Bismarck and British Colonial Policy

The Problem of South West Africa 1883-1885

William Osgood Aydelotte

• Publisher: Borodino Books
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781789124644
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: 19th Century History
• Index: History

This book by American historian William O. Aydelotte deals with the first chapter in the history of the German colonial empire, the dispute between Germany and England over South West Africa during the years 1883-85."Since South West Africa was the first German colony, its history shows most clearly the reactions and readjustments both in British and German policy which were the consequence of the German colonial program. The incident also brings into relief several great political trends of the late nineteenth century: the growth of imperialism in Germany and in England, the conflict in the latter country between the different systems of colonial thought, the diplomatic problem of conducting negotiations between a democratic and an autocratic state, and the causes and results of these two different methods of diplomacy. Above all the story furnishes a superb illustration of Bismarck's diplomatic technique.Because of its special importance, the South West African controversy is treated in some detail. The attempt has been made to present not a general survey of the period but a description of specific events. At the same time, the German colonial question is closely bound up with other circumstances, and it has been necessary to go well outside the bare details of the negotiations in order to explain all the influences at work on British and German policy. For this reason a good deal of space has been given in the first two chapters to the colonial and political background in both England and Germany, and especially to the way in which this background affected the men in office in 1883-85. On the other hand, less attention has been given to those subjects which have been adequately discussed elsewhere. Full consideration has, however, been given to the Egyptian problem and the general diplomatic situation both in the narrative and in the conclusions."

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{1} The following correspondence, which is taken from the Private Granville MSS, will illustrate the stages of Count Herbert Bismarck’s first visits to London which are described in the text:

20 November 1881. Lord Ampthill to Lord Granville. Cipher telegram. G.D. 29/177.

“Personal, Private and Secret. I am told that Prince Bismarck has decided to send his eldest son as Second Secretary to the German Embassy in London and privately and personally hopes and flatters himself that it may be looked upon as a compliment by Your Lordship and by Her Majesty’s Government and also as an earnest desire to wipe out the painful impression made by the scandal which unfortunately occurred last summer at the German Embassy.”

26 November 1881, Lord Ampthill to Lord Granville. Private. G.D. 29/177.

“ . . On the 24th Prince Bismarck wrote me a private letter asking me as a personal favour to recommend his son Herbert ‘to Lord Granville’s benevolence,’—to which your telegram already received enabled me to give a prompt and welcome answer.

“Prince Bismarck adores this son, who is a remarkably clever youth, and hopes to make a great statesman of him....”

14 December 1881. Lord Granville to Lord Ampthill. Draft. Private. G-D, 29/206.

“You will approve of my hoping to take Herbert Bismarck out tomorrow to hunt the hare. I took him to another amusement yesterday—the meeting in Westminster Abbey where the Prince of Wales was civil to him and where I introduced him to several notabilities. All this non obstante an extract from a Berlin letter, sent to me by the Queen, describing him in very black colours....”

17 December 1881. Lord Ampthill to Lord Granville. Private. G.D. 29/177.

“Prince and Princess Bismarck are deeply touched (tief gerührt) by the very great kindness you are showing their son Herbert, and I feel convinced that you will reap the benefit of it politically in the future.

“The letter you allude to describing him in very black colours was anticipated by the astute father, who knowing full well that he and his family are not in odour of sanctity in high quarters, kept Herbert’s visit to England a secret at the Palace from all excepting the Emperor, until the Newspaper betrayed his arrival and called forth the letter communicated to you, after you had already been civil to him....”

24 December 1881. Lord Ampthill to Lord Granville. Private. G.D. 29/177.

“Your telegram about Herbert Bismarck has made his Father and Mother so happy that the Father in his delight over it confided to me that his son was so gifted and hard working that he would make a better Ambassador than Münster if he were not too young for the Emperor to appoint him to so important a post just yet,—meanwhile your most kind reception of him encouraged the Prince to appoint him first Secretary in London whenever Stumm could be promoted to an independent Post. He was profuse in thanks to you and Lady Granville and said that Herbert wrote that ‘you were the most amiable and fascinating Hosts he had ever met in his life.’ I quote his own words.”

31 December 1881. Lord Ampthill to Lord Granville. Private. G.D. 29/177.

“Herbert, who is enthusiastic about his visit to Walmer, leaves on Wednesday or Thursday next for England.

“Prince Bismarck, who is ambitious for his son’s advancement, is especially gratified by your condescension in talking politics with so young a man....

“I think you may find Herbert a useful channel to co...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• PREFACE
• ILLUSTRATIONS
• NOTE
• I-THE SITUATION IN ENGLAND
• II-BISMARCK OPENS THE NEGOTIATIONS
• III-THE BRITISH RECEPTION OF BISMARCK’S INQUIRIES
• IV-MUNSTER’S MISSION
• V-COUNT HERBERT BISMARCK’S MISSION
• VI-THE FINAL NEGOTIATIONS
• VII-CONCLUSION
• APPENDIX I-JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN AND THE MAJUBA CRISIS
• APPENDIX II-A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BRITISH BLUE BOOKS AND GERMAN WHITE BOOK ON SOUTH WEST AFRICA
• APPENDIX III-COUNT HERBERT BISMARCK
• APPENDIX IV-GLADSTONE’S POSITION ON THE GERMAN COLONIAL QUESTION
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER