After this ominous evaluation of British character the correspondente returns to factors closer to Austrian interests, the new Balkan crisis looming
large on the political horizon. Thus on December 9, 1912, the emperor writes
from Berlin:
DEAR FRANZI!
Tarouca and Clam 62 will have reported to you our discussion from DonauEschingen. Bethmann's speech was clear and determined and has been understood
correctly everywhere. 63 Meanwhile I received some more important information
which I want to convey to you. . . .
The emperor then related a report which he had received through a
German admiral from a Turkish statesman, Halil Bey, former minister of
the interior and present president of parliament. According to this source,
Russia is responsible for the Balkan war. Before the war she had offered an
alliance to Turkey, yet had raised such exorbitant demands concerning the TurcoPersian frontier territories which Turkey would have had to cede, that Turkey
had rejected the alliance and these demands.
Infuriated about it, Russia had kindled the Balkan war to take her vengeance.
Turkey had put great hopes on England. They failed totally. England with a cold
smile surrendered Turkey to Russia and thereby forfeited all vestiges of existing
sympathies there. The moment is very favorable now for Austria and Germany.
It might be hoped that both would take thorough advantage of the situation in
Turkey. The chances seem good. Avis au lecteur!! We have to forge the iron
while it is hot!
Apart from this, the ambassador reported to me yesterday from London that
Haldane had visited him, apparently in place of and on behalf of Sir Edward
Grey, for whom it was embarrassing to transact the matter himself. He told the
ambassador that if Germany through her siding with Austria should become
involved in a war with France and Russia, England without further ado would
join France. She [England] could not tolerate that we defeat France and that the
continent should be united under Germany's influence. This would be unacceptable
to England." This was in winter when England's peace dove was here 65 with the
offer of the neutrality clause in case of a European war. Now it sounds different
but not English! Full of poison, hatred, and envy of the good development of both
our alliance and our countries! I was not taken by surprise and the necessary pre-
parations are being made. It was a welcome clarification which reduces the British
newspapers' soothing assurances about peace and friendship to their proper scale.
It clearly reveals their policy in Europe—balance of power—in its naked shamelessness, playing the Great Powers against each other to the advantage of England.
