The Late Emperor's Diary

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 199, 22 September 1888, Page 3

The Late Emperor's Diary

khT kring to the reports which have been cur ent as to the removal of Prussian State papers from Potsdam. “ Atlas,” in the World says : —Th ■ real truth, which reaches me from a trustworthy correspondent in Germany, is that the diary of the Emperor cannot be found The Emperor has kept a journal during more than thirty years (ever since his marriage), which was not a mere record of his movements and occupations, but an elaborate running commentary upon public affairs—both political and social—very much in the style of Mr Grenville’s Memoirs. The diary was contained in thirty immense vo umes, each being secured by a lock, and directly after the Emperor’s death his sue cessor, at the request of Prince Bismarck, demaode » that the whole of them should at once be given up, in order that his Majesty’s reminiscences might be placed among the Pru sian State Archives at Berlin. The Empress refused to surrender the Volumes, and, when a second and a more peremptory application was made after th- Emperor’s funeral. Her Majesty announced that the diary had been taken to England by the Queen, and that she would probably publish it as it bad been her husband’s particular wish that it should be published after a suitable revision, and that he had requested her to act as hie literary executrix. The Empress, I hear, added that justice to the late Emperor’s memory requires this publication, as he would derive as much benefit from Atas her father, the Prince Consort, did the publication of Sir Theodore Martin’s The idea of such a proceeding [T, however, very obnoxious to Prince Bismarck, who apprehends that the Empress might take what he would regard as an extremely inadequate view of her duties as editor ; and, of course, the Emperor William objects very strongly to any publication which might reflect upon German policy in the past, or which might be in any way injurious to what he conceives to be the present or future interests of the empire.”