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Tyrrell went on: "A statement that may, perhaps, prove helpful in preventing the great catastrophe. "
That was hopeful but vague. Walter wanted to say Get to the point!
Lichnowsky replied with the same strained diplomatic formality. "What indication can you give me of the subject of the statement, Sir William?"
For God's sake, Walter thought, we're talking about life and death here!
The civil servant spoke with careful precision. "It may be that, if Germany were to refrain from attacking France, then both France and Great Britain might consider whether they were truly obliged to intervene in the conflict in eastern Europe. "
Walter was so shocked that he dropped his pencil. France and Britain staying out of the war-this was what he wanted! He stared at Lichnowsky. The ambassador, too, looke
d startled and delighted. "This is very hopeful," he said.
Tyrrell held up a cautionary hand. "Please understand that I make no promises. "
Fine, Walter thought, but you didn't come here for a casual chat.
Lichnowsky said: "Then let me say quite simply that a proposal to confine the war to the east would be examined with great interest by His Majesty Kaiser Wilhelm and the German government. "
"Thank you. " Tyrrell stood up. "I shall report back to Sir Edward accordingly. "
Walter showed Tyrrell out. He was elated. If France and Britain could be kept out of the war there would be nothing to stop him marrying Maud. Was this a pipe dream?
He returned to the ambassador's room. Before they had a chance to discuss Tyrrell's statement, the phone rang. Walter picked it up and heard a familiar English voice say: "This is Grey. May I speak to His Excellency?"
"Of course, sir. " Walter handed the phone to the ambassador. "Sir Edward Grey. "
"Lichnowsky here. Good morning. . . Yes, Sir William has just left. . . "
Walter stared at the ambassador, listening avidly to his half of the conversation and trying to read his face.
"A most interesting suggestion. . . Permit me to make our position clear. Germany has no quarrel with either France or Great Britain. "
It sounded as if Grey was going over the same ground as Tyrrell. Clearly the English were very serious about this.
Lichnowsky said: "The Russian mobilization is a threat that clearly cannot be ignored, but it is a threat to our eastern border, and that of our ally Austria-Hungary. We have asked France for a guarantee of neutrality. If France can give us that-or, alternatively, if Britain can guarantee French neutrality-there will be no reason for war in western Europe. . . Thank you, Foreign Secretary. Perfect-I will call on you at half past three this afternoon. " He hung up.
He looked at Walter. They both smiled triumphantly. "Well," said Lichnowsky, "I didn't expect that!"
{III}
Maud was at Sussex House, where a group of influential Conservative M. P. s and peers had gathered in the duchess's morning room for tea, when Fitz came in boiling with rage. "Asquith and Grey are crumbling!" he said. He pointed to a silver cake stand. "Crumbling like that dashed scone. They're going to betray our friends. I feel ashamed to be British. "
Maud had feared this. Fitz was no compromiser. He believed that Britain should issue orders and the world should obey. The idea that the government might have to negotiate with others as equals was abhorrent to him. And there were distressingly many who agreed.
The duchess said: "Calm down, Fitz, dear, and tell us all what's happened. "
Fitz said: "Asquith sent a letter this morning to Douglas. " Maud presumed he meant General Sir Charles Douglas, chief of the Imperial General Staff. "Our prime minister wanted to put it on record that the government had never promised to send British troops to France in the event of a war with Germany!"
Maud, as the only Liberal present, felt obliged to defend the government. "But it's true, Fitz. Asquith is only making it clear that all our options are open. "
"Then what on earth was the point of all the talks we've held with the French military?"
"To explore possibilities! To make contingency plans! Talks are not contracts-especially in international politics. "
"Friends are friends. Britain is a world leader. A woman doesn't necessarily understand these things, but people expect us to stand by our neighbors. As gentlemen, we abhor the least hint of deceit, and we should do the same as a country. "
That was the kind of talk that might yet get Britain embroiled in a war, Maud thought with a shiver of panic. She just could not get her brother to understand the danger. Their love for one another had always been stronger than their political differences, but now they were so angry that they might quarrel gravely. And when Fitz fell out with someone, he never made it up. Yet he was the one who would have to fight and perhaps die, shot or bayoneted or blown to pieces-Fitz, and Walter too. Why could Fitz not see that? It made her want to scream.
