Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-08

/ Naturally. France protested against
a Hohenzollern sitting on the throne
of Spain. The ambassador at Berlin
was instructed to secure from the
tins candidacy. Neither Bismarck nor
King William was in Berlin. The
French ambassador, Benedict. visited
King William at Ems. Under the
man prince had refused the offer Of
the crown. France was anxious to
secure pledge that no future Ho-
henzollern candidate should be put
forward for this place. King William
when interviewed by Benedetti and ask
erly and rather firmly declined.
When the French authorities were
! informed of this declination at the
meeting Of the French cabinet 1t was
resolved that as the present danger
had passed the refusal of King VIII
liam to pledge himself to the future
would not be regarded as q casus
belli. When Bismarck learned that
the offer OF the crown had been de-
Siine So he vas .s very dsspondsnt. He
France to declare war. Prussia was
now ready with its trained army, the
largest in the world. The south Ger
, man states were on friendly terms
with Prussia and evidently would
join Prussia if the French declared
war. Bismarck was SO depressed at
the escape of the enemy that he had
made up his mind to resign his po-
sition as chancellor of the kiT - dom.
He had gone to Berlin and invited
the minister of war, to dine with him.
1t was a lugubrious assembly. Let
| mo describe 1t in Bismarck's own
words: IT.
Queen Dreaded War.
Through this inclination to take
state business upon himself in person
and alone the king had been forced into
a position which 1 could not defend In
my judgment his majesty, while at
Ems ought to have refused every bust
ness communication from tho French
negotiator. have been told that Queen
Augusta implored her husband with
tears before hds departure from Ems
| for Berlin to bear in mind Jena and
statement authoritative even to the
tears"
This trio who had assembled for the
dinner party were like hungry lions
with fresh meat which they had smelled
| from afar suddenly taken away. In re-
spect Of hds two companions Bismarck
says:
"Both were greatly depressed. 1
| maintained the position that could not
offer up my sense OF honor to politics,
that both Of them being professional
soldiers and consequently without free
dom Of choice, need not take the same
point Of view Of "a responsible foreign
minister"
1t was while the dinner was going on
that the kings telegram was receiv-
ed. The language of the telegram
caused extreme detection on the part
of the guests. After a careful study
Of the telegram Bismarck hit upon q
plan to change the wording SO as to
rouse the temper Of the French peo-
, pie to uncomfortable anger and thus
force them to make a declaration OF
| war. I must tell this part of the
story in Bismarck's own words:
IT put a few questions to Moltke as
| to the extent Of his confidence in the
state Of our preparations. especially
as to the time they would still re-
Quire in order to meet this sudden
risk Of war. He answered that If
there was to be war he expected no
advantage to US by deferring its out
break. In the presence of my guests
I reduced the telegram by striking
out words, but not by adding or
altering, to the following form:
(Then follows the amended tele-
rram.) SO The difference in the
effect Of the abbreviated text Of the
Ems telegramsasaco that