Note 869 — Chapter XV

See the correspondence between Holstein and Bülow, July 21-24, 1905, ibid., 436 ff., Nos. 6203-14. It was Holstein who determined the whole policy of the German foreign office on this question. Bülow served only as his mouthpiece. Richthofen and Metternich, and also General Moltke (who in 1906 became chief of staff), were all opposed to the project of alliance, but their opinions were either not asked or were disregarded. See Bülow to F. O., Aug. 9, 1905, ibid., 488, No. 6235; Metternich to Bülow, Oct. 2, 1905, ibid., XX, 659 ff., No. 6871; Eckardstein, Lebenserinnerungen und politische Denkwürdigkeiten, III, 167.