Powers believe that we are not able to do so. The true reason, however, will be known at a future time. One of its consequences will be to lead to a restriction of personal rule.” In the evening I telegraphed to London that the Reichstag had voted another hundred million thalers for the continuation of the war with France, eight social democrats alone opposing the grant. Also that Manteuffel has occupied Amiens. Several paragraphs were afterwards written for the _Norddeutsche_, including one (on the directions of the Chief) in which the moderate demands of the Chancellor in the negotiations with Bavaria were defended as being not only right and fair, but also wise and prudent. I said that the object was not so much to secure this or that desirable concession from the authorities at Munich as to make the South German States feel satisfied in forming part of the new organisation of united Germany. Any pressure or coercion for the purpose of obtaining further concessions would, in view of the circumstance that they had fulfilled their patriotic duty, be an act of ingratitude; while, in addition, it would have been, above all things, impolitic to show ourselves more exacting in our demands upon our allies. The discontent which would have resulted from such an exercise of force would have far outweighed half a dozen more favourable clauses in the Treaty. That discontent would soon have shown the neutral Powers, such as Austria, where to insert the thin edge of the wedge in order to loosen and ultimately destroy the unity which had been achieved. At dinner I suggested to Bucher that it might be well to ask the Chief’s leave to hint in the press at the real cause of the postponement of the bombardment. He agreed with me that it would, and added: “I myself have already vehemently attacked Augusta in the newspapers.” On the Chancellor sending for me in the evening, I said: “May I venture to ask your Excellency a question? Would you have any objection if I made a communication, in an indirect way, to non-official organs respecting the causes of the postponement of the bombardment, in the sense in which they have repeatedly been discussed at table?” He reflected for a moment, and then said, “Do as you like.” I accordingly wrote two paragraphs--one for the _Vossische Zeitung_, and one for the _Weser Zeitung_, which I had copied out by another hand in Berlin, and forwarded to their destination. One of these paragraphs ran as follows:--