ABSTRACT
Recognition of the protagonism of Germany and Great Britain and of the causes upon which it depends, does not ignore the existence of other circumstances which in their permanence have from time to time affected, or still do affect, the course of nations. Delbruck's line of reasoning applies to every other nation, as well as to Great Britain; and to every other cause of contention, as well as to those which constitute the rivalry between her and Germany. Granting what has been said, it is clear that Great Britain occupies the key of the international position at a moment when international tension is increasing because all the nations eminent in industry and in the possession of capital are seeking outlets in the same quarters of the world. Disregarding for the moment other elements of military strength, the other great Powers of Europe—Russia, Italy, France, Great Britain—are distributed around the massed territory of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
