Lord Haldane mentions that he was in communication with M. Jules
Cambon, the French Ambassador in Berlin, and recounted his
conversations to him. The Ambassador quite appreciated that the purpose
of the mission was to create a detente, as distinguished from an
entente. M. Jules Cambon reported his conversation with Lord Haldane to
M. Poincaré.
Lord Haldane had another conversation with the Chancellor in the hope
of arriving at a formula with regard to the navy. The Chancellor said
that the "forces he had to contend with were almost insuperable. Public
opinion in Germany expected a new law and the third squadron, and he
must have these. I said we could not contest Germany's right to do in
these matters, and indeed in other matters, as she pleased. But why not
postpone the shipbuilding for longer and adapt the law accordingly? * * *"
"The Chancellor said he would try. He asked me to consult the experts
in London and make a suggestion. I had said, he remarked, that
everything was good only on balance, and Germany must for a greater
end give up a minor advantage. The new squadron and the new fleet law
she must have, but it was a question for the experts, on which he did
not pronounce, whether a retardation of greater magnitude than Tirpitz
proposed might not be possible. I promised to let him know privately
the state of feeling here about the Tirpitz proposals on my return."
The Ministers then endeavored to arrive at a formula, the whole purpose
of which was to bring about conditions which would prevent to endeavor
to get a definition of the duty of neutrality; and, in the event of
war, to combine in order to localize the conflict.
After Lord Haldane's return to London, negotiations in search of
a formula were continued. Prince Lichnowsky preserved a friendly
atmosphere, but the German Government never agreed to conditions
which would have safeguarded the neutrality of Belgium or maintained
her honorable obligations to our allies. The nearest they got at the
eleventh hour was, as Lord Grey said, "far too narrow an engagement for
us."