H. P. Willmott called his book on Britain's war in the Far East Grave of a Dozen Schemes and the title is most appropriate. Britain faced several major problems in defending – and winning back – her extensive Imperial territories in the period 1921–45. In the 1890s, it became apparent to British statesmen and naval chiefs that the extent and scattered nature of the Empire would be difficult to defend against a major foe, especially one who was much closer to Imperial territories than the ‘mother country’. Furthermore, the 1890s witnessed the rise to maritime ‘great power’ status of several new contenders – the United States, Japan and Germany – all of whom were ambitious to establish their own empires and were of doubtful friendliness. These new world powers were ranged alongside Britain's traditional colonial rivals, France and Russia (allied to each other since 1893). Despite a steady enlargement of the Royal Navy after 1889, it was recognised in Britain that the country could not hope to defend its Empire without defusing what had become a highly dangerous situation, with all the great powers, old and new, seemingly ranged against her, each with their own aims and, worse, disputes with Albion. It was necessary to solve these disputes peaceably and, if possible, to make alliances or at least tacit understandings with some of them.

In 1895, a dispute with the United States (and its client Venezuela) over territory in South America was resolved peacefully; Britain thereafter consistently appeased the United States (often to Canada's mortification). In 1902, Britain made an unprecedented move in signing a defensive alliance with Japan; if either power found itself at war with two or more countries, the other was treaty-bound to come to its partner's aid. Japan was a country of yellow-skinned people, not normally treated with respect by Europeans at that time. Moreover, she was at the beginning of her rise to ‘great power’ status and Britain was taking a real risk in going into an alliance with her. The alliance was to last 20 years and Japan fought on Britain's side in the First World War, effectively protecting the Empire's extensive Asian territories. In 1904 and 1907, settlements were made with France and Russia. They were much less binding and rather vague but they defused colonial disputes. Of the major world powers, only Germany remained immune to Britain's overtures.