Alfred von Kiderlen-Wächter dies in Germany

Herr von Kiderlen

From the New York Times of December 31, 1912: The death of the German Foreign Secretary isreported. He will be replaced with Gottlieb von Jagow, who would be the Foreign Secretary for the beginning of World War One.

"NEW BISMARCK" OF GERMANY DEAD

Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter, Foreign Secretary, Dies Suddenly in His Stuttgart Home.

BERNSTORFF MAY SUCCEED

Ambassador to Washington Regarded in Berlin as Most Likely Candidate for the Post

Special Cable to the New York Times.

   Berlin, Dec. 30 - Alfred von Kiderlen-Waechter, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs since July 1910, who had been called "the new Bismarck," died at Stuttgart this morning as a result of heart failure after an illness of less than three days. He was 60 years of age.

Herr von Kinder, as he was commonly known in Germany, left Berlin on Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with his sister, Baroness von Gemmingen. He appeared his usual jovial self until Saturday, when signs of indisposition showed themselves, and he failed rapidly. The funeral will be held at Stuttgart on Thursday.

Herr von Kinderlen-Wächter, who ranked with the late Baron Marschall von Bieberstein as a shrewd diplomat, was the fourth Foreign Secretary in ten years and the second to die in the harness. His death is a great loss to the Government at this particular crisis in international politics, as he was accounted the greatest exppert on Near Eastern affairs in Germany. He was stationed for ten years at Bucharest and repeatedly served as deputy for von Bieberstein as Ambassador at Constantinople.

His last public utterance was a striking Anglophile speech in the Reichstag on Dec. 2 when he laid stress on "the gratifying intimacy" in Anglo-German relations in connection with the Balkan situation.

   Although he was the leading spirit in Germany's adventure at Agadir, in the Summer of 1911,  which had for its aim among other things the smashing of the entente cordiale, he was given numerous proofs in recent times of his cordial desire for an understanding with Great Britain. It ws a sonsummation which lay close to his heart, and he was devoting much energy to this plan at the time of his death.

   He did not stand among the apostles of limitless naval competition, and his point of view often brought him into conflict with Admiral von Tirpitz, the head of teh Admirialty, and other zealous advocates of a "forward" naval policy.

   Herr von Kinderlen-Wächter had steadily and rapidly grown in favor with the Kaiser of late. Owing to the inexperience of Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, the imperial Chancellor, in foreign affairs, the direction of the relations of Germany with other countries had passed almost exclusively into the hands of the Foreign Secretary. He was in supreme charge of the policy of Germany in the crisis which arose from the Balkan war, and his voice and influence were consistently on the side of conciliation and peace.

   

   




  

The War Council of December 1912

The "War Council" of December 1912


 Disagreement remain over the importance of the War Council meeting of 1912, but it may support those beliefs that World War One was not instigated by the events of Sarajevo in June 1914, but  by the outcome of the Second Moroccan Crisis and the list of diplomatic miscalculations by Germany.


Attendees included Kaiser Wilhelm II, Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz (the Naval State Secretary), Admiral Georg Alexander von Müller (the Chief of the German Imperial Naval Cabinet), General von Moltke (the Army's Chief of Staff), Admiral August von Heeringen (the Chief of the Naval General Staff), and possibly the Chief of the German Imperial Military Cabinet General Moriz von Lyncker. The importance of this meeting can be seen in that the leaders of both the German Army and Navy attended. On the other hand, Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg and GeneralJosias von Heeringen, the Prussian Minister of War, were not invited

From an entry from the diary of Georg Alexander von Müller (December 8, 1912).

Sunday: summoned to the palace to see His Majesty at 11 o’clock along with Tirpitz, Heeringen (Vice Admiral), and General von Moltke. H.M. with a telegraphic report on the political situation sent by the ambassador in London, Prince Lichnowski. As Grey’s spokesman, Haldane informed Lichnowski that if we attack France, England will come to France’s aid, for England cannot tolerate a disturbance in the European balance of power. H.M. welcomed this message as providing the desired clarification for all those who have been lulled into a false sense of security by the recently friendly English press.

H.M. painted the following picture:

Austria must deal firmly with the Slavs living outside its borders (the Serbs) if it does not want to lose control over the Slavs under the Austrian monarchy. If Russia were to support the Serbs, which she is apparently already doing (Sassonow’s remark that Russia will go straight into Galicia if the Austrians march into Serbia), war would be inevitable for us. But there is hope that Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania—and perhaps even Turkey—will take our side. Bulgaria has already offered Turkey an alliance. We really went to great lengths to persuade the Turks. Recently, H.M. also tried to convince the crown prince of Romania, who stopped here on his way to Brussels, to come to an agreement with Bulgaria. If these powers ally themselves with Austria, it will free us up to throw our full weight behind a war against France. According to His Majesty, the fleet will naturally have to prepare for war against England. After Haldane’s statement, the possibility of a war against Russia alone—as discussed by the chief of the Admiralty in his last talk—will not be considered. So, immediate submarine warfare against English troop transports on the Schelde River or near Dunkirk, mine warfare up to the Thames. To Tirpitz: rapid construction of additional submarines, etc. A conference is recommended for all interested naval offices. Gen. v. Moltke: “I consider a war inevitable—the sooner, the better. But we should do a better job of gaining popular support for a war against Russia, in line with the Kaiser’s remarks.” H.M. confirmed this and asked the secretary of state to use the press to work toward this end. T. called attention to the fact that the navy would gladly see a major war delayed by one and a half years. Moltke said that even then the navy would not be ready, and the army’s situation would continue to worsen, since due to our limited financial resources our opponents are able to arm themselves more rapidly.

That was the end of the meeting. There were almost no results.

The chief of the general staff says: the sooner war comes, the better; however, he hasn’t concluded from this that we should give Russia or France, or even both, an ultimatum that would trigger a war for which they would carry the blame.

I wrote to the chancellor in the afternoon about influencing the press. 



Source: Entry from the diary of Georg Alexander von Müller (December 8, 1912). Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv, Freiburg [BArch N 159/4 Fol. 169-171].

Original German text reprinted in John C. G. Röhl, Kaiser, Hof und Staat: Wilhelm II. und die Deutsche Politik[Kaiser, Court and State: Wilhelm II and German Politics]. Munich, 1987, pp. 175-76.

Translation: Adam Blauhut

Peace Conference Planned to end Balkan War

POWERS TO OVERSEE PEACE CONFERENCE

Most Important Diplomatic Gathering Since Treaty of Berlin Will Be Held in London.

LARGE QUESTIONS TO SETTLE

Greece Continues Military Operations, but These Are Only to Assure Her of Share of War Spoils

Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.

LONDON, Dec. 7. – Although Greece is continuing was operations on land and sea, the outlook for peace in the Balkans and an amicable settlement of all questions between the powers is very bright.

   By the acquiescence to-day of Germany in the proposal of Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Minister, for a conference of Ambassadors of the great powers, such a gathering will be held in London, Coincident with the meeting here of the Turkish and Balkan delegates next week to discuss peace terms. In many respects this gathering will be the most important diplomatic conference since the Treaty of Berlin was signed in 1878.

   The British Government has decided to put St. James Palace at the disposal of the representatives of Turkey and the allies. Here they will have the splendid apartments which were used by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught previous to their departure for Canada thrown open to them, including a dining room on the ground floor, which overlooks the gardens.

   There is some doubt whether the delegates will arrive in London in time for the first meeting, which has been fixed for Friday. This is generally regarded as a purely provisional date, as thus far only Turkey, Servia, and Montenegro have names their representatives. Greece and Bulgaria are expected to reach a decision in twenty-four hours.

Bulgaria and Turkey Agreed.

   According to the writer in the Observer, there is reason to believe that the ultimate division of Thrace between Turkey and Bulgaria will be the first subject broached by the delegates. It is not expected that difficulties will supervene which will render abortive the negotiations on this particular question, as it is undoubtedly the fact that Turkey and Bulgaria are already agreed in principle on a frontier line, based upon the treaty of San Stefano.

   With regard to Adrianople, which will be one of the most delicate questions handled, the hope is held that a settlement will be reached on the basis that the stronghold will be dismantled and remain in the possession of the Turks.

   The question of the Thracian Peninsula also includes such matters as revenues accruing to the Ottoman debt abd customs, but it is thought that a commercial understanding between Turkey and Bulgaria will ultimately be reached which will embody all matters of economical interest to both countries.

   It ius thought possible that matters relating to Macedonia will form the subject of more protracted discussions, and it is also probable that when the deliberations have reached that stage a formal meeting of the Ambassadors will take place.

   The Ambassadors will follow the discussions of the delegates  and, if necessary, render help where the interests of the great powers are involved with those that have emerged from the war.