The ministers of the British Cabinet, upon receiving a call from the Prime Minister's office, emerged from their warm beds and hurried into their cars, making their way to Downing Street. They all understood that Prime Minister Asquith would not summon them at such an hour unless a grave situation had arisen. Moreover, it appeared that the Royal Navy was engaged in a decisive battle with the Germans. Thus, the purpose of Asquith's summons was unmistakably clear.
"Let us hope the Royal Navy prevails in this naval engagement! If they are defeated, the British Empire will face dire consequences—catastrophic ones!" Sir Edward Grey sat in his car, anxiety etched across his features.
Many shared Grey's sentiments. As members of the Cabinet, they were acutely aware of the precarious state facing the Empire. A victory at sea could rekindle the possibility of triumph in the war, and despite the immense toll it had taken on their national resources, they could at least cling to survival. A defeat for the Royal Navy, however, would spell the end of everything.
Within half an hour, the ministers arrived at the Prime Minister's residence.
"Gentlemen, I regret having to gather you at such a late hour, but it is unavoidable," Asquith said, his face shadowed by concern. "Let us hear from Lord Churchill regarding the outcome of the naval battle."
Churchill rose, feeling the weight of every gaze upon him, an overwhelming pressure building within.
"Gentlemen, I bear grave news to convey," Churchill began.
A collective frown formed on the brows of the Cabinet members, as the reality of the situation settled upon them. It was evident that the Royal Navy had suffered a significant defeat.
"The Royal Navy, in the recently concluded battle, was unable to overcome the Germans. Instead, we endured catastrophic losses. Twenty-two battleships and five battlecruisers were sunk, while three battleships and one battlecruiser were severely damaged. The losses among our cruisers and destroyers were similarly devastating. In exchange for such heavy sacrifices, we managed to sink only one German battleship and inflict damage on a few others," Churchill reported, his voice resolute despite the disheartening news.
As soon as he finished speaking, the room was filled with gasps of disbelief. They had anticipated a defeat, but the scale of the loss was shocking.
"Lord Churchill, having lost so many capital ships while inflicting negligible damage on the Germans—how are we to continue this fight?" Army Minister Richard Haldane exclaimed, his face aflame with anger.
With over a million troops engaged in France, the Royal Navy's dismal performance would undoubtedly cede naval supremacy to the Germans. Ensuring the safety of maritime supply lines from Britain to France would become a daunting task. Should the Anglo-French forces falter on the Western Front, severing these routes would prevent the British Expeditionary Force from returning home.
"Lord Haldane, the Royal Navy fought valiantly. Our defeat was not due to cowardice among the sailors. We exerted ourselves to the utmost to vanquish the Germans, but their strength was overwhelming, resulting in our tragic downfall," Churchill explained.
Haldane opened his mouth to protest but ultimately remained silent. He understood that assigning blame to the Royal Navy alone was unjust. The flawed strategic thinking that had preceded this conflict had rendered the Royal Navy's ships ineffective against their German counterparts. The time for accountability had passed; what mattered now was the grim reality of defeat.
"Prime Minister, given the Royal Navy's failure, do we still hold any chance of reversing our fortunes according to Lord Churchill's prior plan?" asked Chancellor Lloyd George.
Churchill shook his head. "Our capital ships have been decimated, and our inflicted losses on the Germans are minuscule. While we still possess several pre-dreadnoughts, their combat effectiveness is woefully inadequate. Against Germany's modern battleships, they would be easily vanquished. To employ them as previously planned would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths."
An oppressive silence enveloped the room as all the ministers grasped the magnitude of the Royal Navy's catastrophic defeat. Their failure to achieve the established military objectives precluded any hope of reclaiming naval supremacy. The safety of the homeland was now acutely threatened. Should the German army achieve victory on the Western Front and collapse France, the consequences for Britain would be dire. If they resisted German demands, an invasion of the British Isles would become inevitable.
The terrifying prospect rendered the faces of the Cabinet ministers pale.
"Prime Minister, since the navy has faltered, our odds in this war are virtually nonexistent. To avoid the conflagration of our homeland, perhaps we should consider negotiations with the Germans to conclude the conflict," suggested Foreign Minister Sir Edward Grey.
"However, the conditions proposed by the Germans are exceedingly harsh. Accepting them would mean the obliteration of the British Empire."
"Even if it means sacrificing significant interests, it would be preferable to allow our homeland to be reduced to ashes under the German onslaught."
As the Royal Navy's failures became increasingly apparent, more ministers began to ponder whether negotiations with the Germans might be prudent. While conceding to negotiations would entail substantial losses, the alternative—having their homeland engulfed in war—was equally intolerable.
"Though the Germans' terms are harsh, we might still negotiate," one suggested.
Witnessing his fellow ministers gravitate toward the notion of negotiations left Churchill disheartened. He could not bear the thought of the British Empire succumbing so easily to German domination.