76 / 194
SIGNEDWHILE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF BRITISH ARMY
109
●
WELLINGTON, ARTHUR WELLESLEY; 1ST DUKE. Fragment of a partly-
printed Document Signed, “Wellington,” as Master General of the Ordnance, probably a
commission, including only the lower portion. Countersigned by FitzRoy Somerset. 5x9
1
/
2
inches; minor scattered soiling, folds.
[London], 27 February 1827
[150/250]
KAISER COMMENTS ON BRITISH ARTICLE
ABOUT GERMAN-BRITISH RELATIONS
110
●
WILHELM II; EMPEROR OF GERMANY. Clipped article from the London
Westminster Gazette
with several holograph underlines and annotations, and a 14-line
Autograph Note Signed, “Wilhelm R,” as Emperor, to Hamburg-American Line General
Director Albert Ballin, in German, in pencil.The article, pasted by Ballin in three sections
to pages 2-4 of folded “Hamburg-America Line” stationery and sent to the Emperor, enti-
tled “The Foundations of British Policy” [December 20, 1911]. Several phrases have been
underlined throughout, in red crayon, some with remarks written in the margin, in English
or German, in pencil or red crayon.
Pasted to first page is a letter to Ballin
from a British friend sending the arti-
cle, stating that “the ‘Westminster’
expresses the great majority of liberal
opinion in this country on matters of
foreign policy.” The Emperor’s note to
Ballin, written in the lower margin of
the terminal page, ridiculing the arti-
cle’s characterization of Germany’s role
in central Europe and the British the-
ory of the balance of power. 4 pages,
folio; faint scattered soiling, fixative
applied to pencil inscriptions.
Np, 30 December 1911
[800/1,200]
“
Quite good, except for the ludicrous idea
that we are striving for hegemony in
Central Europe! And that other, smaller
states should take their lead from us . . . ,
especially if they are from the same stock, is
perfectly natural. The English don’t want
that, because it would totally debunk their
‘balance of power’ theory and create a
united continent. . . . We Hohenzollerns
have never pursued such ambitious and
nebulous goals! And God willing, we never
will!”