This foray into the late-Victorian-Edwardian Royal Navy's strategic policy would have not been possible without the assistance and encouragement of certain individuals to whom I am most grateful. Foremost, I would like to thank Professor Andrew Lambert and the late Professor Ivo N. Lambi for their insight, guidance, and patience. Without their support over the years, this monograph would not have been realized. A special thank you must also be extended to Professor Matthew Seligmann, Professor Christopher Bell, Professor Man-Kam Leung, Professor Robert Grogin, Peter Halvorsen, Dr Geraint Hughes, Dr Warwick Brown, and Dr Howard Fuller for their feedback and advice. All facilitated the completion of this work in one form or another. Equally, without the assistance of many archivists and archival staffs, this study of British naval planning could not have occurred. I therefore extend my deep appreciation to the following: the directors, archivists and staff of The National Archives/Public Record Office, Kew; the archival and library staff at the National Maritime Museum Greenwich, with a special thank you to former staffers, Clive Powell, Alan Giddings, and Jenny Hill; the staff of the Brass Foundry, Woolwich, for their aid with the Admiralty Ships' Covers; Jenny Wraight and the staff at the Naval Library, Ministry of Defence; the Keepers and staff of the Churchill College Archives Centre, Cambridge University; the archivists and staff at the British Library Manuscript Division; the archivists and staff of the Imperial War Museum, Manuscripts Department; the librarians and staff of the Royal United Service Institute; and last, but not least, the trustees, archivists, and staff of the Liddell-Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London.