Note 133 — Chapter IV

The German Emperor made a special endeavor to win France; hence his numerous telegrams of congratulations or condolence to French leaders, his toasts and decorations for French officers, etc. The French called him the “new Lohengrin.” Both he and Bülow made repeated hints to the French representatives for a rapprochement; and one of the Emperor’s favorite schemes to form a Continental grouping against Great Britain and the United States was well known from his frequent references to it. See Theodor Wolff, Das Vorspiel (Munich, 1924), pp. 110, 114, 117, 123 f.; G.P., Vol. XVIII, Nos. 5860-71; Bourgeois et Pagès, pp. 277 ff., 256 f.; William II to Bülow, Oct. 29, 1899, G.P., XV, 406 ff., No. 4394; and the editor’s long note thereto, pp. 406 ff. On June 4, 1899, the French Ambassador reported a conversation between the French naval attaché, Buchard, and the Emperor in which the latter said: “The hour is certainly come when the Continent must defend itself against England and America, and I think that it is necessary for Germany and France to rely upon each other [s’appuient l’une sur l’autre].” And Buchard added, “The Emperor is very desirous of establishing good relations with you” (Bourgeois et Pagès, p. 279). See also Spring Rice to Villiers, April 24, 1900, Stephen Gwynn (ed.), The Letters and Friendships of Sir Cecil Spring Rice. A Record (Boston and New York, 1929), I, 220.