A contemporaneous account of the diplomatic maneuvers and strategic planning that preceded the European war, arguing that German policy pursued a program of territorial expansion backed by militarism and a readiness to set aside treaty obligations. It traces efforts to provoke or exploit a quarrel, the sequence of negotiations among the great powers, the crisis over Belgian neutrality and the decision that drew Britain into hostilities. The narrative blends event-by-event description with analysis of national objectives, diplomatic tactics, and the correspondence that shaped the unfolding crisis.