Conversation with Emperor William II and its surroundings, Friedrichsruh

15 December 1897

As long as the Emperor can rely on his officer corps, Bismarck sees no danger to the monarchy.

I visited the old gentleman twice more, the last time in the entourage of the Emperor, who had announced his arrival in Friedrichsruh somewhat suddenly from Rendsburg after the ceremonial farewell of Prince Heinrich, who was going to Tsingtau, with the whole party. Bismarck received the Emperor in a wheelchair at the modest entrance door of the country house. We went straight to the table, Bismarck sat down with the help of someone else, but was quite refreshed once he was seated. I had the seat diagonally opposite the Prince, next to whom the Emperor sat, and at my side the later Colonel General von Moltke. The Prince tried to start political discussions about our relationship with France and so on. To my great regret, the Emperor did not enter into these discussions, but instead we had the little anecdotes that were so common at the imperial table. Whenever Bismarck started talking about politics, the Emperor avoided paying attention. Moltke whispered to me: "It is terrible"; we felt the lack of respect for such a man. Then, out of some context, Bismarck said a word that stuck in our minds with its prophetic weight: "Your Majesty, as long as you have this officer corps, you can certainly do anything you want; if that is no longer the case, it will be quite different." The apparent nonchalance with which this came out, as if there was nothing in it, showed a great presence of mind; that was how one could recognize the master.

When we left, the prince accompanied the emperor in a wheelchair to the door, and then we said goodbye one by one. Bismarck said goodbye to Bülow, Miquel and others in a friendly manner. Before me came Lucanus's chief of cabinet, who had been involved in Bismarck's dismissal in 1890. He tried to shake hands with the prince and make a kipper. Then a remarkable spectacle developed, which made a powerful impression. The prince sat there like a statue, not a muscle moved, he saw a hole in the air, and in front of him Lucanus wriggled. The prince expressed nothing himself, there was no dislike in his features, but he was a motionless mask until Lucanus understood and walked away. Then I came, and after me my faithful captain of Heeringen. He was so entranced (he was a temperamental gentleman) that he bent down and kissed the prince's hand. I was happy about that, I tried to make the prince feel as much as possible, but Herr von Heeringen's actions were stronger. Then Prince Heeringen took his head and kissed his forehead.

This is my last memory of Bismarck.