He showed a great degree of toleration for Germany; and he was, during the whole morning that I talked with him, complaining of England.

The controversies we had with England were, of course, mere by-products of the conflict.

But to him they seemed as important as the controversy we had with Germany.

In the beginning he had made--as far as it was possible--neutrality a positive quality of mind.

He would not move from that position.
That was his first error of judgment.