Veiled Defensive Alliance.
As a matter of fact, Grey does not desire to have accepted as political
obligations the conversations of the French and English Army and Navy
General Staffs concerning the future plans of campaign which took place
from time to time in times of peace. However, the true tendency of this
agreement, for such it is, gives itself away in the promise to
immediately enter with France into a political and military exchange of
opinions in every critical situation; it means in realty nothing less
than a veiled defensive alliance which by clever diplomatic
manipulations can be changed without any difficulty to an offensive one,
for inasmuch as the English Government promises to consult and work
together with France, and consequently also with its ally, Russia, in
every crisis, before a serious investigation of the moments of danger,
it waives all right of taking an independent position.
How would England ever have been able to enter a war against France
without throwing upon itself the accusation of faithlessness against one
with whose plans for war it had become acquainted through negotiations
lasting through years?
Here a deviation may be permissible, which leaves for a moment the basis
of documentary proof.
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