The measure of the anxiety which was felt at that time in business and financial circles all over the world may be gauged by reading the following letter from Ballin to the Secretary of State, Herr v. Kiderlen-Wächter, in which it is necessary to read between the lines here and there.
"Baron Leopold de Rothschild has just sent me a wire from London in which he says that, on the strength of information he has received from the Paris Rothschilds, people there are greatly disappointed to see that the German answer--the details of which are still unknown there--leaves some important questions still unsolved. Public sentiment in the French capital, he says, is beginning to get excited, and it would be to the interest of everybody to settle matters as speedily as possible.
"I felt it my duty to draw your attention to this statement, and you may take it for what it is worth.
"I need not tell your Excellency that people here and, I suppose, all over Germany, are watching the progress of events with growing anxiety. In this respect, therefore, the desires of the German people seem identical with those of the French.
"It would also be presumptuous on my part to speak to your Excellency about the feeling in England and the British armaments, as the information you derive from your official sources is bound to be better still than that which I can obtain through my connexions.
"With best wishes for a successful solution of this difficult and important problem, I have the honour to remain,
"Your Excellency's most obedient servant, (_Signed_) BALLIN."
A most interesting document, and one which casts a clear sidelight on the divergence of opinion held in Germany and Great Britain, and on the chances of arriving at an agreement, is an article which dates from the latter part of 1911.
This article deals with the Anglo-German controversy and was published by the _Westminster Gazette_. It was sent to Ballin by an English friend with the remark that it presented a faithful picture of the views on foreign affairs held by the great majority of British Liberals. Ballin forwarded it to Berlin for the Kaiser's information, with a note saying that he had received it from one of the most level-headed Englishmen he had ever met. It was subsequently returned to him, with the addition of a number of marginal notes and a lengthy paragraph at its close, all written in the Kaiser's own handwriting. The numerous underlinings, too, are the Kaiser's own work. On account of its historical interest a facsimile reproduction of this article is inserted at the end of the book. The following is a translation of the Kaiser's criticism at the conclusion of the article: