Source A: A Diplomat's Report on Alliances

"The network of alliances among European nations was designed to promote peace, yet it paradoxically increased tensions. Countries became more committed to defend their allies, which made any conflict more likely to escalate. The alliances created a fragile balance, where a local dispute could quickly turn into a full-scale war. The secret treaties, in particular, made it difficult for nations to act decisively without risking a wider war. While intended to prevent conflict, these alliances ultimately contributed to the outbreak of war in 1914." Provenance: Sir Richard Hamilton, 1914, diplomatic report to the Foreign Office.