"Damn it! This is outrageous, utterly arrogant! The Germans actually dared to put forward such terms. Do they think we have already been defeated? That their army has occupied all of Britain, and we can do nothing but let them carve us up?" Prime Minister Asquith roared furiously.
The moment the terms proposed by Germany were delivered into Prime Minister Asquith's hands, he completely abandoned any thought of seeking peace. In his view, Germany had not the slightest shred of sincerity. They were plainly treating Britain as a defeated nation to be carved up. If they accepted the terms laid out by the Germans, the British Empire would truly be left without even a grave. From then on, the British Empire would not only cease to be the world's hegemon—it would not even count as a great power, but would thoroughly decline into a second- or third-rate nation. How could Prime Minister Asquith possibly agree to such terms?
"Prime Minister, the terms put forward by the Germans are indeed exceedingly harsh. There is simply no way we can accept them. Therefore, the Germans truly have no intention of negotiating peace with us. They are extremely confident in their military strength and intend to defeat us directly through overwhelming force." Sir Edward Grey also wore a dejected expression. He could vaguely sense that by shutting the door on peace talks, the Germans likely intended to make Britain pay an even greater price. Once Britain lost the war, they would be utterly finished.
Prime Minister Asquith nodded. "From this moment onward, no one is permitted to mention negotiating peace with the Germans again. We have no other choice. We can only continue this war. Unless we can defeat the Germans in the war—or, failing that, at least hold back their offensive—the British