ancient seat of the Dalai Lama, who
fled at the approach of the English. As a result a treaty was signed
between Tibet and England giving preferential treatment to English
trade and arranging that no other power should thereafter be permitted
to have any influence in Tibetan public affairs. In the meantime war
had broken out, in February, 1904, between Japan and Russia over the
latter's refusal to withdraw from China. In accordance with the
Anglo-Japanese treaty of 1902, Great Britain maintained neutrality
throughout this war, which, however, was of the benevolent kind
toward Japan. English public sympathy was strongly with the latter
country. In October, 1904, the continuation of England's neutrality
was seriously threatened. After the defeat of the Russian fleet in the
Far East, the Russian Baltic fleet was ordered to go to the support of
the Russian forces. During its progress through the North Sea