The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
MEMOIRS OF BERNSTORFF
Wife of German Ambassador Sends Edition de Luxe Copy
to Mrs. Taft.

Bernstorffs Gid not receive an invitation
20 court until some tine later when they
were asked 70 Windsor The countess de-
scribes the Queen as a happy wife and
a happy mother, knowing only the
pleasant side Of royalty. and none OF
It's drawbacks" She has the joys o.
family life. together with all the p-Ivi-
leges OF her exalted station. and the en-
ercise Of those privileges Is not the least
irksome TO her. II seems 20 me that the
Queen must be the most fortunate wonl-
an in the whole world: she certainly looks
so. She married after her own heart. has
fine children. and enjoys the most per-
feet health. She smiles at the prince
from time % time. and Is particularly
charming 20 him. They say she tries
thus 10 make him forget the many dis
agreeables OF his position"
The introduction 70 The Bernstorff
Papers says His temper and tact was
severely tried during the time OF ths
Crimean war. His sovereign. Frederick
William ". thought proper 20 send on a
special mission 10 Queen Victoria, Count
Used0m.>a man brilliant rather than
profound. and whose actions we're al
WAYS governed by unreasonable anfnos-
ity for Austria. This special mission 10
an English sovereign was in Itself ex-
tremelv Objectionable Lord Paimerston
especially. among English ministers. re-
sented undue Interference with the Crown
in foreign politics. end the position OF
Rernstorff. the accredited ambassador.
became extremely difleult and disagree
able" Bernstorn was recalled n che
autumn Of 1851 70 I'll the post q minister
Tor foreign affairs. and when the Liberal
Cabinet resigned IN 1Ss2 he Joined the
short-lived conservative government OF
Won der Heydt and vOn Room In 1ss2 he
returned 10 London as ambassador
The -Prussian war Afforded
many opportunities for the ambassadors
talents. 'Hls intercourse Il Is record
ed with English statesmen was cheer
ful and fun OF confidence he argued
feeIingiy and convincingly with Lord
Granville about the business and right
eousness OF the German cause. His
prompttude saved the Prussian feet at
the beginning OF hostilities. which. on its
way 10 Madeira, by The way Of Plymouth.
Was IN ignorance OF the danger OF the
srxuation. and miEht easily have been de-
stroyed by the French feet BernstoTns
warning reached the German ships IN
time, and Prince Adelbert az once re-
turned 70 the North Sea. and entered the
Eibe as the Wisest course for him 20 pur-
sue. During the war BernstOr6 did good
service by reporting news OF importance
His son, Count Andreas who. at the out
break OF the war, WAS secretary OF le-
CATION al Dresden. was called TO London
70 take the place OF second secretary-
He writes as follows
a great part OF our work during The
portant news for our army An equally
important task Tor our embassy was 70
gain an influence over the press IN Eng
land In no country in the world has the
press such a power as in England and
none stood 50 nigh at that time To sup
piV IL suitably with news was OF the
greatest interest 70 Us. English news
papers are printed al night and the edi-
tors. who are busy as bees collecting
news in the afternoon. are 10 be seen al
their Offices generally about 20 O'Clock I
have often gone 70 the Times ofiice IN
the evening. for my father. and took
the celebrated draft OF Benedettfs
agreement there have retained pleas
ant recoIectons Of our relations with the
press. and I know that II gratefully rec
ognized the treatment It received from
the German embassy
Writing again. Count Andreas SAYS. a
very interesting part Of our political
work was the negotiations with the
Bonapartists after Sedan The difficult
ties for Us Germans lay IN the fact that
there was no French government with
which 10 conclude terms OF peace. ANY
new regent or president could hardly
take upon himself The odium CT such a
peace. The thought OF saving the en-
piTe. therefore, hlled the hearts o. the
Bonapartists. Bazaine's army was shut
I'D In Metz. and this army could main
tain order. II freed. and protect ard sup
port the dynasty when peace vas coz
cluded with Germany As the Emperpr
was q prisoner at WHhelmshoehe. tie
Empress Eugene ought 20 undertake re
regency. Numerous BOnapartists caIRd
upon US az the embassy 10 obtain the re-
lease OF Bazaine's army and the sette-
ment Of peace BY father had a con-
versatiOn with the Empress EUgerie in
London Tor this purpose.
Empress and ambassador met secretly
az Lord Cowley's house on October -
1870. II was proposed 70 the Empress that
the Borzpartist dynasty should be re-
stored, providing that the restored gov
ernment would agree 70 deed that portion
OF French territory which Germany &C.
sired 20 possess. The Empress refused.
saying that rather than relinQuish one
inch OF French territory she and her fam
ily would remain in exile forever"