understanding growing out of this friendship is known as the Entente Cordiale.
In the meantime, Russia had been badly defeated by Japan in the war of 1904-05. Russia's weakness was revealed to such an extent that the English people became less afraid of her. Besides, Great Britain had come to regard Germany as the "most powerful nation on the Continent, and her most active rival for the world's commerce." [notes 1] Her fears had also been aroused by the rapid growth of Germany's navy and merchant marine. The time was thus ripe for an understanding between Britain and Russia, and so in 1907 these two powers came to agreements settling all disputes as to their relations with Persia and Afghanistan. These agreements "practically transformed the Entente Cordiale between France and Great Britain into the Triple Entente between Russia, France, and Great Britain." [notes 2] It was never a formal alliance, but was a kind of "gentlemen's agreement." Japan was already in alliance with Great Britain. In 1910 she and Russia came to an understanding regarding Manchuria. So Japan had virtually ranged herself on the side of the Entente.
Germany was in favor of the "open-door" policy with reference to Morocco and was
