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Dreadnought

Page 131

by Robert K. Massie


  38 “a great political blunder”: Marder, Scapa Flow, I, 430

  39 “To me it seems quite obvious”: Lichnowsky, 189

  40 “If Germany succeeds”: ibid., 330

  41 “the German fleet was the only obstacle”: ibid., 336

  42 “thoroughly pleasant and genial”: ibid.

  43 “It was the feeling of insufficient strength”: Spender, Fifty Years, 383

  44 “What a triumph for Tirpitz!”: Woodward, 418

  45 “This policy of secrecy”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 180

  46 “would be greeted with pleasure”: Lamar Cecil, Ballin, 199

  47 “the finest ship afloat”: Legge, 334

  48 “Be on your guard”: Hase, 20

  49 “We overhauled the Meteor”: Müller, 2

  50 “Pleasant journey”... “Friends in past”: Hase, 39

  Chapter 45

  The Coming of Armageddon: Berlin

  1 “The causes which might lead”: The Times, March 18, 1914

  2 “the vials of wrath”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 11

  3 “I shall not live”: Gooch, History of Modern Europe, 557

  4 “Austria finds herself”: ibid., 516

  5 “a dangerous little viper”: Mansergh, 132

  6 “at the last moment”: Albertini, I, 562

  7 “left in the lurch”: Spender, Fifty Years, 362

  8 “I constantly wonder”: ibid., 399

  9 “Our own vital interests”: Jarausch, 156

  10 “world historic process”: Spender, Fifty Years, 363

  11 “The Slavs were born to serve”: ibid.

  12 “If His Majesty Francis Joseph”: ibid., 364

  13 “His Majesty ostentatiously used”: ibid., 365

  14 The account of the Moltke-Conrad conversation is taken from Albertini, I, 561–62

  15 “One comes here for a visit”: Fay, II, 125

  16 “That’s the wrong way!”: ibid., 126

  17 “Sophie! Sophie! Don’t die!”: ibid.; dispatch sent to the Foreign Office by Sir Maurice de Bunsen, British Ambassador in Vienna: BD, XI, 15–16

  18 “kill an enemy of the South Slavs”: Fay, II, 132

  19 “an energetic man”: ibid.

  20 “No crime has ever aroused”: Schmitt, 397

  21 “Terrible shock”: Rose, 167

  22 “For me, it is a great worry less”: Crankshaw, The Fall of the House of Hapsburg, 391

  23 “The Monarchy with unflinching hand”: Mansergh, 219

  24 “does not feel certain of Germany”: Geiss, 59

  25 “The crime against my nephew”: Gooch, History of Modern Europe, 533, and Kautsky

  26 “serious European complication”: Geiss, 76

  27 “rely on Germany’s full support”: ibid.

  28 “opinion that this action”: ibid., 77

  29 “if we had really recognized”: ibid.

  30 “Russia’s attitude”: ibid.

  31 “Russia is in no way prepared”: ibid.

  32 “The views of the Kaiser”: Bethmann-Hollweg, 119

  33 “The sooner the Austrians”: Geiss, 71

  34 “scarcely let it come to war”: Kautsky, No. 49

  35 “was ready for all eventualities”: Geiss, 71

  36 “Certainly, Your Majesty”: Bülow, III, 175

  37 “he did not believe”: Geiss, 72

  38 “I ascertained”: ibid., 79

  39 “The Emperor Franz Joseph may rest assured”: ibid., 74

  40 “All present except”: ibid., 86

  41 “principally to impress”: ibid., 108

  42 “the proposed action against Serbia”: ibid., 95

  43 “Germany would consider”: ibid., 102

  44 “The Imperial administration”: ibid., 91

  45 “It would be a good thing”: ibid., 90

  46 “The Note is being composed”: Kautsky, 113

  47 “assured me he knew nothing”: Geiss, 154

  48 “spoke in the most peaceable manner”: ibid., 131

  49 “everything would depend”: ibid., 138

  50 “they are moderate and made reconcilable”: ibid., 170

  51 “We should consider it unwise”: ibid., 117

  52 “the murder of Sarajevo”: ibid., 143

  53 “propaganda against Austria-Hungary”: ibid., 145

  54 “Russia will never accept it”: Gooch, History of Modern Europe, 536

  55 “the most formidable document”: BD, XI, 73

  56 “You are setting fire”: Geiss, 174

  57 “mistaken idea”: ibid., 199

  58 “Here every delay”: ibid., 201

  59 “very earnestly”: ibid., 213

  60 “give a favorable reply”: BD, XI, 82

  61 “a lesson”: Geiss, 242

  62 “would only be unable to comply”: ibid., 167

  63 “since in vital matters”: Gooch, History of Modern Europe, 537

  64 “action had been forced”: Schmitt, 416

  65 “There was nothing to prove”: Gooch, History of Modern Europe, 535

  66 “We cannot afford to alarm”: Geiss, 121

  67 “While I was on my summer vacation”: William II, My Memoirs, 241

  68 “How did it all happen?”: Bülow, III, 184

  69 “No, you’ve cooked this broth”: ibid.

  70 “A brilliant performance”: Geiss, 222

  71 “avoid very carefully”: ibid., 260

  72 “was ready to go to the limit”: ibid., 241

  73 “there must be a way”: ibid., 242

  74 “Am glad you are back”: ibid., 260

  75 “A confession of his own weakness”: ibid., 261

  76 “unscrupulous agitation”... “will doubtless agree”: ibid.

  77 “transformed”: ibid., 279

  78 “the whole weight of the decision”: ibid., 304

  79 “Russia must ruthlessly”: Jarausch, 169

  80 “if war breaks out”: Geiss, 289

  81 “The British Government could stand aside”: ibid.

  82 “There is immense commotion”: Jarausch, 167

  83 “England will be against us”: Geiss, 291–92

  84 “We, of course, are ready to fulfill”: ibid., 293

  85 “If Vienna declines”: ibid., 305

  86 “the restriction of Austrian military operations”: ibid., 308

  87 “We had a very doubtful support”: ibid., 320

  88 “Great Britain would never allow”: BD, XI, 185

  89 “astounding”: ibid., 186

  90 “dishonorable”... “a disgrace”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 317

  91 “He regretted this”: BD, XI, 195

  92 “a purely private quarrel”... “to burn out with a glowing iron”: Geiss, 282

  93 “Russia has placed herself”: ibid.

  94 “violate the deep-rooted feelings”: ibid., 284

  95 “General mobilization”: ibid., 271

  96 “make us a distinct declaration”: Kautsky, 404

  97 “The curses of the nations”: Sazonov, 213; Paleologue, I, 48

  98 “If France offers me neutrality”: Kautsky, No. 575, 451

  99 “Now we can go to war”: Tuchman, Guns of August, 78

  100 “Your Majesty, it cannot be done”: ibid., 79

  101 “Your uncle would have given me”: ibid., 80

  102 “wounded me deeply”: ibid.

  103 “burst into tears”: ibid., 81

  104 “A positive proposal by England”: ibid.

  105 “Now you can do what you like”: ibid.

  106 “This was my first experience”: ibid.

  107 “France would act”: Kautsky, 448

  108 “When the French Cabinet”: Bethmann-Hollweg, 145

  109 “the letter nor the spirit”: Geiss, 344

  110 “does not seek any territorial acquisition”: ibid., 248

  111 “There was no fear”: ibid., 341

  112 “in the most friendly manner”: ibid., 342 />
  Chapter 46

  The Coming of Armageddon: London

  1 “had been reading”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 193

  2 “the gravest event for many years”: Spender, Asquith, II, 80

  3 “We are within measurable”: Asquith, Memories, II, 8

  4 “substantial economy”: Woodward, Appendix V, 478

  5 “I cannot help thinking”: ibid., 479

  6 “the merits of the dispute”: Asquith, Genesis, 187

  7 “simply and solely”: ibid.

  8 “saw no reason”: Geiss, 105

  9 “The German Government believes”: ibid., 110

  10 “England will not prevent”: ibid., 130

  11 “brusque, sudden, and peremptory”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 307

  12 “the most formidable document”: BD, XI, 73

  13 “give a favorable reply”: ibid., 82

  14 “If our respective governments”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 304

  15 “I see in it”: Geiss, 206

  16 “Ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs”: BD, XI, 101

  17 “Sir E. Grey”: Geiss, 238–41

  18 “in the most decided way”: ibid., 236

  19 “would practically amount”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 309

  20 “Serbia has capitulated”: Asquith, Memories, II, 8

  21 “The German General Staff”: Haldane, Autobiography, 274

  22 “It must be obvious”: Asquith, Genesis, 188

  23 “nothing but a miracle”: Jenkins, 325

  24 “at this stage”: Spender, Asquith, 81

  25 “will be one of policy”: ibid.

  26 Lichnowsky’s July 29 telegram 86 with the Kaiser’s marginalia is taken from Geiss, 288–90

  27 “He then proceeded to make”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 315

  28 “When the war was over”: ibid.

  29 “The document made it clear”: ibid., 316

  30 “His Majesty’s Government cannot”: ibid., 317

  31 “as he knew France”: Geiss, 314

  32 “full and active readiness”: ibid., 225

  33 “joint steps”: ibid., 313

  34 “He is convinced”: ibid., 317

  35 “how difficult it would be”: ibid.

  36 “British participation”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 215

  37 “It was clear to me”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 324

  38 “felt that to stand aside”: ibid., 326

  39 “The argument”: BD, XI, 225

  40 “Germany was so immensely strong”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 302

  41 “There was never any chance”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 205

  42 “the very existence of his country”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 328

  43 “go one inch beyond”: ibid., 329

  44 “The Cabinet thought”: Geiss, 327

  45 “would await the invasion”: ibid., 328

  46 “would find herself in a state”: ibid.

  47 “the question of Belgian neutrality”: ibid., 327

  48 “About the same time”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 327

  49 “he rather doubted”: BD, XI, 234

  50 “the issues of peace and war”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, I, 312

  51 “there were forces”: ibid.

  52 “the whole of Germany”: Tuchman, Guns of August, 19

  53 “We must put aside”: ibid., 26

  54 “The more English the better”: ibid., 121

  55 “Military opinion”: Bethmann-Hollweg, 147

  56 “reliable information”: Geiss, 231

  57 “with the deepest regret”: ibid.

  58 “some suggestions”: ibid.

  59 “The Belgian Government must be informed”: ibid., 354

  60 “Germany’s procedure in Belgium”: ibid., 357

  61 “uncoded”: Kautsky, 567

  62 “Winston very bellicose”: Asquith, Memories, II, 11

  63 “it was at our request”: BD, XI, 252

  64 “simple traverse”: Spender, Asquith, II, 90

  65 “this was a war intrigued”: Lloyd George, I, 68

  66 “I saw Money”: ibid.

  67 “aghast at the bare idea”: Spender, Asquith, II, 102

  68 “are the greatest ninnies”: Margot Asquith, IV, 20

  69 “We have made no pledges”: LVS, 114

  70 “My dear Nicky”: ibid., 140

  71 “would gladly”: BD, XI, 276

  72 “I walked across the Horse Guards Parade”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 217

  73 “we could not stand”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, II, 1

  74 “He was very emotional”: Asquith, Memories, II, 11

  75 “that the country would... be unable”: Haldane, Autobiography, 274

  76 “Grey asked me”: ibid., 275

  77 “Their breath was somewhat”: ibid.

  78 “time must be made”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, II, 13

  79 “for no man had worked harder”... “go through one small corner”: ibid.

  80 The description of the scene in the House of Commons and the quotes from Sir Edward Grey’s speech are taken from August 4, 1914, editions of The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Chronicle, and The Daily News.

  81 “For the most part conversational”: Asquith, Memories, II, 25

  82 “Grey’s speech was very wonderful”: Trevelyan, 265

  83 “sacrifice the honor”... “firmly resolved”: Fay, II, 541

  84 “What happens now?”: Winston Churchill, World Crisis, I, 220

  85 “No, of course everybody knows”: Asquith, Genesis, 213

  86 “Thus, the efforts of a lifetime”: ibid.

  87 “The lamps are going out”: Grey, Twenty-Five Years, II, 20

  88 “bombs on the railway”: Schmitt, 461

  89 “a French physician”: Kautsky, 508

  90 “Interesting”... “We got the news”: LVS, 150

  91 “very calmly”... “We got through all the business”: ibid.

  92 “This whole thing”: ibid.

  93 “So it is all up”: Margot Asquith, IV, 69

  Acknowledgments

  In writing this book, I worked in and drew material from the Yale University libraries, the Tulane University Library, the Public Record Office, the British Ministry of Defence Library, and the British Library Newspaper Library. I am grateful to the staffs of these libraries for their efficiency and courtesy.

  For their help during the early stages of the book, I am indebted to Robert Gottlieb and Katherine Hourigan. At Random House, I have been fortunate in having available the wise experience and stimulating encouragement of a great editor, Robert Loomis, Harry Evans, Joni Evans, and Carsten Fries also have made my path easier.

  From the moment I first described this book to David Godwin of Jonathan Cape, he has reacted with heartwarming enthusiasm. I appreciate also the assistance of his colleagues, Georgina Capel and Jill Black.

  In today’s world, as giant corporations swallow publishing houses and accountants replace editors in making publishing decisions, authors need skillful, dedicated literary agents. I have Deborah Karl, Andrew Wylie, Gillon Aitken, and Sally Riley, all of whom care deeply about writers and writing. I also have been aided by the timely efforts of Bridget Love and Anna Benn.

  Janet Byrne and Judith Karl made up for my inability to master word processing by typing the manuscript. Carmel Wilson provided new photographs at short notice. The Hulton Picture Company in London offered me thousands of tempting picture choices and efficiently provided the ones I selected.

  Through the years this book has been in progress, many friends have helped by word of deed. I thank especially Lorna Massie, the late Natalie May, Mary Keeley, Caecelia Davis, Robert and Ina Caro, Thomas Pynchon and Melanie Jackson, Caroline Michel and Matthew Evaqns, Ken Burrows, Gilbert Merritt, Herbert and May Shayne, David Kahn, and Robert Fagles.

  My children, Elizabeth Massie, Bob Massie, and Susanna Thomas, have
given me support and love; no less has come from Dana Robert and Jim Thomas.

  Deborah Karl, daughter of a literary family, has read every line of this book and suggested changes which invariably turned out to be improvements. For her intelligence, her perception, and her devotion, I will always be grateful.

  Bibliography

  Albertini, Luigi. The Origins of the War of 1914. New York: Oxford University Press, 1953.

  Askwith, Lord, Lord James of Hereford. London: Ernest Benn, 1930

  Asquith, Herbert Henry, Earl of Oxford and Asquith. The Genesis of the War. London: Cassell, 1923

  ——. Fifty Years of Parliament. 2 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1926

  ——. Memories and Reflections, 1852–1927. 2 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1928

  ——. Letters to Venetia Stanley. Selected and edited by Michael and Eleanor Brock. Oxford University Press, 1982

  Asquith, Margot. An Autobiography. 4 vols. New York: George H. Doran, 1920–22

  Bacon, Admiral Sir Reginald. A Naval Scrapbook, 1877–1900. London: Hutchinson, 1925

  ——. The Life of Lord Fisher of Kilverstone. 2 vols. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1929

  ——. Life of John Rushworth, Earl Jellicoe. London: Cassell, 1936

  ——. From 1900 Onwards. London: Hutchinson, 1940

  Balfour, Michael. The Kaiser and His Times. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1964

  Barkeley, Richard. The Empress Frederick. London: Macmillan, 1956

  Barker, Dudley. Prominent Edwardians. New York: Atheneum, 1969

  Barlow, Ima C. The Agadir Crisis. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1940

  Bassett, Ronald. Battle Cruisers: A History, 1908–1948. London: Macmillan, 1981

  Battiscombe, Georgina. Queen Alexandra. London: Constable, 1969

  Bell, Quentin, Virginia Woolf: A Biography, 2 vols. London: Hogarth Press, 1971

  Beresford, Lord Charles. Memoirs. 2 vols. Boston: Little, Brown, 1914

  ——. The Betrayal. London: P. S. King & Son, 1912

  Berghahn. Volker L. Der Tirpitz Plan. Düsseldorf: Droste Verlag, 1971

  ——. Germany and the Approach of War in 1914. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1973

  Bernhardi, General Friedrich von. Germany and the Next War. New York: Longmans, Green, 1914

  Bernstein, George L. Liberalism and Liberal Politics in Edwardian England. Boston: Allen & Unwin, 1986

  Bethmann-Hollweg, Theobald von. Reflections on the World War. London: Butterworth, 1920

  Beyens, Baron. Germany Before the War. New York: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1916

 

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