The Meaning of the War for Germany and Great Britain; An Attempt at Synthesis (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915. Excerpt: ... was intended to prevent. It was in the interest of the peace of Europe that it should be difficult for the two great Powers to the east and south-west of Belgium to attack each other, and it was by an act of self-denial that Prussia and France agreed to tie their own hands in this way. But Prussia had ceased to be in the mood for acts of self-denial, and Belgian neutrality was forced by no other right than the right of the stronger. The German invasion was in clear collision with international law. Great Britain considered herself bound by that law, and upon it she took her stand. But her prior interest, and her still greater interest at the moment, was in France. It was known that the German plans involved as a first step the ' crushing ' of France. And, however much it might be explained that this crushing was only to be taken in a military sense, England was bound to do her best to prevent it. It was in her interest to do this, because she knew that, after France had been disposed of, her own turn would come next. But the danger to France was near and pressing, and this was, rightly, the predominant motive with the British Government. In that fact lay the clue to the part taken by Great Britain in the momentous negotiations of those few days at the end of July and at the beginning of August. The position of the British Government and of the British nation was exceedingly difficult--really more so than that of any other of the Powers concerned. The crisis had come like a bolt from the blue; but for Germany and Austria-Hungary the time was of their own choosing, and their plans were all quite matured. This could not be said of either France or Russia, but the German preoccupation was so constant with both those nations that they were always more or less ...