<P> Germany's plan backfired when Britain made it clear that in the event of a German attack on France, Britain would intervene on France's side . In 1906 the Algeciras Conference ended the crisis with a stinging diplomatic defeat for Germany as France gained the dominant role in Morocco . The experience brought London and Paris much closer and set up the presumption they would be allies if Germany attacked either one . The German adventure resulted in failure as Germany was left more isolated and alienated . A momentous consequence was the heightened sense of frustration and readiness for war in Germany . It spread beyond the political elite to much of the press and most of the political parties except for the Liberals and Social Democrats on the left . The Pan-German element grew in strength and denounced their government's retreat as treason, stepping up chauvinistic support for war . </P> <P> In the Agadir Crisis of 1911 France strong - armed itself into seizing more control over Morocco . The German Foreign Minister Alfred von Kiderlen - Waechter was not opposed to these moves, but he felt Germany was entitled to some compensation elsewhere in Africa . He sent a small warship, made saber - rattling threats, and whipped up anger among German nationalists . France and Germany soon agreed on a compromise . However, the British cabinet was alarmed at Germany's aggressiveness toward France . David Lloyd George made a dramatic "Mansion House" speech that denounced the German move as an intolerable humiliation . There was talk of war, and Germany backed down . Relations between Berlin and London remained sour . </P> <P> After 1805 the dominance of Britain's Royal Navy was unchallenged; in the 1890s Germany decided to match it . Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz (1849--1930) dominated German naval policy from 1897 until 1916 . Before the Germany Empire formed in 1871, Prussia never had a real navy, nor did the other German states . Tirpitz turned the modest little fleet into a world - class force that could threaten the British Royal Navy . The British responded with new technology typified by the Dreadnaught revolution, and remained in the lead . </P> <P> Germany's navy was not strong enough to confront the British in World War I; the one great naval Battle of Jutland failed to end Britain's control of the seas or break the stifling blockade . Germany turned to submarine warfare . The laws of war required an effort be made to allow passengers and crew to board lifeboats before sinking a ship . The Germans disregarded the law and in the most dramatic episode sank the Lusitania in 1915 in a few minutes . The U.S. demanded it stop, and Germany did so . Admiral Henning von Holtzendorff (1853 - 1919), chief of the admiralty staff, argued successfully in early 1917 to resume the attacks and thus starve the British . The German high command realized the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare meant war with the United States but calculated that American mobilization would be too slow to stop a German victory on the Western Front . </P>

A rivalry had developed among europes great powers