KAISER'S MOTHER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 7

KAISER'S MOTHER.

A FEELING DEFENCE.

Tragedy Of Life Traced To

Death Of Husband.

WILHELM'S EULOGY

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Kfet'ivrtl 12 n«nn.) LONDON*, February 12. The ex-Kaiser's preface to tlic (Jerman edition of Sir Frederick Ponsonby's "Letters of the Enipre>s Frederick,' , written by Wilhelm al Doom a few weeks ago, is made available at London to-day. It is a remarkable human document <>f 2000 winds, comprising a splendid and dignified defence, of the name of his mother. He describes her as a great and charming lady: an enchanting beauty with great intellectual gifts and a burning desire to help the new counfry where her lot was cast and where she faced a life vastly different from the pleasant life in England. "Prussians are not Englishmen. Th<\v have a different story of the past with different traditions." He writes of the inspiring love of her husband which was returned with the same fervour, and proceeds to refer to her duels with Bismarck. "Xo bridge was possible between the Crown I'rincer-s, who kept up a lively political correspondence with her father, and that superhumanly great and strong-willed Bismarck."

The ex-Kaiser then traces the tragedy of his mother's life to when her husband's death was certain. "One commandment ruled her. It was to save the life of her beloved husband, but into the desperate struggle for her husband's life and her own happiness* come the knowledge that it was all too late."'

He says that bitterness then penetrated the heavy sorrow and everything wounded her. She had a quick tongue, and as she spoke so she wrote. She saw everything in the shadows to be everything hostile.

He quotes his mother's letter addressed to Queen Victoria. "I grow angry and reply to the unpleasant remarks which I hear with vehemence. I am not always prudent, but these remarks rnn-p up within me a will of deliance and make me lose control."

The Kaiser adds that his grandmother was so noble, clever, pre-eminent and wise in motherly goodness that she smoothed things over where she could, but in the end a merciless destiny over-

shadowed his mother's life with grief. He says: "Whether one agrees with her or looks at tilings differently, one must not forget that she experienced the worst fate that could befall the lot of any princess. "Therefore there is no blame due to her for the frequently unjust words that she wrote in her wild defiance, or when she lost control. She was far above most of her contemporaries in intellect and noble intentions, but she was the iiuhappiest and most-to-be-pitied woman who ever wore a crown."

With reflections similar to these, he says that everyone niUs-t read the Empress' letter*. The fate of three generations who succeeded each other within three months is bound up in the tragic fate of the Empress. Furthermore, as the destiny of Germany is also bound tip in these events, the letters will remain for all time a great historical document for future generations to read with emotion. They will not withhold a just verdict.

On the eve of the publication of the letters of the late Empress Frederick of Germany, Sir Frederick Ponsonby received a letter from-the ex-Kaisvr through a third person, deinniidinc that lie should not. publish tlieni, and hintinii that the letters were stolen from Fi iedrichshoi. Sir Fredei iik replied that he intended to publish the fact, and this so incensed the oxKaiser that he threatened to proceed under international law to have them suppressed. Sir Frederick, in his reply to the Kaiser said that the Empress Frederick had (liven the letters to him in person. _It appears that while he was staying at Friedi ichshof. iis equerry-in-wjiitiun to Kin;; Edward, the Empress expressed a wish that lie should take thorn to Knjiland. They were removed from the castle in two boxes, labelled. '"Books and china, with care." under the nose of the Kaiser, while he was sayillK Krtod-byo t;> Sir Frederick. I he letters were missed after the death of the Kmiuess. A line and ery was raised a< the ex-Kaiser was most anxious to recover them, but their locale had remained a secret until then.