Wilhelm II, tsaar Nicolaas II, tsarina Alexandra en koningin Victoria.
[In the spring of 1914 Nicholas II said to the British Ambassador Sir George Buchanan]: “It was commonly supposed that there was nothing to keep Germany and Russia apart. This was, however, not the case. There was the question of the Dardanelles. Twice in the last two years the Straits had been closed for a short period, with the result that the Russian grain industry had suffered very serious loss. From information which had reached him from a secret source through Vienna he had reason to believe that Germany was aiming at acquiring such a position at Constantinople as would enable her to shut in Russia altogether in the Black Sea. Should she attempt to carry out this policy he would have to resist it with all his power, even should war be the only alternative … though the Emperor said that [he] … wished to live on good terms with Germany … at present the vital necessity was for Russia, France an Britain to unite more closely in order to make it absolutely clear to Berlin that all three entente powers would fight side by side against German aggression.” (D. Lieven, Nicholas II, Emperor of All the Russias [Londen 1993, p. 197)