Sir Edward Grey considered that the British pro-
posals were sufficient. He explained that if Germany
desired to crush France, England might not be able to
sit still, though if France were aggressive or attacked
Germany, no support would be given by His Majesty's
government or approved by England. He even-
tually proposed the following formula:

The two powers being mutually desirous of securing peace
and friendship between them, England declares that she will
neither make nor join in any unprovoked attack upon Ger-
[170]



393

many. Aggression upon Germany is not the subject, and
forms no part of any treaty, understanding or combination to
which England is now a party, nor will she become a party to
anything that has such an object.
Count Metternich, in accordance with instructions
received from Berlin, stated that the project for a
further increase of the German navy could not be
abandoned except on the basis of a neutrality treaty
of a far-reaching character and leaving no doubt as to
its interpretation. "He admitted," Lord Haldane
writes, "that the chancellor's wish amounted to a
guaranty of absolute neutrality."

At this point the negotiations for a reduction of
naval armaments and for a neutrality agreement were
dropped.
Sir Edward Grey, however, expressed the hope that
this result would not put an end to negotiations or
form an insurmountable obstacle to better relations.
