Transcriber’s Notes: Italics are enclosed in _underscores_. Additional notes will be found near the end of this ebook. This book did not have a Table of Contents. The one below has been prepared by the Transcriber, using the actual Chapter headings. CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY v CHAPTER I THE CAREFULLY LAID SCHEME 1 CHAPTER II THE MANY-TRACKED LINES OF GERMAN DIPLOMACY 15 CHAPTER III THE PLAN AND ITS EXECUTION 27 CHAPTER IV FORCING THE QUARREL 40 CHAPTER V GERMANY’S PROGRAMME 69 CHAPTER VI THE POSITION OF ITALY 78 CHAPTER VII THE TWELFTH HOUR 98 CHAPTER VIII THE EARTHQUAKE 127 CHAPTER IX BRITISH NEUTRALITY AND BELLIGERENCY 141 CHAPTER X THE INFAMOUS OFFER 154 CHAPTER XI JUST FOR “A SCRAP OF PAPER” 177 APPENDIX DIPLOMACY AND THE WAR 205 [Illustration: _Photo: Elliott & Fry_ DR. E. J. DILLON] A SCRAP _of_ PAPER THE INNER HISTORY OF GERMAN DIPLOMACY AND HER SCHEME OF WORLD-WIDE CONQUEST _By_ DR. E. J. DILLON THIRD EDITION. HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO MCMXIV INTRODUCTORY