<P> In 1890--1902 under Salisbury, Britain promoted a policy of Splendid isolation with no formal allies . </P> <P> Britain and Germany each tried to improve relations, but British distrust of the Kaiser ran deep . The main accomplishment was an 1890 treaty that exchanged Germany's Zanzibar colony in Africa for the Heligoland islands, off Hamburg, which were essential to the security of Germany's ports . The Kaiser did indeed meddle in Africa in support of the Boers, which soured relations . British - French relations took a turn for worse when France declared war on Siam in 1893, which London saw as a threat to India . </P> <P> The "Eastern Question" involved the slow steady disintegration of the "Sick man of Europe" (the Ottoman Empire, often called "Turkey"), the rise of nationalism in the Balkans, and the general issue of alliances in Eastern Europe . In the 1870s the "Eastern Question" focused on the mistreatment of Christians in the Balkans by the Ottoman Empire, and what the European great powers ought to do about it . </P> <P> In 1876 Serbia and Montenegro declared war on Turkey, and were badly defeated, notably at the battle of Alexinatz (Sept. 1, 1876). Gladstone published an angry pamphlet on "The Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East," which aroused enormous agitation in Britain against Turkish misrule, and complicated the Disraeli government's policy of supporting Turkey against Russia . Russia, which supported Serbia, threatened war against Turkey . In August 1877, Russia declared war on Turkey, and steadily defeated its armies . In early January 1878 Turkey asked for an armistice; the British fleet arrived at Constantinople too late . Russia and Turkey on March 3 signed the Treaty of San Stefano, which was highly advantageous to Russia, Serbia, and Montenegro, as well as Romania and Bulgaria . </P>

How were european nations affected by the five treaties