The following passage, referring to the Kiel Week, is taken from the notes of the same year:
“I received many marks of the Kaiser’s attention, who, on July 27th, summoned me to Kiel once more, as he wished to discuss with the Chancellor and me the question of the Japanese bank.”
During his trip to the Far East Ballin had taken a great deal of trouble to bring about the establishment of a German-Japanese bank.
The following extracts are taken from the notes of subsequent years:
“On December 10th (1903) I received a wire asking me to see the Kaiser at the Neues Palais. To my infinite joy the Kaiser had quite recovered the use of his voice. He looked well and fit, and during a stroll through the park I had a long chat with him concerning my trip to America and other matters. In February the Kaiser intends to undertake a Mediterranean cruise on board the Hohenzollern for the benefit of his health. He will probably proceed to Genoa on board one of the Imperial mail packets, which is to be chartered for him.”
(April 1904). “The Kaiser had expressed a wish to see me in Italy. On my arrival at Naples I found a telegram waiting for me in which I was asked to proceed to Messina if necessary. Owing, however, to the state of our negotiations with the Russian Government, I did not think it desirable to meet the Kaiser just then, and thus I had no opportunity of seeing him until May 3rd when I was in Berlin to attend a meeting of the Disconto-Gesellschaft, and to confer with Stübel on the question of some further troop transports to South West Africa. I received an invitation to join the Imperial luncheon party at which the birthday of the Crown Prince was to be celebrated in advance, since his Majesty would not be in town on May 6th. The Kaiser’s health had much improved through his cruise; he had lost some of his stoutness, and the Kaiserin, too, was greatly pleased to see him looking so well. We naturally discussed the topics of the day, and the Kaiser, as always, was full of kindness and goodwill towards me.”
“On June 21st, 1904, the usual Imperial Regatta took place at Cuxhaven, and the usual dinner on board the Blücher. These events were followed by Kiel Week, which lasted from June 22nd to 28th. We stayed on board the Victoria Luise, and I was thus brought into especially close contact with the Kaiser. I accompanied him to Eckernförde on board the Meteor, and we discussed the political situation, particularly in its bearing on the Morocco question and on the attitude of Great Britain.”
“On June 19th, 1904, the Kaiser, the Kaiserin, and some of their sons were staying in Hamburg. I dined with them at Tschirschky’s (the Prussian Minister in Hamburg), and we drove to the races. On June 20th we proceeded to Cuxhaven, where, on board the Deutschland, I heard the news—which the Kaiser had just communicated to Kaempff (the captain of the Deutschland)—that the North German Lloyd steamer Kaiser Wilhelm II, in consequence of her being equipped with larger propellers, had won the speed record. Late at night the Kaiser asked me to see him on board the Hohenzollern, where he engaged me in a long discussion on the most varied subjects. On June 21st the regatta took place at Cuxhaven. The Kaiser and Prince Heinrich were amongst the guests who were entertained at dinner on board the Deutschland. The Kaiser was in the best of health and spirits. Owing to the circumstance that Burgomaster Burchard—who generally engages the Kaiser in after-dinner conversation—was prevented by his illness from being present, I was enabled to introduce a number of Hamburg gentlemen to His Majesty. As the Kaiser had summoned me to dine with him on board the Hohenzollern on the 22nd, I could not return to Hamburg, but had to travel through the Kiel Canal that same night on board a tug steamer. On the 22nd I stayed at the club house of the Imperial Yachting Club, whilst at my own house a dinner party was given for 36 persons. On the 23rd I changed my quarters to the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, and the other visitors arrived there about noon. A special feature of Kiel Week of 1904 was the visit of King Edward to the Kaiser whom he met at Kiel. For the accommodation of the ministers of state and of the other visitors whom the Kaiser had invited in connexion with the presence of the King, we had placed our s.s. Prinz Joachim at his disposal, in addition to the Prinzessin Victoria Luise. We also supplied, for the first time, a hotel ship, the Graf Waldersee, all the cabins of which were engaged. On June 27th my wife and I, and a number of other visitors from the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, were invited to take afternoon tea with the Kaiser and Kaiserin on board the Hohenzollern, and I had a lengthy conversation with King Edward.”
Whenever the Kaiser granted Ballin an interview without the presence of witnesses he cast aside all dignity, and discussed matters with him as friend to friend. Neither did he object to his friend’s counsel and admonitions, and he was not offended if Ballin, on such occasions, subjected his actions or his opinions to severe criticism.
On such occasions the Kaiser, as Ballin repeatedly pointed out, “took it all in without interrupting, looking at me from the depth of his kind and honest eyes.” That he did not bear Ballin any malice for his frankness is shown by the fact that he took a lively and cordial interest in all the events touching the private life of Ballin and his family, his daughter’s engagement, for instance—an interest which still continued after Ballin’s death.