I afterwards asked the Minister, who was alone with me in the drawing-room, where he remained behind after taking a cup of coffee, whether I should send the press particulars of the not very gentlemanly conduct of the Princes. “Certainly, why not?” he replied; “and you can also give the name of the Coburger—not in our own papers, however.” The bolt was accordingly despatched to Metzler, of the Foreign Office in Berlin, who was to pass it on to the Kölnische Zeitung.
“An Englishman at the headquarters at Meaux” wrote to the Daily Telegraph that the Chief on the conclusion of his interview with Malet said: “What gives myself and the King most anxiety is the influence of a French Republic in Germany. We are very well aware how American Republicanism has reacted upon Germany, and if the French oppose us with a republican propaganda it will do us more harm than their armies.” The Minister wrote on the margin of this statement: “An absurd lie.”
Friday, October 7th.—Hatzfeldt informed us at lunch that the Greek Minister in Paris, with a “family” of twenty-four or twenty-five persons, has come out to us on his way to Tours to join the delegation of the Government of National Defence. His boy told the Count that he did not at all like Paris. They got too little meat to eat there.
Prepared an article for the press from the following sketch: “We are carrying on war, not with a view to a permanent occupation of France, but to secure a peace on the conditions which we have laid down. For that reason we desire to negotiate with a Government which represents the will of France, and whose declarations and concessions will bind France as well as ourselves. The present Government has not that character. It must be confirmed by a National Assembly, or replaced by another Government. A general election is necessary for that purpose; and we are quite prepared to permit this to take place in those parts of the country which we occupy, so far as strategic considerations will allow. The present holders of power in Paris, however, have no disposition to adopt this course. For personal considerations they injure the interests of the country by inflicting upon it a continuance of the evils of war.”
Hatzfeldt complained at dinner that the Greeks, who are anxious to get away, pestered him with their lamentations. “Yes,” said the Chief, “they too must be regarded with suspicion. They must first be identified according to their descriptions, and it must then be seen whether they have been properly circumcised. But no, that is not customary among the Greeks. What seems to me, however, more suspicious even than this enormous diplomatic family, is Wittgenstein, who comes out at the risk of his life on pretence of having despatches for me, and who afterwards turns out to have none. I wonder do they fancy that we shall tolerate this running to and fro between Paris and Kutusow?”
“But,” said Hatzfeldt, “he might be able to bring us news from the city.”
The Chief: “For that purpose he should bear a character that inspires confidence, and that he does not do.”
The conversation then turned on the exhausted condition of the town of Versailles, which has had heavy expenses to bear during the last fortnight. The new Mayor, a M. Rameau, was granted an audience with the Chief to-day. Referring to this the Minister said: “I told him that they should raise a loan. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘that would be possible, but then he must ask permission to go to Tours, as he required the authority of his Government for such a measure.’ Of course I could not promise him that, and besides they would hardly give him the necessary authority there. Probably they think at Tours that it is the duty of the Versailles people to starve in order that we may be starved with them. But they forget that we are the stronger and take what we want. They have absolutely no idea what war is.”
A reference to the neighbourhood between the palace and the Hôtel des Reservoirs brought up the subject of the distinguished guests who are staying at the latter house. Amongst other remarks upon the “troop of princes,” the Chancellor said: “They have nothing decent to eat at that hotel, possibly because the people think their highnesses wish to have it gratis.”
Finally some one broached the question of tolerance, and at first the Chancellor expressed himself much in the same sense as he had done at St. Avold. He declared in decided terms for tolerance in matters of faith. “But,” he added, “the Freethinkers are also not tolerant. They persecute believers, not indeed with the stake, since that is impossible, but with insult and mockery in the press. Amongst the people, so far as they are non-believers, there has also not been much progress. What pleasure it would afford them to see Pastor Knack hanged!”