 Complete the following phrase:  Nicholas signed the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, which was designed to counter Germanys attempts to gain influence in the Middle East; it ended the Great Game of confrontation between Russia and the British Empire. He aimed to strengthen the Franco-Russian Alliance and proposed the unsuccessful Hague Convention of 1899 to promote disarmament and solve international disputes peacefully. Domestically, he was criticised for his governments repression of political opponents and his perceived fault or inaction during the 