[20] Mary E. Townsend, _Origins of Modern German Colonialism_ (New York, 1921), Chapters V-VII; Prince Bismarck, _Reflections and Reminiscences_ (New York, 1899), Volume II, pp. 233 _et seq._ [21] For this letter, hitherto unpublished, I am indebted to Dr. Karl Helfferich, son-in-law of the late George von Siemens. [22] The italics are mine. [23] _Die grosse Politik der europäischen Kabinette, 1871–1914_ (Berlin, 1922 _et seq._), Volume VI, pp. 360–361. (A compilation of documents from the files of the Foreign Office, edited by a non-partisan commission appointed by the Government of the German Republic.) Of Bismarck’s policy in the Near East the Ex-Kaiser writes, “Bismarck spoke quite disdainfully of Turkey, of the men in high position there, and of conditions in that land.– I thought I might inspire him in part with essentially more favorable opinions, but my efforts were of little avail.... Prince Bismarck was never favorably inclined toward Turkey and never agreed with me in my Turkish policy.” W. von Hohenzollern, _My Memoirs, 1878–1918_ (New York, 1922), p. 27. [24] _Diplomatic and Consular Reports_, No. 2950 (1902), p. 20. [25] For information regarding the appointment of Baron Marschall to Constantinople the author is indebted to Dr. Arthur von Gwinner, who believes that the Baron was being sentenced to political exile when he was detailed to the Sublime Porte, but that his opponents overlooked the possibilities of the embassy at the Ottoman capital. Wile, _op. cit._, Chapter XVIII, gives a short biographical account of Baron Marschall. [26] _Cf._ E. Lamy, “La France du Levant: Voyage de l’Empereur Guillaume II,” in _Revue des deux mondes_, Volume 150 (1898), pp. 880–911, Volume 151 (1899), pp. 315–348; E. Lewin, _The German Road to the East_ (New York, 1917), pp. 105 _et seq._; C. S. Hurgronje, _The Holy War, Made in Germany_ (New York, 1915), pp. 70–71; _The All Highest Goes to Jerusalem_, being an English translation of a series of articles published in _Le Rire_ (Paris) during 1898 (New York, 1917). In Germany the royal pilgrimage was intended to be taken seriously. Herr Heine, of the Munich _Simplicissimus_, was convicted of _lèse majesté_ and imprisoned for six months for having published humorous cartoons of the Kaiser and his party on their travels. _The Annual Register_, 1898, pp. 255–258. [27] The author found some difference of opinion in Germany regarding the connection between the Kaiser’s visit and the pending Anatolian and Bagdad concessions. Dr. von Gwinner denies that there was any such purpose behind the Emperor’s trip to the East—or, at least, if there was, that it was unsolicited by the promoters and not looked upon with favor by them. Dr. Helfferich, on the other hand, is convinced that His Majesty was directly concerned with the desirability of obtaining additional railway concessions for German financiers. The Kaiser himself agrees with Dr. Helfferich. _Cf._, _My Memoirs, 1878–1918_, p. 86.