Why Britain and Germany failed to form an alliance

Why did Britain and Germany fail to turn their alliance discussions into a lasting partnership?

Germany waited for Britain to accept a more subordinate bargain, while Britain would not become the junior global partner and instead moved toward other settlements.

Berlin expected British difficulties to produce a better bargain later and therefore rejected Britain's overtures. Germany wanted an alliance that recognized it as an equal or senior partner, whereas Britain would not accept junior status across the wider world. Britain could accept a junior role in Europe and contribute money more readily than troops, while still insisting on senior status elsewhere. An alliance with France offered an alternative to facing a Germany strengthened by France's destruction. In this interpretation, the choice concerned which available arrangement posed the lesser danger.