army a man thinks he knows everything. After twenty months in the
Cabinet he knows that he knows nothing.

MITCHENER. We learn from history--

BALSQUITH. We learn from history that men never learn anything
from history. Thats not my own: its Hegel.

MITCHENER. Whos Hegel?

BALSQUITH. Dead. A German philosopher. (He half rises, but
recollects something and sits down again.) Oh confound it: that
reminds me. The Germans have laid down four more Dreadnoughts.

MITCHENER. Then you must lay down twelve.

BALSQUITH. Oh yes: its easy to say that: but think of what theyll
cost.

MITCHENER. Think of what it would cost to be invaded by Germany
and forced to pay an indemnity of five hundred millions.

BALSQUITH. But you said that if you got compulsory military
service there would be an end of the danger of invasion.

MITCHENER. On the contrary, my dear fellow, it increases the
danger tenfold, because it increases German jealousy of our
military supremacy.

BALSQUITH. After all, why should the Germans invade us?