Admiral Lord Charles Beresford brought the combined British fleets into the bay, where delegates could see the military power behind British commitments. Invitations to dine aboard and a searchlight display made readiness part of the negotiations. The delegates wanted to avoid a general European war because they understood the destructive weight of industry, and the fleets displayed that power across the bay. German threats then sounded less convincing, while British alignment with France grew firmer. The display contributed to another German naval act and accelerated the Anglo-German naval arms race. The immediate demonstration succeeded, but the rivalry it sharpened lasted beyond the conference.
Notable Point · 24:57-27:18
Algeciras: visible sea power and its consequences
The British fleet display blunted German pressure at Algeciras, tightened Britain's alignment with France, and accelerated the naval race with Germany.