It is hardly necessary for us to say that the
pleasant personal relations between the King and his nephew cannot in any way affect our duty as a nation to be vigilant in all matters of national defence. There never was a time nor a case in which the proverb as to preparations for war being the best security for peace held good more than now. We may note here that by being thoroughly prepared for war, and therefore offering no temptation to attack, we are not playing into the hands of the German Chauvinists, but, on the contrary, are strengthening the hands of the very large number of Germans who are as sincerely anxious to keep the peace as we are. If peace-loving Germans can point out to their more combative fellows that they would run great risks in a war, they are armed with a most powerful argument. If, on the other hand, we are unprepared, or even allow ourselves to seem unprepared, we weaken the position of the friends of peace in Germany.
