Upload
bonusje
View
218
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
1/380
. ' \ : \ : , .'\AAA : :V%: % :
MEMOIRS OFf o u n t
, 6 e r n s t o r f f
R a n d o m l , A o u o e Beta Rork
\ : \ : \ : \ : \ : \ . ' , : : \ : \ : \ : \ :
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
2/380
COPYRIGHT, 1 9 3 6 , BY RANDOM HOUSE, INC .PRINTED AND B OUND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICABY H. WOLFF
EH .
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
3/380
H i e m o i r o o fC o u n t $ e r n o t o r f f
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
4/380
TRANSLATED FR OM THE GER MAN
BY ERIC SUTTON
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
5/380
TOMY DEAR B R AVE WIFE
WHO HAS COURAGEOUSLY BORNE WITHME ALL THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF LIFE
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
6/380
COUNT BER NSTOR FF
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
7/380
A u n c a n o n i c a l t r a d i t i o n r e c o r d s a q u e s t i o n b y t h e A l -m i g h t y a t t h e e n t r a n c e t o P a r a d i s e : "Where wert thouw h e n t h e L o r d G o d c r e a t e d t h e w o r l d ? " S i m i l a r r e f l e c t i o n s
c a n n o t b e f a r f r o m t h e m i n d o f a n y G e r m a n w h o h a s t o l o o k
b a c k t o - d a y o n t w e n t y - t w o y e a r s o f w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n , a n d
a s k s h i m s e l f t h e q u e s t i o n : "Where wert thou whe n the Ger-
man people had to go through a purgator y of twenty-two
y e a r s ? " I a n s w e r t h i s q u e s t i o n o n m y o w n b e h a l f i n t h e f o l -
lowing book, which may be re garded as my confession . I f ,
n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a g e , i l l - h e a l t h a n d d i s g u s t w i t h p o l i t i c s , I
h a v e b e e n a b l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e w o r k , m y t h a n k s a r e w h o l l y
d u e t o t h e h e l p g i v e n t o m e b y F r a u l e i n M y r i a m B e c k e r , w h o s e
y o u t h f ul e n e r g y a n d e n t h u s i a s m n e v e r f a i l e d t h r o u g h o u t . I t
g i v e s m e t h e g r e a t e s t p l e a s u r e t o b e a b l e t o o f f e r h e r , i n t h i s
p l a c e a l s o , t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f m y g r a t i t u d e .
J . BER NSTORFF .
G e n e v a .
M a y i s t , 19 3 5 .
f o r f W o r d
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
8/380
C o n t e n t s
YOUTHYEARS OF APPRENTICESHIP
WASHINGTON
CONSTANTINOPLE
REICHSTAG
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
DISAR MAMENT
APPENDIX
INDEX
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
9/380
3 1 1 u u t r a t i o n s
COUNT BERNSTORFF F r o n t i s p i e c eF a c i n gCOUNT BERNSTORFF AT THE WASHINGTON
EMB ASSY, 1916 112
THE KAISER LAYING A WREATH ON THE176
GRAVE OF FIELD- MAR SHAL VON DERGOLTZADDR ESSING THE LEAGUE ASSEMB LY,
I 9 2 8 256
SAYING FARE WELL TO STR ESE MANN, 192 9 320
AT THE PREPARATORY DISARMAMENTCONFERENCE 352
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
10/380
m o i r o o f
C o u n t $ e r n n t o r f
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
11/380
PouthTH E c o u r s e o f e v e n t s m a d e i t n e c e s s a r y f o r m e t o p u b l i s ha v o l u m e o f m y r e m i n i s c e n c e s v e r y s o o n a f t e r t h e W a r ,a s I t h e n f e l t i t a d u t y t o t a k e u p a r m s f o r t h e t r u t h . T h e h i s -
t o r i a n n o w r e c o g n i s e s t h e a t t i t u d e a d o p t e d b y m e i n W a s h -
i n g t o n t o h a v e b e e n c o r r e c t , w h i l e t h e l a y m a n i s a c c u s t o m e d
t o p i n h i s f a i t h t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p a r t y - o r t o p u r e l y n a t i o n a l
p o i n t s o f v i e w . O n t h a t a c c o u n t , I c a n p a s s o v e r m o s t o f t h e
e v e n t s d e s c r i b e d i n m y f i r s t b oo k , a s s u m i n g t h a t e v e r y o n e
i n t e r e s t e d i n t h a t p e r i o d w i l l h a v e r e a d t h e l i t e r a t u r e t h a t h a s
s i n c e b e e n f o r t h c o m i n g o n t h e s u b j e c t . I t h a s c o n f i r m e d m y
a t t i t u d e t h r o u g h o u t .
A s i n m y f i r s t b o o k , I s h a l l a d h e r e t o m y p u r p o s e o f c o n -
f i n i n g m y s e l f t o m y o w n p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s , s o t h a t t h i s
b o o k , t o o , w i l l c o n t a i n n o t h i n g b u t w h a t i s u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y
t r u e . Regarding subjective views and values there may be
d i f f e r e n c e s o f o p i n io n , b u t f a c t s s h ou l d b e u n a s s a i l a b l e . I t i s
o n l y t h u s t h a t t h e b o o k c a n f u l f i l i t s a i m o f p r o v i d i n g a c o n -
t r i b u ti o n t o w o rl d h i s t o r y , a s f a r a s m a y b e - s i n e i r a e t s t u d i o .
I t i s n o t p l e a s a n t f o r a G e r m a n t o w r i t e t h e h i s t o r y o f m y
g e n e r a t i o n . W h e n I e n t e r e d u p o n " t h e s t ru g g l e t h a t i s l i f e , "
the Germany of William I and Bismarck was at the peak of
i t s f o r t u n e s . C o m p a r e d w i t h t h a t g l o r i o u s a g e , w e a r e i n t h e
p o s i t i o n o f t h e p r o d i g a l s o n , w h o s q u a n d e r e d h i s i n h e r i t a n c e .
C o n s i d e r e d h i s t o r ic a l l y , t h e h u m a n m a t e r i a l o f t h e a g e o f W i l -
l i a m I I a p p e a r s j u s t a s g o o d o r j u s t a s b a d - i n w h i c h e v e r w a y
it be regarded-as that with which Bismarck had to work .
' 5
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
12/380
1 6 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFF" T h e p a r t s w e r e t h e r e i n d e e d , b u t w he r e w a s t h e i n t e l l e c t
t h a t s h a p e d t h e m i n t o o n e ? " T h e l a t e r e p o c h l a c k e d t h e g e n i u s
o f B i s m a r c k , w h o r e c o g n i s e d t h e g r e a t h i s t o r i ca l t r u t h o f t h e
p r i m a c y o f f o r e i g n p o l i c y . W h o e v e r w i s h e s t o l e a d t h e G e r -
m a n p e o p l e w i t h s u c c e s s m u s t a l w a y s r e m e m b e r t h e g e o g r a p h -
i c a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e c ou n t r y , w h i c h is d e c i s i v e . I t w a s o n t ha t
a c c o u n t t ha t B i s m a r c k s u f f e r e d f r o m w h a t h e c a l l e d " t h e n i g h t -
m a r e of co a l it io ns . " B u t o n t h a t a c c o u n t h e w a s m a s t e r o f t h e
s i t u a t i o n , w h i l e i n t i m e t o c o m e , t h e S e c o n d R e i c h c o u l d n o t
e x t r i c a t e i t s e l f f r o m t h e n e t o f a n e n e m y c o a l i t i o n , i n d e e d i t
a c t u a l l y h e l p e d t o c r e a t e t h a t c o a l i t i o n b y e r r o r s i n i t s o w n
f o r e i g n p o l i c y .
I , w h o w a s t o s u r v i v e i n t o t he p r e s e n t m e l a n c h o l y e p o c h o f
G e r m a n h i s t o r y , w a s b o r n o f a n o l d G e r m a n d i p l o m a t i c f a m i l y
in London (186i), where my father was Ambassad or . My
p l a c e o f b i rt h s e e m s t o h a v e e x e r c i s e d a s o r t o f p r e d e s t i n e d
i n f l u e n c e o n m y d e s t i n y , f o r t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t m o m e n t s o f
my life have, in one way or another, been connected with
E n g l a n d f o r g o o d o r i l l . I b e c a m e e n g a g e d t o b e m a r r i e d , a n d
t h u s f o u n d m y l i f e ' s h a p p i n e s s , i n t h e p a r k o f H a m p t o n C o u r t
P a l a c e . L a t e r o n , i t s o h a p p e n e d t h a t H e r b e r t B i s m a r c k 1 m a d e
a d i p l o m a t o f m e a f t e r a m e e t i n g a t d i n n e r a t t h e B r i t i s h E m -
b a s s y i n B e r l i n , a n d l a t e r s t i l l , w h e n P r i nc e B u l o w w a n t e d t o
d o m e a f a v o u r , h e a p p o i n t e d m e C o u n s e l l o r o f E m b a s s y i n
Londo n . T h e n c e i t wa s f a t e d t h a t , a s t h e p h r a s e g o e s , I s h o u l d
m a k e a g o o d c a r e e r a s a d i p l o m a t i s t , a n d a c q u i r e m o r e i n si g h t
i n t o t h e E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g w o r l d t h a n i s c o m m o n l y t h e c a s e
am on g Germ an s .
N a p o l e o n I o n c e s a i d a t S t . H e l e n a : " Y o u m u s t e i t h e r f i g ht
E n g l a n d o r s h a r e t h e t r a d e o f t h e w o r l d w i t h h e r ; o n l y t h e
1 T h i s a n d s u b s e q u e n t n u m be r e d r e f e r e n c e s m a y b e f o u n d i n t h e A p p e n -
d i x . Ed .
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
13/380
YOUTH1 7
s e c o n d a l t e r n a t i v e i s t o - d a y p o s s i bl e . " I t i s e a s y t o b e w i s e
a f t e r t h e e v e n t , a n d o n e m a y t a k e o c c a s i o n to d o u b t w h e t h e r
N a p o l e o n ' s te m p e r a m e n t , b e f o r e S t . H e l e n a , w o u l d e v e r h a v e
p e r m i t t e d h i m t o c o m e t o a p e a c e f u l a r r a n g e m e n t w i t h a n y
o t h e r P o w e r . B u t t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d E n g -
l a n d w e r e n o t o f t h i s c ha r a c t e r . W h e n I w a s C o u n s e l l o r o f
E m b a s s y i n L o nd o n f r o m i 9 0 2 t o i 9 0 6 t h e r e w a s n o o n e a t t h e
Embassy who was not convinced that war between Germany
a n d E n g l a n d w a s i n e v i t a b l e i f t h e G e r m a n n a v a l p r o g r a m m e
w a s m a i n t a i n e d . T h e r e w e r e , h o w e v e r , p o s s ib i l i t ie s o f a n u n-
d e r s t a n d i n g e v e n a s l a t e a s L o r d H a l d a n e ' s m i s s i on t o B e r l i n . '
W h e n t h i s p r ov e d a b o r t i v e , t h e w o r l d w a r w a s a c e r t a i n t y ,
f o r o nl y E n g l a n d c o u l d p r e v e n t i t , a n d E n g l a n d w a s n o l o n g e r
w i l l i n g t o d o s o , o n a c c o u n t o f t h e G e r m a n f l e e t . C o l o n e l
House wrot e t o Wilso n o n May 29th, 1914: "When ev er
E n g l a n d c o n s e n t s , F r a n c e a n d R u s s i a w i l l c l o s e i n o n G e r -
many and Austri a," and House was int imate ly acquai nted
w i t h E n t e n t e c i r c l e s . E v e r s i n c e I c a m e t o t h e u s e o f m y
p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n , i t w a s m y d e s i r e t h a t G e r m a n y sh o u l d l i v e i n
amity with England . I c o n s i d e r e d a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g w a s a t -
t a i n a b l e , p r o v i d e d G e r m a n y w e r e c o n t e n t t o b e a l a n d P o w e r
o f t h e f i r s t r a n k , a n d d i d n o t w a n t t o a t t a i n t h e s a m e p o s i t i o n
a s a s e a P o w e r . " Q u i t r o p e m b r a s s e m a l e t r e i n t , " was a com-
m o n s a y i n g o f B i s m a r c k ' s . H a v i n g g r o w n u p i n t h e s e v i e w s ,
i t w a s m y f a t e d u r i n g t h e W a r t o o c c u p y a p o s i t i o n t h a t
* T h e r e f e r e n c e i s t o a l e t t e r w r i t t e n f r o m B e r l i n i n T h e I n t i m a t e P a p e r s
o f C o l . Hou se . T h e p a r a g r a p h i n q u e s t i o n r u n s a s f ol l o w s :
" T h e s i t u a t i o n i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y . I t i s m i l i t a r i s m r u n s t a r k m a d . U n l e s s
s o m e o n e a c t i n g f o r y o u c a n b r i n g a b o u t a d i f f e r e n t u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e r e i s
s o m e d a y t o b e a n a w f u l c a t a c l y s m . N o o n e i n E u r o p e c a n d o i t . T h e r e i s
t o o m u c h h a t r e d , t o o m a n y j e a l o u s i e s . W h e n e v e r E n g l a n d c o n se n t s , F r a n c e
a n d R u s s i a w i l l c l o s e i n o n G e r m a n y a n d A u s t r ia . England does not want
Germany wholly crushed, for she would then have t o reckon a lone with
h e r a n c i e n t e n e m y , R u s s ia : b u t i f G e r m a n y i n s i s t s u p o n a n e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g
n a v y , t h e n E n g l a n d w i l l h a v e n o c h o i c e . "
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
14/380
I S MEMOIRS OF COUNT BE R NSTOR FF
b r o u g h t m e i n t o t h e s h a r p e s t c o n f l i c t w i t h E n g l a n d , f o r a t
W a s h i n g t o n t h e d i p l o m a t i c d u e l w a s a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e l y b e -
tween Germany and England . I n t h i s st r u g g l e E n g l a n d p r o v e d
v i c t o r i o u s , b e c a u s e t h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t d i d n o t r e a l i s e
t h a t t h e W a r w o u l d b e d e c i d e d i n W a s h i n g t o n , w h i l e E n g l a n d
w a s n e v e r i n a n y d o u b t o n t h i s p o i n t a n d a c t e d a c c o r d i n g l y .
H e r v i c t o r y w a s f a c i l i t a t e d b y t h e p r e d o m i n a n c e o f t h e E n g -
l i s h l a n g u a g e . I f a n c y i t w o u l d n o t b e i n c o r r e c t t o s a y t h a t t h e
English language won the War . T h a n k s t o i t s w id e d i f f u s i o n,
t h e w h o l e w o rl d s a w , a n d s t i l l s e e s , t h r ou g h E n g l i s h sp e c t a c l e s .
O n e m u s t f a c e t h e s e u n p l e a s a n t f a c t s i n o r d e r t o a v o i d s u c h
consequences as befell us in the World War . My proble ms
were just the same when, after the English had won their
v i c t o ry , I h a d t o l e a v e W a s h i n g t o n f or m y l a s t d i p l o m a t i c p o s t
i n C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , w h e n c e I h a d t o w i t h d r a w b e f o r e t h e a r -
r i v a l o f t h e B r i t i s h f l e e t .
T h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s , h o w e v e r , d o n o t a l t e r t h e f a c t th a t G e r -
m a n y m u s t n o w , a f t e r t h e W a r , a n d i n q u i t e d i f f e r e n t c i r c u m -
s t a n c e s , w i n E n g l a n d ' s f r i e n d s h ip . N o o t h e r f o r e i g n p o l i c y i s
p o s s i b l e f o r u s , a s t h e F r e n c h h e g e m o n y o n t h e c o n t i n e n t c a n -
n o t l a s t f o r e v e r , a n d a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h F r a n c e r e m a i n s
i m p o s s i b l e , b e c a u s e F r a n c e d o e s n o t w a n t on e , n e v e r h a s d o n e
s o , a n d p r o b a b l y n e v e r w i l l . S i n c e t h e d a y s o f H e n r y I V , i t
i s t h e q u i n t e s s e n c e o f F r e n c h f o r e i g n p o l i c y t o k e e p G e r -
many weak . T h i s a i m i s n o w h e r e m o r e c l e a r l y r e v e a l e d t h a n
i n t h e m e m o r a n d u m w r i t t e n b y T a l l e y r a n d f o r h is o w n g u i d -
a n c e a t t h e C o n g r e s s o f V i e n n a . Anyone who has work ed for
a number of years at Geneva can be in no doubt that the
f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f F r a n c e i s u n c h a n g e d . W h e t h e r , a s t o - d a y , i t
i s d e s c r i b e d a s " S e c u r i ty , " a n d w h a t e v e r P a r t i e s d i r e c t i t , t h e
r e s u l t i s a l w a y s t h e s a m e . I n a c e r t a i n s e n s e , o n e c a n n o t bl a m e
t h e F r e n c h , f o r t h e A m e r i c a n s a r e n o t l i k e l y t o w i n a n o t h e r
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
15/380
YOUTH I 9w a r f o r t he m , a n d a N a p o l e o n I i s j u s t a s r a r e a s a B i s m a r c k .
H o w e v e r , a n h o n e s t f a i t h i n t h e c o n c e p t i o n o f a L e a g u e o f
N a t i o n s , w h i c h h a s b e e n l a c k i n g s i n c e W i l s o n ' s d a y , p r e s e n t s
a n a l t e r n a t i v e s o l u t i o n .
T h e f i r s t t e n y e a r s o f m y l i f e w e r e s p e n t i n E n g l a n d , u n t il
m y f a t h e r d i e d ( 1 8 7 3 ) . T h i s w a s m y f i r s t s i g h t o f d e a t h , a
p a i n f u l e x p e r i e n c e , b u t n o t o n e t h a t r e a l l y c o n v e y e d t o m e
t h e s i g n i f i ca n c e o f t h a t e v e n t . F o r h i s s u r v i v i n g fa m i l y t h e d a y s
o f d i p l o m a t i c s p l e n d o u r w e r e e n d e d . O n l y m y e l d e s t b r o t h e r
r e m a i n e d i n t h e s e r v i c e f o r a t i m e , w h i l e m y m o t h e r w i t h d r e w
t o t h e f a m i l y e s t a t e , S t i n t e n b u r g - o n - t h e - S c h a l l s e e . Of m y
p a r e n t s I h a v e o n l y t h e f r i e n d l i e s t r e c o l l e c t i o n s ; they were
always ex ceedingly kind to me, but when I, their seventh
child, was born, my father was fifty-three and my mother
forty-two . T h i s g r e a t d i s p a r i t y o f a g e n a t u r a l l y a f f e c t e d t h e
s p i r i t u a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n m y p a r e n t s a n d m y s e l f . But m y
p a r e n t s ' h o u s e g a v e m e a n i d e a l i n l i f e ; t he i d e a l o f a f re e
G e r m a n n a t i o n p o l i t i c a l l y u n i t e d u n d e r P r u s s i a n l e a d e r s h i p .
M y p a r e n t s ' h o u s e w a s " p i o u s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e a n c i e n t u s a g e . "
I w a s s o b r o u g h t u p , b u t t h i s i n f l u e n c e d i d n o t e n d u r e ; m y
r e l i g i o n b e c a m e o n e " f o r p r i v a t e u s e , " w h i c h d i d n o t i n v o l v e
a c h u r c h . I h a v e a l w a y s f e l t t h a t r e l i g i o n s p e a k s w i t h a n in n e r
v o i c e , n o r , I t h i n k , h a v e I e v e r c o m e i n c o n ta c t w i t h a c h ur c h
t h a t p r e s e n t e d t h e G o s p e l i n i t s p u r i t y . I f I w e r e n o w d i s p o se d
t o g o t o a s e r v i c e i n a c h u rc h , i t w o u l d b e t o t h e l i t t l e v i l l a g e
c h u r c h o n a h i l l b y t he S c h a l l s e e , w h e r e m y p a r e n t s a r e b u r i e d ,
and where I was confirmed . B e l o w , b y t he l a k e , l i e s " t he i s l e
o f j o y o u s s o l i t u d e , " s u n g b y K l o p s t o c k , a n d s u r r o u n d e d b y
t h e l o v e l y b a y s o f S c h l e s w i g - H o l s t e i n . I s a y w i t h t h e p o e t :
" T h y p h a n t o m s h a l l n e v e r l e a v e m y s p i r i t . "
M y f i r s t s o j o u r n i n E n g l a n d b r o u g h t m e , i n a d d i t i o n t o a
k n o w l e d g e o f t h e l a n g u a g e , m a n y p o l i t i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l a d -
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
16/380
2 0 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BE R NSTOR FF
v a n t a g e s i n l a t e r l i f e ; i t a l s o l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f m y p o l i t -
i c a l v i e w s , a s f w a s t h e r e b y b r o u g h t i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h t h e
Emperor Frederick and his circle . Many years afterwards,
when steaming down the Bospor us with the Emperor Wil-
liam II, he intro duced me to someone in t he words : "His
f a t h e r w a s m y f a t h e r ' s f r i e n d . " T h i s f r i e n d s h i p i s a l s o c o n -
f i r m e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e t h e n C r o w n P r i n c e a n d P r i n c e s s
a n d h i s w i f e o f t e n s t a y e d w i t h m y f a t h e r a t t h e G e r m a n E m -
bassy in London . One of the rea sons for t hat was Quee n
V i c t o r i a ' s h o l y h o r r o r t h a t h e r s o n - i n - l a w m i g h t s m o k e h i s
p i p e i n o n e o f h e r c a s t l e s . T h i s f r i e n d s h i p w i t h m y f a m i l y w a s
m a i n t a i n e d , a n d I o w e t o i t m a n y a f a v o u r i n t h e p a s t . The
Emperor Frederick's death was certainly the most unhappy
e v e n t i n t h e l a t e r h i s t o r y o f G e r m a n y . U n d e r h i s ru l e t h e
c o n s t r u c t i v e g e n i u s o f t h e n a t i o n w o u l d p r o b a b l y h a v e f o u n d
e x p r e s s i o n , w h i c h w o u l d e q u a l l y h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e W e s t -
e r n o r i e n t a t i o n o f o u r f o r e i g n p o l i c y , a n d d i r e c t e d o u r h o m e
p o l i c y a l o n g t h e l i n e s o f e v o l u t i o n t o w a r d s a l i b e r a l d e -
mocracy . I n s t e a d o f w h i c h c a m e t h e c r a s s m a t e r i a l i s m o f t he
a g e o f W i l l i a m I I , i n w h i ch t h e p u r s u it o f w e a l t h e x t i n g u i s h e d
a l l i d e a l i s m , i n p o l i t i c s a n d e v e r y w he r e e l s e . The Emp er or
F r e d e r i c k i s m a i n l y k n o w n t o t h e p r e s e n t a g e b y h i s d i a r y , i n
w h i c h th e a u t h o r ' s p o l i t i c a l a t t i t u d e i s v e r y c l e a r l y d i s p l a y e d .
I t i s i m p o r t a n t b e c a u s e t h e h i s t o r i a n i s t h e r e b y l e d t o t h e
c o n c l u s i o n t h a t a W e s t e r n o r i e n t a t i o n o f o u r f o r e i g n p o l i c y ,
combined with a liber al development a t home, would have
p r e s e r v e d t h e H o h e n z o l l e r n E m p i r e f r o m d e f e a t a n d r e v o l u -
t i o n . T h e r e w a s p r o b a b l y n o o t h e r m e t h o d o f p r e s e r v i n g t h e
German monar chy, and it would have been adop ted by the
Emperor Frederick . P a r t i cu l a r i s m c o u l d n o t h a v e h e l d o u t
a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m b a c k e d b y d e m o c r a c y . A m o d i f i e d u n i fi -
c a t i o n w ou l d h a v e c o m e a b o u t q u i te n a t u r a l l y a s t h e r e s u l t o f
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
17/380
YOUTH 2 1d e c e n t r a l i s a t i o n . I t w a s n o t t o b e . I a m o f c o u r s e w e l l a w a r e
t h a t e v e r y s u c h e x p o s t f a c t o judgment is no more than a
h y p o t h e s i s , t h o u g h i t i s i n d e e d a d v a n c e d b y e v e r y h i s t o r i a n .
The Empres s Frederic k was-to gethe r with Frau Cosim a
Wagn er- on e of th e m ost re m arkabl e w om en I h av e been
p r i v i l e g e d t o m e e t . I n l a t e r y e a r s it w a s v o u c hs a f e d t o m e t o
b r e a k a l a n c e f o r h e r r e p u t a t i o n i n hi s t o r y , w h e n E m i l L u d w i g
w r o t e h i s b i o g r a p h y o f t he E m p e r o r W i l l i a m I I . I h a d s e e n a
g r e a t d e a l o f t h a t e m i n e n t w r i t e r i n C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , w h e n h e
w a s t h e r e a s w a r c o r r e s p o n d e n t f o r t h e V o s si s c he Z e i t u n g ,
and I was Ambassador . H e c a m e t o s e e u s a t o u r t he n c o u n t r y
s e a t o n t h e S t a r n b e r g e r S e e , w i t h t h e p r o o f s o f hi s b o o k i n a
s u i t c a s e , a n d a s k e d m e t o c h e c k t h e m f o r a c t u a l h i s t o r i c a l
e r r o r s . I t h e n r e a d t h e w h o l e b o o k , ' a n d w e a g r e e d o n c e r t a i n
alterations, but on two main q uestions Ludwig would not
budge . A s J a c o b c o n t e n d e d w i t h t h e a n g e l , s o d i d I w i t h h i m
- f i r st , t h a t h e s h o u l d n o t p u b l i s h t h e b o o k, a n d w h e n h e w o u l d
n o t y ie l d o n t h a t p o i n t , t h a t h e s h o u l d a l t e r t h e w h o l e p a s s a g e
a b o u t t h e E m p r e s s F r e d e r i c k . I c o u l d n o t p r e v a i l o n L u d w i g ,
n o r c o u l d P r i n c e s s H a t z f e l d t , w h o m h e a l s o c o n s u l t e d . B u t
w h e n P o n s o n b y s u b s e q u e n t l y p u b l i s h e d t h e E m p r e s s ' s l e t t e r s
t o h e r m o t h e r , L u d w i g w r o t e a p o s t s c r i p t t o h i s b o o k , w h i c h
h e s e n t m e . T h i s w a s a t r u l y h on o u r a b l e p a l i n o d e . I s a w Q u e e n
V i c t o r i a o n l y o n c e , w h e n s h e p a i d a p e r s o n a l v i s i t o f c o n d o -
l e n c e t o m y m o t h e r a f t e r m y f a t h e r ' s d e a t h . Whe n Emi l Lud-
w i g v i s i t e d u s a t S t a r n b e r g o n t h a t o c ca s i o n , w e w e r e a b l e t o
a d m i r e h i s e x t r a o r d i na r y d r a m a t i c t a l e n t . H e d e s c r i b e d t o u s
an ev ening with Maximilia n Harden at Walter R athenau's
h o u s e , a n d s o r e p r o d u c e d t h e e x p r e s s i o n s a n d w o r d s o f a l l
t h r e e t h a t w e c o u l d a l m o s t f a n c y t h e m i n t h e r o o m .
To return t o the mome nt when my mother , as a widow,
t o o k u p h e r r e s i d e n c e o n t h e f a m i l y e s t a t e a t S t i n t e n b u r g . I
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
18/380
2 2 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFw a s p r o v i d e d w i t h a t u t or , b u t I l e a r n e d v e r y l i t t l e . The woods
w e r e t o o l o v e l y , b e s i d e s I w a s v e r y a v e r s e t o a n y s t ud i e s e x c e p t
h i s t o r y a n d l i t e r a t u r e . M y m o t h e r w a s m u c h t o o s e n s i b l e a n d
k i n d t o t a k e t h i s v e r y m u c h a m i s s , a n d s e n t m e t o t h r e e s u c c e s -
s i v e s c h o o l s , a t n o n e o f w h i c h I m u c h d i s t i n g u i s h e d m y s e l f .
A n d w h e n i n l a t e r l i f e I c a m e a c r o s s a n y o f m y t e a c h e r s o r
f e l l o w - p u p i l s , I w a s a l w a y s m e t w i t h a f a i n t a s t on i s h m e n t t ha t
I h a d d o n e s o w e l l . I a t t e n d e d a p r e p a r a to r y s c ho ol a t S u l za i n
Thuring ia, I was a b oar der a t the Vitztum Gymnas ium in
D r e s d e n , a n d f i n a l l y a t t h e G y m n a s i u m a t o u r c o u n t ry t o w n
o f R a t z e b u r g , w h e r e ( x 8 8 1 ) I p a s s e d m y l e a v i n g e x a m i n a t i o n .
W h e n I a s k m y s e l f w h a t w a s t h e p e r m a n e n t e f f e c t l e f t o n m e
b y t h e s e s c h o o l s , a n d t h e e d u c a t i o n I r e c e i v e d t h e r e , I m u s t
c o n f e s s t h a t m y m e m o r i e s o f t h e f i r s t t w o i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e
u n c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s t h e m s e l v e s . A t t h e f i r s t ,
w h a t I r e m e m b e r a r e m y w a n d e r i n g s i n t h e l o v e l y T h u r i n g i a n
f o r e s t , a n d a t t h e s e c o n d , m y S u n d a y e v e n i n g s a t t h e t h e n
magnificent Dresden Opera, with the incomparable Therese
M a l t e n a t t h e z e n i t h o f h e r p o w e r s . At Ratze burg matt ers
w e r e o t h e r w i s e . I w a s a t t h e a g e w h e n a y o u t h w a n t s t o g e t
out of school into life . T h a t d e s i r e - c a l l i t a m b i t i on i f y o u l i k e
- p r o d u c e d i n m e a l l t h e e n e r g y t h a t t h e s c h o o l b y i t s e l f w a s
n o t a b l e t o i n s p i r e . S o t h a t d a y o f m y l e a v i n g e x a m i n a t i o n w a s
o n e o f t h e h a p p i e s t i n m y l i f e . M o r e o v e r , I w a s r e l a t i v e l y c o n -
t e n t e d a t R a t z e b u r g , a s I c o u l d g e t h o m e o f t e n e r t h a n b e f o r e .
I n t h os e d a y s , a l a s , t h e r e w e r e n e i t h e r b i c y c l e s n o r m o t o r - c a r s .
T o - d a y t h e j o u r n e y f r o m R a t z e b u r g t o S t i n t e n b u rg w o u l d b e
merely a cat's jump, while then the choice lay between a
h o r s e ' s l e g s a n d o n e ' s o w n . T h e f i r s t c o s t m o n e y , a n d t h e
r a d i us o f t h e l a s t w a s l im i t e d . I n l a t e r d a y s , w h e n I r e p r e s e n t e d
S c h l e s w i g - H o l s t e i n f o r s e v e n y e a r s i n t he R e i c h s t a g , I o f t e n
f e l t g l a d I h a d b e e n a t s c h o o l i n th e P r o v i n c e . I n n o o t h e r p a r t
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
19/380
YOUTH 2 3o f G e r m a n y i s s o m u c h s t r e s s l a i d o n l o c a l t r a d i t i o n , a n d t h u s
S t i n t e n b u r g a n d R a t z e b u r g p l a y e d a c e r t a i n p a r t i n m y p o l i t i -
c a l e q u i p m e n t . B u t i t w a s w i t h a p u r e a n d p r o f o u n d e m o t i o n
t h a t , a s a n o l d m a n , I l o o k e d d o w n f r o m S t . George's Mount
o n t h e g l o r i o u s c a t h e d r a l i n i t s m a g n i f i c e n t i s l a n d s e t t i n g i n t h e
l a k e . " L i k e t h e e c h o o f a n c i e n t l e g e n d , f i r s t l o v e a n d f r i e n d -
s h i p r o s e b e f o r e m y m i n d . "
L i f e n o w l a y b e f o r e m e , t h o u g h I w a s n o t y e t c o n s c i o u s o f
a n y d e f i n i t e b e n t . I h a d a n a d m i t t e d t a s t e f o r h i s t or y , w h i c h I
a b s o r b e d i n E n g l i s h a n d F r e n c h , a s w e l l a s i n G e r m a n , w i t h
a n e s p e c i a l p r e f e r e n c e f o r H e i n r i c h v o n T r e i t s c h k e a n d G u s t a v
Freytag . I n m y e x a m i n a t i o n s , t h i s k n o w l e d g e , c o m b i n e d w i t h
a g o o d m e m o r y , w a s m y s a l v a t i o n , f o r i n m a t h e m a t i c s I w a s
n o u s e a t a l l . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , I c o u l d r e c i t e b y h e a r t a l m o s t
t h i r t y o d e s o f H o r a c e , t o t h e j o y o f m y h e a d m a s t e r. S u c h w a s
m y t r a i n i n g , b u t n o d e c i s i o n h a d b e e n r e a c h e d a s t o a p r o f e s -
s i o n , t h o u g h t h i s w a s a f a r s i m p l e r p r o b l e m t h a n i t h a s s i n c e
becom e . I t w a s a t r a d i t i o n i n a r i s t o c r a t i c f a m i l i e s t h a t t h e
e l d e s t s o n , w h o w a s t o s u c c e e d t o t h e f a m i l y e s t a t e , s h o u l d
p r e p a r e h i m s e l f b y a p e r i o d o f s e r v i c e i n a G u a r d C a v a l r y
r e g i m e n t , w h i l e t h e y o u n g e r s o n s s h o u l d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
f a m i l y m e a n s , s e r v e i n a c h e a p e r r e g i m e n t , o r e n t e r t h e C i v i l
S e r v i c e . M y o w n i n c l i n a t i o n s w o u l d h a v e l e d m e i n t o d i p l o -
m a c y a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , b u t " t he r e w a s a t r i f l i n g o b s t a c l e i n
t h e w a y , " w h i c h I w a s n o t a b l e t o r e m o v e u n t i l l a t e r o n . A
feud had arisen between us and the Bismarck family, who,
a f t e r t h e s t a t e s m a n h a d b e e n p r e s e n t e d w i t h t h e e s t a t e o f
F r i e d r i c h s r u h e , h a d b e c o m e o u r n e a r n e i g h b o u r s : a f e u d t ha t
I p e r s o n a l l y g r e a t l y r e g r e t t e d , o w i ng t o m y h e a r t f e l t a d m i r a -
t i o n f o r B i s m a r c k ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y . I m e n t i o n t hi s e p i s o d e b e -
c a u s e i t i s v e r y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t ha t a g e . M y e l d e s t b r o t h e r
h a d b e e n p o s t e d t o W a s h i n g t o n a s S e c r e t a r y o f L e g a t i o n . B u t
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
20/380
24 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFa s h e t h e r e s h o w e d m o r e i n t e r e s t i n t h e Y .M . C .A . t h a n i n
p o l i t i c s, h i s c hi e f , H e r r v o n S ch l o z e r , h a d h i m r e c a l l e d . My
father was always on goo d terms with Bis marck, first as
h i s C h i e f a n d co l l e a g u e , a n d f i n a l l y a s h i s s u b o rd i n a t e , a s i s
s e t f o r t h a t l a r g e i n t h e b o o k d e d i c a t e d t o h i m b y R i n g h o f f e r .
M y f a t h e r w a s r e a l l y t h e o n l y o n e o f B i s m a r c k ' s c o l l e a g u e s
w h o n e v e r f e l l o u t w i t h h i m . I n m e m o r y o f t h o s e t i m e s B i s -
m a r c k d e a l t w i t h m y b r o t h e r ' s c a s e i n v e r y f r i e n d l y f a s h i o n
b y a p p o i n t i n g h i m t o t h e p o s t o f L a n d r a t o f t h e R a t z e b u r g
distric t, which suited him much better than diplo macy,
brought him nearer to Stintenburg, and introduced him to
h o m e p o l i t i c s . H i s i n t e r e s t i n t he l a t t e r i n d u c e d h i m t o s t a n d
f o r t h e R e i c h s t a g , b u t w i t h o u t s u c c e s s . A t t h e n e x t e l e c t i o n
h e c o n c e i v e d t h e f a t a l i d e a o f p u t t i n g u p H e r b e r t B i s m a r c k ,
in the assumption that his name and personality would be
c e r t a i n t o s e c u r e h i m e l e c t i o n . B u t H e r b e r t B i s m a r c k w a s , l i k e
m y b r o t h e r , b e a t e n b y a R a d i c a l . T h a t w a s t h e e n d o f B i s -
m a r c k ' s f a v o u r . He had no use for a Landrat who was r e-
s p o n s i b l e f o r p o l i t i c a l m i s h a p s o f t hi s s o r t , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n
t h e y d i r e c t l y a f f e c t e d t h e B i s m a r c k f a m i l y . My brother re-
c e i v e d a s i n e c u re i n t h e M i n i s t r y o f P u b l i c W or s h i p , b u t e v e r y
other member of our family was barred from service under
the Foreign Department . A f t e r o n e o f m y o t h e r b r o t h e r s h a d
b e e n e x p l i c i t l y r e j e c t e d , t h e r e w a s n o s e n s e i n m y p r e p a r i n g
m y s e l f f o r d i p l o m a c y . A s a m a t t e r o f fa c t t h e e l e c t i o n r e s u l t
w a s n o t in i t s e l f r e m a r k a b l e , a s a l m o s t t he e n t i r e p r o v i n c e w a s
R a d i c a l i n t h o s e d a y s , m a i n l y , i n m y o p i n i o n , f r o m d i s l i ke o f
P r u s s i a n i s a t i o n . T h e S c h l e s w i g - H o l s t e i n e r s h a d a l w a y s s t o o d
o u t f o r t h e i r G e r m a n i s m a s a g a i n s t D a n i s h i n f l u e n c e . I n t h e
words of the popular song of those days : "We won 't be
Danes, we mean to be German s," but they were not at all
i n c l i n e d t o b e c o m e p a t r i o t i c P r u ss i a n s .
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
21/380
YOUTH 2 5I t w a s , p e r h a p s , a m i s t a k e o n t h e p a r t o f B i s m a r c k t o h a v e
undertaken the incorporation of the "sea-girt Schleswig-
H o l s t e i n ." Since the World War I have ofte n wonde red
whether Schleswig-Holstein would not be German to-day as
f a r a s t h e K o n i g s a u , i f i t h a d n e v e r b e c o m e P r u s si a n .
W h e n m y g r e a t - g r a n d f a t h e r P e t e r A n d r e a s B e r n s t o r f f g o v -
e r n e d t h e l a n d o f D e n m a r k t h e r e w a s n o t y e t a n y N a t i o n a l i s m
a n d t h e r e w e r e n o p l e b i s c i t e s . Germ ans , Danes a nd Norwe -
g i a n s l i v e d p e a c e a b l y s i d e b y s i d e i n o n e S t a t e , w h i ch p o s s e s se d
a c e r t a i n i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e w o r l d . N ationa lism is , historical ly ,
a d e m o c r a t i c i nv e n t i o n , t h o u g h t he c o n t e m p o r a r y v e r s i o n o f
i t i s s t r o n g l y i n c l i n e d t o w a r d s d i c t a t o r s h i p . What would Ernst
M o r i t z A r n d t a n d H o f f m a n n v o n F a l l e r s l e b e n s a y i f t h e y d w e l t
a m o n g u s t o - d a y ?
A s d i p l o m a c y w a s c l o s e d t o m e f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , I h a d t o
f i n d a n o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n . M y m o t h e r , k i n d a s e v e r , g a v e m e a n
e n t i r e l y f r e e h a n d . I n e v e r g a v e h e r g r e a t e r p l e a s u r e t h a n b y
m y s u b s e q u e n t e n t r y i n t o d i p l o m a c y , f o r s h e l i v e d w h o l l y i n
m y f a t h e r ' s m e m o r y , a n d t h e h o p e t h a t h i s s o n s w o u l d f o l l o w
i n h i s f o o t s t e p s . A l t h o u g h I w a s m y s e l f q u i t e c l e a r t h a t I w a s
n o t c u t o u t f o r a s o l d i e r , I j o i n e d t h e F i r s t G u a r d F i e l d A r t i l -
l e r y r e g i m e n t , b e c a u s e I w a n t e d t o b e i n B e r l i n , a t t h e c e n t r e -
p o i n t o f e v e n t s , a n d s o m a k e u s e o f e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y . I s e r v e d
w i t h t he r e g i m e n t f o r e i g h t y e a r s a n d a l t h o u g h I d i d n o t c a r e
f o r s o l d i e r i n g I h a v e n o n e b u t p l e a s a n t r e c o l l e c t i o n s o f m y
s e r v i c e . T h e r e w a s c e r t a i n l y n o c o r p s of o f f i c e r s w h o m o r e
f a i t h f ul l y p r e s e r v e d t h e a n c i e n t P r u s s i a n t r a d i t i on . Duty was
t a k e n s e r i o u s l y , a n d s o c i a l l i f e i n t he m e s s w a s a m o d e l o f i t s
k i nd , a s s i m p l e a s i t w a s p l e a s a n t . L a t e r o n , I m u c h r e g r e t t e d
h a v i n g l o s t t h e s e c o n n e c t i o n s o n m y e n t r y i n t o d i p l o m a c y , b u t
o n e o f t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s o f t h a t s e r v i c e i s t h a t i t d o e s n o t p e r -
m i t t h e i n d i v i d u a l t o s t r i ke d e e p r o o t s i n a n y s o i l . T h e d i p l o m a t
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
22/380
26 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFi s l i k e W a l l e n s t e i n ' s so l d i e r : " H e h a s n o s e t t l e d q u a r t e r s o n
t h e e a r t h." But it has its good sid e in the re sultant spiritua lisa-
t i o n o f h is e x p e r i e n c e s . I t i s o f t e n u r g e d a g a i n s t h i m t h a t h e
t e n d s t o b e a m a n w i t h o u t a c o u n t r y , b u t t h a t i s c o n t r a r y t o
my experience . H e i s m e r e l y d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l s i d e
o f l i f e , i n s o f a r a s h e o w e s h is a l l e g i a n c e n o t t o a n y d e f i n i t e
p l a c e o r l i v i n g p e o p l e , b u t to t h e i d e a l , w h i ch i s e v e r y wh e r e .
I h a v e a l w a y s f e l t t h a t t o t h e q u e s t i o n : "What is Germ anism? "
t h e r e w a s o n l y o n e a n s w e r : "Goethe . "
A s a G u a r d o f f i c e r , I h a d r e a l l y n o t hi n g t o co m p l a i n o f i n
t h e G e r m a n y a n d B e r l i n o f t h o s e d a y s . A l l d o o rs a n d a l l a p -
proaches stood open to the uniform, and I was especially
f o r t un a t e , a s m y m o t h e r u s e d t o c o m e t o B e r l i n f o r t h e w i n t e r ,
t o p u t a l l h e r o l d c o n n e c t i on s a t h e r c h i l d r e n ' s d i s p o s a l . Her
views being what they were, these connect ions were not
l i m i t e d t o t h e s o - c a l l e d C o u r t s o c i e t y , a s m y m o t h e r w a s f a r
f r o m w i s h i n g I s ho u l d d e v e l o p i n t o a s o c i a l s n o b . S h e w a n t e d
t o g i v e m e a l l a v a i l a b l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s , w h i c h I w a s t o m a k e
u s e o f a s I t h o u g h t f i t . A n d s o i t c a m e a b o u t t h a t I , a y o u n g
l i e u t e n a n t , f o u n d m y w a y i n t o t h e s a n c t u a r i e s o f B e r l i n s o c i e t y
o f t h o s e d a y s - a s f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e E m p r e s s A u g u s t a ' s T h u r s -
d a y e v e n i n g s , a n d P r i n c e s s M a r i e R a d z i w i l l ' s s a l o n . I w a s p e r -
m i t t e d t o s k a t e w i t h t h e C r o w n P r i n c e s s a n d h e r d a u g h t e r s o n
t h e N e u e S e e i n t h e T i e r g a r t e n , w h e r e t h e C r o w n P r i n c e t o o
s o m e t i m e s a p p e a r e d . I n t h i s c o n n e c t i on I p a r t i c u l a r l y r e m e m -
b e r t h e w i n t e r w h e n I w a s a t t h e A r t i l l e r y S c h o o l . Work was
o v e r a t t w o o ' c l o c k i n th e a f t e r n o o n , a n d t h e s c h o o l w a s o n l y
a s h o r t d i s t a n c e a w a y f r o m t h e N e u e S e e . I i n d u s t r i o us l y f r e -
q u e n t e d t h e b a l l r o o m s o f C o u r t s o c i e t y , w h i c h m e a n s v e r y
l i t t l e i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e t i m e i n w h i c h I w r i t e , f o r i n
t h o s e d a y s o n e o n l y d a n c e d f o r t h r e e o r f o u r w e e k s i n t h e
y e a r , d u r in g C a r n i v a l . R e i s c h a c h , w h o l a t e r o n w a s a p p o i n t e d
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
23/380
YOUTH 2 7Oberhofmarschall, was Master of the Ballroom Ceremonies,
a n d k e p t h i s y o un g m e n u n d e r t h e s t r i c t e s t d i s c ip l i n e. H e h i m -
s e l f l o o k e d m a g n i f i c e n t i n t h e h a n d s o m e u n i f o r m o f t h e G a r d e
d u C o r p s , a n d d a n c e d b r i l l i a n t l y . I n t h o s e d a y s p e o p l e t o o k
v e r y d i f f e r e n t v i e w s f r o m t h o s e t h a t a r e c u r r e n t t o - d a y . A m a n
who danced with a lady more than once in an evening, was
s u s p e c t e d o f " s e r i o u s in t e n t i o n s, " a n d i f t h e l a d y w a s m a r r i e d ,
o f " d i s h o n o u r a b l e i n t e n t i o n s . " I m a y m e n t i o n o n e e p i s o d e a t
a C o u r t b a l l , w h i ch i s r a t h e r s i g n i f i ca n t t o - d a y . I t h a p p e n e d
i n t h e w i n t e r w h e n t h e d a u g h t e r o f B l e i c h r o d e r , t h e b a n k e r ,
came out. The young lady was quite unk nown to the then
v e r y e x c l u s i v e C o u r t s o c i e t y , m o r e o v e r t h e r e w a s a c e r t a i n
d i s l i k e o f h e r f a t h e r i n o f f i c e r c i r c l e s , w h i c h P r i nc e B i s m a r c k
w a s k n o w n n o t t o s h a r e . F r a u l e i n v o n B l e i c h r od e r w a s t h e r e -
f o r e i n g r a v e p e r i l o f r e m a i n i n g a w a l l f l o w e r a t h e r f i r s t C o u r t
b a l l . H o w e v e r , t h e C r o w n P r i n c e t o l d t h e t w o of f i c e r s w h o m
h e k n e w b e s t , R e i s c h a c h a n d m y s e l f , t o d a n c e w i t h t h e l a d y ,
w h i c h o f c o u r s e w e d i d . I h a v e n o k n o w l e d g e o f R e i s c h a c h ' s
f e e l i n g s o n t h e s u b j e c t , b u t t h e C r o w n P r i n c e w a s w e l l a w a r e
t h a t I , l i k e h i m , r e g a r d e d a n t i - S e m i t i s m a s a s t a i n o n t h e
e s c u t c h e o n o f G e r m a n c u l t u r e .
My only memo ry of t he Old Empero r Willi am I would b e
o f a n i m p o s i n g f i g u r e t a k i n g t h e s a l u t e o n t h e T e m p e l h o f e r
F e l d , h a d I n o t b e e n b r o u g h t i n t o i n t i m a t e c o n t a c t w i t h H i s
M a j e s t y b y f a v o u r o f t he L e h n d o r f f b r o t he r s . The Empe ro r
u s e d t o v i s i t B a d G a s t e i n f o r a c u r e , w h e r e C o u n t L e h n d o r f f -
S t e i n o r t ow n e d a v i l l a . H e r e t h e E m p e r o r o f t e n s p e n t t h e e v e -
n i n g i n t h e c o m p a n y o f t h e L e h n d o r f f a n d H a h n f a m i l i e s ; he
w a s a m a n o f t o u c h i n g s i m p l i c i t y o f c h a r a c t e r , a n d v e r y f o n d
o f y o u ng p e o p l e . T o e n t e r t a i n t h e o l d g e n t l e m a n - h e w a s t h e n
e i g h t y - s i x - a m a t e u r t h e a t r i c a l s w e r e a r r a n g e d u n d e r t h e d i r e c -
t i o n o f F e r d i n a n d v o n S t r a n t z , D i r e c t o r o f t h e B e r l i n O p e r a .
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
24/380
28 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFI t w a s i n f a c t a s o r t o f l i t t l e G a s t e i n s e a s o n , a n d C o u n t L e h n -
d o r f f w o u l d i n v i t e m e t o s t a y f o r t h re e o r f o u r w e e k s . I u s e d
t o a c c e p t t h e i n v i t a t i o n w i t h d e l i g h t , t h o u g h i t w a s d i f f i c ul t
f o r a y o un g l i e u t e n a n t t o g e t l e a v e i n t h e s u m m e r . Howev er,
G e n e r a l - A d j u t a n t C o u n t H e i n r i c h L e h n d o r f f i n t e r c e d e d w i t h
my Commanding Officer, and it was a c ommon jo ke in t he
G u a r d C o r p s t h a t I h a d b e e n p o s t e d t o G a s t e i n f o r p l a y - a c t i n g .
I h a v e a c h a r m i n g r e c o l l e c t i o n o f t h o s e w e e k s . T h e p h r a s e ,
" E v e r y i n c h a K i n g , " a p p l i e d t o W i l l i a m I a s t o n o o t h e r
monarc h I have kn own . My acquaintance with him and his
g r e a t C h a n c e l l o r a r e a m o n g t h e m o s t c h e r i sh e d m e m o r i e s o f
my youth, though owing to the di fference in age the e n-
c o u n t e r s c o u l d o f c o u r s e b e n o m o r e t h a n s u p e r f i c i a l . I m e t
P r i n c e B i s m a r c k f o r t h e l a s t t i m e i n t h e C o u n t e s s S c h u va l o f f ' s
salon, wife of the Russian Ambassador, where he appeared
u n a n n o u n c e d a t o n e o f h e r a f t e r n o o n r e c e p t i o n s , w h e n o n l y a
f e w p e o p l e w e r e p r e s e n t .
O f q u i t e a n o t h e r s o r t a r e m y r e c o l l e c t i o n s o f c i r c l e s t h a t d i d
b u t t o u c h t h e p e r i p h e r y o f C o u r t s o c i e t y . A s I e n t e r e d F r a u
von Helmholtz's drawing-room one evening, she came up to
m e w i t h a s m i l e a n d s a i d : " Y o u a r e t h e o n l y u n i f o r m i n t h e
room . Y o u w i l l f i n d n o n e b u t e n e m i e s o f t h e R e i c h h e r e ! " T h e
r e f e r e n c e w a s t o t h e l a r g e c i r c l e s o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a w h o o p -
p o s e d t h e h o m e p o l i c y o f B i s m a r c k , w h o d i d i n d e e d b l u n d e r
o v e r t h e S o c i a l i s t L a w a n d t h e K u l t u r k a m p f , b u t n e v e r i n -
j u r e d G e r m a n y ' s s o u l .
I w a s m o s t a t h o m e i n t h e h o u s e o f t h e f a m o u s F r a u M a t h i l d e
W e s e n d o n c k , t h e o r i g i n a l " I s o l d e . " A f t e r t h e Z u r i c h p e r i o d ,
w h i c h i s p a r t o f m u s i c a l h i s t o r y , t h e W e s e n d o n c k s m o v e d f i r s t
to Dresden and then to Berlin, where they gave wonderful
e v e n i n g r e c e p t i o n s , m a i n l y d e v o t e d t o t h e c u l t o f W a g n e r ' s
w o r k s , i n w h i c h t h e f i r s t a r t i s t s i n B e r l i n t o o k p a r t . I t w a s
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
25/380
YOUTH 2 9s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e M a s t e r ' s d e a t h , w h e n F r a u C o s i m a h a d s e t t o
w o r k t o b u i l d u p B a y r e u t h , a n d t h i s w a s n o t d o n e t o o r d e r
and with resources prov ided from abov e, as is the method
n o w a d a y s , b u t b y h e r o w n g e n i u s a l o n e . I m y s e l f v i s i t e d B a y -
r e u t h w i t h t h e W e s e n d o n c k s i n t h e y e a r 1 8 8 6 f o r t h e f i r s t
t i m e . I n t h o s e d a y s i t w a s t h e s p i r i t o f t he f e s t i v a l t h a t a t t r a c t e d
t h e a u d i e n c e , a n d n o t f a s h i o n . The Wagnerians were s till
r a t h e r r i d i c u l e d i n B e r l i n , a n d C o u n t e s s e s S c h l e i n i t z a n d S z e c h -
e n y i w e r e c a l l e d S c h l e i n h i l d e a n d S z e c h n y i g u n d e , a s b e i n g
s u c h f e r v e n t d i s c i p l e s , j u s t a s t h e W a g n e r L e a g u e w a s c a l l e d
t h e V o n W a g n e r L e a g u e , o w i n g t o it s m a n y a r i s t o c r a t i c m e m -
b e r s . When I marrie d Mathild e Wese ndon ck's niec e, I be-
c a m e a m e m b e r o f t h e f a m i l y t o w h i c h I o w e m y l i f e ' s h a p p i -
n e s s . T h e f o r m a l e n g a g e m e n t t o o k p l a c e , a s I h a v e m e n t i o n e d ,
i n E n g l a n d , w h e r e m y p a r e n t s - i n- l a w h a d c o m e t o a t t e n d t h e
c e r e m o n i e s o f Q u e e n V i c t o r i a ' s f i r s t j u b i l e e . I t w a s o n t h a t
o c c a s i o n t h a t I s a w t he C r o w n P r i n c e a l i v e f o r t h e l a s t t i m e ,
r i d i n g i n t h e p r o c e s s i o n . T h e h o p e o f G e r m a n y s t i l l a p p e a r e d
b e f o r e t h e w o r l d i n g l o r i o u s a r r a y , b u t t h e g e r m o f d i s e a s e
w a s a l r e a d y g n a w i n g a t t h e h a n d s o m e C r o w n P r i n c e , a s a t t h e
R e i c h i t s e l f .
M y m a r r i e d h a p p i n e s s a n d t h e s w i f t c h a n g e s o f s c e n e i n t h e
y e a r 1 8 8 8 , a c c u s t o m e d m e t o t h e i d e a o f r e m a i n i n g a s o l d i e r
a n d a t t e n d i n g t h e K r i e g s a k a d e m i e , w h e n o n e d a y I w a s s e n t
for by my commanding officer . Freiherr v on Neubronn was
s o m e t h in g o f a m a r t i n e t , a n d I w a s a f a r f r o m b r i l l i a n t s o l d i e r ,
s o t h a t i t w a s w i t h a c e r t a i n m i s g i v i n g t h a t I p u t o n m y h e l m e t
t o g o t o t h e o r d e r l y r o o m , a s s u m i n g t h a t I w a s i n f o r a b a d
q u a r t e r o f a n h o u r . What was my surprise when the Colonel
told me that he wished to rec ommend me to the Military
C a b i n e t f o r a p o s t a t t a c h e d t o a n E m b a s s y . H e h a d r e c e i v e d
a n a p p l i c a t i o n f r o m t h e C a b i n e t , a n d I w a s t h e o n l y o n e o f
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
26/380
30 MEMOIR S OF COUNT B ER NSTOR FF
his officers suite d to the position . M o r e o v e r h e w a s v e r y a n x -
i o u s t h a t s u c h a p o s t s h o u l d b e a s s i g n e d t o a m e m b e r o f t h e
r e g i m e n t . B e l i e v i n g a s I d i d t h a t m y f a m i l y w a s s t i l l o u t o f
f a v o u r w i t h P r i n c e B i s m a r c k , I d i d n o t a t a l l l i k e t h e p r o s p e c t
o f t h e a p p o i n t m e n t , w h i c h , a t t h e b e s t , c o u l d o n l y b e o f s h o rt
d u r a t i o n . I n t h e t w e n t y - f ou r h o u rs w h i c h t h e C o l o n e l a l l o w e d
me to make up my mind, I talked the matter over with my
w i f e , a n d f i n a l l y a c c e p t e d , b e c a u s e I d i d n o t w a n t t o m a k e
myself unpopular with Baron Neubronn . B u t t h e p o s i t i o n o f
a f f a i r s w a s m o r e f a v o u r a b l e t h a n I b e l i e v e d . I t w a s B i s m a r ck ' s
p o l i c y t o r e i n f o r c e t h e d i p l o m a t i c s e r v i c e f r o m t h e a r m y ,
w h i c h a t t h a t t i m e m o n o p o l i s e d a l m o s t t h e e n t i r e y o u t h o f
Germany, and in the meanti me I had cons tantly met the
P r i n c e ' s t w o s o n s i n B e r l i n s o c i e t y . A few weeks later my
w i f e a n d I w e r e d i n i n g i n H e r b e r t B i s m a r c k ' s c o m p a n y a t t h e
B r i t i s h E m b a s s y , a t o n e o f t ho s e l i t t l e S u n d a y d i n n e r s w h i c h
Lady Ermyntrude Malet was accustome d to give . I n t h e
smoking-ro om afterwar ds I asked the Secretar y of State
w h e t h e r m y a p p o i n t m e n t w a s l i k e l y t o l e a d t o a n y t h i n g . He
w a s v e r y f r i e n d l y a n d s a i d t h a t I s h o u l d b e p o s t e d t o C o n s t a n -
t i n o p l e o n O c t o b e r 1 s t , 1 8 8 9 . I n l a t e r y e a r s I h a v e b e e n a t -
t a c k e d b y p o l i t i c a l o p p o n e n t s o n m y R e i c h s t a g e l e c t i o n c a m -
p a i g n s , o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t m y w i f e w a s a n A m e r i c a n , a n d t h a t
B i s m a r c k h a d b a n n e d m e f r o m d i p l o m a c y f o r t h a t r e a s o n . I n
c e r t a i n c i r c l e s h i s t o r i c t r u t h i s s o m e w h a t n e g l e c t e d , a s t h e
a b o v e a c c o u n t o f t h e a c t u a l f a c t s m a y s e r v e t o s h o w .
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
27/380
P e a r o f a p p r e n t i c e s h i pWE N t h e t i m e c a m e t o s e t o u t f o r C o n s t a n t i n op l e , w eh a d a l i t t l e d a u g h t e r t e n m o n t h s o l d . We tho ught thel o n g r a i l w a y j o u r n e y w o ul d p r o b a b l y b e r a t h e r t r y i n g f o r h e r ,
s o w e c h o se t h e s e a r o u te , t h o ug h , a s i t p r o v e d , w e w e r e m u c h
e x e r c i s e d o v e r t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f p r o c u ri n g t h e n e c e s s a r y m i l k
a t T r i e s t e . H o w e v e r , t h e b e a u t i e s o f n a t u r e w e r e a c o m p e n -
s a t i o n f o r a l l d i s c o m f o r t s . T r i e s t e w i t h M i r a m a r e , C o r f u , P a t -
r a s , A t h e n s , a n d t h e a p p r o a c h t o C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , a r e a l l u n -
f o r g e t t a b l e p i c t u r e s , w i t h h i st o r i c m e m o r i e s t h a t r e a c h b a c k t o
H o m e r , o f w h i c h w e w e r e m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y r e m i n d e d , a s t h e
f a m o u s a r c h a e o l o g i s t S c h l i e m a n n a n d h i s f a m i l y w e r e o n b o a r d .
H i s a t t e m p t s t o c o n v e r s e w i t h G r e e k s i n a n c i e n t G r e e k a n d
the Homeric names he had bestowed upon his children, did
m u c h t o e n l i v e n t h e v o y a g e .
W h e n a n a t t a c h e s e t s f o r t h i n t o t h e w o r l d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e ,
h e o f t e n l a b o u r s u n d e r m a n y i l l u s i o n s r e g a r d i n g h i s f u t u r e
w o r k . I , h o w e v e r , h a d b e e n t o o fa m i l i a r w i t h d i p l o m a t i c l i f e
from boyhood not to know that for many years a young
diplomat can and ought to do nothing but learn, and must
s u s t a i n h i m s e l f o n t h e p o l i t i c a l c r u m b s t h a t f a l l f r o m h i s c h i e f ' s
m o r e o r l e s s w e l l - l a d e n t a b l e . W h a t I h a v e h e r e t o s a y a b o u t
C o n s t a n t i n o p l e i s t h e r e s u l t o f t w o p e r i o d s o f s e r v i c e , f o r i t
s o h a p p e n e d t h a t I b e g a n a n d e n d e d m y d i p l o m a t i c c a r e e r i n
t h a t c i t y . I a m u n a c q u a i n t e d w i t h M u s t a f a K e m a l ' s T u r k e y o f
t o - d a y , s o I w i l l n o t o f f e r a n y o b s e r v a t i o n s o n h i s a t t e m p t s
a t r e f o r m ; t h e y w e r e l a r g e l y t h e f r u i ts o f a m i l i t a r y s u cc e s s
31
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
28/380
32 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFw h i c h w a s n ot i n t h e l e a s t s u r p r is i n g , a s t h e T u r k i s t he b e s t
s o l d i e r i n t h e w o r l d , i n c o m p a r a b l y b r a v e a n d h a r d y . B u t h e
needs good and suitable leadership, which Kemal was able
t o p r o v i d e ; e v e n i n t h e W a r h e w a s r e g a r d e d a m o n g t h e G e r -
m a n o f f i c e r s a s t h e b e s t T u r k i s h G e n e r a l .
W h e n I f i r s t a r r i v e d i n C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , t h e S u l t a n A b d u l
Hamid was on the throne ; o n e o f t h e a b l e s t d i p l o m a t i s t s , a n d
w o rs t r u l e r s , o f th e a g e . F r o m t h e p u r e l y p o l i t i c a l p o i n t o f
v i e w , h o w e v e r , p e r h a p s h e w a s ri g h t t o d e v o t e a l l h i s a b i l i t ie s
t o a n e l a b o r a t e g a m e o f i n t r ig u e w i t h a l l t h e E u r o p e a n P o w e r s .
O l d a n d d e c a y i n g e m p i r e s a r e a p t t o c o l l a p s e w h e n t h e h a n d o f
r e f o r m i s l a i d u p o n t h e m . T h e r e m a r k o f R i c c i $ General of
the Jesuits, might well have been applied to the Ottoman
Empire : " S i n t u t s u n t a u t n o n s i n t . " Whether or no t Abdul
H a m i d r e a l i s e d t h e h o p e l e s s n e s s o f a n y r e f o r m s i n T u r k e y ,
h e n e v e r m a d e a n y s e r i o u s e f f o rt i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . Whe n th e
G e r m a n " r e f o r m e r s " o f t h o s e d a y s b e c a m e t o o i n s i s t e n t w i t h
t h e i r g o o d a d v i c e , h e t r i e d t o p u t t h e m o f f b y t he c o n f e r m e n t
o f a n o r d e r , o r s o m e m o r e v a l u a b l e i n d i c a t i o n o f h i s f a v o u r ,
i f o n l y t h e y c o u l d b e i n d u c e d t o l e t w e l l e n o u g h a l o n e . He
h i m s e l f b a s e d t h e s e c u r i t y o f h is E m p i r e e n t i r e l y o n t h e m u t u a l
j e a l o u s y of t h e G r e a t P o w e r s . T o w a r d s h i s i n f e r i o r s , A b d u l
H a m i d w a s m e r e l y a b r u t a l t y r a n t , w h o s e c o w a r d i c e b o r d e r e d
o n p e r s e c u t i o n - m a n i a . A s a r e s u l t o f h i s fe a r s , h e k e p t a l l t h e
Imperial princes, who stood anywhere near to the throne,
i m p r i s on e d i n t h e i r c a s t l e s , a n d c o u n t l e s s O s m a n l i s w e r e c o n -
d e m n e d t o d e a t h o r b a n i s h m e n t . F r o m t i m e t o t i m e h i s t e r r o rs
g a v e r i s e t o c o m i c i n c i d e n t s . On one o cca sio n, durin g my
a t t a c h e y e a r s , w h e n a y o u n g H o h e n z o l l e r n p r i n c e w a s v i s i t -
i n g C o n s t a n t i no p l e a n d d i n e d w i t h t h e S u l t a n , a l i g h t o r i e n t a l
s c r e e n f e l l , a n d w o u l d h a v e t o u c h e d t h e S u l t a n , h a d n o t t h e
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
29/380
YEARS OF APPR ENTICESHIP3 3
P r i n c e h e l d o u t h i s a r m ; f o r t h i s s e r v i ce h e w a s d e c o ra t e d w i t h
t h e M e d a l f o r S a v i n g L i f e .
Twenty-eight years later, I, as German Ambassador, ac-
c o m p a n i e d t h e f a l l e n A b d u l H a m i d t o h i s l a s t r e s t i n g - p l a c e .
I t w a s e a r l y s p r i n g ; t h e s u n s h o ne f r o m a d e e p b l u e c l o u d l e s s
s k y o n t h e m a g n i f i c e n t s p e c t a c l e o f a n o r i e n t a l I m p e r i a l f u -
n e r a l w h i c h t h e Y o u n g T u r k r e g i m e h a d s t a g e d f o r i t s b i t te r e s t
e n e m y , f r o m m i x e d m o t i v e s o f g e n e r o s i t y a n d p o l i t i c a l a c u -
m e n , i n a n a t t e m p t t o r e c o n c i l e p a s t a n d p r e s e n t . A l l t h e
lead ers o f the Young Turks , who had ro bbe d Abdul Hami d
o f t h e t h r o n e a n d k e p t h i m a p r i s o n e r u n t i l h i s d e a t h i n o n e
o f t h e m o s t s p l e n d i d p a l a c e s o f t h e B o s p o r u s , w e r e t h e r e t o
p a y h i m f i n a l h o n o u r s . T h e l a t e n t c o n t r a s t s o f t h e c e r e m o n y
h a d b r o u g h t a v a s t c o n c o u r s e o f p e o p l e i n t o t h e a n c i e n t s t r e e t s
o f C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , w h i c h g l i t t e r e d w i t h a l l t h e v a r i e d h u e s
o f o ri e n t a l g a r b a n d h e a d - g e a r . A n d t h e i r o n y o f h i s t o ry c a m e
i n t o h e r o w n . A s t h e I m a m r e a d o u t t h e p r a y e r s o f t h e M o s l e m
f u ne r a l r i t e , h e a d d r e s s e d t h e u s u a l q u e s ti o n t o th e a s s e m b l a g e :
"Was the dead m an a good man? " and the "Big Three," Ta-
l a a t , E n v e r , a n d D j e m a l P a s h a , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e o t h e r Y o u n g
T u r k l e a d e r s , r e p l i e d w i t h o n e v o i c e : "He wa s . "
D u r i n g m y t i m e a s a n a t t a c h e i n C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , I v i e w e d
t h e i n c o m p a r a b l e c i t y a n d i t s e n v i r o n m e n t w i t h t h e e y e s o f
c a r e f r e e y o u t h n o t y e t b ur d e n e d w i t h p o l i t i c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .
M y o n e d e s i r e w a s t o g e t t o k n o w t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e p e o p l e ,
a n d t o f a m i l i a r i s e m y s e l f w i t h t he o r i e n t a l a t t i t u d e t o l i f e .
Anyone who knows Turkey and Egypt, and is not hide bound
i n t h e p r e j u d i c e s o f E u r op e a n h y p e r - c i v i l i s a t i o n , m u s t a l w a y s
l o n g t o s u b m i t h i s m i n d t o t h e d r e a m l i k e p o e t r y o f t h e E a s t .
H e w i l l f o r g e t t h e d i r t a n d t h e i n s e c t s , t h e i n s i p i d L e v a n t i ne
i m i t a t i o n o f P a r i s s a l o n s , a n d t h i n k o n l y o f t h e m o o n l i t n i g h t s ,
t h e t e m p l e s , t h e c a s t l e s a n d t h e m o s q u e s , a n d t h e t r i p s on t h e
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
30/380
34 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFB o s p o r u s i n a s l i m c a i q u e , w h e n a l i g h t n o r t h w i n d c r i s p s th e
deep blue water. T h e O r i e n t s e e m s e t e r n a l l y u n c h a n g e d i n
s p i t e o f t h e e f f o r t s a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f n a t i v e a n d f o r e i g n g o v e r n -
ments . T h e c l a s s i c l e t t e r s o f M o l t ke m a y , o n t h a t a c c ou n t , s t i l l
s e r v e a s a n i n t r o d u c t i o n t o th e N e a r E a s t . A l l i n n o v a t i o ns d o
b u t t o u ch t h e s u r f a c e , w h i l e t h e s o u l o f t h e O r i e n t a b i d e s i n
u n s h a k e a b l e p e a c e , w h i c h g i v e s e p h e m e r a l m a n a f o r e t a s t e o f
e t e r n i t y . W h e n I w a s C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n E g y p t , I w a s s i t t i n g
d u r i n g o n e o f t h o s e u n f o r g e t t a b l e s u n s e t s i n t h e c o m p a n y o f
a h i g h E n g l i s h o f f i c i a l a t t h e f e e t o f t h e g r e a t s p h i n x o f G i z e h .
M y c o m p a n i o n , w h o s e t a s k i t w a s t o a s s i s t i n t h e E u r o p e a n -
i s a t i o n o f E g y p t , i n t h e f a c e o f t h a t a g e - l o n g s y m b o l o f o r i -
e n t a l p o w e r s o f e n d u r a n c e , b e c a m e p o s s e s s e d b y t h e t h o u g h t
o f t h e t r a n s i t o r i n e s s of a l l p o l i t i c a l e f f o r t . H e f e l l t o r e f l e c t i ng
how many foreign conquerors had looked upon the sphinx,
and how many more would pass it by . I c o u l d n o t h e l p r e -
membering the lines that Goethe puts in the mouth of the
s p h i n x i n " F a u s t " :
W e , t h e P y r a m i d s b e f o r e ,
S i t f o r j u d g m e n t o f t h e n a t i o n s ,
War and peace and inundations-
Change our features nevermore .
W h a t e v e r s t o rm s s w e e p a c r o s s t h e o r i e n t a l w o r l d , i t r e m a i n s
i m p a s s iv e , a n d s a y s : " I t i s t he w i l l o f Al l a h."An attache must never expect to be personally employed
b y h i s c h i e f e x c e p t p e r h a p s i n t h e c a p a c i t y o f " g a l o p in , " a s t h e
F r e n c h c a l l i t . I c a n n o t t h e r e f o r e p r e t e n d t o o f f e r a n y j u d g -
ment of our Ambassador, von Radowitz, as a diplomat . H i s
c a r e e r b e g a n b y b e i n g m e t e o r i c , a n d t h e n c a m e t o a h a l t . He
h a d , i n a n y c a s e , a l r e a d y f a l l e n o u t o f f a v o u r w i t h t h e B i s -
m a r c k f a m i l y , a s w a s a p p a r e n t f r o m v a r i o u s i n c i d e n t s d u r i n g
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
31/380
YEARS OF APPR ENTICESHIP 3 5
t h e v i s i t o f t h e E m p e r o r W i l l i a m I I , a n d t h i s , a c c o r d i n g t o
P r i n c e B u l o w ' s M e m o i r s , i s t o b e a s c r i b e d t o H o l s t e i n . I t s o
h a p p e n e d t h a t o n b o t h m y y e a r ' s s o j o u r n s a t C o n s t a n t i n o p l e ,
w e h a d a v i s i t f r o m t h e E m p e r o r . O n t h e f i r s t o c c a s i o n I h a d
b a r e l y a r r i v e d , a n d w a s s o c o m p l e t e l y a n o v i c e t h a t m y a s t o n -
i s h m e n t w a s g r e a t w h e n , a t t h e t i m e o f l e a v e - t a k i n g , H e r b e r t
B i s m a r c k p r e s s e d m y f i r s t d e c o r a t i o n i n t o m y h a n d - t h e O r -
der of the Crown, Fourth Class . His Maje sty wa s alwa ys
f r i e n d l y t o m e , b u t I w a s n e v e r s o i n t i m a t e w i t h t h e E m p e r o r
in Constantinople as in Berlin, where H .M . had done his
s e r v i c e w i t h m y r e g i m e n t , a n d o n o n e o c c a s i o n I h a d a c t e d a s
h i s o r d e r l y o f f i c e r . When I info rme d H.M . t h a t I w a s p o s t e d
t o C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , t h e K a i s e r s a i d p r o p h e t i c a l l y : "So yo u
want to become an Ambassador," I could only reply : "As
Your Majesty pleases." The er a of close German o-Turkish
f r i e n d s h i p h a d n o t t h e n b e g u n , a n d d i d n o t b e g i n u n t i l t h e
time when Freiherr von Marschall became Ambassador ; B i s -
m a r c k w a s s t i l l C h a n c e l l o r , a n d w o u l d n o t h a v e c o u n t e n a n c e d
t h e r e l a t i o n s t h a t s u b s e q u e n t l y d e v e l o p e d b e t w e e n t h e t w o
c o u n t r i e s . H o w e v e r , I w a s p r e s e n t a t t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n o f t h e
f i r s t se c t i o n o f t h e B a g h d a d r a i l w a y , f r o m I s m i d t o S a b a n d g a .
M y y o u t h f u l i m a g i n a t i o n w a s d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d w h e n I f i r s t
l e f t E u r o p e a n s o i l t o p a s s o v e r i n t o A s i a .
A t r a g i - c o m i c e p i s o d e o f t h e I m p e r i a l v i s i t w a s H e r M a j e s t y ' s
r e c e p t i o n i n t h e S u l t a n ' s h a r e m . T h e E m p r e s s h a d r e l i g i o u s ,
o r s ha l l w e s a y , m o r a l s c r u p l e s a g a i n s t a v i s i t t o a h a r e m . A f t e r
a p r o l o n g e d a n d t e a r f u l c o n f l i c t , H e r M a j e s t y a l l o w e d h e r s e l f
t o b e o v e r - p e r s u a d e d b y H e r r K o g e l , o n e o f t h e C o u r t C h a p -
l a i n s i n t h e I m p e r i a l s u i t e , w h o m a i n t a i n e d t h e v i e w t h a t t h e
S u l t a n w a s p e r m i t t e d a h a r e m b y h i s re l i g i o n .
T h o u g h , i n d e e d , I h a d l i t t l e t o d o o f f i c i a l l y w i t h t h e A m -
b a s s a d o r , t h e f a m i l y l i f e a t t h e E m b a s s y w a s e x t r e m e l y l i v e l y
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
32/380
36 MEMOIR S OF COUNT B ER NSTOR FF
- m o r e s o t h a n I e v e r m e t w i t h a g a i n , a n d w h e n w e o u r s e l v e s
c a m e t o p r e si d e o v e r a n e m b a ss y , w e t o o k i t a s ou r m o d e l . F ra u
v o n R a d o w i t z ' s m a t e r n a l d i g n i t y c a u s e d h e r t o b e g e n e r a l l y
known at the Embassy as "The Reichsmutt er ." Her tw o
c h a r m i n g d a u g h t e r s w e r e a b o u t t h e s a m e a g e a s m y w i f e , a n d
became her warmest friends . When the East dema nded it s
u s u a l t o l l , a n d I w e n t d o w n w i t h t y p h u s , w h i l e m y w i f e w a s
l y i n g i l l w i t h m e a s l e s , t h e R a d o w i t z f a m i l y t o o k c h a r g e o f o u r
d a u g h t e r a t t h e E m b a s s y , a k i n d n e s s w h ic h I s h a l l b e g r a t e f u l
f o r a l l m y l i f e .
O t h e r w i s e , s o c i e t y a t C o n s t a n t i n o p l e w a s n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y
e n t e r t a i n i n g , a s , b y t h e c u s t om s o f t h e c o u n t ry , i t c o n si s t e d
s o l e l y o f t h e d i p l o m a t i c C o r p s , t o g e t h e r w i t h a f e w L e v a n t i ne
f a m i l i e s . A t t h a t t i m e b o t h t h e F r e n c h a n d t h e I t a l i a n A m b a s -
s a d o r s w e r e v e r y w e a l t h y m e n - B a r o n B l a n c a n d Co u n t
Montebello ; o r , r a t h e r , t h e i r w i v e s w e r e w o m e n o f w e a l t h ,
and kept open house accordingly . T h e r e s u l t w a s t h a t t h e
l i t t l e s o c i e t y m e t n e a r l y e v e r y d a y , a n d s o h a d n o t m u c h l e f t
t o t a l k a b o u t ; t h i s l e d t o c a r d s a n d g o s s i p , w h i c h , a c c o r d i n g t o
S c h o p e n h a u e r , i s t h e b a n k r u p t c y o f a l l i d e a s .
T h e r e w a s v e r y l i t t l e w o r k fo r s e c r e t a r i e s a n d a t t a c h e s a t
C o n s t a n t i n o p l e , a s i t w a s d e a l t w i t h b y t h e d r a g o m a n s . The
F i r s t D r a g o m a n , w a s , a f t e r t h e C h i e f , a n d o n e m i g h t a l m o s t
say-with the Chief, the most important person at all the
E m b a s s i e s . W i t h o u t h i m n o a m b a s s a d o r c o u l d e n t e r t h e " S u b -
l i m e P o r t e " o r t h e p a l a c e . Our First Dragoman, Testa, was
t h e b e s t k n o w n p e r s o n a l i t y o n t h e B o s p o r u s . He ga ve me a
l i t t l e w o r k t o d o n o w a n d a g a i n , w h e n h e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t I
c o u l d s p e a k a n d w r i t e E n g l i s h a n d F r e n c h , w h i c h h e h a d n o t
e x p e c t e d f r o m a l i e u t e n a n t o f t h e G u a r d . I u s u a l l y d i d m y
w o r k w i th t h e S e c o n d S e c r e t a r y , C a r l M a x L i c h n o w s k y , w i t h
w h o m I r e m a i n e d o n t e r m s o f f r i e n d s h i p u n t i l h i s d e a t h . I t
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
33/380
YEARS OF APPR ENTICESHIP 37
w a s h i s d u t y t o k e e p t h e p o l i t i c a l d i a r y , a n d t h i s h e c o m -
m o n l y l e f t t o m e ; i n i t s e l f a m e c h a n i c a l a n d m o n o t o n o us t a s k ,
b u t i t h a d t h e a d v a n t a g e o f i n v o l v i n g a k n ow l e d g e o f a l l p o l i t -
i c a l m a t t e r t h a t e n t e r e d a n d l e f t t he E m b a s s y . W e o f t e n r o d e
t o g e t h e r i n t h e l o v e l y B e l g r a d e w o o d s o n t h e B o s p o r us , a n d
a s f a r a s K i l i a o n t h e B l a c k S e a . L i f e i n C o n s t a n t i n o p l e w a s
o t h e r wi s e r a t h e r d e v o i d o f i n t e r e s t , e x c e p t f o r p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i -
t i e s , a n d t h e s e w e r e m o n o p o l i s e d b y t h e A m b a s s a d o r a n d t h e
First Dragoman . B i s m a r c k i s a l l e g e d t o h a v e s a i d t h a t e v e r y
ambassador in Constantinople soon beca me afflicted with
megalomania . T h e y w e r e , i n d e e d , p r o v i d e d w i t h a w a r s h i p ,
a s m a l l s t e a m e r ( m o u c h e ) , Dragoman and Kavas ses .
Work and diplomatic amusements were inte rrupted for
t w o m o n t h s b y m y a t t a c k o f t y p h u s , a s a f t e r m y r e c o v e r y I
w a s s e n t t o c o n v a l e s c e a t P r i n k i p o , t h e p e a r l o f t h e P r i nc e s '
I s l a n d s o n t h e S e a o f M a r m o r a , w h e r e m o r e f a m o u s m e n t h a n
I h a v e s o j o u r n e d , s o m e a s p r i s o n e r s o f w a r a n d s o m e a s p o l i t -
i c a l r e f u g e e s . J u s t a s I f e l l i l l I h e a r d t h e n e w s o f B is m a r c k ' s
f a l l . I w a s m e r e l y a y o u n g a n d i n s i g n i f i c a n t a t t a c h e , b u t t h e
a p p a l l i n g e v e n t f i l l e d m e w i t h su c h h o rr o r a n d a n x i e t y f o r m y
u n h a p p y c o u n t r y , t h a t m y d e l i r i o u s r a m b l i n g s d w e l t o n n o t h -
i n g e l s e . When I look back to-day on the political conse-
q u e n c e s o f t ha t u p h e a v a l , i t i s i n d i s p u t a b l e t h a t B i s m a r c k , t o o ,
m a d e m i s t a k e s , n a t u r a l l y e n o u g h , s i n c e w e a r e a l l h u m a n , a n d
s p i r it i s i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m m a t t e r . B u t B i s m a r c k ' s m i s t a k e s w e r e
a l m o s t e n t i r e l y c o n fi n e d t o t h e f i e l d o f h o m e p o l i t i c s , a n d t h e
f o r b e a r a n c e o f t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e r e n d e r s t h e s e e a s y t o s u r -
mount . B u t m i s t a k e s i n f o r e i g n p o l i t i c s , o w i n g t o o u r g e o -
g r a p h i c a l p o s i t i on , p r o d u c e a f a t a l a n d i m m e d i a t e e f f e c t . T h a t
i s w h y B i s m a r c k ' s h e r i t a g e w a s s o q u i c k l y s q u a n d e r e d . C a -
p r i v i 4 ought, of course, to have renewed the Re-insurance
T r e a t y w i t h R u s s i a , s i n c e t h i s w a s t h e o n l y m e t h o d o f p r e -
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
34/380
3 8 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFv e n t i n g a F r a n c o - R u s s i a n a l l i a n c e . T h e s a c r i f i c e o f t h is t r e a t y
o n o u r p a r t i n e v i t a b l y l e d t h e R u s s i a n G o v e r n m e n t t o b e l i e v e
t h a t w e i n t e n d e d t o p u r s u e a n A u s t r i a n p o l i c y a n d n o t o n e t h a t
w a s m a i n l y d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e a c e . From
t h i s c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h e F r e n c h a l l i a n c e w a s b u t a s t e p .
T h e n c e f o r w a r d , t h e r e w a s o n l y o n e p o s s i b l e p o l i c y f o r u s ,
a n d t h a t w a s t o t a k e a d e c i s i v e t u r n t o w a r d s E n g l a n d , w h i c h
C a p r i v i , q u it e c o r r e ct l y , d i d . Only we should not have gone
b a c k t o R u s s i a l a t e r o n , a f t e r t h e F r e n c h a l l i a n c e h a d c o m e
i n t o e x i s te n c e , a n d s o l o n g a s i t l a s t e d .
I f t o - d a y w e t r y t o i m a g i n e h o w B i s m a r c k w o u l d h a v e c o n -
t i n u e d t o d i r e c t o u r fo r e i g n p o l i c y , h a d h e r e m a i n e d i n o f f i c e ,
i t i s t o be a s s u m e d t h a t h e w o u l d h a v e m a i n t a i n e d t h e t i e w i t h
R u s s i a a s l o n g a s p o s s ib l e , w h i l e c u l t i v a t in g g o o d r e l a t i o ns w i t h
England . T h a t w a s h i s p o l i c y u p t o h i s d i s m i ss a l . B u t if t he d a y
had come when Russian friendship could only have b een
o b t a i n e d a t t h e c o s t o f t h e s a c r i f ic e o f A u s t r ia - H u n g a r y , B i s -
m a r c k w o u l d h a v e m a d e j u s t a s e n e r g e t i c a n d w h o l e - h e a r t e d
a c h o i c e f o r E n g l a n d , a s h e h a d d o n e f o r A u s t r i a - H u n g a r y i n
t h e y e a r 1 8 7 9 . B y t h a t m e a n s t h e W o r l d W a r c o u l d p r o b a b l y
h a v e b e e n a v o i d e d , f o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e a c e w a s a l w a y s ,
a n d q u i t e r i g h t l y , t h e b e g i n n i n g a n d t h e e n d o f B i s m a r c k ' s
p o l i c y . B u t w h e n t h e F r e n c h l u s t f o r r e v e n g e , a n d P a n - S l a v
e x p a n s i o n , h a d c o m b i n e d t o p r e c i p i ta t e w a r , i t w o ul d h a v e
b e e n c o n d u c te d o n o u r s i d e b y t h e w h o l e T r i p l e A l l i a n c e , w i t h
E n g l i s h s u p p o r t . H o w d i f f e r e n t w o u l d t h e o u t c o m e t h e n h a v e
been! Bismarck had set Germany in the saddle, but-alas!-
s h e c o u l d n o t r i d e .
When my attache year in Constantinople came to an end,
on the Ambassado r's reco mmendation I was poste d to the
Foreign Ministry to take my diplomatic examinations . Of
t h o s e t w o y e a r s , u n t i l t h e s u m m e r o f 1 8 9 2 1 h a v e n o t h i n g t o
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
35/380
YEARS OF APPR ENTICESHIP 39
r e p o r t , a s I s p e n t t h e t i m e a l m o s t e n t i re l y a t a d e s k . I w o r k e d
f i r s t i n t h e L e g a l a n d t h e n i n t h e C o m m e r c i a l d e p a r t m e n t o f
t h e F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y , a n d f i n a l l y a t t h e s u b j e c t s f o r m y w r i t -
t e n e x a m i n a t i o n . A s I w a s w e l l a w a r e t h a t I s ho u l d a l w a y s b e
at the disadvantage of having had a military and not an
o f f i c i a l t r a i n i n g , I r e a l l y w o r k e d v e r y h a r d t o m a k e u p f o r
l o s t t im e a n d f i l l u p t h e g a p s . I n t h e e n d I p a s s e d t h e e x a m i n a -
tion, and was "comme nded . " T h e o r a l d i p l o m a t i c t e s t w a s b y
n o m e a n s a s i m p l e o n e i n t h o s e d a y s ; t h e s o l i t a r y c a n d i d a t e
s a t c o n f r o n te d b y a w h o l e a r r a y o f e x a m i n e r s u n d e r t h e c h a i r -
m a n s h i p o f S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e v o n M a r s c h a l l , a n d t h e r e w a s
n o k n o w i n g o n w h a t s u b j e c t h e m i g h t n o t b e q u e s t i o n e d . T h e
a t t a c h e ' s s o l e s a l v a t i o n w a s t h e f a c t t h a t i n t h e F o r e i g n
M i n i s t r y t h e s p i r i t of B i s m a r c k s t i l l p r e v a i l e d , a n d t h a t i t h a d
already been decided before the oral examination whether
t h e c a n d id a t e s ho u l d p a s s o r n o t . B i s m a r c k h a d w r i t t e n w i t h
h i s o w n h a n d , a m o n g t h e g e n e r a l i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r t h e d i p l o -
m a t i c e x a m i n a t i o n : " I r e s e r v e t h e r i g h t t o a c ce p t t h e c a n d i d a t e
f o r t h e d i p l o m a t i c s e r v i c e i f I th i n k h i m s u i ta b l e , t h o u g h h e
m a y n o t h a v e p a s s e d t h e e x a m i n a t i o n . " I s h a l l n e v e r f o r g e t t he
k i n d n e s s o f o l d R u d o l f v o n G n e i s t , a f a m o u s f i g u r e i n h i s t i m e ,
i n t r y i n g m e f i r s t w i t h q u i t e e a s y q u e s t i o n s a n d t h e n p a s s i n g
on to harder ones, when he saw that I really did know
something .
A f t e r t h e e x a m i n a t i o n I w o u l d r e a l l y l i k e t o h a v e t a k e n a
l o n g l e a v e , b u t I w a s a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y a p p o i n t e d S e c r e t a r y
of Legat ion at Belgr ade, where I was to a ct as Charge
d ' A f f a i r e s w h i l e t h e M i n i s t e r w a s o n l e a v e . I a r r i v e d t h e r e
a b o u t m i d d a y , a n d m y C h i e f , B a r o n W a c k e r - G o t t e r , a r a t h e r
p e e v i s h o l d g e n t l e m a n , w a s a w a i t i n g m e a t l u n c h , t o g e t h e r
w i t h t h e A u s t r o - H u n g a r i a n C h a r g e d ' A f f a i r e s , M a r q u i s P a l -
l a v i c i n i . The latter was the clev erest diplomat among our
8/3/2019 Memoirs of Count Bernstorff J Bernstorff 1936 381pgs POL
36/380
40 MEMOIRS OF COUNT BERNSTORFFa l l i e s t h a t I e v e r m e t i n t h e c o u rs e o f a l o n g c a r e e r . We w er e
t o g e t h e r i n S t . Petersburg la ter on, and we were both at
C o n s t a n t i n o p l e d u r i n g t h e c o l l a p s e o f 1 9 1 8 . B a r o n Wa c k e r -
G o t t e r t o l d m e a t o n c e t h a t h e w a s g o i n g o n l e a v e t h a t v e r y
s a m e e v e n i n g . I w a s t o c a r r y o n q u ie t l y , a n d n o t s e n d t o o m a n y
r e p o rt s , a s t h e F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y d i d n o t l i k e y o u