Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-09-25
BARON b|EBERSTE|N,
PROMINENT GERMAN
STATESMAN, IS DEAD
Kaiser's Ambassador at British Court
Dies Suddenly at Baden.
weller, Baden.
GERMANY'S STRONG MAN
He Succeeded Bismarck as Secretary
of Foreign Affairs.
WILL DELAY PROPOSED TREATY
Was Engaged in Negotiating Pact
with Great Britain.
BERNST0RFF MAY SUCCEED HIM
Rum0r that Kaiser's Representative
at Washington will BE Trans
ferred to the Post Just
Made Vacant.
WILL DELAY PROPOSED TREATY
Was Engaged in Negotiating Pact
with Great Britain.
BERNsT0RFF MAY SUCCEED Hi

BADENwEILER, Baden. Germany,
Sept. A-Germany's most brilliant diplo'
met, BaSon Adolf Marschall Won Bieber-
stein, died here today after short Ill.
ness.
The baron, who had occupied the POSI-
tion Of German ambassador in London
only since May this year. had come here
to take a course Of alkaline water treat
ment and was in comparatively good
health until a week ago. Then he sud
denly fell Ill and rapidly became worse.
until he died today.
The baron had suffered from an attack
Of influenza earlier in the year and his
death is attributed to the after effects
of that malady and to his strenuous
work In London since his appointment to
the embassy there.
The baron, who was a native of Baden
was 70 years old.
Contemplated Retiring.
BERLIN, Sept. A.-The name OF the
German ambassador at Washington,
Count Won Bernstorff, has been men,
toned unofflcially in diplomatic circles
as that Of the possible successor to the
late Baron Marschall Won Bieberstein, as
ambassador in London.
Count Won Bernstorff is reputed to be
an ardent advocate of good Anglo-G Ger
man relations.
1t had been rumored for some days
that Baron Won Bleberstein contemplated
retirement from the diplomatic service on
account of impaired health. 1t is stated
that he was suffering from kidney and
liver ailments. His death, which resulted
from paralysis of the heart, was utterly
unexpected here and will, it is thought,
defer the negotiations for the. Anglo
German understanding which he was said
to have believed possible His recent
soiourn in London Is SbelieVed to have
strengthened his view IN this direction.
Germany's strong Man.
Baron Marschall Won Bieberstein was
regarded as one OF the most accom-
plished diplomats OF his time, and since
the death of Bismarck he had been con-
sidered Germany's strong man"
The baron in fact, stepped into the
shoes of Bismarck when the latter left
office in 1880, becoming on April ! OF
that year secretary of state OF foreign
affairs. During his term of offlce ne
conducted the negotiations with many
foreign powers for commercial treaties
which have been in force ever since,
with some few notifications.
In 1894 he became minister of state
and three years later the emperor, recog-
nizing his abilities as statesman, ap-
pointed him ambassador to Turkey. He
remained at Constantinople over four
teen years, but was often. called to Ber-
lin to confer with the emperor, not only
in regard to Turkish affairs, but In con-
nection with Gerrnany's general foreign
policy as well.
Dominated Foreign Policy.
It was often hinted that the baron
practically controlled the emperor's en-
tire foreign policy. He was strongly In
favor of the extension Of Germanys
dominions in all parts Of the world. His
views were so well liked at court that
he was often mentioned for the imperial
chancellorship. The baron was partic-
ularly successful in maintaining the in
fluence Of Germany in near eastern af-
fairs and it was considered due to his
diplomacy that Germany's commercial
standing in the Turkish empire became
SO strong
When he was nominated for the en-
bassy in London early this year, 1t was
reported that he was to endeavor to
bring about an understanding between
the two great rivals, Germany and Great
Britain. If this was his aim, the new
ambassador had little opportunity to at
tain it, for the three months that inter-
vened from the date Of his appointment
and his death scarcely sufficed for
establishing himself In his new sur
poundings.