Tuesday, November 8th.—In the morning I sent off a telegram stating that the prisoners taken in the balloons have been transported to a Prussian fortress in order to be tried there by court-martial. Furthermore that the confiscated letters compromised diplomats and other personages who have been permitted to remain in communication with the outer world out of consideration for their position and sense of honour. Such communication would no longer be tolerated.
At about 12.30 P.M., while we were at lunch, the Chief received a visit from Archbishop Ledochowski of Posen, and it was understood that his business was to submit an offer of the Pope to intervene with the French Government. They probably hope in this way to purchase the intervention of the German Government on behalf of the Holy Father. The Archbishop remained till nearly 3 o’clock, and on his leaving the Chief went to see the King. He subsequently took dinner at the Crown Prince’s, where the Grand Duke of Baden, who had arrived in the meantime, also dined.
Delbrück, General Chauvin, and Colonel Meidam, the officer in command of the Field Telegraph, were the Chief’s guests at dinner. Mention was made of the improper use of the telegraph wire by distinguished personages for their private purposes.
After a while the Chancellor remarked: “I hear that the Augustenburger also telegraphs. That really should not be. Nor has the Coburger any right to do so. The telegraph is for military and diplomatic purposes, and not for minor potentates to use for inquiries respecting their kitchens, stables and theatres. None of them has any rights here. Their rights ceased on passing the German frontier.”
On some one referring to the destruction of the telegraph wires and other similar misconduct on the part of franctireurs and peasants near Epernay, the Minister said: “They should have immediately sent three or four battalions there, and transported six thousand peasants to Germany until the conclusion of the war.”
Amongst other subjects discussed at tea was the rumour that the postponement of the bombardment was in part due to the influence of ladies, the Queen and the Crown Princess being mentioned in this connection. The Chief was in the drawing-room engaged in conference with the Bavarian General von Bothmer on the military question in connection with the closer unification of Germany now in progress. The Minister joined us afterwards, remaining for about an hour. On sitting down he breathed a deep sigh and said: “I was thinking just now, what I have indeed often thought before—If I could only for five minutes have the power to say: ‘That must be done thus and in no other way!’—If one were only not compelled to bother about the ‘why’ and the ‘wherefore,’ and to argue and plead for the simplest things!—Things made much more rapid progress under men like Frederick the Great, who were generals themselves and also knew something about administration, acting as their own Ministers. It was the same with Napoleon. But here, this eternal talking and begging!”
After a while the Chief said, with a laugh: “I have been busy to-day educating princes.”
“How so, Excellency?” asked Hatzfeldt.
“Well, I have explained to various gentlemen at the Hôtel des Reservoirs what is and what is not proper. I have given the Meininger to understand through Stein that he is not to be allowed to use the Field Telegraph for giving instructions about his kitchen garden and theatre. And the Coburger is still worse. Never mind, the Reichstag will set that right and put a stop to all that kind of thing. But only I shall not be there.”
Hatzfeldt asked: “Has your Excellency seen that the Italians have broken into the Quirinal?”