The King and his highest officials were thoroughly acquainted with affairs in Europe, with the political and economic rivalries that had led to the outbreak of war, with the delicate balance of power in Europe that made guesses as to the final outcome extremely difficult. The profundity of Siam's knowledge is well illustrated by a series of talks given to the Wild Tiger by Chaophraya Yommarat in August, September, and November of 1914. Chaophraya Yommarat described in great detial the history of German unification under Bismarck, the Franco-Prussian War, the growing alliance between France and Russia, the German advances in military and economic strenght, the British concerns over German naval and economic competition, the involvement of whole populations in xenophobic nationalism. He spoke realistically about the impossibility of determining who the eventual victor would be, especially since Siam had to rely on English and French sources for news. Again he was the realist when he pointed out that international law was not like national law in that there was no supernational court of justice; justice was whatever the strongest power determined it should be. At least some of these comments were made in the presence of the King. All of these views were undoubtedly shared by the King, and the King may even have "suggested" beforehand the topics his minister should speak on. The King himself, However, said little about the war, at least not publicly or in his own name.