f^rr 



Mr. Bancroft. ^11 



Germany predicted a near rupture, he said that if a war should 

 occur between the two countries the United States would cer- 

 tainly side with Germany. 



Such words from the lips of administer could not fail to cre- 

 ate some sensation ; the French minister in Berlin reported 

 them to Paris, and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Napo- 

 leon expressed his astonishment to General Dix, then minis- 

 ter in Paris, who was still more astonished. He wrote a friendly 

 letter to Mr. Bancroft, which was answered rudely. The in- 

 cautious words spoken in his cups by the old man were reported 

 to Washington and created a diplomatic ebullition. How 

 Baron Gerolt was mixed up in this affair I do not know, and how 

 he displeased Mr. Bancroft neither, but the latter had a grudge 

 against him, and avenged himself in a manner speaking by no 

 means well for the character of that minister, and which can- 

 not be patched up by all the laudatory articles in certain Ger- 

 man papers. 



When the war between Germany and France broke out in 

 1870, Baron Gerolt was very much astonished by a letter from 

 Mr. von Thile, who replaced Count Bismarck during his ab- 

 sence from Berlin. He was warfted to be more cautious in 

 his expressions and behaviour than heretofore, as Mr. Ban- 

 croft had complained of his comporting himself in a manner 

 likely to produce bad feelings between Germans and Ameri- 

 cans. 



As this utterly unfounded denunciation had not the desired 

 effect, Mr. Bancroft repeated his accusation against ' his friend ' 

 the Baron in still stronger terms, adding that he tried to in- 

 duce American subjects to enlist in the Prussic-yi army. Though 

 the latter part of his denunciation must have appeared ridicu- 

 lous to Count Bismarck, this minister had some confidence in 

 Mr. Bancroft's veracity and honour, and wrote to Baron Gerolt 

 a rather sharp letter, ending with the threat that, if he did not 

 me rid his ways, the Count would be obliged to request his 

 Majesty to call Baron Gerolt to Berlin to defend himself 



This cruel letter mortified the old gentleman very much, 

 and caused him to give in his resignation. The speech which 

 President Grant made on his leave-taking, in which he flatly 

 contradicted the base falsehoods communicated by his minis- 

 ter to the Prussian Premier, and also the sentiments which were 

 expressed in regard to his doings at a dinner given in his hon- 



