It had often been said that nothing but his great friendship for England had prevented his gaining the highest honours.

His present mission, therefore, which was practically to end the alliance between the two countries, was a peculiarly painful one to him.
"I must tell you before we part, Mr.Mervin Brown," he said gravely, "that neither I nor many of my fellow countrymen share your optimism.
You seem to have inherited the timeworn theory that the War of 1914 was entirely provoked by the junker class of Germans.

That is not true.

It was a people's war, and the people have never forgotten what they were pleased to consider the harsh terms of the Treaty of Peace.

Then as regards Russia, have you ever considered that Russia financially and politically is more than half German?
When Germany lost the war, she had one great consolation--she acquired Russia.