The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

TALK WITH SIR E. GREY ON GERMANY 261

spirit in Germany and of the high tension of the people, and I
feared some spark might be fanned into a blaze. I thought
Germany would strike quickly when she moved; that there
would be no parley or discussion; that when she felt that a
difficulty could not be overcome by peaceful negotiation, she
would take no chances but would strike. I thought the Kaiser
himself and most of his immediate advisers did not want war,
because they wished Germany to expand commercially and
grow in wealth, but the army was militaristic and aggressive
and ready for war at any time.
'I told him there was a feeling in Germany, which I shared,
that the time had come when England could protect herself
no longer merely because of her isolated position; that modern inventions had so changed conditions that the Germans
believed she would be within striking distance before long,
just as were her Continental neighbors. Sir Edward replied,
"The idea, then, is that England will be in the same position
as the Continental Powers." I said, "Quite so."
'I gave my opinion of the German aerial strength and
what they might accomplish even now. I explained the part
we desired to play as pacificators and why I felt we could do
this better than they could do it themselves. I warned him
that the present Chancellor of Germany might go at any
time and be replaced by von Tirpitz, and a solution would
then be a much more difficult undertaking.
'I feel that my visit has been justified, even if nothing
more is done than that already accomplished. It is difficult
for me to realize that the dream I had last year is beginning
to come true. I have seen the Kaiser, and now the British
Government seem eager to carry on the discussion. It is
hard to realize, too, that every government in the world may
be more or less affected by the moves we are making and
every human being may be concerned in the decisions reached
from day to day.
'I told Sir Edward the Kaiser had said when his name was