View source for XLIX Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, 22/VIII/1905

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[[Main_Page | WWI Document Archive ]] > [[Pre - 1914 Documents]] > [[Willy-Nicky Letters between the Kaiser and the Czar]] > [['Willy-Nicky' Letters XLIX - LXXV (22 August 1905 - 26 March 1914)]] > '''XLIX Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, 22/VIII/1905'''
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<b>XLIX<br>
Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, 22/VIII/1905</b><br><br>

Dearest Nicky<br><br>
Your manifest directing the formation of the "Duma" made an excellent impression in Europe -- especially -- in my country, and I beg you to receive my warmest congratulations. It is a great step forward for the Political development of your country and gives the people an opening by which they will be able to bring before you their hopes and wishes, and enable a combined work of Master and Couttry for the Nations welfare. You will be able to take touch with all sorts of conditions of men and infuse into them directly your spirit and your ideas, which was formerly hindered by the great bulky wall of the ''Tchin''<ref>Office-holding.</ref> bureaucracy regarded with much suspicion by your subjects. Excuse my telegram the other day but I thought it might be a good idea to try the "mettle" of the "Duma" and to see wether it is workable or not. In the same time you get an excellent insight into the mind of your People and make them carry a part of the responsibility for the future, which it would have probably liked to saddle solely upon you, thereby making a wholesale "critique" and dissatisfaction with deeds done by you alone impossible.<br><br>

I send you enclosed some interesting articles showing the tendency of the thoughts of France. The British have prostituted themselves before France and the French sailors in the hopes of gaining them over from you, and stopping any "rapprochement" between you, me and them. The French felt much flattered, but I hope the sensible people have kept their heads cool and clear and seen, that all is "consu de fil blanc", and that Britain only wants to make France her "catspaw" against us, as she used Japan against you. The article in the "Forum" is wriften by Maurice Low, the correspondent of the "Morning Post" sent to America. It is cleverly written and most indiscret about the extension of the new Anglo-Japanese treaty which was kept quite secret in London till now, but he seems to have let the "cat out of the bag." The "Arch intriguer -- and mischiefmaker" in Europe as ycu rightly called the King of England has been hard at work in the last months. At Cowes he said to one of my friends -- a German gentleman I sent to observe the "Entente Cordiale" -- "I cant find out what has been going on at Bjoerkoe! Benckendorff<ref>The Russian ambassador in London.</ref> knows nothing -- for he always tells me everything -- Copenhagen knows nothing and even the Emperors mother -- who always lets me know everything -- has heard nothing from her son this time; even Lambsdorff -- who is such a nice man and lets me know all I want to hear -- knows nothing or at least wont tell! It is very disagreeable!" This shows you how very wide is the net of secret information he has cast over Europe and over you. He first let his Press launch the idea of a visit to me, and when all the papers of Europe had taken it up and talked it over, suddenly published an insulting dementi, declaring my Foreign Office had started the idea. The finest lie I ever came across! After this he goes and invites my son behind my back to come and visit him in England! I have of course stopped that business. His fleet is in the act of visiting our shores and I think this will open the eyes of many Germans who are still loth to vote money for an extension of our Fleet; we shall send many down by rail and steamer to take an object lesson. They will I hope learn to understand the necessity of building a strong fleet. The enclosed brochure<ref>The pamphlet in question was not attached to tho original letters kept in Moscow.</ref> was sent me from America, I enclose it, as I think it may interest you, especially from the point of view of the future plans England has vis-à-vis of Russia in Asia and what she is trying to use the Japanese for. It throws light on the Japanese expedition to the Turkestan frontier I told you about.<br><br>

Your most aff. Cousin and Friend<br>
Willy<br><br>

Notes<br>
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[[Main_Page | WWI Document Archive ]] > [[Pre - 1914 Documents]] > [[Willy-Nicky Letters between the Kaiser and the Czar]] > [['Willy-Nicky' Letters XLIX - LXXV (22 August 1905 - 26 March 1914)]] > '''XLIX Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, 22/VIII/1905'''
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