The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-29
RY Wilhelm HoHENzoLLERN

6N WILHELM 6OHENZOLLEnN
Again | was confronted with the
difficult task of c.soosing a Chancel-
Tor. His position and activities were
to be under somewhat about the same
auspices and subject to the same con-
ditions as in the case of his predeces'
sor. But now there was more OF a
desire that he should be a statesman
an older man of course, qualified to
inspire Prince Bismarck with more
confidence than a mere general could
do.
It was assumed that statesman
would know better how to walk IN the
footsteps of the Prince, politically
speaking. and provide Bismarck with
less opportunity for criticism and at
tacks. The latter had tended to
create gradually among all Govern
ment officials, who dated mostly from
the period of Bismarck, and unmistak'
able nervousness and dissatisfaction,
by which the work OF the entire gov
ernmental system was impaired to an
extent by no means ineonsiderable.
Moreover, it lent to the opposition in
the Reichstag a constantly renewed
strength drawn from elements prev
iously faithful to the Government, and
made itself felt in detrimental man
ner. Especially in the Foreign Office,
the spirit of Holstein. the supposed
representative of the "old, tried Bis
MARKHAM traditions" began to, assert
itself, so that the unwillingness to
collabonate with the Emperor became
particularly strong and the belief
grew up that it was necessary to car
ry on. Independently, the policy OF Bis
marck.
After mature deliberation, / decided
to entrust the post of Chancellor to
Prince Hohenlohe, who was then Gov
ernor OF Alsac-Lorraine. At the out
break of the War in 1870 he had sue
ceeded, as Bavarian Minister, in get
ting Bavaria to enter the war on the
side of Prussia Ever since he had
been highly esteemed by Prince Bis
marck on account of his fidelity TO the
empire. 1t was natural to expect that
Bismarck's opposition would cool off
when confronted with such a success
sor. Thus. the choice of Hohenlohe
as Chancellor was strongly influenced
by consideration for Prince Bismarck
and for the public opinion inspired by
him.
Prince Hohenlohe was the typical
old-style grand seigneur. He was
thoroughly urbane by nature and in
his dealings with others; a man of re-
fined mind, with slight touch of
playful irony sometimes glinting
through, keen on account of his years,
a level-headed observer and judge Of
men. Despite the great differnce in
age between him and me he got along
very well with me, which was shown
on the surface by the fact that he was
treated both by the Empress and my
self as our uncle, and addressed as
such, which brought about a certain
atmosphere of intimate confidence in
our intercourse. In his talks with me,
especially in giving his opinion as to
appointments of officials, he offered
very characteristic descriptions of the
gentleman discussed, often combined
with philosophical, observations which
on life and humanity and which were
proved that he had reflected deeply
evidence of maturity and wisdom
grounded on experience.
Something happened during the first
jeriod of Hohenlohe's regime as Chan
cellor which throws an interesting
light upon the relations between
France and Russia Having, at the
time of the determination between
Russia and France, received reliable
information from the General Staff as
well as from our embassy at Paris to
the effect that France contemplated
Withdrawing a portion of her troops
from Algeria, in order to shift them
to Southern France either against
Italy or against Alsace, l apprised
Car Nicholas II. of this news, adding
the remark that l should be obliged
TO adopt counter-measures unless the
Gar could dissuade his ally from so
provocative step. -
Some Diplomatic Fencing
At that time the Russian Minister
of Foreign affairs was Prince Loban,
off, formerly Ambassador at Vienna
we'll known for his pro-French pro.
clivities. During the summer of 1895
he had visited France and been very
cordially entertained. During the Aut
umn, just as l was staying for the
hunting at Hubertusstock on the
Schorfheide near Eberswalde, Prince
Lobanoff, on his return journey from
Paris, requested to be received in
audience, at the behest of the Gear
Upon being received by me he de
scribed the calm and sensible frame
of mind which he had found in Paris
and sought to quiet me too with re
gard to the above mentioned trooI
movements, which, according to him
were mere empty rumor and chatter
without any real basis. He added tina
he was bringing to me the most quiet
ing assurances. that there was no rea
son for my feeling the slightest alarm
l thanked him heartily for his report
ramarking that the word alarm" wa