POLITICAL ACTIVITY. 251 



requisite for attaining their ends, as well as befitting 

 the dignity of the House, to grant the desired indemnity 

 only on very far-reaching conditions. This in the then 

 political situation was an extremely dangerous pro- 

 ceeding, which seriously threatened the internal peace, 

 and might again imperil all the achievements of the 

 glorious victories of the Prussian army. I had, soon 

 after the conclusion of peace and before the convocation 

 of the Diet, stopped some time in Paris, and had 

 opportunity to become acquainted with the feeling of 

 the masses, as well as of the leading circles. It was 



' O 



there considered as altogether beyond question that 

 France could not suffer without very considerable 

 compensation the powerful position acquired by Prussia 

 at the head of North Germany and as leader of all 

 Germany, and must break it down, if necessary, by 

 force. From a thoroughly reliable source I learnt 

 that the reason, why France had hitherto put a good 

 face on a bad business, was merely because the Mexican 

 war had disorganized the army and in particular 

 exhausted the stores . but that warlike preparations 

 were proceeding at a great pace, and in the meantime 

 a prolongation of the internal conflict in Prussia was 

 being reckoned upon. 



^/ On my return to Berlin I found the Chamber of 

 Deputies already assembled and the indemnity question 

 being hotly debated within the parties. Unfortunately 

 a large number of the parliamentary leaders not be- 

 longing to the Waldeck party, in the fixed expectation 

 that this group would carry the day at any rate in the 



