"Holiness, I must:—as German Emperor, I must protect Germans. While Francis Joseph lived, his German subjects were content to live in Austria as Austrians. Now that Bohemia and Hungary are separating themselves from Austria, they no longer are content. Austria is no more. The fragments which composed her are for ever disunited; and——"
"Poland?"
"Holiness, in my empire there is no Poland."
"No? Your Majesty believes that the German Austrians would be happier under your rule. Are you likely to meet with opposition if you annex them?"
"With tremendous opposition. France and Russia instantly will declare war."
"With what chance of success?"
"With no chance of success. My glorious German navy and army will conquer France and Russia."
"Majesty! Majesty! And yet—you have endeared yourself to hundreds of thousands of French refugees."
"Thanks to Your Holiness's gracious initiative, You may take it that all Christian France is willing to become German—or English—out of sheer gratitude."
"But Russia—Russia is immense—immensely powerful."