Note 707 — Chapter XII

Grey, I, 74. The British press supported the French loyally for the sake of maintaining the balance of power. See O. Eltzbacher, “The Balance of Power in Europe,” Nineteenth Century and After (May, 1905); Steed, I, 230 ff. It is difficult to state exactly what were the British motives for supporting France so whole-heartedly in this crisis. One has to deduce them from acts, for, unlike the Germans, the directors of the British policy did not write down their reasons. As to King Edward’s view of the international situation, especially of the German danger, see Spring Rice to Lansdowne, D. May 7, 1905, R. May 13, 1905, B.D., IV, 77 f., No. 69, and King Edward’s minute thereto. On July 10 Spring Rice, in a memo. written after talking with Lansdowne, stated that British policy aimed at maintaining the balance of power (Gwynn, I, 476).