acquiring lands in Europe was thrown over, and, by their preference for a policy of colonies and trade, they sacrificed the (then possible) alliance with England ; at the same time they neglected to seek support from Russia—the logical course. Finally they stumbled into the World War, deserted by all but the ill-omened Habsburg Dynasty.
The historic tendency of British diplomacy, the sole counterpart of which in Germany was the tradition of the Prussian Army, was, ever since the example set by Queen Elizabeth, directed deliberately towards pre¬ venting by every possible means the rise of any European Power beyond the general standard of greatness, and breaking it by a military attack, if necessary. The means employed by Great Britain to that end varied according to the situation and the task imposed ; but the will and determination were always the same. The political independence of the former North American colonies led, as time went on, to mighty efforts to obtain a certainty of support on the continent of Europe. Thus, after Spain and the Netherlands had sunk from being Great Powers, the forces of the British State were concentrated against the rising power of France, until finally, with the fall of Napoleon, the fear of the hegemony of the military power, which was the most dangerous of all to England, appeared to be broken for good and all.
The change of direction of British statesmanship against Germany was a slow process, because Germany, owing to her lack of national unity, presented no visible menace to England.
By 1870-71, however, England had already adopted her new attitude. Her hesitations, occasioned by America’s importance in world economics, as well as by the development of Russia as a Power, were unfor- Ornately not turned to advantage by Germany, with the result that the historic tendency of British states¬ manship became more and more firmly established.