Question on Alliances

[Sabotage]

Ok, say that there are only 3 nations remaining in the world. Those nations are England, America and Zululand.

Zululand is the weakest of all, and has an alliance with England, the strongest. America has aims of conquring Zululand, but in doing so would bring England into the war.

So if America also signed a Mutual Protection Pact with England and then declared war on the Zulus, who would England help out?

 

[Quentin]

Many people say that the country will help whichever country attacks first in this case. I think if America sends some unit into Zulu territory and Zululand attacks but America declared war in the first place, England will help America(it being the one who was ATTACKED).

 

[SirPleb]

If England has a Mutual Protection Pact with both Zululand and America, England will join the war on the side of whichever of America or Zululand is first attacked by the other.

So, to bring England into the war on America's side, America can safely declare war on Zululand but NOT attack any Zulu units on that turn. Leave some American unit or units where the Zulu can reach them on their turn. As soon as the Zulu attack the American units (or capture a worker or raze some American land improvement), England will join the war on America's side.

I have had a few exceptions, when I have been attacked but an MPP partner has not joined. I am not positive but I think that in those cases my unit which was attacked was in the other country's territory. After declaring war but not attacking, I always try to leave some "bait" in my territory for the other party to attack, to make sure the MPP agreements will be triggered.