Emperor Frederick's Diary. Publication of Extracts. London, September 28.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 314, 7 November 1888, Page 5

Emperor Frederick's Diary. Publication of Extracts. London, September 28.

Nov. 14. — Conversation wibh Bismarck about the German question, which h 8 would like to see decided, but will shrug his shoulders. He explains all difficulties by asking what should be done with the South Germans, and whether I wished thorn to be threatened. I reply, " Jet icohl ; there would be no danger in doing that ; let us act firmly and imperiously, and you willsee lam right in asserting you have not yeb any proper consciousness of your power. " Bismarck would hear nothing whatever of the threats, all the more as such a course would throw these States into the amis of Austria. Thus, on assuming office in 1882, he had done so with a firm resolve to bring about a war between Prussia and Austria, but took very good care not to speak about the design at that time to his Majesty, or otherwise, bofore he deemed the proper time ooine for doing so. Similarly, the developmont of the German question must be lefo to time. I replied that, as representing the future, I could not view such delay with indifference, arguing that it would not be necessary to use force, and that we could quietly wait and watch whether Bavaria and Wuvtemburg ventured to gain Austria. Nothing was easier, 1 argued, than to have the Kaiser proclaimed by a majority of the Gorman sovereigns now gathered here, and also to procure their approval of a constitution, with a supreme head, answering to the just demands of the German people. Such result would be pressure which the Kings Of South Germany would not resist. Bismarck rejoined that "I stood alone with these views, and that, in order to gain the wished for goal, it would be better to let the Reichstag take the initiative. On my referring to the sentiments of Baden, Olden berg, Weimar, and Coburg. he defended himself by referring to the will of the King. I answered that I knew very well his opposition was alone sufficient to make such a scheme as this impossible of acceptance by his Majesty, to which he replied I was reproaching him, andthatheknew quite well other persons who deserved this ; and then again, I must in political questions, he said, take in bo account the greatindependenee of the King himself. He regretted that the question of the Kaiser and of the Upper House had been discussed at all, as offence had thus been given to Bavaria and Wurtemburg, I said that it was Dalwigk who had broached it. Bismarck averred that my opinions thus expressed would only prove hurtful, saying that a Crown Prince should not give vent to views of this kind at all. I at once protested in a most emphatic manner against my mouth being closed in this way, especially as in a question thus affecting the future I felt bound to leave no one in doubt as to my opinion in particular ; besides which it lay with "his 'Majesty alone to instruct me as to matters which I was free to discuss or not, even if it were assumed 1 was not old enough to judge for myself. Bismarck said that if the Crown Prince commanded he would act in accordance with his views. I again protested against this, as I had no commands to give him, whereupon he declared that for his part he would be very glad to make way ior any other person whom I might deem more competent than him to ronduct affairs, but that until then he must act upon his own principles to the best of his ability and knowledge of all the determining circumstances. We then went on to speak of the delay in questions, and I had perhaps spoken in an animated manner, but I could not be expected to remain indifferent. January 8 : His Majesty invites Bismarck and me to advise as to the insignia of the Kaiser and the Reichstag. January 12 : I point out to the King that Schleinitz, master of ceremonies, must be heard upon the subject. He replied that he sees in the Kaiser only the reconstruction of the Presidential*}" of the Bund, and would most prefer to call himself "King of Prussia, elected Emperor by Germany." Herein I should detect a distinct insult both to the princes and the people. January 17: Afternoon with the King. The sitting was composed of Bismarck, Schleinitz, and me, lasting three hours in an overheated room, about the title of the succession to the Throne, &c. While dismissing the title, Bismarck confesses that previously, at the discussion on the constitution, the Bavarian plenipotentiaries refused to allow the title Emperor of Germany, and that, finally, to please them he agreed to the designation German Emperor. This displeased the King as it did me, but in vain Bi3marck tried to prove that the Emperor of Germany implied territorial power which he did not at all wield over the empire, while German Emperor was the natural sequel of " Imperator Romanus." U T e had to give in, however, in ordinary parlance. Then there is a, long debate about the relations of the Emperor to King, because his Majesty, contrary to old Prussian tiaditions, places Emperor higher than King of Prussia. Both Ministers and I contradicted this theory by referring to the archives, according to which Frederick 1., when recognising the Czar as Emperor, distinctly declared that he (the Czar) would never have precedence of King of Prussia. When I referred to the history of our house, the King replied : "My son is devoted to the new state of things with his whole soul, while I do not care about it, and hold only to Prussia. I say that he and his successors will be called to make the Empire now established a reality." January : My task and that of my wife has now become doubly difficult ; but I take it all the more as I speak from no difficulties, and as I am well conscious that I do nob want for steady courage fearlessly and perseveringly to face the work awaiting me. lam convinced that it was no vain dispensation which repeatedly called upon me to form important resolutions, and also to carry them oub in the face of danger. The long deferred hopes and our forefathers' dreams are fulfilled.

The wind-up of the county cricket season in England brings out the large proportion of Surrey's victories ; the fact that 234 was fche highest innings hit against Kent ; that Nottinghamshire not only played the lowest innings of the year, but had, if we may use the expression, the worst best innings ; and that Sussex was the only team which did not some time or other dismiss its opponents for lees than 100 run*. The aggregate tables show, farther, that Surrey's battiner was far stronger than that of any other team, and that the Surrey' bowling was also the best, but that here Kent ran the champion county pretty 2loso, and, in fact, Kent owes its position almost entirely to the improvement in its bowling. Surrey's batting is so consistently good that seven of the team average over twenty runs an_ innings ; while the performance of Lohmanh, in taking 142 wickets for less than 9 runs each, is so magnificent as to challenge comparison, with any cricketing feat in the history of the game.