He certainly never thought of a _unified_ German world dominion; he was not so simple as to think he could achieve that without a war, but his plan undoubtedly was permanently to establish Germany among the first Powers of the world.
I know for certain that the Emperor's ideal plan was to come to a world agreement with England and, in a certain sense, to divide the world with her.

In this projected division of the world a certain part was to be played by Russia and Japan, but he paid little heed to the other states, especially to France, convinced that they were all nations of declining power.

To maintain that William intentionally prepared and started this war is in direct opposition to his long years of peaceful government.

Helfferich, in his work "Die Vorgeschichte des Weltkrieges," speaks of the Emperor's attitude during the Balkan troubles, and says: A telegram sent by William II.

at that time to the Imperial Chancellor explains the attitude of the German Emperor in this critical position for German politics, being similar to the situation in July, 1914.