Bismarck : $b some secret pages of his history (Vol. 2 of 3). Being a diary kept by Dr. Moritz Busch during twenty-five years' official and private intercourse with the great ChancellorBusch, Moritz
History
Bismarck : $b some secret pages of his history (Vol. 2 of 3). Being a diary kept by Dr. Moritz Busch during twenty-five years' official and private intercourse with the great Chancellor
Busch, Moritz
Bismarck, Otto, Fürst von, 1815-1898
_May 24th._--To-day read and noted down the draft of a despatch by
the Chief respecting the International, and joint action on the part
of the Governments against this organisation of the Socialist party.
This is to be utilised in the press. The despatch is dated the 7th
instant, and is addressed to Schweinitz in Vienna. Drafted at first by
Abeken, the Chancellor struck out all but eight or ten lines, and then
completed it in his own hand. Thus transformed it reads as follows:
“The events that have occurred in Paris during the last few weeks
and days, have disclosed in the most unmistakable fashion the common
organisation of the Socialistic elements in European countries, and
the dangers with which the State is threatened by that organisation.
In Germany the influence of the Communistic working class associations
is evident in the large centres of industry in our western provinces,
and particularly in the manufacturing districts of Saxony. Herr Bebel,
a member of Parliament, who is said to receive pecuniary support
for his agitation from the funds of the late King of Hanover, has
in the Reichstag given open expression to the criminal intentions
of his party. Certain symptoms would go to show that in Austria,
and indeed in Vienna itself, this agitation is making way among the
workers. If your Excellency considers that the desire, and indeed the
necessity, of opposing these movements of disaffection is felt by the
Imperial Austro-Hungarian Government, please initiate a confidential
discussion of ways and means. In my opinion, the first step would be an
exchange of views respecting the extent and direction of the Socialist
organisation, and the recognition of the principle that Socialist
menaces to life and property, such as have been carried into execution
in Paris, belong to the category of ordinary crime, and not to that of
political offences.”
I here add the contents of some other documents on the same subject
received and despatched later.
Writing on the 3rd of June, R. reported that the Emperor Alexander
said to him that he intended to discuss with the Emperor William and
the Chief the question of the means by which the European monarchies
could be protected from the Socialist danger, and in particular from
the International. In his opinion all the Governments of Europe should
unite and assist one another in the struggle against this enemy. The
Emperor will have a memorial on the subject drawn up by the Minister
of Justice, in which, in particular, evidence will be adduced with the
object of proving that the members of these Socialistic associations
should be treated, not as political offenders, but as ordinary
criminals.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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