BARON MARSCHALL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1912, Page 14

BARON MARSCHALL

HIS PRESS "AIDE-DE-CAMP." CONTRAST WITH BRITISH METHODS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) i LONDON, 15th May. The approaching arrival of Bavou 1 MarschaO yon Bieberotcin at the j German Embassy in London is regarded as a highly diplomatic move, though Tho Times, in an outspoken leading article, declares that Ihe appointment is' not a European "event. Prom Paris comes the report that Baron Marschall yon Bieberetein will take with him to London, as a kind of journalistic aide-de-camp. Hew Paid Woitss, who at present acts in the Turkish capitul asth-e correspondent of the Frankfurter Zeitung. Nobody will be more surprised , and embarrassed than Heir Weilz by the notoriety which is tnus thrust- upon him. The genial correspondent of ' tho frankfurter Zeitung is one of those modest journalists who prefer to do good by stealth and blush to find, it known. ( 'Ho ' is the friend of» every foreign journalist and travelling correspondent whose,business takes him to tho Near East.^ The Baron's Press' agent is tHufe scribed by an English special correspondent :*— i ' » "I was standing in the hall of the Pora Palace Hotel in Constantiiionlo during some crisis in. / Turkish affairs when" an Armeniaff friend introduced me to Herr Weitz., His name and Occupation were already familiar to me, fpr you cannot b© long ih the Turkish capital without learning that the German Embassy has a valuable and trusted Press agent at jts command. To .do Herr Weitz justice he did not conceal the fact. After discussing tjhe ' situation, with knowledge and sound judgment, he asked me if I had met the German Amba^ador, Baron Marschall yon Biebersteln. I replied that I had not had; Xhat honour, whereupon Herr Weita suggested that I should call upon His Ex- , cellency^ Next morning I received a cordial invitation to visit the" German Embassy. A SECRET OF SUCCESS. "It is more than a mere delight to discuss public affairs with Baron Marschalj^von Bieberstein. It is a lesson in high politics: and diplomacy. I came away charmed by nis frankness, his breadth of view, and hie ready command of the Euglt»n / tongue. And, T came away also with many facts which I was able to confirm or to> cor- • rent in other quarters. But Baron Marschall yon Biebersteiu is too who and experienced a man' of the world to giv© a- journalist opinions when he has facts to dispose of. That is tho great bocret of his success with newstniper correspondents. "Since then I havo never failed tV> call upon the German Ambassador whenever I was in Constantinople. But it was at. the Hague that T realised tho true importance of the. association of Herr Weitz with tho German Ambassador. - Sir Ernest Satow, one of the British delegates at tho Peace Conference, ,whom I had known in Peking when he was Minister, suggested' that I should call upon Sir Edward Fry; tho senior British delegate. Next aiorning I received an invitation. "To my sui prise and displeasure I was escorted to Sir Edward Fry in company with two other London correspondents. Sir Edward Fry's greeting was not encouraging. 'His first words were these : 'Well, gentlemen, I cannot say that I am glad to bee you here. I think that conlerenees of this kind are conducted better without the presence of newspaper reporters.* I did not wait to hear anything more. vIfRIEND OF FOREIGN ' JOURNALISTS. "As I- was leaving the hotel, still feeling very hot and' angry, I saw my friend, Herr Weitz. Ho was waiting on tho doorstep. 'Havo you seen the baron V was his very flret question. 'Noj but I'vo^ just been lectured by the senior British delegate.' I replied.. 'I will-ar-range a meeting, 1 said Herr Weitz. Tilt* invttation came by tho first post, and I drove out to Scheveningen to see tho German Ambassador. * "Baron MarschalL yon Bieberstein was delighted to see me and discussed the questions to be raised at tho conference with his wonted frankness. He did not hesitate to point out the difficulties thut must arise or to state frankly the vie\rs of his Government on certain controversial questions. Before I Ml His Excellency pressed m<? to call upon him again. I inn hero every morning at a certain hour, and shall always bo pleased to dimuw the "conference" with 'you. '■ "Now you know why Herr Weit-z is the- friend of foreign journalists nnd. why Buron i\ltti\sohall yon ttiebcttteiu ifc popular with them. Hen- Weitz may have other- and more .important dnl-toM iv connection with the German Embassy. ITo if a clover man with much experience and many acquaintances. But to - tho correspondent abroad lie is content to art -tho part of mask 1111 11) 1 of ceremonies, and is wise enough to Ivavc it at that."