Page:Diplomacy and the War (Andrassy 1921).djvu/28

 had never had Colonial ambitions. He disbelieved in the Colonial theory to such an extent that he positively assisted France, his opponent, in their acquisition. His successor, Caprivi, once said that it was a piece of good fortune that Africa was occupied by other powers, because, if it should fall into German hands, the result would be British opposition. For him the question was "how small, and not how large, can I afford to make the Navy?"

During the reign of William H the Colonial problem became very acute in the minds of all Germans, although Germany actually acquired fewer possessions in that period than under Bismarck's régime. Nevertheless it is obvious, from all the Kaiser's actions and speeches, that he meant to seize every opportunity to increase and protect his Colonies, even at the risk of going to war. It was then that England realized that she had a powerful and determined rival in the partition of the world.

Although the Kaiser's policy was not solely directed to the acquisition of prestige, he departed from Bismarck's point of view, which would only have allowed him to enter into such a question if Germany's interests were directly concerned. It is characteristic of the Kaiser's attitude that he said, amongst other things, in a speech in 1900: "Without Germany and without the German Emperor no great decision must ever be taken. If this should happen, the position of Germany in the world would vanish for ever, and I do not purpose that this should come to pass. To employ suitable,