To Arthur's surprise, Australia was actually involved in the German-Russian Alliance Treaty, which almost changed the world's geopolitical landscape before World War I. What Arthur did not expect was that the negotiations for the treaty were quite smooth, and Nicholas II and William II established a rather good relationship.
Regardless, this trip to Europe was inevitable. If Australia wanted to gain more benefits in the upcoming World War I or achieve higher international status after the war, it had to frequently interact with European nations, proving the close ties between Australia and Europe.
On June 9, 1905, after receiving William II's invitation to visit Germany, Arthur gladly accepted and embarked on a journey to Germany and the whole of Europe the next day, accompanied by a part of his entourage and escorted by the organized navy fleet.
