<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 for his recklessness ran deep . The Kaiser did indeed meddle in Africa in support of the Boers, which soured relations . </P> <P> The main accomplishment was a friendly 1890 treaty . Germany gave up its small Zanzibar colony in Africa and acquired the Heligoland islands, off Hamburg, which were essential to the security of Germany's ports . </P> <P> Liberal Party policy after 1880 was shaped by William Gladstone as he repeatedly attacked Disraeli's imperialism . The Conservatives took pride in their imperialism and it proved quite popular with the voters . A minority faction of Liberals became active imperialists . The Second Boer War (1899--1902) was fought by Britain against and the two independent Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic (called the Transvaal by the British). After a protracted hard - fought war, with severe hardships for Boer civilians, the Boers lost and were absorbed into the British Empire . The war bitterly divided with Liberals, with the majority faction denouncing it . Joseph Chamberlain and his followers broke with the Liberal Party and formed an alliance with the Conservatives to promote imperialism . </P>

How did the growth of nationalism affect international affairs during the same period