#49

 

        Bethmann Describes the Obstacles Germany Faces.

 

 

After sipping from a glass of water, Theobald Bethmann said, “I will continue to make

every effort to create a detente with Britain to keep her away from France. Frankly, from

what I gather, the chance of getting the English to accept our point of view is rapidly

dimming.”
 

“But, Theo,” said Wilhelm “can’t Prince Karl Lichnowsky, our ambassador in

London, do anything to ameliorate the situation? Doesn’t he have the ear of King

George?”

“I share the same feeling of frustration that you have. The Prince labors daily, but

almost futilely, to maintain peace between our two nations. Everyday, the situation

slowly, worsens. As I mentioned earlier, there exists a powerful group in England that

fears Germany and would set out to destroy her.”
 

“But, let me go back a little bit in time. The ink was hardly dry on the Franco-Russian

treaty of 1894, when the Russian fleet immediately stoked their fireboxes and paid a visit

to the French naval port at Toulon. The French Fleet reciprocated by visiting Kronstad,

on the Gulf of Finland. Naval officers of both fleets shared information about their

individual ships and how, should war occur, they might be arrayed in the Mediterranean

and the Baltic Seas. In the north, the plan calls for the Russians to tie up German

warships in the Baltic while Great Britain prevents any escape of the enemy fleet into the

North Sea.”
 

“As to the Mediterranean Sea, France is assigned the major job of locating and

destroying Triple Alliance navy ships. Of course, Britain will continue to maintain its

fleet at Malta.”
 

“The hope of the Allies is to clear the Dardenelles and allow the Russian fleet to

move freely into the Mediterranean. Thus, such an armada could crush our ships like a

well-greased nutcracker!”
 

The Kaiser began to breathe heavily and his eyes rolled as Theobald continue his

alarming description of a future war.
 

“Are you feeling all right, Willy?” asked the concerned Chancellor.
 

Receiving no reply, Theo continued. “Early on, French and Russian General Staffs

have agreed that the best form of defensive warfare is to take the offensive. They

believed this because of the growing military strength of the Triple Alliance. They fear

Germany the most, and are making plans to destroy our army by a two-front war.”

“Our agents,” interjected von Moltke, “learned, when the British fleet came to the

regatta at Kiel, that the British admiralty has already built the transports that are to carry

Russian troops to Pomerania!”

Wilhelm sat rubbing his chin. “Is that information a fact or is it just some bureaucrat’s

attempt to gain favor?”
 

Moltke intertwined his fingers and said, “We are checking into its veracity as we

speak.”
 

Bethmann persisted. “In the Far East, Great Britain is seeking ways of increasing its

friendship with Japan in order for the two nations to grab up German territories in China.

The tentacles of Great Britain reach everywhere, nicht wahr? Equally important, we now

know that France has long sought protectorate over Morocco that would allow them to

join up with Britain to create a vice-grip, controlling the waterway between Gibraltar and

Tangiers.”

The Kaiser twisted in his chair. “Don’t mention that fucking Tangiers farce! I damned
 

near drowned there! The English and French may gain control of the Mediterranean and

the Suez Canal and think that they can embarrass us by forcing our ships to take the long

way around Africa to the Far East. They know that our Berlin to Baghdad railway will

soon give us a new entrance to the Persian Gulf. While the English and French paddle
around mare nostrum, picking their noses, we Germans will be on our merry way to

India, China and Japan!”

“All right, Your Majesty.” said Bethmann testily. “Let me take a different tack. If,

then, we are to go to war, we must do it initially in such a way that no blame shall fall on

our shoulders! The last thing we want to happen is to dissipate our friendship with

nations around the world. I especially want to retain the friendship of the United States!”

Willy reached over and patted his chancellor on his shoulder. “Our ambassador to

Washington, Count Johann von Bernstorff, works very hard to gain acceptance and

sympathy for Germany’s situation. In fact, he is intimate with President Wilson and has, I

believe, gained his trust.”
 

“The trick, as I see it,” explained Theobald “is to get Russia to be the first to mobilize.

You have to understand that if Germany even suggests that she will mobilize, Russia will

be able to complain that she defends herself from German aggression. That will gain for

Russia the support of France, who by treaty, is bound to go to war if Germany attacks its

ally. Even worse, we have obtained a secret memo, dated a year ago, in which the English

government, through the efforts of Sir Edward Grey, has secretly pledged to fight for

France and Russia. So much for British transparency!”

“But Theo,” cried Wilhelm, nervously crumbling a sheet of paper, “this means a war

on two fronts! Imagine! A fucking two-front war!”

“Naturally,” explained Theo, “Germany wants to avoid a terrible and widespread war.

For us to back down would fatally wound the deep sentiment of the loyalty of our allies,

Austria, Turkey and Italy. Loyalty is one of the finest traits of the German spirit. No, to

back down would place us at variance with the feelings of our people. Therefore, if there

is a clash between Austria and Russia over Servia, war is inevitable. Ergo, we must

mobilize and prepare to wage war on two fronts.”

“According to the Russian General Staff, the Russians plan to attack Germany and

Austria simultaneously. This they have promised the French General Joffre.”

Wilhelm grew more and apprehensive, lighting one cigarette after another. “Are we

really prepared for a two-front war? If you are not right, God help us! Also, in spite of her

protestations, I am deeply worried about keeping Britain neutral!”

Theobald tried to calm the Kaiser. “I have told the British ambassador, Sir William

Goschen to Austria, that if Austria is attacked by Russia, a European conflagration might

become inevitable owing to Germany’s obligations as Austria’s ally.”
 

“I then told him that I understood Great Britain would never standby and allow France

to be crushed in any conflict that might arise. While he hemmed and hawed, I tried to

impress upon him that Germany’s aim is not to destroy France or any other nation. I

explained that provided the neutrality of Great Britain was certain, I could assure the

British Government that Imperial Germany, in a defensive war, seeks no territorial

acquisition anywhere. After he calmed down, I asked him about the possibility that my

assurances might form the basis for a general agreement between Germany and England.

The Ambassador hesitated and said that it was, at the present time, too early to discuss

details.”
 

The Kaiser sputtered, “But, we nations are signatories to the treaty that agreed to

Belgian neutrality! If, without cause, we take the offensive in Belgium while the fucking

Russians are up our asses in East Prussia, what then?”

Losing his temper, Bethmann stood up and declared, “Good God, Willy! Have we not

learned from Napoleon that in war, one must balance the chances of victory over defeat!

Nothing should block German arms because of a treaty written sixty years ago! Times are

now different. Gentlemen, as far as I am concerned that document is just a scrap of paper

to be trampled upon by the hobnailed boots of German soldiers!”
 

Everyone, except Wilhelm, stood up, patted Bethmann on his back and shook his

hand.

FROM
IN THE SERVICE OF GOD AND EVIL
A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RISE AND FALL OF KAISER WILHELM
A NOVEL BY DONALD B CONRAD