America was closed to her by the policy of the United States which is expressed in the Monroe Doctrine.  In Asia, however, she secured extensive commercial and industrial concessions—­the forerunners of political control—­in the Turkish Empire.  Germany’s desire for colonies was natural enough, but her jealousy of her more fortunate European neighbors must be considered as one of the reasons underlying her military and naval preparedness for war.

Germany’s covetous attitude toward the colonial possessions of other nations led to several serious international disagreements in the years before the Great War.  More than once it almost brought her into conflict with the government of the United States.  An agreement had been made for the joint control of the Samoan Islands by Great Britain, Germany, and the United States.  Germany’s attempt to enlarge her interests in the islands led to a quarrel with American officers.  An American flag was seized by armed Germans, war vessels were sent to Samoa, and a naval battle seemed about to take place.  A hurricane destroyed the vessels, however, before any fighting had occurred, and the three countries drew up a treaty which settled that particular difficulty (1899).

Germany also resented our acquisition of the Philippines and other Spanish colonies.  At the outbreak of our war with Spain in 1898, when Admiral Dewey steamed into Manila Bay, he found there a German fleet that was half disposed to interfere with his operations.  But when Dewey showed a willingness to fight, the Germans withdrew.

Several years later Germany picked a quarrel with Venezuela and, in defiance of the Monroe Doctrine, bombarded a fort on her coast.  Acting in conjunction with England and Italy, German warships blockaded the ports of Venezuela to force the payment of financial claims.  President Roosevelt’s insistence that Germany drop her further plans of aggression, and his promptness in concentrating the American fleet in the West Indies, resulted in Germany’s accepting a peaceful solution of the dispute.

In 1911 Germany tried to force France out of Morocco.  Since 1904 France had by common consent taken general charge of affairs in that country.  Later Germany made objections to this arrangement.  Finally, in 1911, when France was sending troops into the interior to put down disorders among the natives, Germany sent a gunboat to Agadir (ah-gah-deer’), on the west coast of Morocco.  It looked as if she intended to take possession of the port there.  France protested and the affair began to look very warlike.  England came to the support of France, and Germany gave up all claim to Morocco, taking in exchange about 100,000 square miles in equatorial Africa.  After this humiliation the German militarists became more determined than ever to force the war which they thought would make Germany supreme over her rivals.

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.—­The various jealousies among the nations of Europe which we have just considered, and particularly the general fear of the growing power of the German Empire, largely explain the strong international alliances which came into existence between 1870 and 1914.