Russian Peace-Making Initiatives at the Final Stage of the Anglo-Boer War 1899–1902

Abstract

The Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902) garnered significant sympathy in Russia for the Boers. Russia participated in the joint diplomatic pressure on Great Britain between late 1899 and early 1900, which failed because the European continental powers could not reach an agreement and Britain refused foreign mediation. Unlike other Great Powers that ceased their initiatives after initial setbacks, Russian diplomacy continued its peace efforts into the second year of the war, 1901. This article describes Russia’s peacekeeping policy aimed at ending the Anglo-Boer conflict during this period. Nicholas II was concerned about civilian casualties; in his opinion, the conflict had turned into a war of annihilation. In addition, he attempted to implement the principles of international law that had been defined at the Hague Conference of 1899, which was initiated by Russia. Nicholas II believed that the Great Powers were obliged to exert a "friendly influence" on Britain to make it comply with the laws and customs of organized warfare. Throughout 1901, Russian diplomacy made proposals for collective assistance to end the Anglo-Boer War. Nicholas II sent a personal message to the British King, Edward VII, and the Russian Foreign Ministry encouraged the other powers to jointly offer good offices or mediation, including supporting the Boers’ appeal to the Permanent Court of Arbitration. These efforts also failed due to British resolve and a lack of support from other powers. Newly discovered archival documents reveal that Russian diplomacy in 1901 was driven more by humanitarian concerns and Nicholas II’s personal conviction than by traditional foreign policy. This motivation distinguished Russia’s actions from those of other powers during the final phase of the Anglo-Boer War.