Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-01
BIsMARcK's RESIGNATION.
Text of the Letter That He Wrote to
Emperor William Eight
Years Ago.

BERLIN. July 31.-The Lokal Anzeiger
publishes a long article on Bismarck by
DR.. Mori;z Busch. 1t gives alleged copy
of the original text of Prince Bismarcks
letter to Emperor William on leaving office
in 1890, which. it rs understood. was only
to he published after his death In this
document, Bismarck is represented as say
ing:
''It is not possible for me to retain the
position of president of the council of min
listers after your majesty. in respect of the
same has urged capitis diminutio, rely
ing upon an abrogation of the order of 1852.
which regulates the relations Of minister
president TO his colleagues.
Moreover. in regard to my official pre-
negatives your majesty has imposed limits
which do not permit me to have propor
tionate share in state business and its
supervision. or that freedom of action
in ministerial decisions or communications
with the reichstag or members OF the
reichstag which my constitutional respon-
sibility requires. 1t would also-after the
latest decisions of your majesty respect
ing the direction to be given our foreign
policy (as set forth in the imperial auto
graph letter with which your majesty yes
terday accompanied the reports of the con-
sui at -)-be impossible for me to carry
out the instructions therein given with
respect to foreign policy. l would thus
call in question all the important results
for the German empire which our foreign
policy has attained under favorable con-
ditions for a decade past. on lines laid
down by both your majestys predecessors
on our relations toward -, the uneNpect-
edly great Importance of which - has,
since his return from -, confirmed to me.
I'm view of my attachment to the service
of your majesty's royal house and the
many years during which / have grown
habituated to position which have hith-
erto regarded as an enduring one. it is very
painful to me to sever myself from my ac-
customed relations to your majesty. and
from the general policy of the empire and
Prussia. but after conscientious consdera-
tion of your majesty's intentions. for the
execution of which l must be prepared il
l remain in Office. I cannot do otherwise
than beg your majesty to relieve me of the
office of imperial chancellor, premier and
minister of foreign affairs.
According to the impressions l have re-
ceived during the last few weeks. as we'll
as communications from your majesty's
military and civil household. l may assume
that my request to resign meets with your
| majesty's wishes. and that l may, there
fore, certainly rely upon its gracious ac-
ceptance. l would have rendered my res
snation to your majesty long ago if I
had not thought your majesty wished to
utilize the experiences of true servant
of your predecessors. Since have become
certain that your majesty does not care to
avail himself of them. ! withdraw from
| political life without any apprehension that
| public opinion will condemn my decision as
| untimely.'
LONDON, Aug. 1.-The Times publishes
| in extenso the letter from Prince Bismarck
! to Emperor William, on leaving Office in
| 1880. 1t occupies over column. The Ber
lin correspondent of the Morning Post.
| commenting upon this letter. which he had
| seen in the Lokal AnZeiser, suggests that
| the power whose name WAS suppressed was
| Russia, and the point from which Bis
| marck's informant had been recently re-
! turned was ST. Petersburg, Russia being
| probably the scene of Germanys successful
| foreign policy. He says
| 1T will then be clear that the differences
/ between Prince Bismarck and Emperor
| William had to do with matters OF more
| serious nature than the maintenance of
| the constitutional charter. 1t throws new
| light on the Zanzibar treaty"
French Papers on Bismarck's Death.
PARIS. July 31.-The French papers ex-