i24 PRINCE BttLOW AND HIS MEMOIRS

been formed at the triumphant elections of 1907 was broken,
and when the bill was rejected by a majority of eight the
Chancellor promptly resigned. Though the world was in-
formed that his retirement was the result of the hostile vote,
every one behind the scenes was aware that the defeat of the
inheritance tax was the occasion, not the cause, for he was not
responsible to the Reichstag. Much as he loved power he had
no wish to remain when his master was tired of him. Both
men, with the memory of 1890 in their minds, were glad of a
pretext which avoided the necessity of a spectacular breach.

The last chapter describes the parting. Bulow had accepted
the Foreign Office on board the Hoben^pllern in the harbour of
Kiel in June, 1897, and he surrendered the Chancellorship in
the same place in June, 1909. He found the monarch embar-
rassed and impatient, but not a word was said on either side of
the real cause of the separation. Some idea of the final con-
versation may be gathered from extracts from his report:

W. I have chosen Bethmann. I am sure you will agree. He
is true as gold.

B. He is the best man for domestic politics, but he knows
absolutely nothing of foreign affairs.

W. (laughing and gay). Leave foreign affairs to me. I have
learned something in your school. It will be all right.

B. I have two requests for Your Majesty, very serious and
very urgent.

W. (glancing impatiently at his wrist watch). Dear Bernhard,
I have really no time*

B. I am sorry. I will be brief. Try to reach a naval agree-
ment with England.

W. (very annoyed). Have I not told you often enough that
I allow no one to dictate to me about ship-building ? Every
such proposal is a humiliation for me and my navy.

B. How should our honour suffer if we willingly reach an
agreement with England which diminishes the danger of war ?

KF. (decisively). I do not believe in such a danger. And
what is your second request ?

B. Do not repeat the Bosnian action.

W. (suspiciously). But that was a triumph for you.

B. The situation' of kst winter will not recur.

W. So you think I must be careful in the Balkans ?

B. Yes, there even more than elsewhere. That is the danger-
point.

W. (looking at his watch again). I won't forget. You can