The Germany of William II.

had no desire for war, but one day plunged headlong into it, and during the first week had already created political situations which were beyond her power to cope with.

Belgium and Luxembourg were treated on the Bismarckian principle of "Might before Right," and the world rose against Germany.

I say world, because England's power extended over the world.
At the beginning of the war England stood at "order arms." It would have been entirely true to her traditional policy to allow Germany to fight against France and Russia and mutually weaken each other, then at a given moment to intervene and enjoin peace.

England was forced to join in by Germany threatening to establish herself in Belgium.