“If I had the happiness of finding myself in one mind with you in these thoughts in February, 1912, it has been to me a still greater satisfaction that our two countries have since then had a number of opportunities of working together in this spirit.  Like you, I hold the optimistic view that the great nations will be able to progress further on this path, and will do so.  Anyhow, I shall, in so far as it is within my power, devote my energies to this cause, and I am happy in the certainty of finding in you an openly declared fellow-worker.”

But events swept him from a course which, so far as I know, he at least individually desired to follow.  The great increase of armaments took place that year in Germany, and, when events were too strong for him, he elected, not to resign, but to throw in his lot with his country.  His position was one of great difficulty.  He took a course for which many would applaud him.  But inherently a wrong course, surely.  What he said when Belgium was invaded in breach of solemn treaty shows that he felt this.  He let himself be swept into devoting his energies to bolstering up his country’s cause, instead of resigning.  His career only proves that, given the political conditions that obtained in Germany shortly before the war, it was almost impossible for a German statesman to keep his feet or to avoid being untrue to himself.  And yet there were many others there in the same frame of mind, and one asks oneself whether, had they had more material to work with, they might not have been able to present a more attractive alternative than the notion of military domination which in the end took possession of all, from the Emperor downward.

It is, however, useless to speculate at present on these things.  We know too little of the facts.  The historians of another generation will know more.  But of one thing I feel sure.  The Germans think that Great Britain declared war of pre-conceived purpose and her own initiative.  There is a sense in which she did.  The opinion of Mr. Asquith, Sir Edward Grey, and of those of us who were by their side, was unhesitating.  She could not have taken any other course than she did without the prospect of ruin and failure to enter on the only path of honor.  For honor and safety alike necessitated that she should take, without the delay which would have been fatal, the step she did take without delay and unswervingly.  The responsibility for her entry comes back wholly to Germany herself, who would not have brought it about had she not plunged into war.  And to-day Germany lies prostrate.