"Your Majesty, the Germans must have been afraid of international condemnation over their military invasion of Gibraltar. That is why they wanted to pressure us through diplomatic means, hoping to make us give it up." Preto looked utterly certain.
"Is that so?" Alfonso XIII hesitated. He was highly indecisive; whatever his ministers said was what he thought. This undoubtedly left him wavering on the matter.
He feared the outbreak of war, feared that the Germans would destroy Spain and turn him into a king without a country. Yet at the same time, he could not bear to let go of the glory brought by recovering Gibraltar.
"Your Majesty, it must be so. The Germans want to frighten us into compromising and backing down, so they can realize their delusion of occupying Gibraltar. If we refuse to compromise, the Germans will surely retreat," Preto said.
Seeing how certain Preto was, Alfonso XIII could not help believing more than half of it.
"Your Majesty, why not summon the German Ambassador first and see exactly what conditions they have?" Prime Minister Count Romanones suggested.
"Good. We shall do that," Alfonso XIII said.
The palace immediately sent someone to summon the German Ambassador. Less than half an hour later, the German Ambassador appeared at the palace.
"Your Excellency, Gibraltar has always been territory of the Kingdom of Spain. It was merely forcibly occupied by the British before. Now that we have recovered Gibraltar, it is lawful and justified. I hope the German Empire will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Spain," Alfonso XIII said.
Though he was a fool, after being king for so many years, he had learned through constant exposure what he ought to say in such circumstances.
"His Majesty the King, I have already discussed this matter