CHAPTER IV
HERR VON KEUDELL IN THE PRESS AND IN REALITY
The chief reason why I have not modelled the bust or, now that he is an Ambassador, the statue of Herr von Keudell, which I announced in a preceding chapter, is that I have no taste for such work. It may, however, suffice if I arrange the necessary material for this purpose in proper order. Deficiencies can mostly be supplied from the entries in my diary already, or still to be, quoted. With the exception of a few comments I refrain from expressing any opinion, and allow others to speak—first the press which entertained friendly relations with him, and then such persons as appear to me to be impartial and well informed.
In October, 1872, the German Reichscorrespondenz, the organ of the Aegidi group, published the following sapient commentary on Herr von Keudell’s mission to Stamboul: “It is well known that Herr von Keudell is one of Bismarck’s most intimate and confidential friends. He always has the entrée to that statesman’s inner circle, which he enlivens with his exceptional musical talent. When such a man (such a talented musician!) is appointed Envoy to Turkey it may be fairly concluded that at this moment we have most important interests there, which can best be safeguarded by one who has been allowed to obtain an insight into Prince Bismarck’s masterly plans. In a word the present political situation offers a good opportunity for preparing an energetic solution of the Eastern question. The wounds received by Russia in the Crimean war have long since healed; France has suffered such military, political and financial disaster that she cannot realise her aspirations to the possession of Egypt; and the conflicting interests of Austria and Russia in the East have been reconciled by the meeting of the three Emperors. If therefore Germany, Russia and Austria are now prepared to solve the Eastern question there can hardly be a single statesman in Europe capable of preventing them. If war be ever justifiable, surely it is when it opens up a new field for civilisation. The Turks, in their manners, customs and religious views, have remained hostile to modern civilisation, and it would therefore be an important gain for the progress of civilising influences towards the East if they were to be expelled from Europe and driven back into Asia. It would therefore almost seem as if an Eastern war were impending, and as soon as the Sick Man’s heirs had entered upon their inheritance the time might be at hand for the countries which now bristle with military preparations to disarm and enjoy an era of peace. The recent hostilities between Montenegro and the Turks were the flaming beacons, heralding an Oriental war. Russia, bearing in mind the (apocryphal) will of Peter the Great, was already endeavouring to induce the Powers with which she stood in a friendly relation to join in a collective note against the Sublime Porte. Thanks to her inborn tenacity in political affairs, she will not rest until she has attained her ends in the East, where presumably she will be found ready to divide the anticipated spoils with her allies. Our present envoy (this is the real gist of this shockingly written and almost idiotic lucubration) is one of Prince Bismarck’s most trusted assistants, and he must be regarded as specially suited for the task of securing our interests in the impeding division of the inheritance.”
At that time a similar opinion of the importance of the gentleman in question was expressed in most of the German newspapers, which I happened to see, those that had no opinions of their own adopting the high estimate contained in the other papers. Foreign journals also, and in particular those of Vienna and Paris, and indeed even the President of the French Republic, regarded Keudell’s mission as an event. Gambetta’s organ, the République Française, wrote: “We announced a few days ago that it was probable Herr von Keudell, Councillor of Embassy, would be nominated to the post of German Envoy at Constantinople, and we called attention at the same time to the great political significance of this appointment. A Berlin correspondent of the Vienna Fremden-Blatt confirms the importance of this news. The selection of Herr von Keudell for the post in question, and its acceptance by such a personage, is in fact regarded in Berlin as a political event. Doubts were entertained whether Herr von Keudell would accept this post, which had been frequently offered to him, but which he had always declined. The fact of his now accepting it at the urgent desire of the Imperial Chancellor, proves that he must in this instance have yielded solely to considerations of duty of the highest moment. The importance which is generally ascribed to this incident is due to the circumstance that Herr von Keudell is the statesman who has perhaps most frankly supported the policy of a good understanding between Germany and Austria-Hungary in all great questions, and furthermore that he considers every danger to which Turkey is exposed at the hands of Russia as being not only a danger for the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, but also for Germany, her commerce and her future. He is therefore of opinion that Austria has to keep watch on the Danube, and Germany on the Rhine and Moselle. The Fremden-Blatt correspondent adds: ‘The choice by Prince Bismarck of this particular diplomatist for Constantinople is a clear indication that he intends to pursue the same policy in the East as Austria-Hungary, and that in view of a conflict he considers an understanding with the Austrian Empire to be necessary for Germany and in harmony with her interests.’”
Arnim, in a despatch dated from Paris on the 9th of January, 1873, writes: “M. Thiers, with whom I was talking a few days ago of the importance of the Constantinople post in the days of M. de Varennes, compared to the present time, observed, ‘Maintenant c’est vous qui rendez ce poste important.’” The Ambassador had no doubt that this observation was made under the impression that German policy in the East had entered upon a more active phase, and added, “It is impossible to decide whether this impression has been gathered from certain mysterious utterances in the press (respecting Keudell’s importance and his mission) or from the reports of the French Ambassadors in St. Petersburg, Vienna, and elsewhere.”
It was little more than a month after Keudell’s departure for Constantinople before the press, doubtless inspired by Aegidi, struck up a new tune in Keudell’s honour, which was intended also to promote certain aspirations of a more practical character.
On the 22nd of November, 1872, I sent the following note to Bucher at Varzin: “The Deutsche Presse of Frankfurt-on-the-Main publishes in its issue of the 20th instant the following paragraph: ‘Berlin, November 18. It is understood here that it has now been decided to recall Herr von Keudell shortly from Constantinople, in order that he should take up the position of Under Secretary of State in the Foreign Office, as Herr von Balan is believed to have been again selected for the Brussels Legation.’ To my certain knowledge, Engelmann, the editor of this paper, used to receive a subvention from us when he was in Stuttgart, and was up to a few months ago in communication with Aegidi, and visited him in Berlin.”
I replied as follows, in the Hannoverscher Courier, upon information received from Bucher: “Fresh rumours of an alleged aggravation of the Imperial Chancellor’s condition are constantly circulated in the press. I am assured on good authority that the Prince’s health is by no mean worse, but on the contrary much better than it was some months ago, although in order to complete his recovery he must still rest for some time to come, and avoid the overwork which may await him in Berlin. In the meantime, as I learn from another quarter, the long absence of the Chancellor from the Ministry in the Wilhelmstrasse, and the unfavourable reports respecting his health, which are spread not only by his enemies, but also by certain friends who, whilst affecting regret are longing for his inheritance, encourages the hopes of those who desire to see a change, which, as is doubtless well known, would not be unwelcome to a certain exalted lady. I have reason to believe that this statement also comes from a trustworthy source.” At the same time the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung denied the report of Balan’s impending return to Brussels, and of Keudell’s intended appointment in terms which were to make it appear that the question was still under consideration. The Deutsche Zeitung of Vienna on the 25th of November called attention to this circumstance, observing that the language used amounted to a partial confirmation of the rumour. This was probably written by Aegidi, or suggested by him to one of his journalistic hacks. A more positive statement was now issued from Varzin. On the 21st of December I received from Bucher, through the Central Bureau, the following explanation, which was not to be published in the Kölnische Zeitung; and which appeared in the Hannoverscher Courier, whence it was copied by other papers: “Herr von Keudell has experienced in his own person the truth of the proverb respecting over-zealous friends. In the Casino (in Berlin) it is well known that he regards the next stage in his career to be the Secretaryship of State in the Foreign Office, and that he has retained his residence here. It will hardly have been in accordance with his wishes, however, that a weekly newspaper should have circulated a report, afterwards widely reproduced in usually well-informed papers, that he is to be the successor of Herr von Thile, and that Vienna papers should declare the démenti of the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung to be a partial confirmation of this report. In view of the trustworthy source from which that démenti is understood to have come (for your information, from the Chief), the terms in which it was drafted may be held rather to indicate a desire to contradict in the friendliest form possible, a rumour, which bore the appearance of an advertisement. Outsiders are the less called upon to busy themselves with the interests of the statesman in question, as the position he occupied at the Foreign Office for many years must have provided him with sufficient connections in the home and foreign press to secure the publication of anything which he himself considers useful.”
This was sufficiently plain for those who knew how to read between the lines. Nevertheless fresh indications appeared from time to time in the papers, even late in the year 1873, that Herr von Keudell had renounced none of his aspirations and endeavours in this direction.
So far the materials for an estimate of the statesman in question are furnished by his friends. Let us now hear some of the opinions held in other quarters, and in connection therewith a few facts respecting his diplomatic achievements. There are diary entries reserved for this purpose, which, however, only reach up to March, 1873. Some other particulars will be found in the subsequent chapters.
On the 25th of October, 1872, after 6 o’clock in the evening, in Hepke’s room, Bucher told me that Keudell (through his protégés in the press, whose number was legion, particularly in South German and Austrian newspapers) gave it to be understood that he was a man of great diplomatic talent, and was designated to succeed the Imperial Chancellor. I gave vent to surprise at such boundless self-esteem. “No,” replied Bucher, “it is after all not quite impossible—in the future. He has cast his lines in the Court of the Crown Prince, and no one knows what she (the Crown Princess) may not be able to do some day. When Thile resigned, he (Keudell) greatly regretted having taken the post at Constantinople. He might have become Secretary of State. Moreover, it was not family considerations that induced Thile to go. Keudell induced him to sign something he had written which offended the Chief, so that Thile was sharply reprimanded. Keudell was the real instigator of the incident which, it seems, tripped up the future Secretary of State. It would be well to call the Chief’s attention to such manœuvres through the press. Nothing of the kind appears in the newspapers which he usually reads, nor in the extracts laid before him. Aegidi takes care of that. You know that he has been brought here in order to direct the press in Keudell’s interest, and to prevent anything that might damage him becoming known upstairs. But there is one paper which the Chief reads carefully, and which Aegidi has not yet gathered into his net. That is the Figaro (he referred to the Berlin journal). If one were to send to that paper one or other of those articles, such as that of the République Française, for instance! It would be well to bring such things to the Chief’s notice, as I am afraid he does not yet quite understand our esteemed friend. He does, no doubt, so far as his ability is concerned, but not, I think, his ambition and capacity for intrigue; and he believes in his devotion. He has obviously given him the Constantinople post, which is not very important now, because he was no longer of any use to him here. Some years ago, when he applied for an Embassy and his request was refused, he got himself elected to Parliament, and since then he has had one leave of absence after another. His mother-in-law has also said, ‘What good is it for them to make permanent arrangements now? He will soon be an Ambassador.’ He has no political ideas, and, I fancy, not the necessary knowledge or adroitness to carry out the more brilliant ideas of others. He has now secured Radowitz to supply him with the ideas for his Oriental reports. But, in spite of that, I am afraid they will not amount to much.”
On Thursday, the 21st of November, I wrote as follows in my diary: This morning Wollmann came to me and read a passage from a letter which he had received from Count von der Goltz, Attaché to the Embassy at Constantinople, to whom he had formerly given lessons. The Count informed him that his chief, Keudell, had instructed him to prepare a memorandum on Turkish finances, and in particular on the tobacco monopoly, within two months. He, Goltz, however, had not the slightest information on the subject. Could Wollmann not send him something of the kind? That doubtless means that our Ambassador at Stamboul wishes to send a report to the Chief in Berlin, probably as his own work. He then orders it from a young inexperienced attaché, who again requests a subordinate official in the office of the Imperial Chancellor to help him out of his difficulty, and to give information on the matters in question; which will then—as the production of the Ambassador—be returned to its place of origin, Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, ten weeks after the newspapers here had already published all that was wanted on the subject.
On the 21st of December, I wrote as follows: This evening about 8 o’clock Bucher communicated to me ... the welcome news that the Chief has at length had his eyes opened to the manner in which Keudell managed the press. When Bülow, who has now taken over the administration of the secret service fund in succession to Keudell, reported to the Minister on the condition in which he found it, the latter’s “hair almost stood on end with fright.” “No detailed accounts whatever,” he continued. “Everything jotted down in the loosest way. People with whom the Chief had expressly desired to break off all relations continued to receive their money, five or six hundred thalers a year, indeed often more than that, or they got a lump sum, up to three thousand thalers, in settlement. The deficit which arose in this way amounts to about eighteen thousand thalers.[11] Several of these fellows are not known to any one. Aegidi was questioned, but he declares he does not know them either. They must have been Keudell’s own secret and semi-official mouthpieces, whose sole and only business was to promote his private interests by dirty press intrigues.”
On the morning of the 15th of January, Bucher showed me the Spenersche Zeitung, with Lasker’s speech on the trade done by Wagner and certain noblemen in railway concessions. In the conversation that followed Bucher observed that Keudell, like other members of our nobility, such as Prince Biron and Prince Putbus, speculated in railways, and that the direct line between —— (I could not catch the name) and Stargard was generally called the Keudell railway.
On the 7th of March Bucher again mentioned “our former esteemed friend and colleague.” Keudell, he said, wanted by hook or by crook to get away from Constantinople and take Balan’s place. That, however, now seemed to have been averted, as the Chief had said he was not a suitable man for the post, and he would also be unwelcome to the higher officials in the office. He would, however, probably be removed to Rome. Furthermore, Keudell had boasted to a landed proprietor in Neumark, where his wife has an estate, that he would one day be Minister or even Imperial Chancellor. (I am inclined to doubt this, as he is not the kind of man to talk about his plans and hopes.) Recently in a circle which included none of the Foreign Office officials, but a number of other officials, amongst others a Councillor of Finance, Aegidi was bragging about his patron’s prospects of obtaining the Secretaryship of State, and prophesied the creation of an Imperial Ministry in which Keudell would have a post. The Financial Councillor shook his head, however, and as Aegidi went on in the same boastful tone, told him plainly that Keudell was not fit for the position of Secretary of State, as he had no political judgment; that he was still less suitable for the Imperial Chancellorship, in which position he would within a month “drive the cart into the ditch”; and that he was about equally unsuitable for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as there he would intrigue with all his might against the Prince. “Aegidi, it seems, was astounded at hearing these views,” said Bucher, in concluding his report.
I should observe that Bucher had no reason personally to dislike Keudell. He had suffered nothing at his hands, and had nothing to apprehend from him. He simply loathed his selfishness and love of intrigue, and the impotent conceit with which he flattered himself that he might one day become Imperial Chancellor, whereas he had none of the necessary qualifications for the post.