ABSTRACT
Mr. Churchill’s suggestion of a naval holiday was coldly received by the German Press. His first comments upon the British naval estimates were that the German programme was based upon German needs, and it does not matter what counter measures England takes. Edward Grey was arguing in the House of Commons against the view that British foreign policy was responsible for the hostile development. He pointed out that the Germans themselves had given the reason for the ‘big naval policy’ begun as early as 1897. The increase in the naval estimates was accompanied by an increase in the army estimates of Germany. Herr Bassermann thought that Germany had perhaps carried her peace policy too far in the hope of coming to a lasting agreement with France and establishing good relations with England. A special meeting of the German Navy League, which had a membership of over one million, condemned the new proposals as inadequate.
