"I knew it to be very doubtful whether the Cabinet, Parliament, and the country would take this view on the outbreak of war, and through the whole of this week I had in view the probable contingency that we should not decide at the critical moment to support France"

This quote by Edward Grey is referring to the break out of World War I. Grey was the British Foreign Secretary at the time and was concerned about the British federal government's reaction to the war. He understood that the Cabinet, Parliament, and the country might not agree with the decision to support France in the war. He was preparing for the possibility that the British government would not choose to support France at the critical moment. This quote reveals Grey's foresight and his understanding of the political circumstance at the time. He knew the prospective repercussions of not supporting France and was prepared to face them. Grey's quote is a testament to his management and his commitment to doing what was finest for Britain.