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The .•!iH«*MNfc»Witatte>)"-' fei- 1^ 6 ^iary of the Emperor Frederick, pas perdu rhonn^nr » n« *u- ^^,'^*^^*:^so'"ais, vous navez ine officers are surDrispH nt k«;«„ n *" "^ "*^ '* sorte. dents of Ga„/^,V and J^i^aro camured nn tt^ ' k ^"^'^'P""- viction that after the peace ,'t will L • ^^'HJ^ ^^e con- write. omcers. ... One Zouave officer cannot bac^tSpftTi" ■• \Y"y remarkable that for some time the'^SisaSg^' of the ^rorestanl rf *°""' ",' '""='' '° daily everywhfre A Jl^f^ 'i'^'na'-ks repeated clergyman ^ ^hA ^;«L' Quartered with a Protestant not to b"ame 'for The J!r ^' ^^' ^^^^ that we were o Diame lor the war, and wishmg that the Empress I "• ¥ ■■ MMM tout perdu, vous n'avez rked, "Ah, le la sorte." retain their e me great . News of y so heavy jrs too soon ice. Great is called a J correspon- ch tower of >ach about o the con- i for us to sense, but something strike the Worth the Cuirassiers cer cannot some time that would 5 turned to IS repeated Protestant at We were £mpress Diary of the Emperor Frederick, • (Eugenie) and Ollivier could only come and have a look at these battlefields, MacMahon's carriage contained an exact map of the Vosges with all its roads, &c., which proved of great service to us. The baggage of Ducrot, Commandant of Strasburg, included the wardrobes of two women. Great panic and dissolution among the French, who say they never had to fight with such soldiers. August 17 and 18. — In Nancy, battles around Metz, feverish excitement ; the inhabitants Orleanist. August 20. — Meet the King at Pont-a-Mousson ; he is crushed with our losses. Council of war ; Moltke quite cool and clear as ever, determined to march on Paris ; Bismarck moderate and by no means sanguine ; our conditions, Alsace and war indemnity. August 23. — Seen the King again, who is now firmer ; have difficulty in persuading him to confer the Iron Cross on non- Prussians also. Varying news about the whereabouts of the foe ; Moltke thinks he will yet lure him into a mouse-trap {?). Benedetti's Treaty harms us in England, where they say that without encouragemenffrom Bismarck he never would \ t allowed himself to use such language. September i. — Sedan. Count Bothmer says that Napoleon is in Sedan ; and the King in an incredible spirit of jesting asks me what in the world we shall do with him when caught. The white flag hoisted over Sedan : Napoleon is there ; Brousart has seen him and been told that he would send General Reille ... A parlementaire comes, and the assembled Princes, with Bismarck, Moltke, and Roon, form a circle round the King, I being next His Majesty. Reille comes, bent but not without dignity, and hands the King the following letter (beginning Monsieur mon fr^re— text already known). . . . After conferring with Bismarck, Moltke and me, the King dictates '■'■'■■^'■•' ^ ■ • • •- - ^Hliii "HWfiP (• *■ ' •iiiii iHiM iiMMi 4 Diary of the Emperor Frederick. would he wise to respect the little peculiarities of these States h^f- RuZ.TT' ^°^^«^^koff summoned to St. Peters- Italt'n^^^r • ^?^' ^ ""^''^"^ ^y^ °" Austria's neutrality, the y.n.h n"'- f "° ™^"'^- '^^' ^""^"^ i"^^tivity of surely. ^ ""' ^''''" "^^ calculation on their part .fJ"'^ 29._Karlsruhe, " Baden." Our chief thought is how after peace has heen secured, the liberal (/reisinniJ^) devS ment of Germany shall be gone on with '^ ^ aevelop July 30 —Off to Spiers, to my headquarters near Pfcuffer • Bavarian bivouac, sturdy soldiers, but rather sluggish vet one must now cease' to look upon them with Prus 1^ eye\ It was here in the Dom in 1867 (this must be a prhiter's or that I should march southward along ihe left bank (of the Rhine) and attack the foe, in order^to hinder them from throwmg a bridge over the stream at\auterburg Am no yet ma pos.fon to do so, but since the Prussians^have come there is now everywhere a feeling of security. •.u .1?"?! .' — • • • ^""S ""(l satisfactory conversation with the Duke of Coburg and Morier (Sir Roberl, then ch. «6 d Affaires at Darmstadt) ; Freytag (doubtless the novelist)lt here ; hope that Roggenbach will alio co.. e We are reidv pecterthar"^r° f"'-'^"'' '^' ^°'- '^''° ™"'d ''"ve ex^ pected that? Cartwright arrives from Italy, and savs that the mood there is variable -depending on he question of th^s°wa: win IIV '""'"' 'T- ' '''''" ' l-esenIS h^ mis war will mark a pause in the e,a of battles and bloodshed bat at present my motto is, " Mit Gott furchtlos und beharrlfch vorwarts " (Forward with God. ferries, .n^ f^...!,,. '^"''"'"'^ tot ■) ■Ml i ' ¥ • sc States . Pcters- eutrality. tivity of icir part t is how, develop- Pfeuffer; jish, yet n eyes. Iter's or ncess of that as e front, (of the m from ^m not e come jrsation charge slist) is i ready ive ex- ys that Lion of nt that )dshed, arrlich battle Diary of the Emperor Frederick, August 3— Off; last swim in the Rhine ; . . . l)robably to-morrow. . . . August 4 — Weissenburg. -Our men (Prussian) behave as It during manoiuvre time in peace, taking advantage of every told m the ground, and wringing praise of their manner of fighting from our Bavarian companions .... We had two divisions -the foe one, and part of it had only come up during the night, but the advantage of position was all in his favour. Ureal jubilation ; the dying and wounded raising themselves by the greatest exertion to express their joy. The colour- staff of the King's Regiment had been shot through, three of its bearers fell, till Sergeant Forster seized them and dashed up the heights in front of the stormers . I could not but press to my hps that victory-banner thus so gloriously upheld. On the reverse slope (southern) we found two csimps o( ten fesd' a dri with provisions and dinner still untouched ; General Douai's little dog creeping round his master's dead body; the chatter- ing French doctors knew nothing of the Geneva Convention, having no brassards with the red cross, and crying only, Procurez nous notre bagage . " The Turcos thorough savages. ... French soldiers excLim to me, " Ah, vos soldat Prus- siens se battent admirablement," August 5. —March to France. . . . inhabitants afraid of German cannibals ; the ghastly appearance of battlefields ever more horrible ; everywhere traces of hasty retreat. . . . AT AT^,"^^ 6.— Worth ; 80,000 French; I have 100,000 men. MacMahon's tough resistance, gradual retreat while fighting, was admirable, but he left me in possession of the field. I could direct the whole Blumenthal and Gottberg of great assistance to me. At half-past 4 was able to announce our victory to the King. . . A French officer of Cuirassiers said to me; '' Ah, Monseigneur, quelle defaite, quel malheur ! J ai la home d'etre prisonnier. nous avnns tnut r»*»rHn » Tr. !'■( Mffliii 2 Diary of the Emperor Frederick. King surprised by our appearance, but after hearing what Bismarck had to say (in the course of our return journey) he had no particular objection to the issue of urgent orders for mobilization. At the station (in Beriin) Thile comes with OUivier's speech ; the King wants to order the mobilization of the 7th and 8th corps (Westphalia and Rhineland, next to France), saying that in 24 hours the French would certainly be at Mayence ; but I pressed for immediate mobilization of the whole army and navy, there being no time to lose. This is approved, and I tell it to the public. The King embraces me in the deepest emotion, both of us feeling what was at stake. Enters a carriage with me ; enthusiastic cheering. I call the King's attention to the " VVacht am Rhein," and at this moment everyone felt the solemn importance of the poet's words. July 16. — Three armies being formed. I am to command the South German one ; have, therefore, a most difficult task to fight — with troops that do not like us (Prussians) and have not been trained in our school — so able a foe as the French, who have been preparing long, and will certainly at once invade South Germany. July 18. — Universal enthusiasm \ Germany is rising like one man, and will re-establish her unity. July 19 — Receive my official appointment (as commander of the Southern Army) ; opening of the Reichstag ; drive with the King to (the mausoleum at) Charlottenburg on the death day of Queen Louise (who, with her husband, lies buried there), where we remained some considerable time, with right heavy hearts, praying beside the tomb of my grandparents. On coming out I said to my father that a struggle, begun in such circumstances, must succeed. Quiet afternoon with my wife and children. Julv 20 Went to Moltke. who advised me nnf vpf \c\ an * ' — "" '• ■• — .-• o~ T % .iil like l>iary of the Emperor Frederick. 3 to the south. Bismarck, on the contrary, thought I ought to go at once, and to telegraph openly my impending arrival to the South German Sovereigns, as then an excellent impression would be made The King assents to this, and the telegrams are sent off. July 21.— The Duke of Coburg comes from Fiume and asks for a Reserve Corps, or in the Elbe Duchies, or even on my staff. July 22.— The Queen (Augusta) comes, full of the en- thusiasm of the Rhine; my staff organizing. . . . most of the German Princes come and offer their services. July 24 — *' Christening " (of Princess Sophie, soon to be married now to the Crown Prince of Greece) in great State. The King too affected to hold the child. Solemn ceremony. Who of us will return ? But we shall conquer ! 1 am quite prepared to take up a reserve position such as would serve as a flank defence to ihe centre army, for I should scarcely be equal to great undertakings. July 25 — Quietly with my wife to the grave of Sigismund (our departed little boy) to take the sacrament ; iearn that I must leave to-morrow. July 26. — Departure; enthusiastic reception everywhere. July 27 — In Munich; King Ludwig strangely altered; much less handsome, lost his front teeth, pale, nervous in his speech, &c Usedom and Hohenlohe have no doubt about Austria's neutrality in spite of Beust's duplicity. Reception at theatre— IVaZ/cnstem's Lager the piece On leaving Munich, got a letter from the King expressing the hope that at the peace the independence of Bavaria will be respected. July 28.— The King (of Wurtemberg) receives me in stiff official form ; the Queen kindly, pale, worn out Enthusiasm at my departure almost put me out. ... It Hfii!! mm 8 Diary of the Emperor Frederick, the draft of our reply, which the King himself afterwards wro e oat m his own hand. Difficult to find wrSmaSs I h^L ^ u • ™. ^^^ ^""^"^ ^"^^^ of Saxe- Weimar ; two cane- sa'b rche' afa old ' M ^^ °" "'^^^ ^^^^^^^ laid^ Huzza" Tnowi) Meanv?Mf; /°"^^^^"^. ."^°" ^^^e, &c. (text also Kuown;. Meanwhile, during writing of letter I talk wJfh to me inTs^W T*" '"T '«.'' gentleman! heVas a LcheS Wm eood hi P™ •"1'^"=).; my sympathy seemed to do gone the Kit f„T?' '"l^P""^' "°' ">«^e- ^Vhen he had forced^tlf 1/ ^ } embraced ; the recollection of July , Gmt " fiZT '• J'"^'' J?>' f ">« '"^ooP^' " Nun danket alle Uott. I could not restram the bright tears. September 2 -The phrase "the history of the world is Scrt-f.^^uLtteT;''^" K^'' "'el'geschfchte ist'dlTwe It- C Wr„nl£ ^4°T*^'°'" ""y '>'^'°'-y '"sons when a POUto fi^lTnn? \ <^'«'<="'"" ; Napoleon comes, halts in a potato held not far from Donchery ; Bismarck and Moltke hurry to him; wants more favourable conditions of cSoitS^ Kin^ Mn,r' ?K-"r ^T^ '° ^^'g'™ ■' --he to sX o th" King Moltke thmks these pretexts, Napoleon no longe- safe eatches ?or ^0,'°"%"'?? ' "^'^ ^'"'^'^ '"'>«i' '•"'^ T " T'' »^*~ ^^--r* mm 1m-. ' '• .1. . ■ . '.' t !!!■!'•'■ ;;•;■■■ 14 I^niry of the Emperor Frederick. calm his apprehen J^ V' ""xh/ Dut o? C^^' ' ^^^"^ '° election Tof the Kaiier^ hv =ii ,t c ■ ^o^u^g proposes the place of the eleTtorl ^ Sovereigns, who would take birtM.'f makerJ^,""'*'"" '""^ '"• *'^'<='> ^ «■" ^ping my seriousness of the poHtcalT. T'T'^t' ^"™"°° '° 'he course of time n Ge™fnv '='*'' ,»''"<='» ^vvaits me in the wars and th™! This^'^rbTmy hst crj° ''^^^H "" "^"^'^ doubt that manv loot «n%u ^ i^ cnmpaign. There is no God willing.'^ ™: da7 alHot'e'^"' The" "' '''^ ""''!'•• • tions are difficult' anH Ri/„,i,-'?. ' ^^ V^s^nx. negotia- the ™atter_(:?lT4^^r4i-;™y^o b e s g came to me • vielHina tr^ »>,., &"'v;- i^ariy to-day the Kmg Class of the Iron C?os 1 xT'V"' ^"^ ^"""^'^ "^^ First ••who had btrght „ 'an hTth;' '■ ' '°'''1 ^t.^l"'^ °"^ were some evil purposes against England • h^M """ ''""^ but who can tel wh^fh^r f^^ ^"giand , that is now past : us) for Russia an^d'^Ame^^rv'noJ^^'''^^ (our) hatred of En^lanH t^ ^^ u^'^l""^ ^^y ^^d fuel to polittcian whoLrinl'SeConSict ■l^'n'lo H^^'l" <'' '"^"^' his political prinrfples w^h hi ^^ ^"""^^^ " ''"^' ''"f Manteuffel) ,s L i.repSabre loss '■^""'°"^'y ««" von wreath X eel wYth me th'afp.''"'''*^ ■. ^ '°°'' '"'"'' '""'el to capjtujatf, :/:^^z^\!:^:.7s.to^^^:^^^^'^^ i '. ■iK* i -i ^ Diary of the Emperor Frederick, 15 s only afraid >h I seek to rg proposes would take keeping my :ion to the me in the e no more rhere is no taak which, int negotia- rious about ay the King d the First as the one that there 5 now past ; on (among add fuel to 1 (a liberal t a duel for Herr von 's intention < tells my ter the war li.ty. im a laurel by hunger lels, . . . where the lot fond of oranges, and presented many to the Comtesse Beauregard. But what former times built was done as for ever; while nowadays it is all superficiality and show. October 29 — Telegram from (my cousin) Friedrich Karl :— ' Gratulire, mein Herr General-Field-Marschall." An hour and a half later I received my patent. The beauti- ful and touching words of acknowledgment, above all things the declaration that, in a promoiion of this kind which has never yet fallen to a Prince of our House, my brave army is to behold the reward of its achievements, helped me to get over the oppressive feelmg that this old and really fine tradi- tion of our family had now, at last, also been broken with. Molike has become a Count. . . . October 30— Prince Otto of L'avaiia, who has been summoned to Munich on important business, came to take leave of me, pale and as wretched-looking as if he were in a fit of the shivers. He sat before me while I set forth the necessity of our having unity in military and diplomatic matters, &c. But whether he understood, or even heard me I could not make out. ' November 2. — Bismarck recounts his negotiations with Thiers. . . . On Bismarck complaining of the use of Turcos by the French, Thiers rejoined : *' Mais vous vous servez done tout de meme de Uhlans " November 7. —The Grand Duke of Baden finds the King (William) more favourable to the German question than he expected. Bismarck told the Ministers it was the wish of the Prussian Government to see the German Princes seal the peace here with their sword-hilts. . . . November lo.—Write a note to Bismarck about the (hostile) attitude of our Press towards England. . November 1 1 — Bismarck sends Abeken fa F. O. official) to renlv to mv not** »hq.<- he lo»vior.i-c. fUa !«.,«,._, — _r r» - s. J -- -"/ ' = — ->' v.iav xic itiiiivxiio im, laHijUiigc UI UUf ITCSS I." * t iiii I 12 Diary of the Emperor Frederick, September 20.— At Versailles, in the Prefecture the news from Bavaria good. While contemplating these' gaudy State apartments, m which ~: much mischief for Germany n? trf '"^ ^^"t^^^ ""' ^"^ «^ ^^^^ '^^ paintings hang, ng round mockingly represent her (Germany's) disintegra- tion 1 chensh the hope that the restoration of Ka er fnd tte Remlhhv' 'h'"-^'^-'^ "^ '^'' '^'^ ^^^^^' ' " Sedan and VIol^e^^hisT r ^'^ ^"?P^5?T" ^'' -^"stria; the Czar sent Aloltke the St George's Order. Three years ago I was Se e 'th.'F u^'^'T '"^'S'^"' service in the open air mpresses the French. Excursion to St. Cloud: picture of mVX/i: r^^ I'^T^ ^'^^r^^' ^^^^- ^'- Cro;.^Princess (my wife) first vvent with her to the continent : the French will to de^lfrf '''•"^' ''• ^" ^'^ ^^"'^^^^ -^^^' where the decisTon miifonnT '"'"' "''"' '''' '^^ '^"'"'^'^ ^^ ^^"^^^^^ ^"-"^y September 28._Sirasburg capitulates; I write to the t^ie hbrX' &r^ ''""^ '^''"' ^^' *''' restoration of the c Uhedral, at bIG^i' '9—^'*'^^'" y^^'' ago to-day I was bet othed T ,.M ^^^"o"' .^.°—'^^ Ferri^res (where the King is s'ennuy^) I address His Majesty on the Kaiser question which Is now being broached ; he thinks there is no prospect of it, and fessor^"Jh.rT ' •T"'''- ^^' ^" ^^^^ Reymond (a Berlin pro- fnr fll f . ^"^Pe^al^sm IS now prostrate, so that in Germany (V^.. ^ f'u^n' '^"^^ ^"^^ ^^ ^ Ki^g ^f Prussia, Duke KinCf %f R ^^ Germans. Against this I urge that the three icings (of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Saxony) compel us to express our supremacy by the title of Kaiser, and that the harnothin'f ;"'^^^ '"'•^l^'" "^^"^^'^ («^ ^he Romans) crown oruosS.:^ ±.::''' ^^^^^^-^^ imperialism. At last his Octo Duching im to t ithout ; nd. Oclo rewd, pinion uthoriti Octo uarters- ing's r ith thei Octol bout fez he publ lirone oi e (Bism 1 Engla at Gerr .etter fr 867. bej Octol avaria serving chneide teiy ap ings to ishes to erman avaria. e failed ,s he di( n .fVC ^1^ \ ' ' ure . . the these gaudy for Germany lintings hang- s) disintegra- )f Kaiser and . Sedan and the Czar sent s ago I was the E npress 1 the open air d; pirture of own Princess e French will ! the decision russian army ^rite to the hecithedral, as bet othed is s'ennuyi:). 'hich is now :t of it, and 1 Berlin pro- in Germany ussia, Duke lat the three 5rapel us to nd that the nans) crown At last his Diary of the Emperor Frederick. \% October 2.— Queen Victoria, who follows our deeds with 3uching interest, has telegraphed to His Magesty exhorting im to treat with magnanimiy Favrc's pe.ice proposals, but ithout being able to recommend any pr.ictical means to this nd. October 3— General Burnside comes out of Paris, looks ^rewd, and speaks so much that Hlumcnthal and I are of pinion he does not do so without instructions from the^ uthorities. ... October 5.— His Majesty arrives wiih his colossal head- uarters — incredible mass of carriages— even Schneider (the ing's reader) and S.eiber (chief of the secret field police) ith their^j. October 6. — The fountains playing ; tlu- King walking bout feailessly among the crowd, to the immense surprise of she public. Thiers suggests placing King Leopold on the lirone of France, which Bismarck holds to be a sti'Iborn idea ; e (Bismarck) is sorry that he can fird no obliging disposition 11 England, remarking that they do n t there seem 10 perceive hat German help must in future be sought for by them. . . . .etter from Renan, who, appealing to our acquaintance of 867. begs for a safe conduct. October 9.— Beginning of the bombardment (of Paris). avaria willing to join North German Confederation. . . . serving her army diplomacy Bismarck very savage with ichneider ft he King's reader, of whose reminiscences a review tely appeared in The Times) who sends wrong aud tactless lings to the Siaatsanzeiger. . . . The King of Wurtcmberg ishes to treat with us directly (about his entry into the North erman Confederation), so as to be free from the tutelage of avaria. Bismarck considering the Kaiser question; tells me e failed in 1866 10 get ii also treated of then, not" believing, s he did not, that there was such a powerful desire among iiil^ftiao. !?:« iiainiiiiiiiiiiHiitL 10 Diary of the Emperor Frederick. where, then, was Prince Frederick Charles, the King ai swered sharply, " In front of Metz, with seven army corps." With every sign of painful surprise the Emperor .receded a step, a convulsion of pain passed over his countenance, for it now first came home to him that he had not been opposed by the entire German army. The King praised the gallantry of the French army, which Napoleon, indeed, willingly confirmed, but remarked that it lacked the discipline which so greatly distinguished our army. The Prussian artillery, he said, were the first in the world, and his troops had not been able to withstand our fire . The conversation may have lasted a good quarter of an hopr before they came out again . The King's lofty and august figure contrasted admirably with the diminu- tive and depressed form of the Emperor. When Napoleon caught sight of me he gave me his hand, while with the other he dried up the big tears trickling down his cheeks. He referred with much gratitude to the language and generous manner generally with which the King had received him . 1 spoke, of course, in the same spirit, and asked whether he had obtained any night's rest, to which \.z replied, anxiety about his family had left him no sleep. On my regrettinsj that the war had assumed so frightfully bloody a character, he replied that that was unhappily only too true, and it was all the more frightful, " quand on n'a pas voilu la guerre." He had had no news for a week of the Empress and her son, and begged if he might be allowed to telegraph to her in cipher. We parted with a shake of the hand. ... September 3. — Uonch6ry — Bismarck visits me. We retain Alsace under German administration, either for the Bund or the Empire. Tfie Imperial idea scarcely touched on yet. Notice that he is only favourable to it on certain conditions. He cautioned me not to be in a hurry, although I am con- ir^rt/^oH *\y* if tvkinjt /TtTYiA tr* thic \fatterR are developinc m cons for per Immed Empres Belgian is that expectj Sep where, happen desire J which tinctioi that we n'aurai Receiv which : body p Sep for all The p( vance, Sei withou will be of the of a gr one. !i,1f;)t!iftldte8lilMM)«ti Urn- Diary of the Emperor Frederick. 11 ng ai svi'ered ps." With ed a step, a , for it now osed by the antry of the ' confirmed, ;h so greatly e said, were )een able to isted a good The King's the diminu- in Napoleon ith the other :heeks. He nd generous ved him. I ether he had nxiety about tine; that the er, he replied was all the e." He had her son, and ;r in cipher. le. We retain • the Bund or ched on yet. n conditions, gh I am con- re developing! in this direction, and can only turn out the more favourably in consequence of this victory. Failly and Ducrot beg me for permission to travel through Belgium. Napoleon gone. Immediately afterwards came a telegram in cipher from the Empress, which I have sent after him by Seckendorff. The Belgians are showing much sympathy for him. My anxiety is that the result of the war my not fulfil the justifiable expectations of the German people. September 6. — Rheims. — Quartered nearWerl6 (Cliquot), where, for once in a way, I give champagne ; this does not happen with me as a rule when in the field. Apart from the desire for peace, anger is displayed everywhere against Paris, which decides everything. The people actually make a dis- , tinction between Frangais and Parisian ; ihey are surprised that we walk about among them without an escort. " Napoleon n'aurait jamais os6 se hasarder ainsi," I heard one man say. Receive from the King of Bavaria the Max Joseph Order, which is only awarded for victories gained. In Bavaria no- body possesses it. September 8. — . . . France is now our natural enemy for all time, and therefore her enfeeblement our business. The possession of Alsace now facilitates our strategical ad- vance, hitherto planned on a very narrow scale. September 12 to 14.- Alsace-Lorraine : — Imperial territory without dynasty ; native administrative council. The problem will be to separate our new compatriots from the great body of the French State, but to make them feel that they are part of a great State, and not condemn* \ to join an insignificant one. Russell ( "I he Times Correspondent) totally disappeared ; gone direct to England , wrote much even while in his car- riage. . . . September i6. — . . . Isle de France, a superb county; the peasants make a favourable impression : the peonle ask absurd questions, and beg to feel the star on my breast. mimmm u ;i!;i:w!i3 III! •Au. , ..r^! 16 Diary of the Emperor Frederick. iii towards England, and that in this sense he had instructed Eulenberg, as well as written to Bernstorff (Prussian Minister in London). Bismarck was not at all in harmony with him, saying that his (Bernstorff's) notes and his other written com- munications were so long-winded that they could scarcely be read. One document, for example, comprised 80 pages, which no one had time to study. The Grand Duke of Baden has the impression that Bismarck is very serious with the Kaiser ques- tion. The Grand Duke wrote an admirable letter (about it) to the king of Bavaria, who has not yet, nowever, replied to it. November 12. — T^'he sentry would not let me enter the Villa Stern — having no orders to make exceptions. The Wurtemberg Ministers departed on the receipt of bad news just as they were about to sign — an intrigue of Gasser's .... Roon and Podbielski (the alles ruhig vor Paris Podbielski) complain that they know nothing ; Bismarck is in a rage that such Prussian Particularisis should have anything to do with the matter at all. Ledochowski (Archbishop of Posen) in- quires whether the Pope can be received in Prussia. Bis- marck would regard it as a gigantic mistake of Pio Nono to leave Rome, but says that his residence in Germany would have a good effect, as the close contemplation of Romish sacerdotalism {Priest erwirthscheft) would cure the Germans (of any fondness they had for that sort of thing). The King and I are decidedly against the idea (of the Pope's going to Germany). November 14. — Odo Russell is to come ; the rumours about the Black Sea clause are confirmed ; it is related that when the treaty was signed in 1856, Palmerston remarked to Brun- now (Russian Ambassador) that it would not last ten years. General Annenkoff (is this the builder of the Transcaspian Rail- way ?) is coming with a letter for the Czar ; Reuss (Prussian ilihaiyKiiUuiiiuiMiyiiiuiimiitiMitttiif'' l*.«jii r Diary of the Emperor Frederick, 17 instructed 1 Minister with him, tten com- :arcely be ;es, which n has the liserques- (about it) repHed to enter the ns. The bad news r's odbielski) rage that ;o do with 'osen) in- sia. Bis- Nono to my would f Romish Germans The King » going to Durs about that when i to Brun- ten years, pian Rail- (Prussiaa Ambassador in St. Petersburg) was only told of this after the Envoy 1' ft, with the request that he would not telegraph the news till the King (of Prussia) had received the missive. We telegraph to have the step postponed, but are told that it is too late, as communications of the same sort have gone to Vienna and London. Our representatives are to remain passive ; the King is very much put out, telling me that this surprise i- beyond all joke, and that in England it is sure to be regarded as an act of revenge on our part for the sale of arms (by English traders to the French). Bismarck, however, denies that he was privy to the matter. Conversation with Bismarck about the German question, which he would like to see decided, but with a shrug of the shoulders, explains all the difficulties, asking what should be done with the South Germans, and whether I wish them to be threatened. I re- ply " Ja wohl, there would be no danger in doing that ; let us act firmly and imperiously, and you will see that I was right in asserting that you have not yet any proper consciousness of your power." Bismarck would hear nothing whatever of threats, all the more as such a course would throw these States mto the arms of Austria. Thus, on assuming office (in 1802), he had done so with the firm resolve to bring about war between Prussia and Austria, but took very good care not to speak about his design at that timejto His Majesty, or otherwise, before he deemed the proper time come for doing so. Simi- larly the development of the German question must be left to lime. I replied that, as representing the future, I could not view such delay with indifference, arguing that it would not be necessary to use force, and that we could quietly wait and watch whether Bavaria and Wurtemberg ventured to join Austria. Nothing was easier, I argued, than to have the Kaiser proclaimed by the majority of German Sovereigns now gathered here, and also to procure their approval of a Consti- B uiiUjitMiJUttM; Xmek ^//* *> •I IgL 18 Diary of the Emperor Frederick, tution (with supreme head) answering to the just demands of the German people. Svich a result would be pressure which the Kings (of South Germany) could not resist. Bismarck rejoined that I stood alone with these views, and that, in order to gain the wished-for goal, it would be better to let the Reichstag take the initiative. On my referring to the senti- ments of Baden, Oldenburg, Weimar and Coburg, hx- defend- ed himself by referring to the will of the King. I answered that I knew very well his opposition {Nichiwollen) was alone sufficient to make such a scheme as this impossible of accept- ance by His Majesty, to which he replied that I was reproach- ing him, and that heknew of a number of other persons who deserved this. And then, again, 1 must in political questions, he said, take into account the great independence of the King himself, His Majesty reading through every important dispatch, and even correcting it. He regretted that the question of the Kaiser and of an Upper House had been discussed at all, as offence had thus been given to Bavaria and Wurtemberg. I said that it was Dalwigk who had broached it. Bismarck averred that my opinions thus expressed could only prove hurtful, saying that the Crown Prince should not give vent to views of this kind at all. I at once protested in the most emphatic manner against my mouth being closed m this way, especially as in a question thus affecting the future I felt bound to leave no one in doubt as to my opinion in particular, besides which it lay with His Majesty alone to instruct me as to matters which I was free to discuss or not, even if it were assumed that I was not yet old enough to judge for my- self. Bismarck said thai if the Crown Prince commanded he would act in accordance with his views. 1 again protested a anst this, as I had no command to give him, whereupon he declared that for his part he would be very glad to make way for any other person whom I might deem more compeient liiantiHiBteiifetlwHrilittmtihiilanrtttilrfHIi, \tm '' mands of Lire which Bismarck ;, in order :o let the the senti- fe defend- answered was alone of accept- reproach- rsons who questions, flhe King t dispatch, jestion of sed at all, irtemberg. Bismarck •nly prove ve vent to the most [ this way, ure I felt particular, [Struct me even if it ge for my- landed he protested jreupon he make way competent Diary of the Emperor Frederick, 19 than hun to conduct affairs ; but that until then he must act upon his own principles to the best of his ability and know- ledge of all determining circumstances. We then went on to speak of detail questions, and I finally remarked that I had perhaps spoken in an animated manner (iebha/t geworden) but that I could not be expected to remain indifferent in view of a ' world historic ' opportunity which was being neglected November 17.— The King is nervo is, as he had at the same time to follow the (political) negotiations and the (military) operations, and must do without amusement of any kind, seeing that his daily guests grow very monotonous. J am well, beginning to read and write at 6 o'clock every morning, but later dn my time is much broken up. November 18.— . . . Delighted with the article in the Times about my letter of thanks to Lindsay ; acting on the principles of my ever-memorable father-in-law, may I succeed m welding a chain between two such kin and analogous nations. ® November 19— Bismarck is said to have exclaimed, on the receipt of Gortschakoffs note, " The silly fellows have begun four weeks too soon." . . . November 23.— A moment of exciting combinations. Moltke explains the situation of affairs with the utmost clearness and moderation ; has always considered and calculated everything, and constantly hits the right nail on the head; but Roon's shoulder-shrugs and spitting {sic) and Podbielski's Olympian assurance often influence the King. . . November 25.— Bismarck insists upon a bombardment ; Blumenthal, in a pro nemorid to Moltke, demonstrates the senselessness of a bombardment which could only reach ihe ^rts, that ought to be taken by parallels and storming. . . . Bismarck has declared that if the Imperial dignity is not soon offered by the Princes, the Reichstag cannot be prevented jiiutuiiiitstuii . li.a^ r 20 Diary vf the Emperor Frederick. from proposing the measure after middle of next week at the latest. . . . Bismarck calls upon all members of the Reichstag who are in the field to go to Berlin and vote November 30.— A draft of Bismarck for the letter of the King of Bavaria about offering His Maje ty the Imperial dignity has been forwarded to Munich. . . . The Kmg of Bavariihas actually copied out the letter and Holnstcin is bringing it back ,, , j December 3— Holnstein arrived,; Pnnce Luitpold hands the document to the King by special command. After dinner Bismarck reads out the letter, which the King finds as in- oppori ,e as Possible, upon which Bismarck remarked that the lmperia\ luestion had nothing to do with the present campaign. \s we left the room Bismarck and I shook hands ; to day Kaiser and Reich have been irrevocably re-'-stablished, and now the interregnum of 65 years, the terrible Kaiser-less time, is over. This proud title is a guarantee in itself ; we owe this mainly to the Grand Duke of Baden, who has been . . . incessantly active in the matter. December 6.— .... The King very hurt that Delbruck has read the letter of the King of Bavaria to the Reichstag. December 9.— Learn about Delbruck's introductory speech on the Impeiial question in the Reichstag, which is excessively weak, dull, and dry : it was pitiable, just as if he had ])uHed the Imperial Crown out of his pocket wrapped \\v> in an old newspaper; ii is impossible to put any energy into these people. . . The Grand Duke of Baden says that the apparent- ly empty Imperial title of to-day will develop its full meaning soon enough, . . , . , • is^ell complains of the isolation \ oi.jin„ more noticeable. The He is afraid of December 10. — (Odo) of England, which is ever King'is excited about Delb ^ ^ . ^ the Reichstag deputation, Is. aue it looki. as if the Irapcnai 5 *vCtion. iniUjini.umnui^ttnirt«iiiriiui>wutoM.Mi. !iii.M' ick at the Reichstag tter of the ; Imperial e King of olnstcin is lold hands fter dinner nds as in- rked thit le jjrcsent ok hands ; stablished, Kaiser-less itself; we 3 has been t Delbruck iichstag. ory speech excessively had ])uHed 1 in an old into these 2 apparent- 11 meaning e isolation ible. The s afraid of e Imperial n Diary of the Emperor Frederick. tk question were initiated by the Reichstag ; refuses to receive the deputation until he has the assent of a.l the Stales through the medium of the King of Bavaria. At tea there is so little conversation that the half of us go regularly to sleep. . . . December 14.— Anni\'.rsary of Prince Albert's (.he Prince Consort's) death_ - Remember how he constantly said we must give up ihe idea of playing a decisive rdle without the co- operation 01 ( Germany. December 15.— Moltke expects Longwy and Mezi^res to capitulate, because the commandant declares that he will only be buried with the last stone. His attitude and method of exi)ressing himself is quite invaluable at such moments. December 16. — The King will hear nothing about receiv- ing the Deputies, but is beginning to be more pliable in the matter. December 17.— Hear from the Court Marshal of Prince Charles that to-morrow His Majesty will give a dinner to the Reichstag Deputies. Bismarck says the King wants to receive them beforehand. Long conversation with Simson (now Presi- dent of the Suprene Court at Leipsic), who is correct and logical. Count Perponcher said to Adelbert, " However, we shall not utilize the Imperial dignity for ordinary occasions, but only at grand Court festivities or ceremonies ;" to which Adelbert replied, " If the King were to make you a Prince would you only then wear the title on exceptional occasions ? " Boycn askel what '.vould our King do if the Prussian Diet V to ref :'w to allow him to accept the Imperial Crown? '• bu gleichst dem Geist den da begreiffst." Sunday, December 18. — Deeply moved by the reception of the Deputies ; dignified and good. Observed from Rogge's sermon that, after all, stress is laid ( u it. His Majesty took his stand in the principal saloon of the building, the Princes of the Blood to the light, the reigning Princes to the left. Simson's wmm mum. ^ Diary of the Emperor Frederick, % masterly speech drew tears from me ; in fact, there was not a dry eye present. The address was then read. The King's reply followed with some stoppages, for he can no longer read easily without spectacles; besides, now and again he was obliged to pause from emotion . Then followed the presenta- tion of the Deputies ; during the entire ceremony firing from Mont Valerien; outside everything in a blaze. The King was happy when all was over, seemed easy and satisfied. The future position of the Royal Family is still doubtful. " Imperial Highness" is contrary to my fancy altogether. December 24. — Christmas Eve. — Great astonishment of the French at our purchases. Russell obtains an officer's sword sash in the lottery. December 25. — After all, it really is an irony on the mes- sage of salvation when each side prays to God for its own Cause as the righteous one, and at every success tries to prove that its opponent has been left in the lurch by Heaven. December 28. — The King receives a laudatory telegram from the Kopnickerstrasse fa proletariat quarter in Berlin) because he has finally commenced the bombardment. Draw up with the Grand Duke of Baden a proclamation of Kaiser and Reich. The former is successor to the German Emperors, but quite a new thing, just as the old Prussian Monarchy, which foundered in 1848, re-arose as a Constitutional State, title and outward forms being retained. ... It is imposs- ible for us to renounce Alsace and Lorraine, although the gain to us of the latter might be precarious. January i, 1871 — The King greets me earnestly and kindly, and expresses the wish that I may one day be permitted to witness the fruit of peace which the present labours will bring forth. He could not really think that a lasting unifica- tion of Germany would be effected, for, unfortunately, only a few of the Princes acted and thought in the manner desired, •)Mmmmt^:. was not a rhe King's onger read in he was le presenta- firing from The King ;fied. The [ doubtful, [ether . lishment of an officer's )n the mes- for its own 5SS tries to Dy Heaven. y telegram in Berlin) ent. Draw I of Kaiser [ Emperors, Monarchy, ional State, ; is imposs- jgh the gain rnestly and )e permitted labours will ing unifica- tely, only a rier desired. Diary of the Emperor Frederick. 23 and of which the Grand Duke of Baden gave so noble an example. • January 4.— First day of the bombardment. What will the IJerlm wiseacres say when, after a fortnight, everythinc remams as it is? . . . With my individual dislike for war, I am spared nothing in this gigantic struggle. My dislike for me blcody work is, moreover, well known; indeed, th y sav ot me, as I learn to my tacit joy, that wherever it is consistent wi h strict fulfilment of duty, I allow as much forbearance and mildness as possible to prevaD .... January 8.—. ... His Majesty invites Bismarck and me to advise as to the insignia of Kaiser and Reich. /]vrif''''^Zu'^;T-^ P^^'?^ °"^ to the King that Schlemitz (Masier of the Ceremonies) must be heard upon the subject : he replies that he sees in the Kaiser only a reconstruction of the presidency of the Bund, and would most prefer to call himself " King of Prussia, elected Emperor of Germany " wherein I sho-ild detect a distinct insult both to the Princes and the people. January 15— Werder asks whether he would not do better to raise the siege of Belfort. because he thinks after all AA 5""" . ^^^^"^^ ^^^^^^- ^^o^tke read this out, and added, with icy and imperturbable calm, '' Your Majesty will douutless permit me to inform General von Werder that he has simply to remain where he is, and beat the enemy where he finds him.;' Moltke appeared to me to be beyond all praise. Within one second he had settled the entire affair, n is reply to Trochu about the ambulance men was that we would spare them so soon as we were near enough to distin- guish them. ° January 17.— Afternoon with the King; a sitting, com- posed of Bismarck, Schlemitz, and me, lasting three hours, in an over-heated room, about title, succession to the throne &c i ■ 24 Diary of the Emperor Frederick. '<< While discussing the title Bismarck confesses that previously, at the discussion of the Constitution, the Bavarian plenipoten- tiaries refused to allow the title " Emperor of Germany," and that finally to please them, but without beforehand asking His Majesty, he agreed to the designation "German Emperor." This title displeased the King, as it did me, but in vain. Bismarck tried to prove that " Emperor of Germany " implies a territorial power which we did not at all wield over the Empire, while " German Emperor " was the natural sequel of the Imperator Romanus. We had to give in. However, in ordinary parlance the " of Germany " is to be employed ; the style of address is t6 be " Your Imperial and Royal Majesty ;" never the mere " K. K." (Kaiser and Konig) to be employed. Then a long debate about the relations of Emperor to Em- peror, because His Majesty, contrary to the old Prussian traditions, places an Emperor higher than the King of Prussia. Both Ministers and I contradicted this theory by referring to the archives, according to which Frederick I., when recog- nizing the Czar as an Emperor, distinctly declared that he — the Czar — would never have precedence of the King of Prussia. Frederick William I. himself insisted, at his meeting with the German Emperor, on entering the tent — which had two doors — at the same time with that monarch, and finally Bismarck pointed out that Frederick William IV. had solely introduced, by reason of the well-known humility towards Austria, which was personal and peculiar to him, the princi- ple of inferioiity to the Archducal house of that empire. The King, however, explained that as Frederick William IH. had ordered at his meeting with Alexander I. that the latter, as Emperor, should have precedence, for the present the will of his Royal father would be conclusive. . . Bismarck becomes Imperial Chancellor, although it is so disagreeable to him to bear the same title as Beust, that he exclaimed he was getting uiuiattis" previously, plenipoten- many," and [ asking His Emperor." )ut in vain, ny " implies Id over the •al sequel of however, in ployed ; the il Majesty ;" e employed, ;ror to Em- Id Prussian g of Prussia, referring to vhen recog- red that he the King of his meeting —which had and finally F. had solely ility towards i, the princi- :hat empire. William III. lat the latter, jsent the will irck becomes le to him to e was getting I^iary of the Emperor Frederick. 25 ^nLn 1 .5"'^' •^'?"">' '^'^ "o* fallen to us, he fthe Kin^ be caUed to -^ T. th ' v ^ -^'"^ ^^^^ ^^ ^"^ '^''' successors will rwo°rkXf r°"''?^ ''"'"'^'y -<1 perse: rS/torrce haU? tas io tT^g -"e; and. finally, as I am convinced upon 'Lrbe?weenZj7f"'"'"'!5 ''^^^ '^"^^'^^ly called P nan. l^^^-Xt:^ t^^Ta^L' or 60 ye^ s unZ tlf.™'M'' '^"^ "°^" ^"^"^^^ f™™ a nigh? of for a momen7is we^K^!h^^'',?' •'?'%''^ S^^^d " >"e fixedly must ber";;e,ude*;'g°lt.r "/s'.'"''' '^" '"^^ ^"^^ ^ ^'^P ■ Ko„teroduc7H^°l''L,tV''^ 1- .;--V •; Kaiser and | tx„^x.zo. i,ui me i^aiser has told H K 1 J' i 1 'il H 2G /J/tfrv ^/^>^'^ Emperor Frederick, his household that he will still reijiiin for them their " Konig." As there will be no Imperial Ministers, for one of which 1 should have recommended Roggenbich, I should like to see him employed in Alsace, where he knows all about things thoroughly. Non-Prussians ought to be sent there too, but the Kaiser will not listen to anything about it. Tanuary 23.— In the evening I receive a Cabmet order about my title, but that is a secondary matter compared with its inner meaning; for I only feel myself to be a German, knowing no difference between Bavarian, Badener, and all the other inhabitants of our 3? minor Fatherlands, but will on ' no account interfere with their internal affairs or seek to deprive them of their peculiarities. Oh, that all Germans would look upon me and my wife as their own, and not as North German intruders ! . . . . Tamiary 24 —Greatest excitement. At a conference in His Majesty's quarters, attended by Moltke, Roon, and my- self, Bismarck announces that Favre is prepared to conclude an armistice, surrender the forts, and lay down his weapons. He confesses that there is famine m Pans, .... is at raid .0 return, and at supper with Bismarck displays the appetite of a wolf. Silence was enjoined upon us, but Bismarck, coming from the Emperor, whistled the - Halah "— (In at the Death) — and that was enough for Lehndorf. , ^ Tanuary 2 q.— Favre again here ; Bismarck tells us he eats like three persons, and is said to have taken some smoked soose with him yesterday , ,. , j /u • „^«r January 27.— This is William's 13th birthday-(he is now on the German throne)— may he grow up to be an able, honest, and thorough man, a true German-prepared to continue without prejudice what has now been begun. Heaven be praised, between him and us there is a simple, natural, and u«„V.t" --i«fi^"cKiT^ ivhich we shall strive to preserve, so that eir " Konig." of which I i like to see about things here too, but :abinet order jmpared with ; a German, ener, and all Is, but will on 5 or seek to all Germans , and not as conference in oon, and my- i to conclude his weapons. . is afraid to ; appetite of a larck, coming I at the Death) ells us he eats some smoked ly — (he is now be an able, — prepared to jgun. Heaven lie, natural, and reserve, so that Diary of the Emperor Frederick, 27 great s our resDonsihJUtv .!> Vk • ""s child, and how .which family coS3„°,'\« "'"'°? ^"^ ^'' ^d-^cation, life a. Berlij; and'oTheTrngs"tir,en:?"r'''l "'^ ^^°"" more difficult . When T/ k^ k r ° '° ^^^^ ^o much of Sdvres learned the oblec of P?"'^ •°'''^''°''' « "'^ bridge and men at once beLn o Ln.! ' J""''"':^ ''"''«'' ''^''"^ February " -Sarck^r^! 1*=?"/^? «'"'' °°e another. he has felt L if het Xin'The se' vt"of f' '"' ''" ^'"'^ Frenchman now comes to h"m for advice ^'"'' ^ ^'"^ .res!:S:Z soTn^ciTablf of'h"'- ^^"^' '"°<^-'''*« -^ de- he mosi prJingTnre^s% ^^Llt afel^^ ''^' he forgets half of them ^ arrivmg, because is hSTuTsuldl^^fnM^^^^^^^^ ,r Po'-y -hich speaking out decidedlv • tifh't,. ^ """''^ P""*^*"' "'a' bv o a Poler of the secL'd 'nk f''^'^'" P^'i^r sh-^ will sink hat as Eneland's rrim»i n- ' ^' " '° ''^ hoped, however, Ulc an e"q&Prtrm1!rG:^.t"''°"""^ ""' ^^^^ -" [ah'^k/to^^rllaiTs'^ile Dun"'."^' T'"'''' ^'■"-''^'d. and |o the Co^sVi tuante' a nohL ,^?7 "'T before his departure k phrases. '^"'"^ "'"^ gentleman, but rather full -arnl^TVea^^TuTilVi'^'^"- «^ s me chief blame of :«flil!K«iateiiriii."Wi ilifff I hi 28 Viary of the Emperor Frederick. the war on Napoleon IIL, expresses himself in sharp erms about Gambetta ^^^tr'^^?^ ''" He sooke reDUtation which I have won for myself m France. He spoke w1?h 1 tie modulation, mostly with downcast eyes, resigned Willi fl„pntlv without mannerism or empty Xase'/ Ts spoke'heVkeTstraightlandscruti^ ^t me!' wUh twinkling, clever eyes, through b,g, strong "^^Febniarv 2 ^ -When I arrived to transact business, as 1 .hi Pmneror asked me at once what I thought of the rnctdible S of yesterdry's negotiations, which had lasted nto the right As^I looked at him in utter astomshment for, rusu:i.?obody had thought proper to infonn me o any hm 'rbtIiru^mb"uV°forras™k.S "e^^^^^^ S tKterna'tive of Metz or Betjort was offered Ilkmiirrk ffivine a cast ng vote for Metz. Thiers haa taiKea f gTeat deTuntil Bismarck lost patience, and was not only he! ed but addressed him (Thiers) m plam German, rhiers complained of barbarous treatment ;B.smarck at th ending r,f nn old man with whom it was difficult for him to use piain languje ThTers' ignorance of business has constantly given ''"fbm^irf rlThe Emperor brings the news that after the who": d"arhad been ^pent'in negotiations, peace was s^nd at 1: o'clock • embraces me, Moltke, and Roon. Un express tig'to Bism^ck my surprise at his "«' having <:03n.caed wiTh me Isee abovel, he excuses himself on the ground ot the Tatene" Tthe hiur, and the complete exhaustion of his '"''mS^'-I drove with the Grand Duke in the totally -^Hi»Ar^ d^ifsXwTr^e/rir to P and I statu ]\ busii him Cour rally] no lo neces jEmpi with jdurin [the nj [ideas jappea :onsti M In the Vhich )olitic )finw( mew( fee th rerma felt ;ekin| londiti Ma jparal 1 i I . i i! liM mmmMMKllmm. tlf in sharp rds as to the :. He spoke 'es, resigned, i> or empty scrutinizingly big, strong business, as lought of the ich had lasted nishment, for, le of anything, d not wish to guested, upon was offered, TS had talked was not only rman. Thiers at the sending m to use plain 3nstantly given ITS that after the ace was signed I. On express- communicated J ground of the laustion of his i in the totally and found our cided to retur Biarj/ of the Emperor Frederick, 29 to Paris Drove across the Champ Elysdes, full of soldiers and civilians. The women were in mourning, but curious • the statues tied with crape, otherwise everything as before ' March 3.— Bleichroder on Frenchmen's incapacity for business. iJismarck very severe to Rothschild, who addressed him first of all in French. Harry Arnim, who has become a Count, says that the Vatican is a madhouse, and not the rallying point of all sagacity. March 7.— Ferridres. Even the greatest imprudence can no longer undo what has been attained. I doubt whether the necessary uprightness exists for the free development of the Empire, and think that only a new time which one day reckons with me will see that. Such experiences as I have collected during the past ten years cannot have been won in vain. In the nation, united at last, I shall find a stror g support for mv Ideas ; more especially I shall be the first Prince who has to appear before his people after having honorably declared for constitutional methods without any reserve. March 8— Granville, Triquette, and Hyacinthe do justice ■n their letters to my character, apart from military matters in ^vhich the moment decides. As far as moral earnestness and >ontical conviction aie concerned, they can only be the result •t inward ripeness and inward struggles, which have to be daily enewed, and which one must fight out alone. And when I ee that my efforts for the oppressed are recognized in ermany and by her neighbours, in such a way that confidence leit in my future, it makes me happy. Napoleon quietly eking a rapprochement with us— moderation of the peace londitions on promise of a common war against England. March 12.— Homewards, after almost nine months of jparation. ffipW' ff WtrTBfB^j i r REPLY OF PRINCE BISMARCK. n " Friedrichsruh, Sept. 23, 1888. « In obedience to your Majesty's commands " (be this noted) " I have the honour to make the followmg report with reference to the alleged diary of the late Emperor," (Frederick) " as published in the Deutsche Rundschau :— " I consider the diary in its present form not to be genuine. It is true that his Majesty the then Crown Prince m 1870 stood outside the sphere of political negotiations, and was therefore liable to be incompletely or inaccurately informed about many incidents. I possessed not the permission of the King to talk with his Royal Highness on historic questions; of our policy, as His Majesty, on the one hand, dreaded the in- discreet revelations which might thus be made to the English| Court, that was full of French sympathies, and on^ the other,| was apprehensive lest detriment might thus accrue to our| relations with our German allies by reason of the far-reachingi aims and the violence of the means which were recommended, to his Royal Highness by political counsellors of doubtfii| ability. Thus the Crown Prince stood without the sphere oil all business negotiations. ^ 1 • -I ■ " Nevertheless it is scarcely possible that, if the impressioiis| which he received had been recorded daily, so many mistake:^ i^ar. iiiiiidi I .i Reply of Prince Bismarck. 81 OK. it. 23, 1888. ds " (be this [lowing report Lte Emperor," dschau : — to be genuine, •rince in 1870 1 ions, and wasi itely informed rmissionof the! :oric questions! dreaded the in-| to the Englisl 1 on- the otherj accrue to oui he far-reachini 5 recommende( Drs of doubtfulj It the sphere ot| the impression^ many mistake^ of fact, and especially of time, could have crept into his diary It seems rather as if the daily notes themselves, or at least later addHions to them, had originated with someone in the entourage of the Crown Prince. At the very beginning of the diary, it is said that on the 13th of July, 1870, I looked upon peace as secured, and therefore \/anted to return to Varzin while as a matter of fact— which can be proved by document- ary evidence— his Royal Highness already knew then that I regarded war as necessary, and was resolved only to go to Varzin after retiring from office if it wrre avoided: and his Royal Highness was at one with me about this, as appears from tJie alleged entry on the 15th of July, where it is said that the Crown Prince completely agreed with me that the I peace and concession were already impossible " Nor is it right that His Majesty the King had not much objection to the mobilization. His Majesty continued to be- lieve, as the Crown Prince knew, that he could still preserve peace and spare the nation" (the calamity of) "war His Majesty was in Brandenburg, and during the whole of the Irailway journey from there to Berlin withstood my advocacy lof niobihzation. But after hearing M. OUivier's speech Iwhich was read to him a second time at the Berlin station' le considered it as tantamount to a French declaration of mr, and ihe Kmg himself, without more ado, and pro/>rio ^^///, dc cided to mobilize. It was then that the Crown Prince /ho had already the day before agreed with me as to the ne- cessity of a complete mobilization, put an end tC4 all further ^avenng by announcing the Royal decision to the public— U.,ioi\iQ officers present, with the words, ' Krieg, mobil.' ["Further, judging from conversations which I then had Ivith the Crown Prince, it is not possible for His Royal I'.ghness jo have foreseen after this war a pause in the era of ^attxes and bloodshed " (as recorded under date of the ist of w- »i, 'iL 82 Reply of Prince Bismarck, August), " seeing that his Royal Highness shared the general conviction, and expressed it too, that whatever might be the issue of this war it would inaugurate a series of wars, and that a warlike century was inevitable. " Again, it is impossible that the Crown Prince could havt said he hud some difficulty in persuading the King to confer the IroL Cross on non-Prussians also, seeing that when at Versailles months afterwards I was repeatedly commissioned by the King to beg the Crown Prince himself to proceed with the conferring of the Iron Cross on non-Prussians, and did not at once fin^ the Crown Prince inclined to do so, and that it required the repeated intervention of His Majesty to get the order attended to. "Especially remarkable in one's examination of tit genuineness of the alleged diary is the chronological error implied in the statement that a lively discussion between the Crown Prince and me, with reference to the future of Germany, and the relations of the Kaiser to his fellow-Sovereigns, took place no earher than at Versailles. This conversation between us had already been held at Donch^ry on the 3rd of Septem- ber, and part of it even on previous occasions, several hours at a time, of which I only remember that we were on horse back, and therefore probably at Beaumont or Sedan. A Versailles there were no longer any discussions or difference of opinion " (expressed) " between his Royal Highness am me as to the future Constitution of Germany. I may, I think rather assirme that his Royal Highness had by this time con vinced himself that the line of the attainable marked out b; me was the correct one, for on the few occasions when th future of Germany and the Kaiser question came up for di| cussion, in presence of both father and son {peide hochsl^ Herrschafien), I enjoyed the agreement of hisjloyal Highncs^ in combating the scruples of His Majesty. 1 he assertion red the general :r might be the s of wars, and nee could have King to confer 5 that when at ' commissioned self to proceed -Prussians, and id to do so, and His Majesty to ination of tl < Dnological error on between the ure of Germany, Sovereigns, took jrsation between I 3rd of Septem 3, several hours; were on horse- or Sedan, A is or differenceyj 1 Highness anc" I may, I think )y this time con I marked out b; isions when th came up for di^ in {beide hochs^ ; Royal Highnc rhe assertion i Reply of Prince Bismarck, 33 he diary that his Royal Highness could have thought of em- jloying force against our allies, and of thus breaking the reaties which has been faithfully kept by them, and sealed kvith their very blood, is a calumniation of the deceased Prince. Such ideas, which are equally contemptible from the jtandpoi'. t of honourable feeling and from that of policy, nay have found advocates among the entourage of the Crown "^rince, but they were too dishonourable to find an echo in lis heart, and too clumsy to appeal to his political sense. " And just as little consonant with the facts is what is aid in the diary with reference to my altitude to the Kaiser juestion in 1866, or to those of Infallibility, an Upper House, md Imperial Ministries. The Crown Prince never enter- ained the idea that Empire (Kaiserthum) would have been ossible or profitable in 1866, knowing that a North Geiman "aiser might have passed for an Emperor, but would nevtr lave been an historic representative and instrument of the ational regeneration of Germany. Similarly, the Upper 'ouse idea was disposed of by us at Donch6ry on the 3rd of eptember, the Crown Prince being convinced that the erman Kings and Sovereigns would never be got to lend hemselves to anything like the Prussim House of Lords Herrenhaus). "As for Infallibility, that is a question to which I was Iways indifferent. I regarded it as a false move on the part f the then Pope, and begged his Royal Highness to let this uestion alone, during the war at least. But an impression at I meant to take it up after the war can never have been ;athered by his Royal Highness, and entered in a diary that as written up daily. " In one place "(under date September i) "it is stated at His Majesty the King dictated to Count Hatzfeldt the Iraft of his reply to the letter of Napoleon. The Crown J »l 34 Reply of Prince Bismarck. \ WVVXi Prince was standing by when the King ordered me to draft the answer, and this ro.gh draft was read out to the King for His Majesty's approval. Here, therefore, also, it is not creditable that such a mistake could have occurred if the entries in the diary had been made daily. "In view of all this, T hold the diary, in the form in which it is published in the Rundschau, to be spurious. If it were genuine, it would, in my opinion, come imder article 92 of the Penal Code, which runs thus :— " ' Whoever wilfully makes public State secrets, or intelli gence whereof the secret keeping is essential to the welfare of the German Empire,' &c. " If there were any State secrets at all, they would primarily include the fact— if fact it was— that when the German Empire was in course of re-establishment, Kaiser Frederick advocated the idea of breaking faith and treaties with the South German Stales, and using force with them. A number of other passages, such as those recording the opiniori of his Royal Highness the Crown Prince as to their Majesties the Kings of Bavaria and Wurtemberg, and referring to the alleged intentions of the Prussian Government in the matter of Papal Infallibility, such passages, if true, would most unquestionably fall within the category of State secrets and in- telligence, of which the publication would imperil the existence and future of the German Empire, which, to a great extent, depends upon the unity of its Sovereigns, and, therefore, withm the scope of Article 92 of the Penal Code. " If the publication is held to be genuine, Article 92, sec. i, applies to it. But if, as I assume it to be, the publication is a forgery, it will primarily, perhaps, come under Article 92, sec. t. And if there are any legal doubts as to its applicabil- ity, then, apart from Article 189 referring to libellous assaults on the memory of deceased persons, I think there are other a msmim^l^ 'I - ered me to draft to the King for also, it is not occurred if the le form in which ious. If it were ler article 92 of icrets, or intelli the welfare of .11, they would that when the shment, Kaiser Ith and treaties >rce with them. 1 recording the ince as to their "g, and referring srnment in the rue, would most ! secrets and in- il the existence a great extent, and, therefore, de. rticle 92, sec. i, : publication is der Article 92, its applicabil- Dellous assaults there are other ^g^/y of Prince Bismarck. 35 clauses which may form the basis of a judicial investiiration vvhereby, at least, light may be thrown on the origin and aims of this publication, which forms a calumniation of the decea ed Lmperors V rederick and William. That this should be done IS m the mterest of your Majesty's two predecessors, whose memory forms a valuable possession of the people and T^he dynasty that should be preserved from the disfiguring tenden- cies with which this anonymous publication, accompli hed in the mterest of revolution and domestic discord, is pr S y directed against the Emperor Frederick. pnmariiy J' In 'his sense I respectfully pray your Majesty graciously o empower me to convey to the Minister of Justice your Majesty's commands to direct the Public Prosecutor to [X criminal action against the Deutsche Rundschau, and the authors of the publication complained of " To his Majesty the Emperor-King." " Von BiiiMARCK.