six o'clock
But repentance had come too late . The Government stood between a hungry , terrified populace demanding peace and food , and a mighty and victorious army whose commander , acting upon the orders of his Government , offered peace at a terrible price , or the absolute destruction of London . For General von Füchter 's brief memorandum of terms alluded threateningly to the fact that his heavy artillery was so placed that he could blow the House of Commons into the river in an hour . At six o'clock the German terms were accepted , a provisional declaration of peace was signed , and public proclamations to that effect , embodying reference to the deadly perils which would be incurred by those taking part in any kind of street disorder , were issued to the public . As to the nature of the German terms , it must be admitted that they were as pitiless as the German tactics throughout the invasion , and as surely designed to accomplish their end and object . Berlin had not forgotten the wonderful recuperative powers which enabled France to rise so swiftly from out of the ashes of 1870 . Britain was to be far more effectually crippled .