Wilhelm II

“ If England is not in the minds of those Germans who are bent on creating a powerful fleet, why is Germany asked to consent to such new and heavy burdens of taxation? My answer is clear. Germany is a young and growing empire. She has a worldwide commerce which is rapidly expanding, and to which the legitimate ambition of patriotic Germans refuses to assign any bounds. Germany must have a powerful fleet to protect that commerce and her manifold interests in even the most distant seas. ”

“ May heaven comfort you in your grief and give you strength for your heavy duties, and may a long and peaceful reign give you the opportunity of looking after the welfare of your subjects. The sympathy and real grief at the so untimely end of your lamented father in my country will have shown you how strong the monarchical instinct is and how Germany feels for you and your subjects. ”

“ It is far from my intentions to disturb the confidence of the people in the stability of our Constitution by any attempts to extend the rights of the Crown. My existing prerogatives, as laid down by our Constitution, suffice to ensure the due measure of monarchical influence which Prussia requires, according to its historical development, its present composition, its position in the Empire, and the temperament and habits of its own people. ”

“ What has come over you that you are so completely given over to suspicions quite unworthy of a great nation? What more can I do than I have done? I declared with all the emphasis at my command, in my speech at Guildhall, that my heart is set upon peace, and that it is one of my dearest wishes to live on the best of terms with England. ”

“ For months past the enemy, with enormous exertions and almost without pause in the fighting, has stormed against your lines.
In weeks of the struggle, often without repose, you have had to persevere and resist a numerically far superior enemy. Therein lies the greatness of the task which has been set for you and which you are fulfilling. Troops of all the German States are doing their part and are heroically defending the Fatherland on foreign soil. Hard is the task. ”

“ The battle on the Aisne and in Champagne is not yet over, but all who fight and bleed there shall know that the whole of Germany will remember their deeds, and is at one with them to carry through the fight for existence to a victorious end. ”

“ Germany is in no need of fresh military glory, nor does she require any new conquests, for she has already obtained once for all, on the field of battle, the right to exist as an united and independent nation. ”

“ For when the German has once learned to direct his glance upon what is distant and great, the pettiness which surrounds him in daily life on all sides will disappear. Whoever wishes to have this larger and freer outlook can find no better place than one of the Hanseatic cities....we are now making efforts to do what, in the old time, the Hanseatic cities could not accomplish, because they lacked the vivifying and protecting power of the empire. ”

“ I shall certainly do all in my power to keep Europe quiet and also guard the rear or Russia so that nobody shall hamper your action towards the Far East! For that is clearly the great task of the future for Russia to cultivate the Asian Continent and to defend Europe from the inroads of the Great Yellow race. ”

“ Exulting in his strength, he soars in the air in the rays of God's sun; he knows naught of fear or danger. Such should be your ambition and all your aims. You are entering now upon a period in the course of which you will, at times, experience difficulty in carrying out the duties which are imposed on you by the service, and there may be hours in which you will feel that you are unequal to your tasks. ”

“ I do not for one moment doubt that the officers and men of the Prussian Regiment of the 1st Dragoon Guards, The Queen of England's Own, are conscious of the high honour which has been bestowed upon them, and that they will at all times make every effort to continue to be worthy of it. ”

“ Yet, one thing these letters disclose without any doubt: never has the KAISER occupied himself with schemes of attack, with preparations for the world war. The dominating thought in every instance is how to assure peace. That he wanted to see Germany and Russia as the center of the league which was to guarantee peace, needs no defense. For he had to transact German, not French or English politics. ”

“ Our Navy is, to the outward eye, but small, but what makes us stronger than other navies is discipline and strict obedience to superiors. These principles will help our Navy to prosper and become great in times of peace, so that it may promote the welfare of the country, and, let us pray God, destroy the enemy in war. ”

“ In matters of finance I hold fast to the old Prussian traditions, which laid the foundation of the prosperity of our country, and enabled the State to meet its obligations even in times of distress and difficulty. I am able to look with satisfaction upon the financial position of the State, as I find it on my accession, thanks to the care of my ancestors on the throne. This favourable position of the Budget of the State has permitted me to make a successful beginning with the relief of taxation of the Communes and the less wealthy classes of the community. ”

“ In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts, that our industry and agriculture may develop within the state and our sailing sports upon the water, for our future lies upon the water. ”

“ Russia he might weaken and cajole; France he thought to subdue; Austria-Hungary was obedient; Italy might be persuaded; and as for the smaller nations, his foot would be on their necks. But what of the British Empire? Supreme on all seas, owning one-fifth of the habitable globe, peaceable until attacked, but when attacked indomitably stubborn, the English would never consent to an European hegemony. They might be deceived for a time; but ultimately, it seems, they must be vanquished. Now and again, in the course of the letters, that conviction of the GERMAN EMPEROR is vividly revealed. ”

“ I expect of them that until the re-establishment of order in the German Empire they shall render assistance to those in actual power in Germany, in protecting the German people from the threatening dangers of anarchy, famine, and foreign rule. ”

“ The passage of the new legislation affords a proof that the conception of the dignity of self-government has passed into the living consciousness of the people, and that the requisite resources have been readily placed at the service of the public welfare. ”

“ Russia was the leading power in the common action of Germany, France and Russia against Japan; no instigation from Germany was needed to make Russia discover her interests in eastern Asia and stand up for them with increasing obstinacy. If the KAISER, in language rich with enthusiasm, extolled the CZAR as the author of these new political tendencies, we might well find in this fact a hope for deliverance from the nightmare which Russia had constituted for Europe, as well as a hope for common advantages, as is clearly shown by the wish expressed for a German coaling station in the orient. ”

“ Some villages and even the old town of Loewen, excepting the fine hotel de ville, had to be destroyed in self-defence and for the protection of my troops. My heart bleeds when I see that such measures have become unavoidable and when I think of the numerous innocent people who lose their home and property as a consequence of the barbarous behaviour of those criminals. ”

“ As head of the Empire I therefore rejoice over every citizen, whether from Hamburg, Bremen, or Lübeck, who goes forth with this large outlook and seeks new points where we can drive in the nail on which to hang our armor. ”

“ Gentlemen, at the close of a legislative period you can look back with satisfaction at the important results which have been secured, thanks to your harmonious co-operation with the Government. On looking back at the past I feel confident that for the future, too, we shall succeed by our common labours, supported by mutual confidence and undisturbed by differences of opinion on any points of fundamental importance in promoting the prosperity of the country. ”

“ Both countries are anxious to hold fast to the blessings of peace, so that they may be able to work undisturbed for the consolidation of their newly won unity, the development of their national institutions, and the promotion of their welfare. ”

“ He will guarantee that Western frontier; in plain language, he will not attack Russia when she can no longer defend herself but at a price, and that price is a Commercial Treaty. Now there are treaties and treaties, but this particular Treaty was, in fact, a Treaty of Exploitation -- of such exploitation, indeed, that no country -- at least no country not a Free Trade country -- would have submitted to it unless under compulsion. Russia was greatly dependent upon the German market for the sale of her corn, and in 1902 Germany had raised the duty on Russian corn from 43 to 78 per cent. ”

“ Just at the time of your Black Week, in the December of 1899, when disasters followed one another in rapid succession, I received a letter from Queen Victoria, my revered grandmother, written in sorrow and affliction, and bearing manifest traces of the anxieties which were preying upon her mind and health. ”