Hello all. Found this site recently and have spent the last few months reading timelines. I decided to get started on my first contribution. Hope you enjoy
It was in 1906 set to the back drop of a war between Russia and Japan, and rising tensions between Germany and France over Morocco at the Algeciras Conference that Bernhard Von Bülow whispered in the ear Sir Edward Gray. “In the case of an war between Germany and France what would it take to secure British neutrality.”
Grey, who feared the rise of Germany remained silent. However after the conference an aide of his reported the question to his prime minister.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman response was in private talks with Prince Bernard, almost a year later that, “The sentiments of the English people would be totally averse to any troops being landed by England on the continent without due cause. However Great Britain has made commitments to Belgium and France. The Royal Navy will not tolerate warships in the Channel nor will His Majesty’s Government tolerate an invasion of Belgium.”
In London these words were forgotten about, however in Germany Prince Bernhard von Bülow this reduced feared of British intervention in a European conflict should the Schliefen plan not be executed. For this reason he drew up orders that the Prussian general staff should create an alternate plan to the Schlieffen Plan on the basis of a Russia first war.
Von Molkte’s protests were met with the answer, “Sometimes military expediency must be tempered by diplomatic necessity.”
The Von Molkte Plan, was thus drawn up. The greatest irony is that Von Molkte himself was in favour of the Schlieffen Plan and argued steadily against the Von Molkte Plan.
With the ascension of Asquith to the role of Prime Minister of Great Britain Sir Edward Grey’s hand was strengthened as foreign secretary. With this change in British policy it seemed that Von Molkte would assure the supremacy of the Schlieffen Plan.
It was in 1909 when Von Bülow saw the coming end of his Chancellorship that he felt that he did not wish to go down due to domestic issues without one of last coup in his earlier stomping ground of foreign affairs.
As the debate on inheritance tax spread through the Reichstag Von Bülow was in London. He wished to speak with Asquith and not with Grey with whom he had spoken to at various conferences. “Mr Prime Minister, can we discuss the prospect of a European war between with Germany and Austria Hungary on one side, and France and Russia on the other side.”
Asquith cocked and eyebrow, “and where would Britain be in this discussion Chancellor.”
Von Bülow nodded, “Exactly the question that all of Europe wonders, Mr Prime Minister, your late predecessor once said ‘The sentiments of the English people would be totally averse to any troops being landed by England on the continent without due cause. However Great Britain has made commitments to Belgium and France. The Royal Navy will not tolerate warships in the Channel nor will His Majesty’s Government tolerate an invasion of Belgium.’ Do these sentiments apply to your government as well.”
He was putting Asquith on the spot and both knew it. Asquith didn’t have advisors or ministers to hide behind. It was just the two heads of government present. This of course was Von Bülow’s ambition seeing Grey as preferring to remain evasive. In truth Von Bülow had the measure of Grey’s character. The man felt that as long as no one knew Britain’s position Germany wouldn’t attack France and Russia and France and Russia wouldn’t attack Germany without certainty of British support.
Asquith nodded, “In principle I support my predecessor’s comments however I would add further comments. Britain will not accept a Dogger Bank incident anywhere in the world. A single British ship fired upon by German warships could well be taken as an act of war. In addition there is a difference between an offensive war and a defensive one. I cannot see Britain joining a Franco Russian declared war on Germany however should Germany fire the first shot and invade France it could paint a different picture.”
Von Bülow returned to Berlin and was promptly defeated on the subject of inheritance taxes. Von Bülow immediately announced his resignation. However at the same time he briefed his successor and the Kaiser on the words of Asquith and went into his Italian resignation confident that in getting a direct answer from Asquith that he had won a great foreign policy victory.
It was in 1906 set to the back drop of a war between Russia and Japan, and rising tensions between Germany and France over Morocco at the Algeciras Conference that Bernhard Von Bülow whispered in the ear Sir Edward Gray. “In the case of an war between Germany and France what would it take to secure British neutrality.”
Grey, who feared the rise of Germany remained silent. However after the conference an aide of his reported the question to his prime minister.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman response was in private talks with Prince Bernard, almost a year later that, “The sentiments of the English people would be totally averse to any troops being landed by England on the continent without due cause. However Great Britain has made commitments to Belgium and France. The Royal Navy will not tolerate warships in the Channel nor will His Majesty’s Government tolerate an invasion of Belgium.”
In London these words were forgotten about, however in Germany Prince Bernhard von Bülow this reduced feared of British intervention in a European conflict should the Schliefen plan not be executed. For this reason he drew up orders that the Prussian general staff should create an alternate plan to the Schlieffen Plan on the basis of a Russia first war.
Von Molkte’s protests were met with the answer, “Sometimes military expediency must be tempered by diplomatic necessity.”
The Von Molkte Plan, was thus drawn up. The greatest irony is that Von Molkte himself was in favour of the Schlieffen Plan and argued steadily against the Von Molkte Plan.
With the ascension of Asquith to the role of Prime Minister of Great Britain Sir Edward Grey’s hand was strengthened as foreign secretary. With this change in British policy it seemed that Von Molkte would assure the supremacy of the Schlieffen Plan.
It was in 1909 when Von Bülow saw the coming end of his Chancellorship that he felt that he did not wish to go down due to domestic issues without one of last coup in his earlier stomping ground of foreign affairs.
As the debate on inheritance tax spread through the Reichstag Von Bülow was in London. He wished to speak with Asquith and not with Grey with whom he had spoken to at various conferences. “Mr Prime Minister, can we discuss the prospect of a European war between with Germany and Austria Hungary on one side, and France and Russia on the other side.”
Asquith cocked and eyebrow, “and where would Britain be in this discussion Chancellor.”
Von Bülow nodded, “Exactly the question that all of Europe wonders, Mr Prime Minister, your late predecessor once said ‘The sentiments of the English people would be totally averse to any troops being landed by England on the continent without due cause. However Great Britain has made commitments to Belgium and France. The Royal Navy will not tolerate warships in the Channel nor will His Majesty’s Government tolerate an invasion of Belgium.’ Do these sentiments apply to your government as well.”
He was putting Asquith on the spot and both knew it. Asquith didn’t have advisors or ministers to hide behind. It was just the two heads of government present. This of course was Von Bülow’s ambition seeing Grey as preferring to remain evasive. In truth Von Bülow had the measure of Grey’s character. The man felt that as long as no one knew Britain’s position Germany wouldn’t attack France and Russia and France and Russia wouldn’t attack Germany without certainty of British support.
Asquith nodded, “In principle I support my predecessor’s comments however I would add further comments. Britain will not accept a Dogger Bank incident anywhere in the world. A single British ship fired upon by German warships could well be taken as an act of war. In addition there is a difference between an offensive war and a defensive one. I cannot see Britain joining a Franco Russian declared war on Germany however should Germany fire the first shot and invade France it could paint a different picture.”
Von Bülow returned to Berlin and was promptly defeated on the subject of inheritance taxes. Von Bülow immediately announced his resignation. However at the same time he briefed his successor and the Kaiser on the words of Asquith and went into his Italian resignation confident that in getting a direct answer from Asquith that he had won a great foreign policy victory.
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