BISMARCK AND THE CROWN PRINCE.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5105, 28 May 1885, Page 2

BISMARCK AND THE CROWN PRINCE.

A distinguished German diplomatist in* formed the Berlin correspondent of the New Zealand Herald of the following lively conversation which recently took place in Berlin between Kaiser Wilhelm and the Kronprinz. As is well known, there has been for a lonjj time a complete deadlock between the Pope and Princa Bismarck on the question of the education of the clergy in Prussia. Neither the Pontiff nor the Chancellor would yield one iota of Vantage ground; but the Crown Prince, who recalls the cordial reception I tendered him by the Pope in December, [ 1883, urges the Kaiser to compromise by letting the Pope have his own way about ! the education of the clergy, but to accept as a return for this concession the resignation of Cardinal Ledochowski, Archbishop of Posen. Princa Bismarck, on February 22, presied the Kaiser to be firm and to yield nothing. The Crown Prince proceeded to the Palace soon after Prince Bismarck left, and told the Emperor he would resign his office as president of the Prussian Council of State if Prince Bis> marck's policy of opposition to the Pope were continued. The Crown Prince said: " It would be very unwise to arouse the hostility of the. Catholic delegates to the Reichstag, and now is the moment for moderation. Besides, Prince Bismarck, as he grows older, is getting more arrogant. ■5* Sf' fTr f w»fche »8«r complaisance to a sort of deflation that his admirers are preparing for him on the Ist of April —the occasion of his se?entieth birthday llfi*^* *£ tim? tbat all this factitious enthusiasm that the admirers-of Princa SJJu™*:" 1?" 8 aboat him Personally should be discouraged. Everybody, J fact, calls the Chancellor the re 2 sovereign of Prussia.". The Kaiser tokened m silenceto this spirited protest, but afterwards informed the Crown Prince rather coldly that he would think the matter ever carefully.