France and Russia had their secret contacts, and England and Austria also never ceased their connections. It was just that everyone tacitly understood and pretended not to see.
If things were taken too seriously, one would end up with no friends at all.
The international relations of the late 19th century had become a tangled mess. France and Austria were opposed on Central European issues but agreed on Central Asian ones.
Although their motives differed, both aimed to incite an Anglo-Russian war to weaken their rival's power.
Conversely, Britain and Russia were nearly the same. They were on the verge of conflict in Central Asia, and their positions on Central European issues were nearly identical, aiming to have France and Austria fight each other and prevent either from becoming dominant.
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London
