Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/116



ments, perhaps as frequently as in England, but there was no real mutual influence between the nation and the officials conducting foreign affairs. As has already been pointed out, German diplo- macy failed to reassure either the neighbors or the people of Germany; its lack of clear objectives was puzzling and disquieting. It was also hurt by its constant, evident dependence on what should have been only the very last resort mili- tary force. A further disquieting characteristic of German politics was that there seemed to be a cynical approval of certain courses of action which might indeed resemble what some other na- tions were doing, but which were treated by the latter rather as regrettable necessities. Thus there is, for instance, the conception of Recdpoli- tik, of which Frederick the Great's statement is an extreme instance: "Before declaring my in- tentions I consider on the one side the adverse incidents which I must risk; on the other, the good fortune which I might hope; and after thorough consideration of pro and con, I decide for war." Coming now to the fateful crisis of 1914, it would appear that at this time a great danger was allowed to grow up without the men in con- trol of the government giving themselves a full account as to the fatal probabilities involved,