In the Algeciras Conference the outline of the great war was already visible. It is assuredly not pleasant to be forced to retreat politically, as we did in the Morocco matter, but Germany's policy subordinated everything to the great cause of preserving the peace of the world.
We tried to attain this end by courtesy, which was partially resented. I recall the journey of my mother, the Empress Frederick, to Paris. We expected a tolerably good reception, since she was an English Princess and went, as an artist, to be the guest of French art. Twice I visited the Empress Bugenie—once from Aldershot at her castle. of Fernborough, the other time aboard her yacht, in Norwegian waters, near Bergen. This was a piece of politeness that seemed to me perfectly natural, seeing that I happened to be very near her. When the French General Bonnal was in Berlin with several officers, these gentlemen dined with the Second Infantry Regiment. 'I was present and toasted the French Army—something that was still out of the ordinary, but was done with the best intentions. I brought French female and male artists. to Germany. All this sort of thing,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.