In the late nineteenthcentury Britain kept out of foreign politics as much as possible. Europe wasdivided into two camps: France and Russia in one, Germany, Austria and Italy inthe other. (63)Britain favored the second group so long as France threatenedher interests in Africa and the Russians threatened her Indian border. ButGermany was growing too strong. The various German states had been united underthe King of Prussia after his conquest of France in 1870. He was now Emperor ofall Germany. (64) He was Queen Victoria's son-in-law, but his ambitions tookno account of such a tie. Britain watched him with growing mistrust.

The Germans already had thebest army in Europe. (65)By 1901, when Victoria died, they had begun tobuild a very large navy, which was not needed to protect their trade. Itcould only have one purpose, to fight its British rival. Edward VII had nevershared his mother's faith in the Emperor's goodwill, and Britain now openlymade friends with France. (66)She would not make a defence treaty, but sheshowed that her sympathy would be with the French if the Germans attacked them.Plans were made for an army of 150,000 men which would be ready to cross theChannel at a moment's notice. (67) When war came in 1914, this force managedto arrive just in time to save Paris.

(From The World at War)

 
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