The Complete Diaries of Theodor Herzl (Volumes 1 - 5) [3]

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The Complete

Diaries

o f Theodor Herzl

: RRS A E NR A R Read CSTERY

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The Complete Dares o f HERZL

THEODOR Edited by

Raphael Patai Translated by

HARRY Z O H N

V O L U M E 111

THE

HERZL

THOMAS

N e w York

PRESS YOSELOFF

London

©

1960

by The Theodor Herzl Foundation, Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 60-8594 Thomas Yoseloff, Publisher 1 1 East 36th Street New York 16, N.Y.

Thomas Yoseloff Ltd. 1 2 3 New Bond Street London W . 1 , England

Printe d i n the U n i t e d States o f Amer ica

Conten ts Volume III Page

Book Seven

April 25, 1899—]June 1 7 , 19oo

829

Book Eight June 18, 19o0-May 9,

1901

96s,

Book Nine May g, 1901-February

11,

1902

1099

Book Ten February

1 3 , 1902—-April

4,

1902

121%

Book Seven Begun o n April 25, 1899

o n the train near Coblenz

O n the way back from Cologne t o Vienna

April 25, o n t h e train

I had told Kann and Heymann t o join me a t Wolffsohn'’s i n Cologne i n order t o discuss the eventualities of the subscription to the J.C.T., which ends on the 28th of the month. Day before yesterday we m e t in Cologne. For 24 hours, interrupted only b y sleep, we discussed a l l matters affecting the Bank.

According t o our estimate the subscription probably won't yield more than 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 shares, 3/4 o f which falls to Russia. Question is

whether under such circumstances we can proceed with the allotm e n t*. I told the gentlemen with rudesse [rudely] that now i t would be demonstrated whether they were the suitable co-workers. Kann immediately said, “ N o . ”

Yesterday Heymann surprised us with the a n n o u n c e m e n t that he had to resign as a director because h e was going to South Africa

for three months. After his return he intended t o resume his post. I advised h i m t o forego handing i n his resignation and having it declined by the administrative board; during the period i n which the letters w e n t back and forth he would be free from any responsibility, about which he seemed t o be reluctant; and after his return he could s t i l l b e taken back o n the board of directors* without a

new election. H e said he would have t o discuss this w i t h his lawyer first. After a lot o f pointless, intricate back-and-forth, i t appeared that

the gentleman would proceed w i t h the allotment* i n any case. T h e shares needed t o make 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 are t o be subscribed b y a syndicate which will be formed by Wolffsohn. As a n interlude, which I presented as a matter expressly to b e kept separate from the J . C . T . and the movement, I described for

the three gentlemen a plan for the acquisition of a newspaper. This would require a war chest of 5 0 0 thousand guilders. W i t h this money and a declaration of intention t o found a rival paper, i n my opinion the majority of the newspaper shares could be bought o n ®

I n English i n the original.

831

832 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HEgg;

the basis of a ten-per-cent capitalization. Heymann, who would have the money for it, looked scornful and declined under pretexts Kann and Wolffsohn don’t have the money. I n order to raise it, i

would be necessary t o confide i n bankers. This would take the lid off the whole thing and make i t impossib le. Noth ing, then!

Never was a more difficult task undertake n with more inage. quate means. I am going back deeply depressed. Tomorrow I

shall once again have t o m a k e post-facto excuses to

my “chiefs” for the trip I made without previously requesting leave. Who knows how much longer they will put u p with such escapades? The movement requires continual déplacements [absences]; and there is n o doubt that the N . Fr. Pr. could dismiss m e for non-fulfillment o f m y duties a t t h e office, “ w i t h a l l d u e respect for m y differ-

ences of opinion.” This wretched collision with duty tires, u n nerves, and wears me out more than anything else. *

¥*

*

Prior t o my departure I received a letter from Danusso i n which he requests a memorandum for Artin and Tahsin, t o be submitted t o the Sultan.

Kellner writes from Paris that he has won Sir Ashmead Bartlett, the English friend of the Sultan’s, for our cause. Sir Ashmead Bartlett, M.P., is willing to intercede, b u t w e w o u l d have to offer

procure for the Sultan a loan of a t least a m i l l i o n pounds, for the time being, since the financial troubles are pressing ones.

to

%

*

*

From one of the next stations I w i l l send Leon Kellner the

following wire: Kellne r, c / o J. Kaufm an, 2 r u e des Diguiéres, Paris.

Will be in Vienna tomorrow morning. Would like t o speak Ellis for few minutes when he passes through the Westbahnhof.

Go t o Gare Est this evening, see i f he travels Orient Express, and notify him orally.

OF THEODOR HERZL T H E CO MP LE TE DI AR IES Expecting wir ed rep ly Vie nna . ik

*

833

%*

Als o, t o Wo lffs ohn :

nna whe the r Sir Elli s Inq uire ton ight a t sleeping-car Lon don -Vie Ashmead Bar tlet t of Lon don aboard. |

Expecting your wired reply home tomorrow mor

ning . Regards.

Ben jami n. Apri l 28, Vien na

The red-letter day. Will the minim um for the Bank be raised? I doubt it. *

%*

%*

Wrote t o Wolffsohn today and asked if i t would be possible t o raise 2 0 , 0 0 0 guilders, which would be a one year's subven tion placing the Wiener Tageblatt a t our disposal. I would make YorkSteiner the editor. ¥%

*

*

Konried and Miinz, contributors t o the Neues Wiener Tageblatt, are now soliciting the Correspondance de | ’Est which I am supporting. As M m e de Newlinski informs me, they would like t o continue the journal with the aid of subsidies from the Turkish government and from banks. Thus, send i t through the blackmail.*

I am supposed t o speak with them and sound them out.

April 28 Letter to Sir Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, M.P., British Post Office,

Constantinople: * * Translator’s Note: Herzl's p u n (auf der eigenen Erpresse drucken) involves a combination of the words for “press” and “extortion. ” *#®

Original text.

834 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7|

Dear Sir, Professor Kellner writes me, that h e had the pleasure of explain-

ing t o you the aims of our Zionist movement, and that you were kind enough t o take an interest i n i t . I should write you an “ex.

posé” on the subject, but I am n o t able t o do that i n good English, and I would not p u t such a delicate matter i n t o the hands of a trans. lator. T h e thing may however b e told i n a few words. T h e Zion. ists are the representatives of the scattered Jewish People. They

would reestablish their unfortunate brethren in Palestine under the Suzerainty of H . M . the Sultan, and under a sufficient guarantee of public right. The Turkish Government could, by coming to an agreement with the Zionists, regenerate the finances of the Empire. For that purpose we have founded a new Bank with a Capital of 2 Million Pounds Sterling. O u r Bank is to b e the financial instrument of our aims and the agent for procuring loans etc. for the Turkish government. I am ready t o explain the matter t o H.M. the Sultan. I t is easy to understand, that a capital o f two millions is not suffi

cient t o carry out such a great plan. I t is merely the first step. The next would be to form a large Land-Company with a capital of ten, and more, million pounds.

All 1s prepared by me t o make of that undertaking an enormous success, once the Sultan accepts m y preliminary propositions. I have the intention to come to Constantinople within the near future.

With the personal and material means a t the disposal of our people we should be able t o construct, i n a very short time, railways, harbours, a whole new culture. Christian fellow-workers will be welcome. The work is great enough for many energies. Believe me, dear Sir, Yours faithfu lly T h . Herzl. *

*

%

Letter to Artin Pasha, to b e transmitted b y Danusso:* * I n French i n the origin al.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 835 April 28, 1899 Your Excell ency: Permit m e to introduce myself to you b y recalling the memory of the lamented M . de Newlinski . H e was a devoted servant o f H . M . the Sultan a n d a sincere friend t o Turkey. I t was this devo-

tion which was the source of his reasons for being a zealous propagator of Zionism, o f which I have for some time been the h u m b l e

representative. The purpose of Zionism is t o create a lasting and legally assured refuge for our unfortunate, persecuted brethren i n various countries. We should like this refuge t o be Palestine, i f there is a possibility of obtaining His Majesty's permission. The Jewish colonists will be faithful and devoted subjects of H . M . , who, I believe, has never had reason t o be anything b u t proud of his Jewish subjects. They will pay taxes through new organizations which w i l l have t o be created in the country. They will increase, together with their own well-being, the resources of that province of H . M . and of the whole Empire. For our part, we shall provide H.M.’s government with loans under conditions still t o be worked o u t , b u t which will certain ly be able t o raise u p to several hundre ds of million s of francs. What we wish t o obtain i n r e t u r n for these sacrifices and services is simply lasting securi ty and a legal guara ntee to work i n peace for o u r poor,

persecuted masses. We have discussed our plans and projects openly and loya lly i n t w o publ ic congresses held i n Basel, and i n orde r t o avoi d a l l Imisunderstanding, we have taken care each time t o beg in o u r deliberations by layin g our respectful homage a t the foot of H . M . the Sultan’s throne. The financial assistance that we wish t o pro vide for Tur key , i f

she makes us welcome, wil l certainly n o t be lim ited

and loans. Its entire financial situa tion can be p u t i n orde r with our cooperation. You wil l have t o ret ire the pub lic deb t and once mo re freely t o taxe s

836 T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL enjoy your O w n assets and Tesources. That will take Perhaps a fey years of circumspect and determined labor, b u t we will be fully

successful. This task would require absolute secrecy and mutual confi dence, because your enemies will not want Turkey to rise again

and once more become materially independent. Everything wil] be

done t o thwart our beneficent undertaking, if i t is n o t carried o y with the utmost caut ion and skill I shall only call to your Excellency’s attention that every time financial assistance has been promised o r provided to Turkey it was done b y those who exacted usurious interest rates, subjected

you t o foreign management, and went away having impoverished the country still further. With us i t is the other way round. The

conditions under which you will obtain the money are reasonable ones. We offer you freedom from foreign control. And, last of all,

these are not people who want t o desert you, t o abandon you, but who wish to unite their destiny with yours. T o carry out our financial plans we have just established the

Jewish Colonial Trust in London. I t will serve as an intermediary i n the initial transactions. For the future w e have laid the ground-

work for establishing the major companies that w i l l be necessary. We can go n o farther at present as long as we d o not know whether an agreement is feasible o r whether w e will have t o direct our plans

toward another territory. I f His Majesty the Sultan would d o m e the honor of granting me an audience, I would come to Constantinople with all speed to

place my homage a t the foot of his throne, reply respectfully t o any objections that H.M., i n his lofty wisdom, might see fit t o make, and finally t o supply all desired explanations and proofs.

My numerous occupations would n o t allow me t o go t o Con: stantinople unless the audience were previously arranged. Kindly accept, Your Excellency, my highest regards.

Yours faithfully, Dr. Th. H .

L 837 T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z May 23 L e ressort se fatigue [The well is runni ng dry]. I can see i t best by the gaps i n the entries. Noth ing since April 28. Yet quite a numbe r of things happened during this period . New arrangements, obstacles, especially emana ting from the deficien t J.C.T. Howev er, I believe that the other people aren’t any smarter . and keener than our people of the J . CT. The meetings of the Board of Directors i n London and elsewhere always run along without any results, and afterwards the gentlemen run off comme si de rien n’était [as i f nothing had happened]. |

*

¥*

%*

I have carried through t w o matters. 1 . The liquidation of the Newlinski affair. I n the interest of the widow I am transforming the Correspondance de l'Est into a French-language daily. I t will be headed by Kozmian, and I believe that in this way he will be kept attached t o our cause. H i s M a n Friday will b e a French teacher, M . Bresse, w h o introduced himself t o

me as a Zionist quite some time ago. I f the paper turns o u t well, the widow will be provided for. The funds for the change-over will be contributed by us. She will continue t o draw her husband's subsidy. 6 0 0 guilders a month for the production costs. B y the end o f

the year the paper, t o which I gave the name Petit Journal de Vienne, must pay its own way. 2 . Baroness Suttner wrote me, asking me t o persuade the Neue Freie Presse t o send her t o the Peace Conference at T h e Hague

with a “partial subsidy” of

1000

guilders. The publishers refused.

So I offered her 1 0 0 0 guilders t o go there o n behalf of the Welt. She was t o interview the chief figures at the Conference o n the subject of Zionism. She accepted. I n this way we shall have brought Zionism t o the attention of assembled Europe without irTitating Turkey or infringin g on her rights. I will go to the Hague myself i n June and try t o meet the peace people a t the Suttner salon.

838 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERy May

23

Yesterday, however, the A.C. decided that I should go to C g , stantinople first. I have t o go t o London, too. I t will again be squandering my nervous strength i f I am t o go t o Constantinople i n June, from there t o The Hague, and then t o London t o restore

order in the Bank and revive the dormant subscription. Fighting conferences everywhere, i n London a stand. speech*! Very exhausting!

May 24 Wolffsohn and Kann are here. According t o their reports, the minimum for the J.C.T. is assured at last. T o b e sure, Lourié is

contributing 175 thousand to i t . T h e allotment* is expected t o ward the end of June. B u t who can tell about that, with the busi.

ness dragging on like this? I am now concentrating on the creation of the journalistic organ on which I have been working for a good long time. Difficulty is the nervus rerum [keynote]. 5 0 0 thousand essential, i n shares of 50 each. I have worked o u t a memorandum for Rosenbaum. The

clou [crux] in i t is the subsequent co-operative basis. Share certifi cates at

100

guilders, with the privilege o f receiving a free copy and

dividends. I don’t know whether I shall carry this through, what with the lack of qualified assistants. B u t i t is surely an idea of the coming century. This is the reform of the newspaper business. The subscribers as shareholders or cooperative members of the journal.

May 31 ‘Through a peculiar incident I got t o see Chief o f Police Habrda yesterday.

That bastard Graf who had attempted an extortion or a swindle on me several weeks ago had the nerve t o accost me yesterday In town and abuse me. Fortunately, all I ®

I n English i n the origin al.

did was t o yell “You bastard”

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

839

him. I had already raised m y umbrella i n order t o strike him. Then I saw that passers-by were gathering about us, so instead I walked away quickly.

at

I n the evening I called o n Chief of Police Habrda, w h o greeted m e charmingly, and turned the matter over t o h i m .

Then our conversation took a political turn and lasted for an hour. H e only talked about the troubles of the government and how happy they were when they found a way o u t . “Ain’t there n o way a t all?” said the Chief, quoting a popular song. I slept o n t h e matter and now, at 6: go i n the morning, a m writing h i m as follows: Dear C h i e f H a b r d a :

Our talk yesterday has given me food for thought. I really believe that there is a way o u t of the present botched situation. T h e main problem of the moment, i t seems t o me, 1s to spare our

Emperor the necessity of making a decision against Austria o r against Hungary, t o keep the anti-dynastic parties o n either side from making capital of it. T h e key t o this is t o make t h e Vienna Parliament capable o f action again, so that the representatives of the people and n o t the Emperor may be responsible for the compromise. 1 feel that the present situation is enjoyed most b y the most extreme obstruction-

ists who are screaming the loudest about the lack of a parliament. This pretext must be taken away from them without making them too many concessions. A t the root of the trouble are the language ordinances. I f they remained i n force, the present situation would be prolonged and worsened, and would permanently affect the relationship between both parts of the monarchy. T h e solutions o f controversial economic questions a n d other problems o f the m o m e n t could, to b e sure, b e made under the authority o f His

Majesty, b u t that is an expensive procedure from the point of view of political economy, so t o speak. If, o n the other hand, the language ordinances are simply withdrawn, this w i l l b e a blow to the prestige o f the government which

had t o capitulate.

840 T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R I f there is a middle road, that is where 1t must be looked for, The languages ordinances—which, by the way, now arouse only bore. dom in the widest circles—would have to b e eliminated for the

time being from the discussions of the politicia ns.

To

exert

His Majesty's authority for this—that is

elimination—would be less dubious than t o

exert

to

say, this

i t between Ays-

tria and Hungary. Indeed, the general personal popularity of our

Emperor would only gain by a paternal interference i n the Ger. man-Bohemian dispute. I have i n mind a campaign—naturally, one tactfully prepared for in advance by publicity—for the temporary elimination of the

language-ordinances question. As a constitutional monarch, the Emperor desires the houses of popular representatives t o meet together again, so that the compromise might be made by both houses. The language ordinances should be discussed once more at a conference of German and Czech representatives, one that might

be opened by the Emperor himself. Depending o n the result of this conference, the Emperor would then decide t o what extent these ordinances should be modified. A further question would be whether the language ordinances should be suspended until this

conference is held. However, perhaps the very a n n o u n c e m e n t of such mediation t o be handled by the Emperor himself will lead to appeasing the Parliament.

The final aim would be t o let the entire question of the language ordinances dry u p in the sand. Any refusal on the part of the obstructionists t o take this middle road would place them in the wrong i n full view of their constituents, and they, n o t the government, would bear the responsibility for any economic disadvantages o f t h e settlement. T o sum up: I t seems better t o me from the point of view of political economy t o use Imperial intervention, i f indeed i t must be resorted to, i n a n internal Austrian question, w h i c h can b e dragged

out and put to sleep through negotiations, than i n a dualistic ques-

tion, which presses for a quick decision and one against a part of the monarchy. I a m writing these lines, m y dear Chief, confiden t that you will

Z L 841 THEODOR HER F O S IE R IA D E T H E C O M P LE T esty and H is ‘ne th ei r co nt en ts t o

the attention of only

you so please, b e llency Count Th un , if p Exr ce to no one else.

With the expression of

H is Maj je

io n u t give th is in fo rm at

my deepest respect, Yours faithfully, D r. Th . H . %*

Karl-Ludwigstrasse 50, W ihr

*

*

ing , Vienna.

Ju ne 5, 1899 De ar Si r:

*

correct an assertion made In spite of what has happened I must et that in the course of by Mr . Landau. He has written in his she I have had you attacked the suit which I have brought against him by my attorney. Tha t isa lie. ble of such an I certainly hope that you do not believe me capa actio n.

Very sincerely yours, Herzl. T o Bernard Lazare. J u n e5

Had a peculiar experience yesterday. I wanted t o have Eulen-

burg’s Amsterdam letter photostated before my departure, so as t o save the only copy from being destroyed. The letter had been kept in

a safe since October. The day before yesterday I had i t brought

to my house, for Marmorek. I received i t i n the garden, then went t odinner, after which I drove to the city; and since 1 a n editor1al t o write for the Neue Freie Pre

had

didn’t get home until late a t night. we (about Dreyfus’ rerum). 1 ®

I n French i n the original.

849 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Yesterday morning Marmorek came over with his photographic machine. I looked for the letter—not there. I got frightened, rap. sacked a l l drawers of m y desk, etc.—nothing. For months there hag been on my desk the manuscript of a novel, which I had happened to turn over to Rosenberger yesterday. Perhaps the letter had slipped into it. Kremenezky went to see Rosenberger, m y father— nothing. I n the afternoon I drove t o the city myself—to Rosenberger, to the office of the Welt, to m y parents. Nothing! T h e letter which ] had taken such good care of, which I wanted t o protect from acci. dents forever, lost through this very precaution! A tragicomedy. In whose hands was i t by that time? What a calamity! A t that point my good father advised me t o look i n the garden, too. I drove home, hurried to the knoll o f firs o n which I had received the letter the day before yesterday. There was the precious letter lying on a bench. As chance would have i t , i n 24 hours the gardener had not been there to clean u p , nor had o u r children, who tear u p all letters. Nor had there been any rain, which would have soaked the letter and completely destroyed it.

June 1 3 , The Hague Vreedensconf erentie [Peace Conference].

I f I were fresher i n the movement, these days a t T h e Hague would surely furnish me a good deal of material for my diary. But I have grown weary, blasé, through a l l the struggles and adven-

tures. This explains why people who do and experience many remarkable things seldom write anythin g remarka ble. I have come here because Suttner is here and may be able t o put

me i n touch with the Czar’s people. The very first evening she introduced me t o the Russian Councillor-of-State Bloch, the man who put the idea of a Peace Contference into the Czar’s head. A n intelligent, educated, o l d trading Jew. H e interes ted me—a nd appar ently I , h i m .

E O D O R HE RZ L 843 T H E CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H a parable he was He asked me t o put into more poetic form ght my wor k too going t o use in his address. I did so. The n he thou

poetic. H e coul dn't pass i t off as his own : he wasn *

%

’t a writ er.

%

Yesterday I was interviewed by Mr. Stead, the Engli sh yellowjournalist. %

¥%

*

I n the evening, dinner at Suttner’s w i t h Léon Bourgeo is and

others. Bourgeois made, i f anything, an unpleasant impression. Poseur et phraseur sans distinction [charlatan and phrase-maker without distinction], a faithless radical with u n c t u o u s manners, a freethink-

er’s popishness. Toward the end of the dinner I heard Frau Suttner

talking t o him about Zionism. He agreed with her and said he liked the idea. But I deliberately refrained from listening more closely, not

wanting t o open a discussion a t this table.

After dinner, in the salon, Suttner produced a recording machine, i n t o which everyone was to speak, as a souvenir. Bourgeois

spoke some twaddle, the Italian attaché said something silly; the French ambassador, whose name I don’t know, was embarras sed.

Fortunately i t turned o u t that the machine didn’t work. I poked

funatit : “Jallai s dire cette pensée mediocre ‘Le phonographe nous inspire la crainte utile de la postérité’ [1 was going t o make this undistinguished observation: The phonograph inspires us with a salutary fear of posterity].” Bourgeois said: “Vous pourriez dire la méme chose du phot ographe [You could say the same thin g about a phot ogra ph].” I rejoined: “De tout ce q u i nous fixe [Abo ut ever ythin g that fixes us].”

The n we all went t o the concert a t the Cas

ino. The re was, a t any

rate , som eth ing cur iou s abo ut see ing the rep res ent ativ es o f al]

844 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

civilized nations, and those who would like t o become so, 4 dressed u p and liste ning to music.

June 16, Scheveningen Put in a few hours’ work yesterday for State-Councillor Bloch, a peculiar human specimen. Energetic as i f h e were not 65 but 35

years old, crafty and good-natured, selfless and ambitious. We like each other.

Another curious old man usually shows u p a t meals: Tachard, an ancien ambassadeur de France [former French ambassador] of

the Second Empire—uvantard, bon enfant, grognard de la paix [braggart, regular fellow, grumbler about the peace], a mordant wit but a splendid fellow.

Talked a t length with Bloch after lunch today. H e told me the story of the Czar’s manifesto. T h e Czar had told h i m that the original suggestion came from the Emperor of Austria. Later the

German Kaiser wanted t o take the peace idea for his and launch it in Palestine. Whereupon the Russians decided t o beat him t o it, because the Czar’s authority was still too recent t o permit h i m to tag

along. The Russian people couldn’t have been won t o the idea if the Czar had accepted it as a follower of the Kaiser. And today there is before the Conference a declaration by the German delegate, Zorn, to the effect that the Court of Arbitration i $ contrary t o the sovereign rights of monarchs and the independ: ence of nations. Isaid that two blocs would form then: Etats de arbitrage [Arbrtration States] and O u t l a w * States. I s n ' t this a specter that I ought

to bring to the attention of the German Kaiser, via the Grand Duke ? * I n English in the origina l.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L

845

Bloch warmly encouraged me t o do this. *

¥*

*

Letter to the Grand Duke:

Your Royal Highness: Our good Mr. Hechler wrote me that Your Royal Highness would be gracious enough t o receive me again when I pass through, in order t o receive my reports about more recent developments in the Zionist movement. Unfortunate ly Mr. Hechler’s information did not reach m e at

Nauheim, b u t only here. May I therefore request your kind permission t o present myself a t Baden-Baden after m y return from London a t the beginning of July. After all the kindness that Your Royal Highness and H i s Majesty have shown me I consider i t m y duty t o mention something quite timely today as well. Through a number of friends I have had the opportunity here t o find out various things. The prevailing opinion throughout the Peace Conference is hostile t o Germany. The German delegate Zorn'’s declarations against the Court of Arbitration, which are regarded as much too harsh, have given rise to a n idea which I would l i k e t o

bring t o the attention of Y.R.H. before i t is thrown open t o public discussion. The idea has emerged t o bring about agreement o n the principle of a Court of Arbitration i f need be even without Germany and other opponents.

Then there would be Etats de I'arbitrage, and others—a kind of outlaws* under international law. T h e danger t o Germany would be the formation of a confederation, on an idealistic basis of justice and without emphasis o n any specific point a t issue, possibly cut-

ting across the existing alliances, which would suddenly leave Germany outside, as happened t o Austria a t the time of the Germanic Confederation. And precisely because there is n o specific demand or point of contention, Germany would have n o real way of opposing it.

I hope it is a case of reckoning without one’s host, and I would ®

I n English i n the original.

846 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL be happy i f my modest information contributed t o the timely averting of a danger t o Germany. The day after tomorrow I go t o Paris from here. Only i f Y.R H . or H . I . M . should desire a further report about what I have mentioned above would I stay here a day longer. I n that case, mayI request your telegraphic instructi ons. I also take the liberty of giving you my London address. Beginning the 25th of this month, i t w i l l be Hotel Cecil, London. Begging Y.R.H. t o accept the expression of m y profoundest respect, I remain

Grateful ly yours, Dr. T h . H .

June 17. O n the train from The Hague t o Brussels. Tachard, who left Scheveningen yesterday, told us, among many other things, what he had once heard about Bismarck. A t one time Bismarck is said t o have sent 1 5 0 waiters t o the Riviera t o eavesdrop on the conversations of the fashionable travelers i n the hotels. Tachard followed every waiter with comically furious glances, saying: “C’est un espion [He's a spy].” *

%

*

Yesterday afternoon I spoke t o Bloch about Zionism a t last. He raised no excessive objections. H e said he would try t o procure an audience for me with the Czar, provided that h e himself was still

in favor. We walked u p and down for a long time on the landward side of the Casino. H e told me about his audiences w i t h the Czar and the Czarina. H e described the latter as a forte téte [good mind] and grand coeur [great heart].

H e considers i t possible that the Czar will receive me and even

issue a rescript en faveur [in favor] of Zionism.

L S O F T H E O D O R HE RZ T H E CO MP LE TE DI AR IE

Mais aprés [But what then]?

|

For the present that wo uld satisfy %

*

847

me, I said. *

dined in the Yesterday evening Nur i Bey came t o se€ mc. We alone, not him o talk wit h salon adjoining my room. I wanted t . The leas ant rogu e’s face among the Sut tner par ty. Nu ri has a n unp omf orta ble at first . I conversation a t table was dow nrig ht unc

lins ki served as our dragged i t along over indi ffere nt matters. New ed the hardest entrée en matiére [entry t o the subject]. Nur i pass

judgment on him, a t first in guarded words. “Appelons-le le

défunt

ted me,

[Let us call him the deceased].” New linsk i, he said, had chea

i n auhad never broug ht m y proposals t o the atten tion of those

thority, but, on the contrary, had offered t o spy on us. Mahm ud Nedim had gone along with Newl. i n everything, parce q u ’ i l couchait avec sa femme [because he slept with his wife]. When the conversation grew more intimate—along about the champagne—Nuri said: “Trancho ns le mot, c’était une sale canaille ce Newlinski [Let's n o t mince words: this Newlinski was a

filthy scum].” The conversation got very intimate. When Nuri saw that I was hesitating and beating about the bush, he made things easy for me and spoke openly, frankly, and cynically. “There are people who want t o make a buck. I ' l l get together a syndicate for you that will do the job at Yildiz. T h e Porte doesn’t count at a l l . T h i s m a n must get so much, that one so much. I ' m o n good terms w i t h them all,

because I always treat everyone correctly. Izzet Bey, for example, who is now out of favor, gets the same amicable treatment from m e as before. I give h i m the same presents, etc. T h e m a n is too intelligent not to get back i n t o favor again. Then h e will b e grateful t o

me for i t . ” However, Palestine is going to b e difficult. I l y a des questions a u l ne fautpas attaquer a e Jront, mais en biais. Prenez Halep,

Arrivers am mroims a pi Yous vous présentorer a f

y

eyrout, et faites aprés tdche d’huile. ctle o u on aura besoin de vos services; emanderez la Palestine [Ther e are some

848 T H E COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL things that shouldn't be attacked head on, b u t sidewise. Get Aleppo, buy land around Beirut, and then spread out. A difficult time w i l l come when they will need your services; then you will present yourself and demand Palestine].

I told h i m that I couldn’t do that. For the sake of our supporters I mustn't ask for anything b u t Palestine. I required a Chartered Company.* H e asked: “Can you get the

German Kaiser t o back that proposition? O u i ou non [Yes or nol?” I said vigorously: “Oui [Yes]!” H e replied: “Alors la chose est faite [Then it’s done]. T h e Kai-

ser’s recommendation alone, or a syndicate a t Yildiz alone, can’t do i t . But i f you have both, i t can be done.” I : “Within what time?” H e : “One or t w o months.” I : “Should I go t o Constantinople?” He: “Yes. I ' l l introduce you t o Tahsin. H e is a friend of mine.” H e made me various other propositions. Would we care t o ac-

quire real estate in Constantinople o n a mortgage basis? Within a few years we could own half of Constantinople. I rejected the idea, because this was bound t o stir u p anti-Semi-

tism. Next he offered t o buy up the entire public opinion* of Turkey for g — 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 francs. I n short, anything I wanted . . . Then we drove to T h e Hague and were friends.

When he came in he had called me Monsieur, a t table Monsieur I'docteur, over the Rhine wine Monsieur Herzl, over the cham-

pagne Monsieur de Herzl, and over the cheese, cher am: [dear

friend]. Aventure facile [Easy adventure]!

Paris, June 1g, Hotel Castille

Out of piety I still stop a t the old place where I wrote the Jewish State, four years ago now. What a road since then! And what weari®

I n English in the original.

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL

849

ness. M y heart is badly strained. I suffer from palpitatio ns and an irregu lar pulse. *

*

*

Suppleme nt t o Scheveningen. O n the morning of m y departure (two days ago) Bloch came to m y room and begged m e to stay on, because the German delegate Zorn had been called back t o Berlin, perhaps in consequence of m y letter. B u t I didn’t w a n t t o stay any longer, although he called m y attention t o the historic significance of the occasion. J’avais produit mon petit effet [I had had m y little effect] and didn’t wish t o b e waiting in vain for a wire from the Grand Duke. I thought i t quite unlikely that the Grand Duke would answer me. I n the course of this final talk Bloch asked me t o make a brief extract from m y letter t o the Grand D u k e . H e copied this extract, which I am pasting i n below, and gave i t t o Ambassador Staal, who telegraphed i t t o the Czar, i n St. Petersburg. Bloch took this occasion t o tell me the following anecdote about the Czar. When the German Kaiser had a comparative chart of the Naval Powers made a t the Navy's request, Bloch studied this graphic presentation, which seemed incorrect t o h i m , and actually discovered that the scale used for the Russian ships was different from the correct one. During his next conversation with the Czar he drew the latter’s attention t o it. Whereupon the Czar said: ““T’hat’s quite like h i m (the German Kaiser).” *

%*

*

Presentation which Bloch gave t o Staal:

I have associated here with the Viennese writer Dr. Theodor Herzl, who in recent years has made a name for himself particularly as the leader of the Zionist movement. When I told h i m about the difficulties being raised o n the part of Germany, h e wrote a letter t o the Grand Duke of Baden the day before yesterday, for the sake of the good cause, and gave me its substance.

Inasmuch asDr. Herzl has for years enjoyed the confidence of the Grand Duke of Baden and has also repeatedly been received i n con-

850 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] fidence b y the German Kaiser, his words, which were intended for

immediate transmission t o the German Kaiser, w i l l probably not remain without effect. Dr. H . wrote approximately the following: H e is of the opinion that the prevailing sentiment a t the Peace Conference is n o t exactly favorable t o Germany. Zorn'’s declarations i n opposition t o t h e Court o f Arbitration have been regarded

as much too harsh. T h e idea has arisen o f bringing about agree-

on the principle of the Court of Arbitration even without Germany and other opponents, i f need be. Then there would be Etats de l'arbitrage and others. The danger for Germany would be that on an ideal foundation of justice, without stressing any specific ment

controversial matter, a confederation would b e formed, possibly

cutting across the present alliances, and that Germany would suddenly stand outside i t alone, as Austria once d i d i n the case of the Germanic Confederation. And precisely because there is n o positive demand or controversy, Germany would have n o real weapon against it. Dr. H . has made these disclosures about his letter t o me i n com-

plete confidence. June 1 9 , Paris

Mandelstamm advises me that the Russian Minister of Finance, Witte, has ordered the censors n o t t o let the leaflets of the J.C.T. enter any longer. I am to intervene via Bloch. Thereupon I wrote Bloch the following:

Paris, June

19

Strictly confidentia l!

Your Excellency: I t will be well i f you keep m e a u courant [informed] regarding

your address from now till the beginning of July, since I shall probably be with Uncle between the 2nd and the 4th of July and might be able t o arrange a numbe r of things there.

T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL

851

I have a reques t to make today. I have been inform ed that Witte

is n o t very favorably disposed towar d the Zionis t Bank which 1s i n rocess of format ion (it is called The Jewish Colon ial Trust [Jewish Colonial Bank], Londo n). Please write h i m a few words of ex-

planatio n, saying that i t is a matter o f a perfect ly loyal enterpr ise, one designed t o carry o u t the surely praisew orthy tasks of Jewish

colonization. Therefo re he should put n o obstacles in the path of the subscription i n Russia, b u t only mainta in a benevo lent inactivity. I don’t require any support or money from h i m . I probabl y don’t need t o tell you that I have n o personal and material interests whatever i n this Bank. I a m not even o n the Board o f Directors , b u t

only on the Council, honoris causa [as an honorary member] . Always ready t o perform services i n return and with the kindest regard s, I a m

Your Excellency’s obedient servant, Th. H .

June 21, Paris Yesterday morning I w e n t down the old rue Cambon t o the Tuileries gardens, where there is a n Automobile Exposition now.

Automobiles are as though made for us. We shall have cement roads, fewer railroads, and right from the start institute new forms of traffic. When, with such thoughts, I left the Exposition and got o u t into the gardens, I suddenly found myself i n the square bordered with mythological statues where, a t exactly this season four years ago, 1 conceived the Jewish State* while walking. And as though awak-

ened by the genius loci [spirit of the place], plans of social reform again popped into my mind, which has since become more sluggish. A t the exhibition I saw the American “Cleveland Car,” the best

automobile available. T h e French cars are too complicate d t o operate. The Cleveland Car seems t o be the last word as of today. I t * I n English i n the origina l.

852 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

operates on storage batteries which, i t 1s true, have t o be recharged every 1 0 0 kilometers. Relays of electric power, as once there were relays of post-horses. Still, practical even today, provided there are enough recharging stations in the area one drives in. A cooperative society of such car owners could provide for the stations, i n the absence of individual enterprise. This gave me a further idea, that of developing mutualism* (the word occurred t o me while I was writing; yesterday in the Thuileries I searched for i t in vain t o express the idea which was clear in my mind) in all areas. Mutualism* strikes me as the middle road between capitalism and collectivism. Producers’ a n d consumers’

cooperatives are only beginnings, suggestions of the mutual* prin-

ciple. I already had i t in mind in Vienna, a t the founding of the newspaper: subscribers and advertisers as co-publishers of the mass-circulation paper.

I presume that the American insurance companies are also based on this principle. I will make a study of mutual* companies.

J u n e21 Went yesterday afternoon with Nordau and Marmorek t o see Narcisse Leven, the president of the Alliance Israélite and the I.C.A. We had previously agreed o n what was t o be brought up; Nordau also edited the written note we were going t o leave. B u t

then I thought that this wouldn’t be the right thing t o do, and it was decided that Alex Marmorek should afterwards make a protocol which we would send to Leven.

Leven received us in his slippers, old floppy house shoes, and Nordau, who sat next to h i m , later assured us that Mr. President's

feet had n o t been free from odor. The conversation zero. Leven yielded on everything. The I.C.A. would go with us once we had achieved the “Charte r.” We must not make reference to the I.C.A.; but as soon as we have the “Charte r,” they will be with us. ®

I n English i n the origina l.

T H E COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L

853

Alex Marmo rek will make a record o f this dreary , unresis ting conversation for refere nce and send i t to the A . C .

July 4, Bad Nauheim

I am back from Londo n. Now a t last the Bank is ready. I arrived i n London with Wolffsohn o n the evening of the 25th. I n the Hotel Cecil, DeHaas and two other gentlemen from the Federation* were waiting for me. They wanted t o translate m y speech, which I hadn’t finished yet. I worked o n it until 1 2 : 3 0 midnight and sent i t down t o them page by page. The n e x t morning I drove t o the Bank Office with Wolffsohn. Then t o St. Martin's Town Hall for a conference of the English Zionist Federation. I spoke in support of the Federation, which 1s being fought by the Russian element in the East End. I told Bentwich that we must proceed with the a l l o t m e n t * o n Thursday, July 29, n o matter what. H e made all sorts of objections, b u t still I car-

ried my point. By now the difficulties have been overcome and are therefore forgotten. They loomed large on June 27. At one point Bentwich, who for reasons incomprehensible to me is slipping bdtons dans les roues [a spoke i n the wheel], demanded the approval o f a l l out-of-town directors for a n amendment t o a

resolution on which he was making the allotment* dependent. By this he obviously intended to delay the matter, during which time I would have t o leave. I beat this down with long telegrams which cost £17., and the n e x t morning everyone's consent t o the allotment* was o n hand. I n London cash down-paym ents i n the amount

of £57,000 had been made for over 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 shares (the minimum), but only 2 2 8 , 0 0 0 shares had been registered. I ordered full steam ahead in the office. O n the morning of the 29th we proceeded with the allotment*, with 2 4 0 , 0 0 0 registered shares. Meanwhi le, b y five

o'clock that afternoon the missing ones were registered, and the ®

I n English i n the origi nal.

854 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ],

very same eveningI had that fact certified by Auditor Jackson. The allotment* was made o n the basis o f our material conviction that at least 250,000 shares had been subscribed. T h e registration of the

shares that had come i n by mail i n the meantime, a task completed b y evening, c u t the ground from under the feet o f any subsequent

slander, which we may c o u n t on with certainty. Heymann, the S o u t h African, w h o h a d rendered u s good service

as a director i n the preliminary work o n the Bank, handed in resignation.

his

Gaster and Bentwich having made things unbearable for him, Gaster and Bentwich want t o seize control of the Bank for them. selves. I urged Heymann t o stay, b u t after much back-and-forth he finally did stick t o his decision. Gaster proposed another director, w h o is loyal to h i m , to take

Heymann'’s place. H i m I rejected. Now we have n o director in London, nor a manager. Our worries grow. As trustees Wolffsohn and Kann nominated myself, Nordau,

and Mandelstamm. At this proposal Bentwich declared he would have t o withdraw—Bentwich, whom I made the Solicitor of the Bank because he was a Zionist. The Gaster-Bentwich faction wants Gaster o r Montefiore as a trustee, because the opposition o f one single trustee blocks any action. However, after the experience we

had with Gaster on that first power of attorney we have grown cautious.

Today Kann informs me from The Hague that he has spoken with Nuri. His reply

to

the proposal that the “Alphabet” partici-

pate i n the syndicate was something l i k e this: “ U n tiens vaut deux fois u n t u U'auras [ A bird i n the hand is worth two i n the

bush].” “Money talks,” i n other words. I must try to get N u r i round. Kann does n o t seem t o suffice for the job.

I n London I received a wire from the Grand Duke: “Thanks for Scheveningen letter; matter has made progress i n meantime. Shall n o t be here the n e x t four weeks. Friedri ch.” ®

I n English i n the origina l.

THE COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

855

So I shall not visit h i m until after the Congress. 3%

*

¥*

A wire from Bloch also. H e will try t o interve ne (regard ing the

release of the Bank subs cript ion in Russia). July 23, Reichenau Yesterday I wrote the following letter from Vienna to Minister of State Biilow, who is currently spending his vacation o n the Semmering: Your Excellency: Tomorrow, Sunday, I shall b e i n Reichenau near Payerbach,

in the vicinity of the Semmering. I t would be a great distinction and joy for me t o be received b y Your Excellency, of course not as aninquiring reporter, b u t as a Zionist of proven discretion. In response to a wire that I might receive at the Hotel Thalhof at Reichenau i n the morning, I would come o u t t o the Semmering at 4:30 p.m. I am permitting myself this exact determination of the time n o t out of immodesty, b u t also to facilitate the refusal

of my visit in a way least painful t o me. I should like t o be able t o

think: Count Biilow did n o t wish t o see me this particular Sunday at 4:30.

With sincere respect, I am Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, Dr. T h . H .

This noon the following wire came from him: For reasons of health and t o m y great regret I must forego all visits and have a complete rest. Hope t o see you another time. Kind regards, Biilo w. J u l y 26, Vienna

Gaster is mulish because I wish t o bridle his lust for power i n the Bank. I n response t o m y most amiable letters, i n w h i c h I draw

856 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] his attention to the consequences of his trouble-making, he im.

tably throws his accomplishments u p t o now i n m y face and throw

his “office” a t my feet. Today I am writing him another (the third) conciliatory letter *

*

¥*

Nordau doesn’t want to come to Basel, because he has to gO to Rennes for the Dreyfus trial. A m writing h i m , too, a serious letter

saying he must come.

July 28, Vienna Only now d o I have a chance t o enter the Alphabet which

Nuri sent me in London through Kann: Leurs Excellences [Their Excellencies]

Hadji AliBey

(a)

Ilias Bey

Tahsin Bey Izzet Bey Faik Bey A n f Bey Kiamil Bey

(b) (c) (d) (e) (f)

Raghib Bey (h) Hadji Mahmud Eff. (i) S.A. le Grand Vizir (j) L.L.EE. les Ministres des Travaux publics [Their Excellencies the Ministers of Public

Works]

(g)

(k) August 6, Vienna

The chief tenet of my life: Whoever wishes t o change m e n must change t h e conditions

under which they live. %

%

*

M y testament for the Jewish people:

Make your State in such a way that the stranger will feel com fortab le amon g you.

857 T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL August 1 1 , on the Orien t Express, beyon d M u n i c h Before my departure from Vienna there was a T o w with Bacher.

I had writte n a feuille ton for the Sunda y paper ( “ T h e Auto-

mobile ”) and had done a good job, so as t o have a good exit for a leave of absence. O n Monday, after the evening paper had been

p u t t o bed, I told h i m that I n o w wanted to go o n leave. I though t i t was an oversight that t o date he had n o t made o u t the train

ticket t o Buchs which had been lying on his desk for three days. However, i t was no accident. Throug h the shabby expedient of denying me the ticket he wanted t o keep me there longer. H e said: “Now, before the Goethe number, you want t o leave me alone? And how long do you wish t o stay away?” I : “Until the beginning of September.” H e (gruffly): “That can’t be done.” I : “All right, then I ' l l be back on the 24th of August.” H e went o u t without saying good-bye. I left h i m the key t o the feuilleton desk w i t h a brief, dry note.

T o thisday I am in this humiliating position of having t o ask for leave like an office boy. B u t things came to a n even prettier pass. T h e day before m y

departure the Neue Freie Presse carried in its “Foreign News”

section a n item taken from German papers according t o which the Grand Duke of Baden “expressed himself very skeptically about the Zionist movement” to the Jewish scholar Dr. Berliner a t St. Moritz. The opposite is true. T h e Grand Duke’s statement, which was

very friendly t o me even according t o the Jewish Chronicle ( i t is contained i n today’s Welt), was printed i n falsified form by the lie

sheets Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums and Jiidische Presse, and made its way from these infamous sheets into the general press. ‘The Neue Freie Presse took i t u p with delight. This is the reward I get for many good services. #%

*

%

I had sent Hechler to the Grand D u k e o f Hesse i n order t o

request an audience for me. I will ask the Grand Duke of Hesse to

858 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy]

procure an audience for me with the Czar, his brother-in-law, whe, the latter visits h i m at Darmst adt soon. *

*

%

More than with m y still unfinished Congress speech and wit

the princes and my slave drivers at the Neue Freie Presse 1 have been occupied all these days with the plan of m y new play D i

siindige Mutter [The Sinful Mother], the thought of which delights me. August 1 2 , o n the train, approaching Basel After complicated train changes I arrived i n Heidelberg a t mid night yesterday and, this morning, sleepy, a t Darmstadt, where the good Hechler was already waiting nervously. H e had feared that I would not arrive i n time. W e had a n appointment at the palace between nine and twelve, i.e., the time o f the general audiences.

I tried t o catch a short half hour's sleep, finally bathed the sleep out

of m y bones, dressed (not swallow-tails, however, b u t only the

Prince Albert), and then we drove t o the palace, which is patnarchally situated at the vegetable market. Or, the vegetable market

is intimately near the palace. One gets accustomed to audiences, too. T h e coolly courteous

adjutant, whose friendliness is artfully disobliging; the guards at every door and gate; the important lackeys; the officers waiting for those minutes of the audience, all slicked up, and decoration studded public-school teachers i n the ante-chamber—all these no longer impressed me. I unabashedly studied their transparent decorated souls, enjoyed the pretty rococo paneling over the doors, and looked out a t the castle courtyard .

We had been waiting for a half-hour—the thirteen of us—when the Chief Adjutant went out, apparently t o submit a list of those present.

H e had previously jotted down our names i n a notebook. The order is determined by the Grand Duke. Most of the audiences last

only seconds. Hechler and I did n o t come until toward the end, 50

EODOR HERZL T H E CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H

859

and exit s o f thos e dist inwe were able to wat ch the entr anc es

guishedmen.

gen tlem en!” Fina lly the adju tant called out: “Th e t w o

We passed through the second reception salon and

entered a

er was sittin g third salon, a t the last window of whic h a young offic e to h i m i n at a desk. H e got up, walked towa rd Hech ler, and spok English—the Gran d Duk e of Hesse. your H e gave me a friend ly handshake and was “glad to make acquaintance.” H e stood i n the midd le of the salon, his hands nonch alantl y o n his hips and gently swaying with his thighs, as though he were

about t o make a short assaut [leap]. After the introduction I said t o him: “ I don’t know

to

what

extent Your Royal Highness is informe d about our movem ent.” He smiled: “All I know about i t is what Mr. Hechle r has told me.” Accordingly I let loose and gave h i m the main things in brief

outline. H e amiably agreed with everything I said. Il abondait dans mons

sens [he agreed with me] i n the court manner. While he spoke I kept my eyes on him—in fact, I kept looking him full i n the face.

He is a good-looking,blond, slim, well-nourished, well-colored man in his early thirties. H e strongly resembles his sister, the Czarina, according t o her pictures. H e is cross-eyed. Nevertheless, the total impression is very pleasant and friendly. Since he agreed with most things, the conversation ran quite

smoothly. Regarding anti-Semitism he remarked that i t seemed t o be petering out, stopping. H e recommended a “newspaper war,” i f one could call 1t that.

Every week things ought t o break somewhere else—one week i n England, the next time in America, then in Germany. Every moment people should be reminded of the matter through the newspapers. I thanked him for this really n o t bad advice. H e asked: “ B u t how do you propose t o git (get)* the land?” ®

Translator’s Note: Kriechen (Kriegen), i n the Frankfurt dialect.

860 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy]

“ I n the form of a Chartered Company,* I said.

Then I begged him t o recommend the cause t o the Czar, wh, was going t o visit him. H e nodded: “Yes, h e can b e interested i n things like that. I wj|

do i t . ” After that we spoke about this and that for a little while. He

showed himself not very well informed about the geography of Palestine, for when I spoke about the Mediterranean-Persian Gulf railroad, he said: “Well, not much is known about Arabia a

| all.” I think he confused Syria with Arabia, but, court-like, . accepted this princely geography H e dismissed me amiably after we had run o u t of things t o talk about.

August 1 3 , Basel T h e faithful assembled at the Hotel Trois Rois. Wolffsohn, the Gottheils from N e w York, etc.

August 1 3 , Basel Telegram to the Sultan. ** T o His Excellency Munir Pasha, Grand Master of Ceremonies to H . I . M . the Sultan, Yildiz, Constantinople.

The Zionists assembled in Congress a t Basel consider it their first duty t o place a t the foot of H . I . M . the Sultan’s throne the avowal of their respectful devotion and their deep appreciation of the kindness which His Majesty has always shown his Jewish subjects. I t is the desire of the Zionists t o succor their unfortunate brethren in various countries of Europe and t o contribute t o the greatness and prosperity of the Ottoman Empire. They sincerely hope that the loyalty of these aims will be ap preciated and encouraged by the Caliph’s exalted wisdom. ® *¢

I n English in the original. I n French i n the original.

HER ZL 861 T H E COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R sentiI beg Your Excellency t o be kind enough t o convey these

the Sulta n. ment s and sincere wishes t o H i s Impe rial Maje sty

Dr. Theo dor Herz l, President of the Zionis t Congress. Augus t 17, Basel

The Third Congress! M y impressions: O n the first day I was bored stiff in m y presidential chair, o n the second I was irritated. Gaster came here and agitated against m e i n the corridors a n d

on the committees, saying that we t w o had reached a parting of the ways!

A sort of court of arbitration was set u p to which he submitted his grievances against me. I replied, demonstrated that he was i n the wrong, and we shook hands. H e was so little placated that he stirred u p feeling against m e

in an obscure way, especially when he was in the chair. Greenberg spoke in English in opposition t o the A.C. Gaster translated his attacks with voluptuous delight. B u t when the chairman of the Finance Committee, likewise speaking i n English, recommended absolutism, Gaster forgot t o state i n his translation

that the committee was perfectly satisfied.

Bentwich demanded more detailed financial statements. This aroused a confidence crisis, i n the course of which Gaster suddenly deserted Mr. Bentwich and spoke theatrically i n m y favor, something that could only harm me with people of taste. Then we sat u p until 2 o’clock i n the morning over the Bank affair. The deliberations took o n the character of a respectable drowsiness, as in a real parliamen t. I couldn't sleep later than 6 o'clock. Then the morning idea occurred t o me to announce a t the beginni ng of today’s session the details which Bentwic h had demanded and the Congress had denied, for otherwise there would be agitatio n against m e o n this score all year.

862 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] Augus t 18, Base]

The third day was somewhat more interesting. Toward nog I established a precedent b y asking for a vote o f confidence so thy the Congress would not run too smoothly. Swift's 4 Tale of a Tu, While I was threatening to resign i f the Congress did not approve the founder shares which I had promised t o the seven founders of the Bank, I remembered the tunnel at Baden which the builder

of the Siidbahn [Southern Railroad] had also constructed in the middle of a plain, so that the Viennese might see what a tunnel was ¥*

%*

*

Yesterday Gaster made a “cultural address’ which was more like a theological beerhall rant. L e bois creux des guitares [the hollow

wood of guitars]. *

*

*

I n the evening the general meeting of the Colonial Trust, a parade. A statistical presentation, that is to say, a presentation of

facts and figures by figure-heads.* But very effective.

August 2 1 , returning from Basel O n the train, beyond Salzburg. The Congress has gone off smoothly. A good atmosphere has once more been achieved—which again will gradually peter out. This time, as a matter of fact, the continuation o f our work will be

facilitated by a confidential loan on the forthcoming shekel payments. G o o d old Schalit o f

Riga, Barbasch, Dr.

Katzenelsohn, and

Sachs each promised 5000 guilders—and want t o g o o n collecting,

so that I can take steps in Turkey and promise N u r i immediate baksheesh. *

%*

*

By the fourth day I was very tired. I had told Gaster that I would

take him t o the station in the evening. But when I told him at ten ®

Translator’s Note: Herzl's p u n is based o n the similarity between statistisch

(“statistical”) and Statisten (“supernumeraries,” “extras”.

T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL

863

o'clock i n the hotel that I was tired, h e looked so insulte d that I

quickly added that I would go with h i m anyway; and I did. A l l

popes want t o have their slippers kissed. %*

%

%

And having tasted the feeling of freedom and been a lord for one week, I must return again to m y vile servitude at the Neue Freie Presse where I am n o t allowed t o have an opinion of m y own. I t isa q u e s t i o n of a measly few thousand guilders which I , being the head of a family, must not give up.

August 23, Unterach O n the morning o f the day before yesterday I wrote a letter-card t o N u r i Bey from Salzburg, asking h i m to advise m e how long he was staying a t Karlsbad, because I had t o tell h i m something i n connection with the “chose immédiate [pressing matter] for him which Kann-The Hague had told me about i n Basel. I asked h i m t o sign his reply

“Charles.”

Thereupon the following wire came from Karlsbad yesterday: “Resterai ict jusqu’au 27 courant [Staying here t i l l 2 7 t h inst.] Charles.” *

%

#%

I am now writing t o Nuri: *

August 23, 99 Your Excellen cy:

I a m on my way back t o Vienna. Here, in t w o words, is the story. T o begin with, I shall send you twenty thousand francs the day I am received by H . M . the Sultan in order t o present the Zionis t Plan t o him. Of course, i t is not for his conse nt that I am offeri ng you this small first token of my friend ship. Only an audience in * I n French i n the original.

864 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]

which I could explain t o him all the good, all the benefits, that we can and will bring t o Turkey i n exchange for the Charter. I shall expect you i n Vienna i n order t o reach an understanding with you on the other things for you and your friends i n case the matter is concluded. Kindly notify me of your arrival i n Vienna a t m y private address, Carl-Ludwigstrasse 50, Wihring. I t would be useful for you to do m e the honor of coming t o m y house. A t a hotel o r at the railroad station one is seen, and the less is known o f our relationship, the more we shall be able to work as we please.

With my sincere respect, Th.H . August 24, Vienna “J'ai connu la grande blessure de U'argent [ I have known the great injury of money},” said Henry Becque.

Je la connais aussi [1 know i t too]. M y work would appear much more miraculous i f people knew with what financial worries I have to contend, as the result o f the money I have spent o n Zionism.

I miss everywhere the more than

50,000

guilders which I have

p u t into i t , and that makes m e even more restricted i n m y relations

with the Neue Freie Presse than 1 was before. I have t o tremble lest I be dismissed; I c a n n o t dare t o take the leave m y health requires, for I have already been away for six weeks, although I spent all that time i n the service of Zionism. Today, then, I return t o the office once more, after having been a free man and a great lord at Basel, and have to enter the room of

Big Boss Bacher like a meek little office boy. Cruel!

Augus t 24

Once again w e n t

to

the office “ready

to

do battle.” Again saw

the grinning faces of those who refuse t o believe i n i t . B u t their grins have become older and, i t seems to me, more dispirited.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 865 Bacher greeted me comme si de rien n’était [as i f nothing had happened), as i f he hadn’t poisone d the last two weeks for me. H e spoke about the Congress with patroniz ing irony. “ B u t now you really ought t o free yourself of the thing soon.”

I : “ I wouldn't dream of i t . Why should I ? ” “Because there'll be a stink about the Bank.” “This Bank,” I said, “is cleaner than the ones we are accustomed t o seeing and reading friendly write-ups about in the newspapers. Its founders enjoy n o benefits, as they do, for instance, a t the Kreditanstalt.” H e pulled in his horns a bit. Then some people came in and we broke off. Earlier Reichsritter von Vincenti had tried a little mockery. But I got h i m onto the subject of the position of the editors vis-a-vis the publishers of the Neue Freie Presse, an outfit that truly is crazier and lower than Zionism. Thereupon Vincenti, casting a shy glance at the publishers’ door, flew into a fit o f rage against

Benedikt, whom he hates and despises and whose filthy bread he has t o eat. I forgave the poor Ritter for his mockery. I enjoyed his impotent outburst of rage, for he is a character i n m y drama about modern slavery, Der Herr [The Master]. This drama shows how such pebbles are ground u p into sand.

August 28, Vienna Last night I went t o “Venice-i n-Vienna ,”” the Trianon Restaurant, because i f Nuri Bey had arrived i n Vienna he would certainly have t o be there. H e had n o t written me. Sure enough, he was there i n the company of the grotesque Turkish Consul- Genera l Dirszta y, for whom, as Newlin ski had told me, he had procur ed, moyennant finances [throu gh money ], title and decoration. I spoke t o Dirszt ay; Nuri looked embarrassed

and acted aloof.

This morn ing I wrote h i m that I shou ld like t o talk to him, at his hotel or a t my place. H e s e n t me word throu gh Schmidt, my gardener, that I should come t o the Hote l Impé rial a t 4 o'clo ck.

866 T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

August 28 Hechler is going to Marienbad this evening, to see the Prince of Wales and induce h i m t o receive me.

August 29, Vienna Yesterday I went t o see Nuri Bey a t the Hotel Impérial. H e was

in his shirt-sleeves, kneeling before his trunk and packing it pre. paratory t o leaving for the Semmering. A t first he was cool and distant, as though he had n o idea of why I had come. I had soon guessed that 2 0 , 0 0 0 francs weren't enough for him. H e said: “Considering your position in the Zionist movement, your audience would certainly not be something of n o account. As a matter of fact, any banker would give m e twice what you have

promised in return for an audience with the Sultan.” “Qu’a cela ne tienne [Let i t go a t that],” I said. “You shall have 40,000.”

A t that he began to get more human. T h e matter was not so easy, h e said. A n agent would have to b e secured t o work u p sentiment

for our plan in Turkish circles. H e would give me the name of such a person. I t was a certain Eduard Crespi, his own confidential agent, who was also employed by various high officials for collect: ing “bons [bills].” I saw what he was: some opportunist rascal who, when necessary, can be repudiate d or put o u t of the way. “You ought to give Crespi ten, fifteen, o r twenty thousand franc to

work u p a favorable attitude in the Servet and elsewhere. I f you

spoke to me, in m y capacity as a n official, about straightening out our finances, I would reply: ‘ I didn’t send for you; our alleged

embarrassments are none of your business.” B u t I a m speaking to you as a friend and I tell you: You have to sow before you can reap.’

I saw what he was driving at. Money talks. So I said t o him, almost rudely: “ I shall give you 1 0 , 0 0 0 francs in advance and 30,000 on the day of the audience. What use you make of the money is your

business. I won’t ask you what you do with it.”

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

867

H e melted like butter and said: “Done! I shall have t o add t o i t out of m y own pocket, b u t the gamble is worth i t . I think I can make a couple of millions on i t ; a man will risk a little on that.” I acted as though I believed all he said. Now he began t o boast about all the things he could do. H e said he was a jurist and a civil engineer; h e could set u p any sort o f factory; h e could write to

order a newspaper article columns long, on any subject, in French or Turkish. I f I wished, he would sit right down and write a few columns about the importance of the safety-match t o the Austrian national economy. H e had routes of access to the Sultan that n o one

else had; he could obtain anything and everything by devious means— ‘par des moyens perfides [by treachery],” as he himself put i t . Through women and favorites. H e would explain t o the Sultan how he could achieve his heart's desire: a new fleet, 25 armored cruisers a t once, as well as 2 0 0 0 Krupp cannon and the coastal fortification of Constantinople. “Latssez-mot faire [Let me do i t ! ] ! ” H e boasted u p a storm, like a sharper bragging about his

stratagems. Finally he got down t o cases: “ I am going u p t o the Semmering now. I ' l l be back o n Saturday. Have 1 0 , 0 0 0 francs ready for me. B u t they m u s t be paid t o me i n cash, without witnesses or a receipt.” I said I would have the money s e n t t o h i m through m y lawyer, Dr. Kokesch. H e made a show of reluctance, b u t i n the end consented. We parted friends!

A detail: he wouldn't write down Crespi’s name with his own hand, b u t merely dictated i t to me. %

%*

%*

Naturally I am n o t going through with paying the 1 0 , 0 0 0 francs without a receipt. I'shall pretend that Kokesch refused and say that he would either have t o sign a requ pour frais de presse [receipt for press expenses] or accept a check made o u t t o Crespi. *

*

*

868 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ], N o w our worry is h o w t o get these 1 0 , 0 0 0 francs. W e immediately wired the underwriters of the outstanding debt: Schalit, Barbasch Katzenelsohn, Sachs. T h e trusty Schalit was t h e first t o answer, saying h e h a d already sent

off his 5000. *

¥*

*

Hechler telegraphs from Marienbad that t h e Prince o f Wales is not

in today.

August go, Vienna I forgot t o enter the following from my talk w i t h Nuri: When, marché conclu [the bargain concluded], he began to brag h e told m e that he, too, had advised the S u l t a n t o engage in

the Greek War i n order t o divert attention from the Armenian question.

H e had made an exact calculation of the relative strength of Greece and Turkey and had then counselled war. And this is what they call high politics! Pour rompre les chiens d’Arménie on fait des massacres en Gréce [To break the Armenian dogs, they mas sacre the Greeks]. Our present-day civilization takes its hat oft before the organized bloodshed of war—more correctly: i t salutes. *

%

%

Today I received a wonderful letter from N u r i o n the Semmering. I t is a half sheet of note-paper, with the following lines i n a disguised hand resembling print: M . Charles est d’avis, aprés miires réflexions et calculs, qu'il vaux mieux, si on accepte conseil amical, porter premier chiffre a 15,000—quitte a déduire les cings des trentes milles ultérieure: ment payables. (Orthography o f the original.) [ M r . Charles is of the opinion, after mature reflection and calculations, that i t would

be better, if one accepts his friendly advice, t o raise the initial payment t o 15,000—the extra

thirty thousand due later.]

five thousand t o be deducted from the

T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

869

Enclosed was his visiting card: Nuri Bey, Sécrétaire general d u

Ministére des Affaires Etrangéres [Secretary General of the Minisof Foreign Affairs]. T h e bottom of the right-hand corner of the card has been turned down and smoothed o u t again. I think this was intended t o make i t try

appear as though i t had been taken from some tray of visiting cards.

|

N

Incidentally, the envelope with his handwriting and the Semmering postmark also has some documentary value. Will give it to

Kremenezky for safe-keeping.

August go

While riding o u t

to

Wihring today on a jolting bus the title for

my Zion novel occurred to me:

Alt-Neuland [Old-Newland]. Allusio n t o the name of the Prague Altneu schul. I t will becom e a famous word. August 3 1

Lette r which I am givin g Kremenezky for N u r i * :

September 1 , g q You r Exc elle ncy:

Mr. Kokesch being unavailable, this is my intim ate friend Mr. Kremenezky, a man worthy of complete con fidence, whom I am asking t o turn over t o you the agreed-up on sum of ten thousand francs. M y committee has agreed t o the promises I ma de you , although there had been an earlier dec ision t o give n o mo re advances

and t o wait for a result. I n the ver y interest of ou r relationship I think i t well no t t o reopen this question. Th e thi rty thousand wil l be pa id the day of the au dience. Now another po int , on wh ich I hope there wi ll be n o dif fic ult y.

Neither Kokesch nor Kremen ezky wa nts t o be responsibl e for ®* I n French i n the ori gin al.

870 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] handing over the money without a receipt. They want to be covered even as far as I a m concerned. I t 1s a scruple which I ap bound t o respect. O n the other hand, I want to respect your wish, w h i c h I under.

stand perfectly. Please choose then, Your Excellency, between the two

following procedures.

Either please be good enough t o give my friend a note

to

this

effect: Received of Mr. Kremenezky ten thousand francs for press expenses (or for an agent or anything else), and signed with your name. O r in several hours Mr. Kremenezky will give you a check in the name of M . Eduard Crespi and drawn o n whatever bank you wish to designate to h i m .

I t is u p t o you which you prefer. I n any case, you can be sure of the most absolute discretion. We are not people to commit the least indelicacy. Furthermore, we hope t o work i n complete accord with you, now and always. This is only a small beginning. Please accept the expression of my great esteem and m y wishes for a good trip and great success.

Very faithfully yours, Dr. T h . H .

September 2 Kremenezky is back from Nuri. The latter gave the following receipt on his visiting card. ( I am reproducing i t from memory) Regu la somme de dix mille francs q u i m’était due—Nuri [Re ceived the sum of 1 0 , 0 0 0 francs which was due me]. Kremenezky contented himself with that. N u r i declared he hoped to achieve good results. Septe mber 3

Hechler has returned from Marie nbad bredo uille [empty handed]. The Prince of Wales evidently scented that he was 2

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

871

vieux raseur [old windbag], and since H i s Royal Highness prefers

the photographs of young Israelite women t o those of old Jewish walls, H e c h l e r was n o t even a d m i t t e d b y t h e adjutant. *

*

*%

Received a good, friend's letter from Col. Goldsmid today.

September 4, Vienna

After the opera yesterday, supped with Martin Fiirth a t the Hotel Bristol. H e told me he had been t o the races with N u r i Bey that afternoon. T h e latter had spoken very favorably about Zionism: i t was n o t impossible t o win the Sultan over t o it, as he was a friend of the Jews.

Only, the newspapers m u s t

not

write that we wish t o found an

“Empire.” N u r i was t o u t ce q u ' i l y a de plus sérieux [could not have been

more serious]. Did I know him? “Very slightly,” I said.

September 4 Hechler was here and reported that recently an aristocratic English lady had asked Lord Salisbury why he wasn’t helping the Zionists. H e is said t o have replied: “Wait, it 1s coming.”* Because of this lady I am writing Gaster t o take some action with Lord Salisbury i n association with Sir Francis.

September 4 O n the curtain a t the Opera there is a picture of fighting p u t t : [angels] after the victory. T h e victor is being handed a wreath. This is an unwitting allegorical representation of the whole ®

I n English i n the original.

479 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R ] cowardly injustice of the prevailing view of life. T h e victor ge; a wreath, o n top of everything! As i f the vanquished weren't more i n need of a lift.

September 13, Vienna Among the many newspaper clippings which Argus sends the

following is especially interesting. I t is an interview by Madame Lera, the wife of some South American diplomat. The statements in i t made by N u n Bey are curious.

News of the Day*

An Interview with the Apostle of Zionism. I t is common knowledge that the Zionists are those Jews who

dream of re-establishing the kingdom of Judea and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. From a practical point of view, many obstacles appear to stand

in their way. The Turks, no doubt, will not be eager to give up

Palestine; and if the promoters of Zionism succeed in convincing them by persuasive arguments, Christians of every persuasion would rise en masse indignantly t o oppose an arrangement that would put the Holy places in the power of Christ's executioners. T h e Zionists, for that matter, are not numerous; the great

majority of the sons of the Widow prefer

to

build up among the

infidel nations the strongholds of an imaginary Jerusalem, and it

is only the mystics attached t o tradition and believing in the Mes: sianic future who wish t o lead their people back t o the Promised Land.

I t 1s no less interesting

to

follow a

movement

which aims at

reuniting the dispersed Jews, at pitching a tent for the wandering

flocks of the encampment of Israel.

Did the Congress held a t Basel a t the beginning of this month make progress with its plan? We don’t know. One of our corres pondents sends us the account of an interview he had with one of ®

I n French i n the original .

T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

873

the most devoted apostles of Zionism: M . Herzl. Our correspondent limited himself t o recording his interlocuto r’s arguments just as a recording machine would do. I t is for our readers t o draw their own conclusions. M . Herzl kindly consented t o satisfy m y desire t o know more about Zionism and more than the superficial accounts in the newspapers. The day before his departure for The Hague he came and spent an hour with me. N o t being familiar with interviewing, I shall l i m i t myself t o summarizing as best I can, and very faithfully, the principal ideas put forward by M . Herzl. “What is Zionism, and what do I w a n t t o do? What I have been dreaming of for four years and what haunts every hour of m y life? This is i t . I w a n t t o give the Jews of all nations a corner of the world where they can live i n peace, n o longer hounded, outcast, and despised. Among us, as always happens, i t 1s the poor w h o are most t o be pitied. T h e others, who can change their place o f residence as they see fit, w h o are i n contact w i t h the upper classes, have t o put u p w i t h a great deal of damage t o their self-esteem and with wounded dignity; b u t you could n o t believe the extent of

the poor Jew’s misery i n certain countries. I want t o offer these outcasts a country that will b e their own, where, w i t h complete freedom and thanks to that freedom, t h e i r abilities can b e de-

veloped and a t the same time the vices and faults which centuries of persecution and ostracism have fostered i n them may be shed; t o rid them in time of that moral scurf; t o allow their very real intellectual and moral gifts free play, so that finally m y people may no longer be the dirty Jews, b u t the people of light that they are capable of being. “The new Jerusalem that I foresee i n my dreams, the revived Palestine, rejuvenated and flourishing, that haunts me, appear before m e i n their minutest details, and I see them as the summary,

the essence, of everything i t has taken civilization centuries t o achieve.” And growing more fervent: “You must realize that the origin of countries and cities has always been haphaza rd, that they have grown l i t t l e b y little, have improve d b y a slow progress ion,

874 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL, and that even in the most beautiful city, side by side with progress and modernity, there is always a more or less considerable trace of past ages: old sections, picturesque b u t unhealthy, where i t is often difficult t o introduce modern improvements. “Over there, in that land which seems dead today b u t which is only sleeping, ready, like Jairus’ daughter, t o rise from the grave and take her place among the living once more, i t will be entirely different. There is everything t o be done? Well, a l l the better! We shall do everything. We shall choose the best sites for our cities; to b u i l d them we shall use a l l the resources o f modern science; we

shall make the earth fertile, and our people will learn t o cultivate that earth; they will learn t o exercise their abilities and their gifts of perseverance, industry and intelligence in other ways than those t o which they have been, so t o speak, confined u p t i l l now. “ I want t o drive the hucksters and the filth that dishonor Jerusalem o u t of that holy city. T o clean i t u p without harming it, respecting every stone, and t o dedicate i t t o humanitarian works, asylums for the aged and for children, t o the products of the mind, t o everything that would preserve its character of contemplation and august grandeur. Only outside its walls would rise the new city, modern Jerusalem, dominated and protected by the majesty of the old walls.” “But,” said I , “as a practical matter, h o w w i l l you make your dream come true?”

“Ah, that’s i t ! We need the country first! . . . Will Turkey consent to let i t go? A n d yet, what could b e more just, more

natural, than t o permit us t o establish ourselves i n that land which is ours, t o whose possession no one can contest our moral right!

And then there are the European powers: another big question mark! A n d lastly m y own people. Yes, you would not believe that even among the Jews my project has many enemies. Some don't understand i t , others don’t want to understand it, s t i l l others seek to interpret m y motives, to see i n them the calculations o f ambition

and interest, there where there is an idea which has taken posses-

sion of me and which I would make triumphant. But no matter; I go forward with m y dream, i n m y dream, i f you will, and for it.

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

875

I t is so dear t o me that I have always resisted the desire to give i t

shape by spelling out, in a novel for example, what the future of

our race may b e . ”

M . Herzl said all this in a warm, expressive voice, with vibrant, moving words; and as I listened, I recalled that passage in Tancred where, speaking of the constancy of the Jews who throughout the centuries and i n spite of persecution maintain the traditions of their race and still celebrate the feasts of Israel, n o longer under the burning sky of Galilee b u t i n the damp cities of the north, Disraeli adds: “ A race that persists i n celebrating their vintage, although they have n o fruits t o gather, w i l l regain their vineyards.”* Several days later I was with some diplomats, among them one of the Turkish delegates, H i s Excellency N u r i Bey, secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. T h e talk was about all sorts

of subjects, among them Zionism; H i s Excellency’s sly smile gave me t o understand that this would never really be more than a dream—at least i n this form. T o admit the Jews, yes indeed!

Turkey is vast; she is far from being developed as she should and could be; there is room for millions more o f inhabitants, and the

Jews, under the protection of Turkish law, would be safe from all persecution i n the enjoyment of absolute freedom of conscience. But the Holy Places cannot be turned over t o them; even the laws of Turkey forbid Jewish groups t o establish themselves there. I t would n o t be acceptable t o the Christian nations t o see pass into the hands of the Jews the sacred soil where Golgotha and the

Mount of Olives rise. M.L. September 1 3

‘The Anarchist Marcou Baruch shot himself in Florence. This obvious madman had pursued me with threatenin g letters between ®

the Second and the Third Congress. I was seriously afraid

Translator’s Note: T h e quotation is from Tancred, London, 1882, p . 388.

876 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] t h a t h e w o u l d attempt t o assassinate m e t h i s t i m e i n Basel. Meap.

while, n o one protected me. Marcou Baruch stood i n front of me, next to me, and behind me, whenever h e pleased. H e could have

plunged his knife in whenever he wanted t o . However, I seem to have given him the right tamer’s look, for he spoke with me bashfully and amiably. That I correctly read the murder i n his eyes is now proved by his suicide. #%

%

¥*

O n many other occasions, too, madmen come t o see me. I am haunted by Messiahs of every stripe. The latest thing is a “Jesus Christ” named Lichtneckert who writes me 1n an otherwise intelligent letter that I a m Elijah, his Elijah, and wants m e to give him 5000

guilders for the publication of a work that will redeem the

world. I turned the letter over t o m y good Hechler, who will call on him and calm him down. Hechler took the occasion t o tell me the following story: “When I was in Stockholm, a similar false Jesus Christ appeared i n the vicinity. H e again gathered together his twelve apostles. B u t when Good Friday approached, he saw his apostles tying sticks of wood together. H e asked them what they were doing. They said: ‘We are going t o crucify you again now.’ B u t this was too much for him, and he disappeared from that vicinity.”

September 25, Vienna

Bernstein Kohan writes that the I.C.A. Secretary Meyersohn

and Edm. Rothschild are in Constantinople. H e does n o t know what for. T o spit in our soup, take the wind o u t of our sails, exploit our ideas or thwart them?

At any rate, i f Edmond Rothschild is i n Constantinople, I suspect some typically Rothschildian villainy . H o w many times I have offered to withdraw i f o n l y they would

carry this idea out.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L 877 After all, I am n o t concerned about getting the charter myself, but about the Jews gett ing it. %

*

LJ

Today I am making the following declaration i n a secret session of the Actio ns Com mitte e:

For more than t w o years I have been defraying the costs of the party organ D i e Welt o u t of m y o w n pocket. As party chief I could not conduct the enterprise o n a business basis and also had to refuse the subsidies that were offered t o me. However, since the paper

demanded more and more sacrifices, which exceeded m y means, and I did n o t wish t o sell i t , I decided t o let i t die after the Third Congress.

I informed several friends of this situation. Mr. Heinrich Rosenbaum of Jassy then offered to get together a syndicate for the con-

tinuation of the Welt in the form of a joint-stock company. I accepted this proposal. By making this announcement t o the A . C , however, I repeat for the record the declaration I made when the paper was founded—namely, that I desire n o financial gain whatever from the funds I have invested i n the paper, and that i f such

gain should nevertheless fall t o my share, I shall turn i t over t o our Zionist propaganda fund. I request that this last declaration be kept i n complete confidence, since I do n o t wish t o impose upon the other shareholders among our followers the moral necessity of acting likewise. I , too, would not disdain the legitimate earnings o f a newspaper, if i t were n o t the special case for me that it is the official organ of a moveme nt of which I am the head.

September 2 9 , Vienna The Austrian crisis is now being solved exactly the way I advised I n my letter t o the Chief of Police a few months ago: throug h revocation of the language ordinances and personal interve ntion by the Emp eror with the factions. |

878

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz| Oc tob er

Today Josef Lichtneckert, the “returned Jesus Christ,” calleg o n me—a lunatic of the purest water. T o get rid o f h i m , I let hip come in, made friendly conversation with him, and explained tg him that I could n o t give him the 5 0 0 0 or 2 0 0 0 guilders he was asking for; why didn’t he apply t o the Bible Society. This sugges. tion he received gratefully. Whether I have got rid of h i m this way is still doubtful, to b e sure.

October

Today I happened t o run into Dr. Kornfeld, the psychiatrist, in the print-shop of the Welt. I told h i m about the “returned Jesus Christ.” H e told me that this was probably a dangerous lunatic and took i t upon himself t o call on h i m and, i f necessary, t o notify the police. H e said that one would incur a responsibility i f one did not do this, for the man could suddenly get the compulsion t o kill

someone.

Octoberb6

Hechler is to go t o Darmstadt on Monday t o request an audience with the Czar for me. I am giving h i m this letter for the Grand Duke of Hesse:

Your Royal Highness: The kindly Rev. Hechler is the bearer of this n o t e . May I recall myself t o your memory i n a few words? When last August I had the distinction of being received at Darmstadt, Your Royal Highness made me the most gracious promise t o intercede with H i s Majesty the Emperor of Russia to the end that I be received by this exalted lord as well i n order to explain the purposes and aims of Zionism . For Russia the question is importan t enough. O u r proposal means a solution which is humanitaria n and complete a t the same

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 879 time. Your Royal Highness said further that ideas of such envergure [scope] were capable of arousing the Czar’s interest. God grant i t ! Begging Your Royal Highness to accept the expression of m y deep respect, I am Your obedient servant, Dr. T h . H .

October 1 3 , ’gg, Vienna T o Dr. Alfred Stern, the Community Councillor and VicePresident of the Vienna Jewish Community, I owe—who would

have thought it!l—an idea for the future. The other day he asked me not to let their Polna Protest Meeting at the Musikvereinssaal

be disturbed by our students. I promised i t t o him on the condition that we a t least be permitted t o put u p one speaker t o discuss the

question of what was t o be done with the exiles and “burned-out people” of Polna, Kuttenberg, etc. Should n o t a campaign t o aid them be started? Stern implored me in dismay t o abandon this idea. I t would be tantamount t o mobilizing all of Bohemia. That is t o say, the poor Jews from all over Bohemia would come t o Vienna i n

search of help, and the local upper Jews* would have the bother. I pretended that I was being dissuaded, b u t immediately made a note of the effect in eventum [for possible future use]. Once the moment—of the Charter!—has come, I shall intimidate the upperclass Jews i n Vienna, London, and Paris with a pilgrimage o f

misére [misery]. I can easily give the word, as was recently done a t Creusot.

October 1 4 , Vienna Hechler’s expedition seems to have failed. H e telegraphs from Dar mst adt:

Brother-in-law (Grand Duke) very friendly, will ask father * I n English i n the original.

880 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] (Czar), b u t impossible i n immediate future. H e wishes to issye

direct invitatio n. Returni ng today. Heinric h. Octo ber 16, Vienn a

The Boer War may be Pandora’s box for the Jews of England, I f the English troops should fare badly, the repercussions can hit the Jews. The mine speculators will be accused of having plunged England into this misfortune. A m I seeing things aright? October 2 1 , Vienna

Hechler returned today from the Grand Dukes of Baden and Hesse. Baden was kind and good as always, Hesse cool and reserved.

Hechler thought my letter had not been subservient enough, and sald: “The smaller am a n is, the more h e wants t o b e flattered.” Bref [In short], a failure.

Now, following the Czar’s departure from Darmstadt, we will try a letter t o the Czarina, asking her to procure a n audience for me a t St. Petersburg.

October 27, '99 I n today’s N . Fr. Pr. there is a despatch from Karlsruhe to the

effect that the Czar plans t o visit the Grand Duke of Baden. I am writing the Grand Duke: Your Royal Highness: I n a few words—so as n o t t o be a burden— I should like

to

pre:

Sent a great, earnest reque st.

There are reports i n the newspape rs that H i s Majesty the

Emperor of Russia will visit Your Royal Highness within the next few days. T o me this seems like a sign from provid ence. I t is of vital interest to our movement that I obtain a n audience with H . M . the Czar.

T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

881

There are two reasons: First, to inform the exalted lord about

the honest aims of Zionism. Second, to make our movement appear as recognized i n Russia through the fact of this audience. M y poor associates i n Russia are continually trembling for fear that here

and there some governor might see something wicked i n their Zionism, too. H i s Majesty's ukase 1 n favor o f Z i o n i s m w o u l d b e too much—for i n filtering down t o lower echelons i t would be

given the character of a deportation order. Since we still have n o Charter from the Turkish government, this would be a mass

catastrophe. On the other hand, my audience would be just the amount of benevolence that we need at present to continue our

work. I will n o t even ask for another, a positive, kind of help. Your Royal Highness has known for a long time how earnestly I have been serving this redeeming idea, what great pains I have taken and how I have not given way t o enmity. May I request aid this time, too, from Your Royal Highness’ good will which has already been a comfort t o m e i n many a dificult hour? I would immediately respond t o a telegraphic summons t o Baden or to Darmstadt. However, should the Imperial visitor have no more time for this now, let h i m order m e t o St. Petersburg o r

any place whatever. I believe I may already point t o one useful effect of m y activity: I have converted many from the false doctrines of social revolution and turned them to a n ideal. May my habit of looking u p t o Your Royal Highness as t o m y most gracious helper serve as m y excuse i f

m y request of today con-

tains anything improper or impracticable. With my deepest respect and heartfelt gratitude I remain Your Royal Highness’ most obedient servant, Dr. Th. H .

October go, Vienna

I have a report from the University that several students are

rebelling against me.

882 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy Columbus ’ crew is also immortal.

This week I am sending for the officers of the student associ, tions, i n order t o knock some sense i n t o t h e i r heads. *

¥%

LJ

Nuri writes he will soon send me a confidential agent here in Vienna. *

*

*

Trietsch is spreading successful propaganda i n Rumania for

his Cyprus project which I consider very sensible, although out of consideration for the Hoveve: Zion I must n o t come o u t i n favor of it.

November 2, Vienna

From my bathroom this morning I saw a telegraph messenger walk by the garden fence. I watched eagerly t o see i f he would stop a t my gate. H e did. The maid brought me the telegram with the red paper

strip of

court telegrams. A h a ! F r o m t h e Grand Duke,

‘The wire could be interesting. I prolonged my anticipationa bit i n order to amuse myself. T h e fact that h e had sent a wire proved

that he had something t o tell me. B u t what? T h e summons t o the Czar? T h e telegram reads:

Baden-Baden Palace, Nov. 1 , 7:45 p-m. Going to Darmstadt tomorrow and expecting final decision there which I shall report immedi ately. Frie dric h

T h e words “final decision” permit the assumption that he has

already spoken with the Czar a t Baden-Baden and received no outrig ht refusal. I t would b e a tremendous step forward. O n t h e other hand, |

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

883

read today i n the official newspaper despatches that the Czar is staying in Darms tadt u n t i l Nov. 7.

Thus i t might be possible that we are a t the threshold of a great success o f Zion ism.

November § The expected reply from the Grand Duke has not come. Since by today he m u s t have left Darmstadt, this silence only admits of the explanation that the Czar, who did n o t wish t o refuse outright in Baden-Baden and asked for time t o think i t over, meanwhile had an excuse prepared for h i m by Minister Muraviev or his

staff. T o be sure, i t would also b e conceivable that h e simply does not

wish t o receive me now and that he will summon m e t o Russia. I would even much prefer the latter. Another possibility would be

that the good Grand Duke had t o march off completely bredouille [empty-handed]. Bref, nous verrons [ I n short, w e shall see]. *

Letter t o N u r i :

%

*

* November #4, Vienna

Your Excelle ncy:

Permit me t o outline briefly for you the current state of affairs. Since the last Congress a t Basel the moveme nt has begun t o lean toward Cyprus. Seeing that the Turkish governm ent does not appear disposed t o come t o an underst anding with us, they want to

turn toward the island which is contro lled by Engla nd and is always accessible t o us. After several years immig rants there become full-fledged citizens, enjoyi ng a large measure of autono my, etc. ®

I n French i n the orig inal.

884 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7|

Until the next Congress I will still be

master

of the situatiop,

B u t i f I have nothing t o show u p to that time, o u r plans fall ing the water—of Cyprus.* I t is u p to the statesmen of Turkey to understand i n time the

advantages that would slip through your fingers. You would not have t h e Jewish establishment i n Palestine t h a t w o u l d have

brought you a great deal of money immediately, then the ordering

of your entire financial situation, a modern fleet, industrial and commercial life, finally the well-being of the Empire. B u t i f you do not have Jewish colonization t o benefit you, you will have colonization by others t o cost you dearly. You will n o t be able t o deny immigration t o “friendly nations.” From one conces. sion t o another, step by step, you will be forced t o give up for pleasant words and handshakes what you could have yielded for real benefits. Others are interested i n making you weaker and weaker—we, on the contrary, are interested in making you stronger and stronger, for you will have to protect us.

The sovereignty of H . M . the Sultan which with us would be lasting and strong would become, thanks t o “capitulations,” a formality that would finally disappear like that o f Crete. Please accept these sincere, serious words from a devoted friend

who does n o t conceal the fact that he has his own people’s interests in view, but in full accord with the interests of Turkey. I n order to restore the patience and courage o f the Zionists, i t 1s indis-

pensable that I be received as soon as possible by H.M. the Sultan and that I explain our loyal, advantageous projects to his exalted wisdom. Please accept the assurance of my profound regard.

Your very devoted Th. H . That entails no commitment yet; the Sultan will decide after having heard me. ®

Translator's N o t e : Herzl humorously alludes t o eau d e C h y p r e , t h e name of a

perfume. Thus, “our plans fall into the toilet water”!

T H E COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L

885

Novemb er 8 , Vienna

N o news from the Grand Duke. I n any case, his attempt to have the Czar receive me a t Darmst adt has failed, since b y today the Czar is a t Potsdam. Perhaps I shall yet get a letter explaini ng the detailed circumstances. Perhaps 1 didn’t manage t o make a good impression o n the Grand Duke of Hesse and he has prevented it? *

*

*

I foresee the n e x t developments like this: I f by the Fourth Congress I have n o t made any headway with the Turkish government, I shall prepare the Cyprus project sous la main [in short order], go t o London, speak w i t h Salisbury, and induce the Congress t o go t o Cyprus for the time being. At any rate, I believe that after the next Congress we shall actually go to the country, to some country.

I could, of course, hasten all this i f I were a free man and could travel whenever necessary. Then I would have been in Karlsruhe, near by when the Czar was there, and umpteen other opportunities would have been created and taken advantage of. By now I would have gone t o Constantinople, t o o , and accomplished something there.

But I am a little clerk of Messieurs Bacher and Benedikt. I m u s t show u p a t the office every day, even though I don’t do much there. I f the Welt had offered me some financial support, everything would have been better and quicker. B u t I had t o declare i n advance that I would t u r n any profits over t o the m o v e m e n t . O n the contrary, the movement has left m e i n the lurch, and so far

I have lost more than 2 5 , 0 0 0 guilders on the Welt. A n d as i f this weren't enough, they are now arming against this paper t o which we owe the entire development for the past three years, the Congress, the Bank. Everybody is dissatisfied with the articles. They all want t o interfere, b u t when i t comes t o paying, they give me a free hand. I t is a good lesson for me. Probabl y things would be even worse if I were already completely ruine d.

886 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy Verlasse dich auf Fiirsten nicht,

Sie sind wie eine Wiege [Put n o t thy trust in princes who Like cradles rock from side t o side] I could say with reference t o the German Kaiser's “help.” B u t when I think of my adherents, who will rebel a t the slightest

provocation,I can add the conclusion of the verse:

Wer heute Hosiannah spricht, Spricht morgen: Crucifige! [They who today’s ‘Hosanna’ cry,

Say next: ‘Let him be crucified!’]* I n truth, I put my trust neither i n princes nor i n the people, but only in myself. For that reason I must work tremendously hard in order t o meet m y needs: one play after the other (unfortunately, it’s hard to get

them performed), and now the novel Altneuland. I n order t o get some grist for my mill, I now have even revised my old farce Mutterséhnchen [Mother's Boy] and included a part for the comedian Girardi. There is no literary work that would be more loathsome t o me. A n d there will probably be reproaches levelled a t me when i t becomes known that I as “prophet” am performing such basse besogne [hack work]. B u t what am I t o do Zionism is costing m e money and must not yield m e anything O n the other hand, I have done myself very great harm as 2

“German writer,” and they don’t quite dare t o perform me. For the same reason, there is n o hope for advancement with the N. Fr. Pr. Yet the claims upon m e grow from every side. Shnorrer [beggars] of all kinds come to me, from as far as Persia. Again and again I must p u t out money for the Welt, the Congress, and the

Bank. * Translator’s Note: Herzl undoubtedly read these lines, part of an old Protestant hymn, i n Prince Bismarck’s autobiography Gedanken u n d Erinnerungen (1898) Bismarck quotes them i n connection w i t h his memories o f his early political tutor Leopold von Gerlach. T h e translation given here is from the English edition (Bisma rck, T h e M a n a n d T h e Statesm an), vol. 1 , 1899.

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 887 I f people knew all this, they might admire me more than they do. But the explan ation that is presumably circul ating about me among the public is proba bly either that i t is nettin g me a pile of money, or that I am doin g i t o u t o f vanit y. If, however, 1 break down, the public will rain kicks o n me; people will laugh a t me and be ungra teful.

So, don’t break dow n!

November 12, Vienna

Received a fine holograph letter from the Grand Duke, dated Baden-Baden the 1 0 t h of the month. He writes that he discussed my request with the Czar a t BadenBaden and at Wolfsgarten. As regards the cause, the Czar was favorably disposed t o i t even a t Baden; b u t he d i d n o t want to

express himself about my audience u n t i l Wolfsgarten. When the Grand Duke brought i t u p again a t Wolfsgarten, he could tell that Muraviev, who had returned from Paris i n the meantime, had used his influence against it. However, I a m to work o u t a memorandum i n French which the Grand Duke offers t o transmit t o the Czar.

November 1 2 , 9 9 I am answering: Your Royal Highness: I have just received, w i t h heartfelt thanks, Your Royal Highness’ most gracious holograph letter of the 1 0 t h

inst. Even though unfortunately no immediate success is noted, all

the exalted kindness of the noblest prince once again speaks from it directly t o my heart. I t goes without saying that I shall take Your

Royal Highness’ advice, which guldes m e under all circumstances, and work out a memoran dum i n the French language. As soon as i t 1s complet ed, I

shall t a k e

t h e l i b e r t y o f s e n d i n g i t t o Karlsru he.

888 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy Begging Y.R.H. t o accept the expression of m y deepest respeq

and everlasting gratitude, I am Your most obedient servant, Dr. Th. H . Novem ber 2 2 , ’gg, Vienna Yesterday I sent my vague, prolix, court-style memorandum fo

the Czar t o Alex Marmorek in Paris for translation. Like Sheherazade, I made less of an effort t o please with my nar. rative than t o arouse a desire for more. I supplemented this en. deavor in my covering letter t o the Czar: * Sire: I t is t o the graciousness of H i s Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden, who has consented to become the exalted sponsor of my

humble request for an audience with Your Imperial Majesty, tha I owe my permission t o submit the Zionist plan for the final solu tion of the Jewish Question. The Zionists wish t o benefit their un fortunate brethren, draw them away from subversive doctrines, and set them on the way t o a more exalted morality i n the very interest o f all humanity.

The enclosed account contains only the broad outlines of the

plan. Not t o be too long about i t , I have restricted myself t o supplying only some general indications. As for the numerous questions about detail, I am a t all times a t Your Imperial Majesty's disposal For the manner i n which the project could be executed, for the ways and means of making it a reality, an oral explanation would be of the greatest usefulness. I f I presume, then, humbly t o ask the favor of being allowed to present myself a t St. Petersburg or any other place i t may please Your Majesty t o designate, i t is in the highest interest of the cause t o which I have devoted myself. The solution of this painful question would b e a great a n d splendid act, worthy of our time, worthy of the most magnanimous sover eigns.

I am, Sire, with the profoundest respect ®

I n French i n the original.

T H E COMP LETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 889 Your Imperia l Majesty's very humble and obedient servant. Dr. Th. H . Covering Letter t o the Grand Duke of Baden

Your Royal Highness: I am taking the liberty of respectfully submitting, as an enclosure, the memorandum I composed a t the most gracious advice of Your Royal Highness, as well as a letter to H . M . the Emperor of Russia.

I n accordance with Your Royal Highness’ wish, I have kept i t brief. God grant that I have hit on the right thing this way. Should my text have t o be revised, cut, o r expanded i n any way, I beg most respectfully to have the unsatisfactory places indicated to me.

With the expression of heartfelt respect and loyal gratitude for all your gracious help, I remain

Your Royal Highness’ most obedient servant, Dr. Th. H . Nov. 25, Vienna

Yesterday Carl Herbst of Sofia was here and made the good

suggestion of having the Young Turks work on the Sultan. I n the

papers of the Young Turks we should have the governm ent censured for its carelessness i n n o t taking u p the advantageous offers of the Zionists. Decem ber 2, Vienn a.

Rumors about Bacher’s leaving the N . Fr. Pr. have been floating

about the office for the past few days. H e is said t o have sold his Interest in the paper t o financiers. I discussed i t with Cous in Moritz, who held o u t t o me the possibility of findin g the mone y

890 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] to

acquire the shares, provided that Bacher lets me have them, 4

great deal would depend o n i t . I shall try to talk t o h i m .

December 5, Vienna. I am suddenly facing a turning point i n m y life. I t is very much

in the n a t u r e of an outbreak of war which one has expected for; long, long t i m e and which surprises one intensely when i t does

burst forth. I n the last few days the following happened: O n Saturday, December 2, I l e f t w i t h Bacher after w e had put

the evening paper t o bed, and accompanied h i m t o his home. At

first I joked with him. Then I suddenly said t o him: “ I a m going to interview you now. D o you know what people are saying in Vienna? That you want to retire.”

He: “That is n o t quite correct put this way. I have already heard i t myself, but i t is n o t t r u e . Unfortunately! I have the desire all right, but as yet there 1s no possibility.” I : “You won't consider my question indiscreet. You understand that the matter is of interest to a colleague, too. I n o u r relationship there is a l o t of the personal. A m a n does not want to obey just any

superior.” H e understood. Then we went t o his new house which he had just bought and moved into. Together with his wife he showed me the place. Then I left without having said any more.

After that I consulted with my parents and with Moritz. They were of the opinion that I should ask h i m directly whether he was

willing t o relinquish his share t o me. ‘Thereupon I wrote him immediately t o give me an appointment a t his home for the n e x t day (Sunday), morning or afternoon. On Sunday I waited with impatience and astonishment until ten

o'clock; nothing came from him. Then I had t o go out, and only when I got back a t

1:30

p.m. d i d I find his letter, saying that he

expected me between 1 1 and 1 2 i n the morning. T h e appointment could n o t be arranged for the afternoon either. Thus our meeting was postponed until yesterday.

O R H E R Z L 891 D O E H T F O S T E D IA R IE T H E COM P LE d er had already in qu ire ch Ba e. fic of e th o t nt l d lik e t o Ready for battle I we ld h i m th at I w o u to 1 y. bl ia am d ize ticipaabout me and apolog cited half-hour of an ex an d ha I en Th . m om t o go home w ith hi case he came in to m y ro in elf ys m e os mp co o t tion. I tried th is 18 ho w wait unnerved me. So e Th g. vin lea r fo up pick me some su pe rio r. ial co nv er sa tio n w i t h uc cr a e for be l fee le er peop d we nt au devant du dang an r ge lon y an it nd sta Finally I couldn't ting in the reading room sit s wa er ch Ba . er] ng da the of [into the face atr ica l ation revolved ar ou nd the ers nv co eir Th n. an ttm with Wi lfheartedly. matters. I participated in i t ha d my good parents,

d visite Before 1 had gone t o the office, 1 ha

give me the ir blessing for the as I do every day, and had the m l y b e rid icu lou s, b u t I did fee difficult, great und erta kin g. I t ma me the

they also gave need for it. In addition t o their blessing . good advice to act with assurance. And I did the stairs I joked On The chat with Wittmann was over. We left.

2

the gate, silen tly with Bacher. The n I preceded him o u t thro ugh never t o saying t o myself: “Now I may be leaving the N . Fr. Pr., retur n.”

We were on the Parkring. On the staircase I had said t o Bacher when he was starting t o talk about i t : “Quan d on est mort, c'est

pour longtemps—et quand o n parle de choses sérieuses, c'est aussi

pour longtemps [When one is dead, i t is for a long time; and when one talks about serious matters, i t is also for along time].” |

vhen we had arrived at the Ring, I started i n . I had learned e opening by heart, so as n o t to falter. .

.

.

“F

on Bo way you

oe oo

.

have harbored the idea of strikin g o u t o n m y er wants to become a manag er some day. T h e

ay wil l probably make my intention mature p o i e betore yesterd Fr. Pr. will in anyy N, hardly b

becomedifferent. That situat ion will case case become different. That situatio n will pref

I be to my taste any more.. So SoI prefe r leaving before that. ” “ Heeysaid: “I assure you that all this is still h i g h :

said:

ighly premature. I should very much l 1i kk e t o retire, because I am tired ed and have worked long enough. I have no child forTr w hwh know c h i l d r e n and don’t nothis. 1sh om , I But should wear myself out like . But I haven't got that far yet. i

>

892 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy This is, above all, a question o f property. I can’t abandon my interests l i k e that.”

Thereupon I said t o him 4 brile pourpoint [point-blank]: “ I shall buy your interest i f you want t o let me have it. Tp funds w i l l be made available to m e b y a few people i n m y family,

I want t o become independent. I am forty years old. Right noy I still have t e n years of full-strength work ahead of me. I n tha time I want t o acquire something for m y children. You can relinquish your share to me. After all, I have given m y best to the

N. Fr. Pr. for ten years now. I am a son of the firm. Certainly you can give i t t o me sooner than to strange financiers. D o you know what people are saying? That you are going to give your interest t o coal-Gutmann!”

He, indignantly: “And you believed that about me?” I shrugged my shoulders. He: “Who told you that?” I : “ I don’t want t o gossip.” (I had i t from Goldbaum). He: “The difhculty was precisely that I had n o suitable person t o take over. I can’t turn over m y holdings t o a bank. T h e N. Fr. Pr. 1s a matter of honor with me. I can’t run away like a pig from its trough.” (Never had I liked him as much as a t that moment). H e concluded: “ I am ready in principle t o turn my interest over to you. B u t Benedikt’s consent is a condicio sine q u a n o n [indis pensable condition]. I t would b e a n act o f impropriety i f I let my

share go without his approval. Whether he will ever give it, I don know; I rather doubt it.”

I : “ I f he doesn’t give his consent now, he never will. So I won't gain anything by waiting. I t will be better for me t o leave i m mediately and start a “Neue Presse” of my own. I can do i t . All you did four years ago, when the government made me an offer, was to

tell me that you would be hurt i f I left. That was enough to

induce m e to stay. I asked n o t h i n g i n return a n d got nothing. ‘That time you added: ‘We are old; w h o shall succeed us?’—Today, now that the matter is becoming serious, I a m told that Benedikt

T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

893

would never accept me as a partner. Then it is really wiser for me t o leave.” He reiterated that he was willing, b u t everything depended o n Benedikt, whom he wanted t o tell about i t the very same day. With this and a hearty handshake we parted in front of his house. I related this incident to m y parents, Moritz, and m y wife. I t had excited me a great deal.

I had exerted so much will-power to be controlled, b u t after-

wardsI did have cardiac pains and wobbly legs. Last night I slept little. The morning paper cheered me, because i t was bad, empty, and skimpily put together. I inferred that i t had suddenly become a matter o f indifference to him, l i k e some merchandise that one wants to get rid of.

Am I mistaken? A t any rate, today there will follow the second round with Benedikt. More excitement, perhaps even the decision. I am right u p against victory or defeat. Never has the psychology of a war been so clear t o me. I t 1s a foolhardy undertaking , such as one is lured into by one’s imagination and which one then goes through with tant bien que mal [after a fashion], because one is too cowardly to back out.

Tomorrow I may be o u t in the street—or perhaps be the ruler of the roost. I f I fail, I s t i l l won't face myself and m y family w i t h o u t vindica-

tion; for Benedikt’s refusal will have demonstrated that he in-

tended t o keep me in this inadequate, badly paid position the rest of my life, t o squeeze me dry like a lemon, only t o throw me away

some day.

As i t says i n the French farce: “Si je n’avais pas peur, ou serait le

courage [1f I weren 't afraid , where woul d I find the coura ge]?”’

Dece mber 6 , V i e n n a

T h e seco nd roun d i s over .

Yesterday, after the even ing paper had been put to bed, I accompanied Benedikt home.

894 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy

H e had already been prepared for the assaut [attack] by Bache and defended himself absolutely brilliantly. I began: “ D i d Dr. Bacher tell you?” H e : “What? That you want to start a paper? W h y shouldn',

your” The other possibility—my moving into Bacher’s place—be didn’t even mention, evidently because h e thought i t the mor frightful one. H e explained to m e for what two papers there was

still room i n Vienna: a radically popular liberal paper and a gen. uinely Social-Democrat one. I rejected both. “ I a m going to start a distinguished paper o n the largest scale.”

He: “There is n o t room in Vienna for t w o such papers.” I : “We shall see. Unless you accept me as a partner in Bacher’ place.” He: “Bacher has no intention of retiring.” I : “ H e specifically told me so yesterday.” H e : “ H e didn’t want t o give you a flat No. Why, I have more thoughts of retiring than he does.” (Of course, neither is true; Bacheris tired, he isn’t.) We then got into an extremely affable conversation. I had to accompany h i m upstairs to his apartment and have coffee with

him. H e offered me great opportunities with a cigar. H e confiden-

tially painted for me the dangers I would be facing with my ex periment. I depicted for him the dangers of his refusal and told h i m the program of my paper: a “Neue Freie Presse” which w o u l d n ’ t b e Zionist, t o b e sure, b u t would report o n t h e Zionist

movement. Thereupon I

went

into the grievances I had stored u p over the

years: t h e silence a b o u t o u r movement, t h e grotesquely inade-

quate position I have o n the paper, the ridiculously small salary,

the lack of freedom whenever I w a n t t o make an importan t trip. H e said: “ I ' l l take care of that. Your demands are justified.” I : “ I beg your pardon, I am not demanding a thing. I am merely telling you that I a m dissatisfied w i t h m y present situation and see n o improvement i n the future. Just as you think o f your children,

R H E R Z L 895 T H E COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O e into an I think of mine . You want t o make the Neu e Freie Press ers— but heirloom of the Benedikts, as the Time s is that of the Walt I d o n ’ t wan t to be the Erb fors ter. ”* We spoke about this, that, and the other thing , and talked around i t . His l i n e was to look right throug h me, with a n uncon

cerned face, and t o frighten me about the experiment. My line was to intim idate him. We finally broke off and postponed i t until another time. I promised him t o work on the Christmas number in any case. That was a point d’honneur [point of honor] with me.

December 4 Yesterday all quiet o n the Plevna front. ** Only t w o signs were t o be noted, one favorable and one unfavorable. Favorable: Hugo Ganz came to me a t noon yesterday and complained that in his feuilleton about Nordau more than half— namely, the tempering of the praise—had been blue-pencilled, so that only boundless admiration remained. This is an indication of lack of courage on the part of Benedikt who does n o t w a n t t o incur the displeasure of my associate Nordau. T h e entire feuilleton is a concession of cowardice, to keep Nordau for the N e u e Freie Presse. Unfavorable: Bacher and Benedikt avoided a discussion with me yesterday. Benedikt asked Wittmann t o accompany h i m home. I kept silent.

Today I shall engage him and tell him that I won’t allow the matte r to b e shelve d. Translator’s N o t e : A reference t o O t t o L u d w i g ' s tragedy D e r Erbférster (The Hereditary Forester, 1850) i n w h i c h t h e protagonis t claims that, since h e has inherited

his position from his father and grandfath er, he cannot legally be discharged. When the forester receives the threatene d

dismissal from

the n e w owner o f the estate, h e

tries to take revenge, with tragic results . *¢ Translator's Note: Plevna was a town the Russians besieged for 1 4 3 days i n the fr sso Turkish War of 1877. What Herzl really means is: “ A l l quiet o n the N . Fr. P r on

Ad

}

896 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] Dec emb er §

Yesterday, the third round with Benedikt. H e made me some propositions: Equal salary with Wittmann, Expansion of my sphere of influence, a k i n d of sovereignty in the literary section. H e also seemed mollified i n regard t o Zionism, | rejected his proposals. H e was evidently shaken b y this, and started to t h i n k of my

resignation as a more serious possibility. We talked back and forth for hours. *

*

¥*

Yesterday the rumor circulated a t the Stock Exchange that Bacher was retiring from the Neue Freie Presse and that 1 was taking his place.—When I left Benedikt, I ran i n t o coal-Gutmann who acted very familiar, linked arms with me, and walked part of the way with me—evidently also in connection w i t h the rumors that I was going t o be boss; his talk was awfully Zionist.

December 12

Yesterday, suspension, actually conclusion, o f t h e d u e l . Benedikt

proposed that I should stay. The publishers grant me the highest salary of any staff member of the Neue Freie Presse—3o000 guilders more than Wittmann gets. Moreover, whenever the Zionist move: m e n t achieves any practical result, they are willing t o record it without bias. I am t o be given the exclusive editorship of the entire

literary section of the Neue Freie Presse. I asked for time t o think i t over, inwardly determined t o accept. What was t o be won a t this time I have won.

Dece mber 12 Wrote t o Nordau t o intervene o n b e h a l f o f m y memorandum w i t h Pobedono stsev, and t o Baroness Suttner t o d o t h e same with

Murav iev and Ambassador Kapn ist.

897

T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

Decem ber 18, Viennn a

Baroness Suttner writes: “ A l l right!” ’* She has written t o Muravievand Kapnis t, b u t does n o t expect much success from her inter-

vention. Neither do I . I was only interested i n showing Muraviev and Kapnist that I don’t w a n t t o bypass them. *

*

i

ed from T h e day befor e yesterday the follo wing lette r arriv Moi’s** pen-holder Crespi: *** Dear Sir:

Thanks t o the formation of a company a t Stuttgart, t o which the king and queen of Wiirttemberg have subscribed the major part, a company with a capital of 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 marks intended for German farm colonization i n Palestine, the matter entrusted t o us has taken a giant step forward. Please be ready, upon receipt of a telegram which I shall send you, t o come here immediately, for H.M. will be disposed t o grant you an audience. Negotiations are so far advanced in your favor that I need only wire you “Leave a t once,” and you will be received immediate ly upon your arrival. I cannot give you the details of the colossal

efforts that have been made during the past month, but I can assure you that the result has been and will be a practica l one. Please keep what I have told you in the strictest confidence. With kind regards, Crespi *

*

LJ

I f this is true and is not inten ded as the grou ndwo rk for some vague demand for money or t o reassure me about the first payment,

It1s an enormous step.

I n English i n the orig inal . Translato rs Note: Herzl refers to Nuri Be “Moi.” T ‘The English equivalent might be “The Great Ego.” y as “Moi. 01.” ®

*®

i

:

*¢®

I n French i n the origina l.

:

808 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] I t doesn’t sound improbable, either. Siemens of the Deutsche Bank is i n Constantinople in connection w i t h the Bagdad Raj. road. T h e Turks have his knife and the water a t t h e i r throats. Ger.

many is making tremendous progress i n the Orient. However, the benefits the Sultan has from i t are highly Platonic i n nature. Porc. lain vases, handshakes, decorations, telegrams—that is all. The German crusade looks like railroad construction and such tomfool. ery. Meanwhile the Turks are beginning t o see the light. Perhaps

Ambassador Constans did his share in arousing suspicion against Germany.

But perhaps I am only being called to get Siemens to make a bet. ter offer. I a m being treated as the Jew with w h o m they threaten to

sign. Whatever may be the case, I shall make the trip a t once. Of course, I wouldn't put i t past the good M o : t o have some bandit friends p u l l m e off the Orient Express en route, so h e can extort

some ransom from Jewry as whose head he regards me. Therefore, if I am really summoned and i f i t is a t all possible, I shall go t o Con: stantinople by sea. I f I go, I will send Hechler t o the Grand Duke i n order t o influence German diplomacy and banking i n my favor. They shall give orders from Berlin that I a m a n a l l y a n d secret friend, a n d even

though I am not supported, I shall n o t be hindered .

December 27, Vienna Nothing from Constantinople, nothing , nothing .

Je me désespére [I am in despair]. Precisely because the summons seemed t o be so imminent, this day-to-day disappointment is so extremely distressing.

Today's papers report that the Constantinople ambassador Straus is passing through here. Gotthe il wrote that Straus would look me up. I n any case, I think the dignified thing for m e t o do is n o t t o call on him. T h e papers further report from Constantin ople the conclusion of a prelim inary agreement, w i t h advance payme nt, betwee n the

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 899 Porte and the Deutsche Bank. Perhaps, as the temporary need for money disappeared, so did their desire t o call in the Jew. O r was the whole thing hokum on Nuri’s part? December 29, Vienna Spoke yesterday with the American ambassador t o Constantinople, Oscar Straus, who is passing through here. I had Schalit inquire i n the morning when we could have a talk. H e i n v i t e d m e to come t o the Hotel Impérial a t 5:30 p.m.

He is of below-average height, lean, with a reddish, sparse beard, a hook-nose, Jewish handle-ears, scanty h a i r ; 48 years old, dry,

smart,* and yet instantly likeable because of his honest eyes. After ive minutes we were o n familiar terms, although h e began

by remarking that I enjoyed the reputation of being indiscreet. However, he couldn’t blame m e for m y inconsiderateness, for i n such a great matter persons cannot b e spared. H e himself was

neither for nor against Zionism, for he held an official position. Then he needlessly pledged me t o divulge nothing of our conversation.

H e considers Palestine impossible for us to attain. T h e Greek

and Roman-Catholic Churches would n o t let us have it. I told h i m that I considered only Rome an opponent. I forgot t o give h i m m y deeper reason: that only Roman Catholicism is as oecumenical as Judaism. Rome is the rich brother who hates the poor brother. The other Churches are national and therefore don’t need Jerusalem as an Archimedean point. Straus is for Mesopotamia! H e said he knew that a long time ago a pamphlet o n Mesopota mia had been sent m e b y Cyrus Adler, at the instigation of some friends (Judge Sulzberger and others i n New York ). Mesopotamia, he said, was attainable. There are n o church rival-

ries there, and i t is the original home of Israel. Abraham came from Mesopotamia, and there we could make use of the mystic elements, too. * I n English i n the origi nal.

900 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L I t is the idea of faire tdche d’huile [spreading out] which N y ; expressed a t Scheveningen. Artin Pasha, too, had written me i n , similar vein—acting, as I now guess, o n the advice of Straus, why was acquainted with m y letters t o Artin. Straus sharply denounced the riffraff i n power i n and around Yildiz Kiosk. All the power wag

united in the Sultan’s fist. The ministers were idiots and cowardly, corrupt characters. T h e Sultan didn’t give a hoot for the

whole of

Turkey. With talk about humanity* and the like nothing whatever could be accomplished with him. Oh yes, i f he could see money or benefits of some other kind, he might perhaps be won over. But any conversation or negotiation with others was worthless. With the Sultan, or n o t a t all. I told him about the prospect which had opened u p t o me two weeks ago, but unfortunately remained sans suite [unconcluded]. H e pressed me hard t o give h i m the name of m y intermediary. I

kept stubbornly silent and thus gave him some proof of my discretion. H e guessed over and over who i t could be. I let him go on guessing. We parted as friends. I took his promise that he would send me

tips which might be useful some time, signing himself with the pseudonym ‘“Mesopotamicus.”

1900

January 2 , Vienna Yesterday I

s e n t the Grand Duke a New Year's telegram, as I

had

done the previous year, and today I received the following wire:

Grateful for your valued New Year's wishes; returning my cordial wishes for your well-being in the new year. Meanwhile I received word from St. Petersburg t w o days ago, acknowledging receipt of the memorandum you sent me. I t was favorably received, and I am t o thank you for it.

Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden. ®

I n English in the original.

H E R Z L 901 T H E COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R January 1 2 , Vien na

Mandelstamm worriedly reports that the Chief of the Russian Police has threatened Dr. Awinowitzky of Odessa that he would

“close u p the Zionist shop.” A n allusi on t o our stand against the Socialists put the might y man in a more gracious mood . I sent Mandelstamm m y memor andum t o the Czar as an amulet in case of emergency. %*

*

%*

Moi’s agent, Crespi, made me the ridiculou s proposal of buying the Constantinople paper Stamboul. A t the same time he said that our efforts had been interrupted by the Ramadan. So a t least there is again some hope that after the Ramadan things will perhaps go forward.

January 1 3 Yesterday, a t the opening of I Love You a t the Burgtheater, they once again made me suffer for m y Zionism. A t the end of the harmless play there was violent hissing, which obviously could not have been caused by this unpretentious comedy. I must n o t live on Zionism; I am n o t t o live o n literature. A problem!

January go, Vienna

Last Saturday's papers reported that Nuri had arrived here with Turkhan Pasha from The Hague (after the signing of the Peace Conference Protocol). I sent Kremenezky t o the Hotel Impérial. Kremenezky waited for Nuri for hours, finally left, and when h e

returned on Sunday, Nuri had already departed. - The fact that he did not call o n me makes me fear the worst— a aud.

Iam writing him today in an envelope addressed t o Crespi:*

Your Excellency: ®

I n French i n the original.

902 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] T o my great disappointment I was n o t able t o have the honor ¢f seeing you when you passed through Vienna, though M . Crespi hag told me of this opportunity. What am I t o think of our project? I still think we are losing precious time, an opportunity that will never return. I n his last letter M . Crespi very wisely pointed out that the audience, while freeing our friends of their obligations, commits H . M . t o nothing. Let h i m only deign t o hear me. I am so convinced of the value of my proposals for the empire that I have no doubt of my success. N o w there is a new, very powerful argument. Mahmoud Damad Pasha and the Young Turks are saying everywhere that the present government is incapable of finding resources, of bringing pros perity t o the country, and of constructing the indispensable fleet. With the assistance that we can provide, all this can be accomplished in no time. Think about it, Your Excellency and most honored friend, and as soon as possible let m e have the joy of a summons to a n audience. Be assured, Excellency, of my highest esteem and complete loyalty.

Th.H.

Already i n European public opinion and, less publicly (perhaps even unbeknownst t o those i n power a t Yildiz), i n certain high political circles the possibility of changing the whole government of Turkey is beginning t o be discussed. Accept this warning from a sincere and completely trustworthy friend.

All can collapse. Let u s b e foresighted a n d pursue t h e work of salvation.

Febru ary}

O n the train from Pest t o Vienna. Again a time of great worry has come.

EO DO R HE RZ L 903 TH OF ES RI IA D E ET TH E C O M PL a i nts which have onymous complain an d an d ne sig o t ng rdi co Ac are i n a state of disorder. reached me, things a t the Ba nk ent necessity. Ho we ver , i f 1 A trip t o Lon don wo uld be an urg , I can t h the Ne ue Fre ie Presse don’t want to risk m y pos itio n wit the Bo ara * wh ich 1s wo rkin g get away, and mu st ent rus t thin gs to

tly wilf ully and i n del ibagainst me, par tly o u t of carelessness, par erate oppo sition t o me.

|

Con stan tino ple. I n I have had no wor d whatever from N u r i a t

ing dow n, 1n part Russia and Rum ania the mov eme nt is slow

s the Jews even because of the economic crisis whic h oppresse l sacrifices further and makes them reluc tant t o make even the smal they have made u p t o now. Finally and chiefly, a great worry for me has appeared in Austr ia. |

The government has turned its attent ion, i n a n unwel come

fashion, t o the Bank subscription. Brecher was summoned t o the Vienna police headquarters, i n Galicia the governor's office sent a form t o the communities; the subscription was declared disloyal and its continuation prohibite d. I can only believe that this importunity is the consequence of a denunciation. Naturally we shall make an appeal against this decree. Besides, Oskar Marmorek is t o speak w i t h Governor Kielmansegg, and I shall try to get to Prime Minister Koerber.

I t would be a shame and incomprehensible i f the government did n o t understand us. I f i t undermines Zionism, all the Zionists will turn Social Democrats. B u t another consequence of this prohibition would be that the poor people w h o have made a part pay-

would lose i t , because the Bank is n o t authorized t o refund the money. I only hope that I can make Koerber understand this.

ment

Yesterday I hada little discussion with some Hunga rian Jews: Agari, Deputy Visont ai, D r . Reich, Viola, L . Neuge bauer, Sebestyen, Gutte nberg , D r . Alexa nder.

I counselled them as non-Zionists t o speak o u t publi cly i n favor of our movement. With a beau geste [nice gesture] they coul d * I n English i n the original.

904 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L accomplish something that might avert future dangers for they, Russian immigration would be channeled away from the border and a t the same time a safety-valve would be provided for future anti-Semitism which is probably unavoidable i n Hungary, too.

The gentlemen undertook

to

discuss the m a t t e r with some in.

fluential Gentile friends. Visontai plans t o interest his party chief Ugron i n it. H e also gave a description of conditions among the Hungarian Jews which are by no means as rosy as people abroad believe.

February g, Vienna Governor Kielmansegg gave Marmorek very reassuring informa tion. The decree against the Bank subscription is n o t political but fiscal i n nature. H e knows Zionism and myself and considers our movement a humanitarian one; and, as far as h e knows, the Imperial government has n o objections to us, either. Crespi sent me the draft of a letter that can be shown around which I am t o address t o him (Crespi). T h e letter is i n the most

Levantine French, full of incredible mistakes and lapses of

taste.

However, I am copying i t word for word and sending i t off today. I t says in i t : why will the mighty Caliph, who receives the poorest, not give m e a brief hearing? J'apporte des millions de livres [ I a m bringing millions of pounds], etc.

But evidently this is the effective tone—they wouldn't use it just for fun. Febr uary 16, Vienn a

Yesterday morning I had the audience with Prime Minister Koerber which Dr. Ehrlich had arranged. A t g o'clock I appeared a t the Ministry of the Interior and was immediately taken to Koerber who gave me an extraordinarily friendly reception. He was already fully informed about the Bank matter, which I had come about, had got o u t the file o n i t , and read me the decrees of the governor's offices of Lower Austria and Galicia. H e said he was

H E O D O R HE RZ L 905 TH E CO MP LE TE DIA RIE S O F T t o me as the law perm itted . I repl ied pre pa red to be as obli ging t the people who had already that we would be satisfied if a t leas com plete the transaction made down-payments were allo wed t o money on the and pay up their shares, so that no one wou ld lose

r than Bank. Zionism, I said, deserved t o be encouraged rathe out weakened by the government, for i t constituted the only way

of the serious Jewish Question. Otherwise all the persecuted Jews, enemies to whom we are opening u p an ideal vista, would become of society.

Koerber said: “ I admire the perseverance with which you have

been pursuing this work for years.” I remarked that i t was really the most beautiful life-work. I was aware that people were laughing at me. He smiled: “Yes, I know that, too.” I : “But I pay very little attention t o i t . ”

Civilities and amiability concluded the half-hour conversation. He asked me for a concise, factual presentation of the entire subscription project, and invited me t o call on h i m whenever I had

anything t o say t o him. He would also ask me, as occasion offered, to visit him a t his home in

the evening, where we could then talk

at greater leisure.

February 28 The memorandum requested by Koerb er:

Your Excellency: I have the honor to give you the follo wing infor mati on regard|

ing the Jewish Colonial Trust

(Jewish Colonial Bank) Limi ted of London, which I was privileged t o tell Your Excellenc y about in person. This Jewish Colonial Tru st was founded t o serve th of the Zionist movement. pposes

o r e founders of this Bank pursue no aims of pro

fit wha

tever in this. In fact, the prospectus and the sta tute s preclude fro m the

906 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz, outset that the Board of Directors and the Council (which doe not consist of businessmen and o f which I a m a member) deriy,

any profit from the enterprise. The founding costs were contrib. uted a fonds perdu [outright] by a number of our followers. I my. self put 5 0 0 pounds sterling into it. The Bank is intended t o constitute the body corporate which is necessary for acquiring a settlement charter from the govern. m e n t of His Majesty the Sultan. By colonizing Palestine under the guidance of great principles the possibility is t o be created of alleviating the lot of the Jewish proletarians who are suffering greatly in many countries, particularly i n Galicia, Rumania, and Russia. The Bank is t o have a share capital of t w o million pounds sterling I n one-pound shares. The Zionist m o v e m e n t has the resistance of the rich Jews t o contend with. Therefore the subscription had t o address itself mainly t o the masses. T o safeguard the deposits i t was stipulated that operations m u s t n o t start until a t least 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 pounds had been paid in cash i n London. The subscripion yielded 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 shares; u p t o now, however, n o t quite 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 pounds have been paid i n a t London, because the subscrip tion is being handled i n instalments. ‘Through the governors’ edicts which impelled me t o intervene with Your Excellency, t h e continuation o f t h e subscription in

Austria has been prohibited. This is all the more regrettable because to date 5%79o subscribers i n Austria have subscribed 14,044

shares and made partial payments on them. The down payments have, of course, been transferred

to

Lon

don.

‘The subscription has been publicized i n the papers, b u t a special announcement was also made t o the authorities. Early In November of 189g the representative of the Jewish Colonial Trust, Dr. O. Kokesch, attorney t o the Court and t o courts of justice and D r . Brecher o f the banking house o f I . & A . Brecher, Vienna, called o n Baron Odkolek, departmental councillor i n t h e Ministry of

Finance. Dr. Kokesch informed Mr. Councillor of the founding of

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL

907

the Colonial Trust i n London, as well as o f the desire o f the Board

of Directors t o have the banking firm of I . & A . Brecher serve the subscription office i n Vienna. D r . Kokesch produced a : a e

allotment letter, and, referring t o the fact that Baron Odkole

a

collaborated i n drafting the law governing the sales tax o n securlties, he asked h i m for information o n this matter. Mr. Councillor

statedhe shared Dr. Kokesch’s opinion that n o sales tax was payable on the letters of allotment, b u t that he could give n o authoritative information u n t i l a written request had been made t o the Ministry

of Finance. The house of Brecher, which, incidentally, was to handle the matter

without financial remuneration i n view of the good cause,

subsequently refused t o act as subscriptio n office for t h e Jewish

Colonial Trust, and promised t o establish business contact with the Bank only t o the e x t e n t of accepting monies for i t . After this decision on the part of the house of Brecher, the representative of

the Jewish Colon ial Trust regard ed it as super fluous to direct a further writte n petiti on t o the Minis try of Finance.

The proh ibitio n of subscriptions—against whic h an appe al has made, to b e sure —ha s n o w crea ted a distr essin g s i t uation. The subscribers have made part payments whic h the directors of the Bank are n o t authorized to refu nd. Thu s i t may hap pen pre-

been

cisely because of this prohibition that the littl e people wil l lose the

ir money. I am therefore taking the libe rty of proposing this expedient: “Those subscribers wh o hav e sub scr ibe d bef ore the dec ree was made should be per mit ted t o comple te the ir payments and receive their shares. There wil l, of cou rse, be n o fur the r su bs cri pti on in Austria, An d as soon as the Co lon ial Tr us t i n Lo nd on begin s its operations, i t wi ll apply t o be ce rtified i n Au str ia as we ll.” Through such an equitable measure any

be prevented. After all, neith

j

er the subscribers no r the solicitors could have known that a subscription which wa s so abundantly brought to the attentio n of the au th or ities wo ul d be prohibited a few months later,

908 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERj| But there are probably political considerations also i n favor gf my most humble proposal. T h e Zionist movement undoubtedly has a salutary effect ip

countries with a large proletarian Jewish population. This is recognized even in Russian government circles. The masses that are so hard pressed by anti-Semitism would probably one and all join the extremist revolutionary parties unless Zionism

showed them a hopeful solution of their sufferings. O u r movement thus deserves to be assisted rather than impeded. B u t perhaps the purely fiscal prohibition of the subscription,

which is directed only against the foreign joint-stock company, would be misunderstood b y the crowd, which does n o t make such

fine distinctions, as a political measure against Zionism. That would be extremely harmful t o our m o v e m e n t . I do n o t believe that this is intended. A short time ago another member of the Council of the Colonial Trust, Mr. Oskar Marmorek, the architect, had an opportunity to discuss the matter with H i s Excellency the Governor, Count Kiel: mansegg, and received the assurance that the prohibition of the subscription was only fiscal and n o t political i n nature, since the exalted Imperial government appreciated the humanitarian significance of our m o v e m e n t . I was very pleased t o find a cor roboration o f this attitude i n t h e friendly co-operativeness with which Your Excellency has honored me. I f this good disposition is put into action i n the way I have

requested, something useful could certainly be promoted. Some day the Jewish Question will flare u p in a terrible form in our country, especially i n Galicia. O n e hears too m a n y anti-Semitic remarks about the Jews and n o t enough a b o u t t h e despair brood

ing i n these wretched masses. Gouverner c’est prévoir [To govern

is t o foresee]. I believe i n all modesty that the Imperial government which IS headed by Your Excellency will n o t do a disservice t o the monarchy i f i t undertakes t o further, n o t impede, the Zionist movement. The people who are directing this movement are n o t interested in political posts, nor can they derive any personal advantage from i t

909 RIE S O F T H E O D O R HE RZ L TH E COMPLET E DIA ple wit hou t a lot of verbiage. PerI t seeks to he lp very poo r peo

haps t h a t ought t o be encouraged. With deep respect I remain

Your Exellency’s very obedient servant, Dr. Th. H . Marc h 5, Vienn a Letter to the Grand Duke of Baden, to be transm itted b y Hechler: Most Illustriou s Grand Duke, Most Gracious Prince a n d Lord:

Hoping for Your Royal Highness’ continued benevolence for our Zionist movement, I permit myself t o report i n a few words o n

the present situation of the cause. Unless everything deceives me, the moment suitable for action has come. The general international situation is favorable t o it. At present the attention of rival Powers has been diverted from the Orient. Faits accomplis may be managed without arousing much opposition. Such a fait would be the one we have been preparing for so long. Allthe prerequisites are ready. With the greatest circumspection we have created an organization of our masses that is ready t o move. Ata signal hundreds of thousands would set themselves i n motion . According t o reliable reports from confid ential agents I may estimate the number of colonists that we could get t o Pales tine withi n afew years a t three t o four milli on people. Coverage of the finan cial expense, which will be very substantial even a t the begi nnin g, is ome a r mos tnor tan : Homers are, i f n o t actually favo rabl y posed , or Turk ey, I have succeeded i n gaining sup port ers of our cause i n gov ern men t circ les. T h e dec io n hy > sur e, isin the solelan ds of His Majesty the Sultan. A t :

Sultan at any time T h e Ram d n i n f e r e d , a d a n inte rfere d, andoi n n sthe past to few the

910 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy

weeks things have quieted down again.

Now, however, the histor,

opportunity seems t o be one that demands decisions. W i t h m y accustomed respectful confidence I a m turning to You; Royal Highness for advice and help. T w o things would now be necessary t o carry o u t the great plan. First, the personal support o f H i s Majesty the German Kaiser with H i s Majesty the Sultan. From sources close t o the latter I have

been informed that such a step, which could—in fact,

must—

remain completely secret, could bring about the decisive turn. The Sultan would accept my proposals i f his exalted friend

presented them t o him as worthy of consideration. Second, my audience with H i s Majesty the Emperor of Russia. This would have a dual purpose. For one thing, i t would let the masses i n Russia see that our movement is being favored. Also, the Turkish government would realize from i t that i t need fear no objection from that quarter if i t contracts for a Charter with us. The Charter which I would submit a t Constantinople after having made sure a t each separate point of the consent o f Your Royal Highness and H i s Majesty the German Kaiser shall have as its subject the colonization of Palestine and the administration of the settled area. I am i n a position to provide Turkey with great financial benefits in return for this. N o one will find out that the entire matter is under the control

and protection of Germany until His Majesty the German Kaiser decides the moment for this has come. A German protectorate would b e created, w i t h o u t any sacrifice, without any risk. Asia M i n o r under German influence!

The question is whether I enjoy the personal confidence of being discreet, loyal, and energetic enough t o carry the matte

through in this spirit. There are people w h o calculate all too prosaically a n d t o whom

the whole plan seems fantastic. B u t there has also been a narro¥

Brandenburg view t o which Prussia seemed a fantasy, and a narrov Prussian view t o which Germany seemed so.

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

911

The prince who was one of the architects of the miraculous German edifice cannot be of this opinion. With deepest respect and loyal gratitude, I remain

Your Royal Highness’ most obedient servant, Dr. Th. H .

March 8, Vienna Letter t o K a n n :

Strictly confidential. Dear M r . K a n n :

I w i l l n o t conceal from you that i t costs m e a n effort t o write t o

you. I n your letters t o me you have repeatedly struck the wrong note, and only recently you gave Loewe a countermanding order when he informed you that a meeting had been called. According t o Article 65 only

the Council is authorized t o do this, quite apart

from the fact that the meeting of the Viennese directors consented to it.

The purpose of the meeting is t o rectify one of the many careless mistakes that have been made i n the Bank. Only during the local discussions i n February was i t discovered that according t o English law a shareholder can demand the liquidation of the Bank i f the Bank does n o t start operations w i t h i n a year, that is, b y March goth.

T o guard against this threatening danger, we decided t o amend the by-laws t o permit the circulation of checks even before the £250,000 have been paid. This is the purpose of our meeting. Through Loewe’s well-known incompetence and recalcitrance, holding the meeting i n time has virtually been frustrated. I n this emergency I have h i t upon the following expedient which can only be carried o u t by you. This is why I am writing you. We would have t o find one or more bankers who will immediately subscribe shares i n the a m o u n t lacking from £250,000. The

money—about £1%70,000—which comes i n thus is again deposited

912 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R ] with the same bankers, and i n such a way that they eam 1

or

1149,

o n i t . For this purpose you would have t o go t o L o n d

immediately and persuade Seligmann, or speak with Duy bankers. You will find the suitable method better than I can. The shares subscribed by the Bankers will either be offered for

sale or exchanged for the shares (over 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 of them) subscribeq by the instalment buyers after full payment has been made. I expect t o hear from you by telegram whether or n o t you will or can carry this out. The deal involves absolutely n o risk for the bankers and will yield them a certain clear profit of 1 t o 1 1 4 9 . With kind regards, Th. Herzl.

March g, Vienna

Yesterday this visiting card came by pneumatic-tube mail: Emst von Koerber,

Imperial-Royal Prime Minister

asks Euer Hochwohlgeboren* kindly

call on h i m tomorrow, Friday, at g o'clock i n the morning at the Ministry o f the Interior. to

Pardon the early hour, b u t my time is completely taken u p all day. %

%

*

Naturally I was there punctually, as I had been the first time, and was received by Koerber with the same amiable ceremont ousness. After I had been seated o n the sofa and had l i t m y cigar, he began b y sighing over the Vienna question. H e said he had done all h e could i n the way of an electoral reform for Vienna; he was truly n o anti-Semite, b u t was now being made o u t one by the ® Translator's Note: Archaic form of address, used mainly for higher-placed members of the middle-class.

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

913

Liberals. ( I n today's Neue Freie Presse there is an editorial o n the subject from the pen of little Community Councillor Stern) Then he turned t o m y subject. H e had fetched the file and read t o m e . Naturally the government could do nothing else b u t proceed according t o the law; b u t m y proposal contained an acceptable solution, and they wanted t o go along with i t b y “looking the other way.” These were his words. The only condition was that none of i t be done i n public. Nothing must be reported i n the papers; b u t the subscribers could be informed directly that they would be permitted to complete their payments and receive their shares. I offered t o s u b m i t a n appropriate circular t o h i m . H e accepted; h e

would then speak with the governors of Lower Austria and Galicia so that the prohibition would be lifted. I thanked him for his obligingness. Then, amid renewed sighs over the Viennese question h e saw m e o u t i n t o the ante-chamber, which caused a sensation among the valetaille [staff].

I am now writing h i m :

Your Excellency: I am taking the liberty o f submitting, as a n enclosure, the draft of the circular which is t o be s e n t t o the Austrian subscribers t o the

Jewish Colonial Trust. What Your Excellency said i n conclusion about the Viennese

difficulty has been going around in my head. I believe that there are expedients about which something could be said as soon as I again have the honor t o be summoned . I t is possible, b u t not yet definite, that I shall have t o leave town on Sunday—for three o r four days. Therefore I should l i k e to request with due respect that any summons t o a n audience be conveyed t o me n o t b y pneumatic -tube mail, b u t b y a messenger

who would learn then and there whether I am here. Naturally I would get i n touch with you immedia tely upon my return. With deep respect, I remain Your Excellency’s most obedient servant, Dr. Th. H .

914 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7;

Marc h 1 4 , Vienna Yesterday Oskar Marmorek told m e t h a t Alex had succeedeg with his attempts to cure tuberculosis i n humans. I t is such a cols.

sal thing that I am skeptical. For the sake of that good soul ang most high-minded man Alex, as well as for humanity, but most of all for the sake of Zionism, I wish i t would turn o u t to be true.

Today I wrote Alex about the possible utilization of his dis. covery for the promotion of our movement, perhaps through tum.

ing the exploitation over t o the Bank. *

%

*

T h e Bank continues t o cause m e great concern. Kann is refrac tory, gives counter-orders, disputes the validity o f the Vienna board meeting, because he was not there. I n short, h e impudently acts the part of the head of the Bank, because he knows that we have absolutely no one else. However, according t o information from the secretary Loewe, who, to be sure, is incompetent and unreliable, there is n o danger

of an official liquidation, although operations will n o t be started by March 20th. Since the inefficiency of our offices has made i t impossible t o hold the meetings of the general assembly as scheduled i n order t o make the change in the by-laws, I have t o let things take their course and stand by with arms folded. My task n o w is t o find a manager w h o is dependent o n myselt alone, as well as a house to replace Lissa & Kann i n the public sale of the shares. Then Kann, who has mutinied, must get out. %*

%

*

Several telegrams have come from Hechler who has been gone for almost a week now. ‘The Grand D u k e received h i m well; m y letter has had a n effect.

I should come t o Karlsruhe right away. Since I am acquainted with Hechler’s illusions, I first wired back asking whether i t was the Grand D u k e o r h e w h o wished me t0 come.

T H E COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

0915

Answer: he (Hechler) did. However, the Grand D u k e wanted to help. So I asked h i m t o procure for me, i f a t all possible, an introduction t o the Sultan from the Kaiser personally. T h i s would assure me of the audience I need. Then I could go t o Constantinople. Hechler wired back that Uncle (Grand Duke) felt one ought t o go easy with the nephew (Kaiser). However, the letter of recommendation had n o t been denied. Apparently Uncle is willing, b u t doesn’t know whether Berlin w i l l be. Biilow can again do good or harm. Recently Sigmund Miinz of the Neue Freie Presse was i n Berlin and had dinner a t Biilow’s house. Biilow inquired about me and asked how things stood with Zionism. Miinz wasn’t able t o give him any information. T o Miinz’s counter-question as t o what our chances were Biilow, on his part, gave n o answer. However, I consider the general situation—England tied u p in South Africa, Russia reaching for Persia—as favorable t o us. We shall see what truth there is i n Hechler’s telegram from Karlsruhe of March 13: Have just returned from Uncle; he will write and report t o Constantinople and t o nephew. Please prepare proposal (i.e., Charter).

The main thing about i t is that my line t o Berlin hasn’t been c u t yet. Pour le reste—attendre [For the rest—wait]!

M a r c h 14, V i e n n a

Yesterday the following card came: Emst von Koerber

begs to request E u e r Hochwohlg eboren, i f your t i m e permits,

kindly t o call on h i m on Monday the 1gth a t g o'clock i n the momIng at the Minis try o f the Interi or. %

LJ

*

916 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz] Shall not fail to. B u t more interesting is this letter sent b y pneumatic tube:

Vienn a, March 16, 1900 Dear Doctor Herzl:

Will you have lunch with m e tomorrow, Saturday, at

1

o'clock?

A n acceptance would please me greatly. Very sincerely yours, B . Eulenburg-Hertefeld.

I have had almost no contact with Eulenburg in

114

years. This

invitation seems to be a consequence o f Hechler’s expedition—

unless, grotesquely, i t refers t o tomorrow’s benefit matinee which is taking place under Prince Eulenburg’s sponsorship. Vederemo [ W e shall see]! %

%*

%

W i t h these things o n m y mind, today I a m supposed to do a

funny little write-up of the fashion show for the N . Fr. Pr.! Clown and Leader* rolled into one. Moses h a d a n easier time o f it.

Marc h 18, Vienn a

The luncheon* a t Eulenburg’s was just a luncheon.* The others present were Count Piickler, Captain o f Cavalry von Biilow, an

other attaché, also Frei the physician and Dr. Friedjung. Conversation informal b u t refined. Eulenburg told a story about Prince George of Prussia. While traveling he was accidentally locked into his hotel room by his ®

I n English i n the original.

F T H E O D O R HE RZ L 917 TH E CO MP LE TE DIA RIE S O lou dly for hel p, b u t wasn’t valet, got a belly-ache, screamed e. liberated un til— it was too lat

Aus tria n Par liam ent . A After that I told a story abo ut the

ce Lichtenstein righ t Polish deputy wanted t o say: “Serves Prin r b i l l ? ” b u t said inon the school b i l l ; why did he reje ct our wate wate r? * stead: “Serves righ t to him ; why didn ’t he pass

usually Apart from these risqué things, our conversation was

very refined. told I sat a t Eulenburg’s right . After lunch he drew me aside. I

him that I had intended t o call on him one of these days anyway, the and sketched the situat ion, appro ximat ely as i n m y letter to Grand Duke. I am only afraid that Fried jung may have caught some of it. We finally agreed that Eulenb urg would send for me shortly . %*

%*

ik

Letter from Crespi, dated March 15. They say they are working. I should write a fresh letter, which would go via Izzet Bey and i n which I state the purpose of the audience more clearly.

Accordingly I am writing the following letter.** Your Excellency:

You are probably familiar with the letter I sent t o m y friend in which I outlined the considerable advantages of Jewish immigration t o Palestine. I am firmly convinced that H i s Majesty the Sultan’s lofty wisdom would appreciate the fortunate opportunities of the Zionist plan i f I were allowed t o explain i t a t the foot of the throne. All that I have heard about H i s Majesty's great qualities of mind and heart leads me t o believe that he will become the ardent friend and protector of the Zionist undertaking, which is useful to the Ottoman Empire and beneficent t o the persecuted Jews. I have, then, the honor t o beg you t o procure an audience for me with H.I.M. The purpose of this audience would be t o explain I'ranslator'sNote: Recht i h m so, warum hat er Wasser abgeschlagen? I n French i n the origina l.

918 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy our plan i n all sincerity and trust and t o propose the forms apg the means of executing i t , as well as the financial services we wig, t o render His Majesty's government. Those things can only b e dealt with orally. There is the matter

of rather large sums which I have mentioned t o my friend. If the Empire needs a fleet—here are the means t o obtain i t without Europe's being able to prevent you and w i t h o u t onerous o r difficult conditions. O n the contrary, the result would b e a n increase in the

country’s wealth and an increase of H.M.’s loyal subjects. The agreement t o be reached is so beneficial t o Turkey that that is per. haps the very reason for delay and suspicion. One might suspect that something mysterious or dangerous was concealed behind it. Well, there is something behind i t : the moral and political misery of the Jewish people which requires a relief that we are rich enough t o pay for. Let me have the favor of an interview with the Caliph—and God will put arguments t o convince H i s Majesty i n my mouth. I f he consents, i t w i l l be the finest page of his glorious reign, the greatest benefit he has procured both for his Empire and for the

unhappy Jews who will place themselves under his protection while bringing h i m innumerable advantages of every kind. I f H . M . wishes t o find o u t about m y character and the usefulness of my plan t o Turkey—noth ing is easier. I have the great honor o f being known t o H i s Majesty the

Emperor of Germany. Let H . M . the Sultan deign t o learn about me from his powerful friend. Take action, Your Excellency, t o procure the audience which I request, take action i n the interest of your beloved sovereign, of your beautiful country, and of the unhappy people whom I rep resent. Already they are beginning t o be impatient; leaders are rising t o launch other projects: settlement i n Cyprus, emigration t o America, since Turkey does n o t w a n t t o come t o an understand: ing with us! Who knows—perhaps i t will be realized too l a t e t h a t a n oppor tunity has been missed; and your Moslem enemies who are working

O R H E R Z L 919 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D e a new weapon abroad against the existing government will forg you. from the fact that you have let such a chance escape ed I still hope that this last appeal I am sending you will be listen nce with your to. To sum up: procu re me the favor of an audie venerated sovereign; I have confidence i n his magn anim ity and in his grasp of imp orta nt matters. With my profou nd respects t o Your Excellency, Dr. Th.H . March 2 0 , Vienna Remarkable the way one gets used even t o P r i m e Ministers.

Yesterday I forgot t o enter that I was with Koerber again. H e received me charmingly, as usual, handed me the settlement the way I had desired i t , and expressed the expectation that a t a more

opportune moment we would come back to the “admission to this country” of the Colonial Trust. He would invite me t o his house some evening soon, so that we might discuss the domestic political situation, particularly his apparent, unfortunately forced yielding t o the anti-Semites. “ I am certainly n o t an anti-Semite,” he said. A t the door I told him: “Your Excellency, I believe you will be i n power for a long time!’ He gave me a grateful smile for this prophecy and showed me out

through the ante-chamber where the governor of Silesia had

had to wait until our conversation was finished, althoug h he had arrived a t the same time as I had.

March 25, Vienna I a m not only a ‘Clown ,’ b u t also a servant o r an office boy a t the

N. Fr. Pr.

Only now does i t occur to me t o docu ment the experience whic

I'had a few days ago.

I'told Benedikt i n Bacher’s room that an engineer was

h

asking for

920 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL a manuscrip t that he had submitted for o u r “Commun icatjgp" section. Benedikt said he didn’t know where the Manuscript ws,

I : “ I ' m sure you have i t . ” H e gave a start: “How dare you speak t o me this way?” I said (quite calmly): “ I am saying that you m u s t have the may, script; I sent i t t o you through Klinenberger.” H e (grimly): “ I know nothing about i t . ” I : “You must have i t . ” He: “How do you know that?” I : “ I assume that Kl. didn’t lie t o me.” H e : “ Y o u assume! . . . B u t I d o n ’ t w a n t y o u t o use that tone

toward me. I don’t want that!” I turned my back t o him, stepped

to

the window—and he ran

into his office. H e came back a moment later and said meekly: “I've

found the manuscript.” I didn’t bother t o reply. Then we turned t o the subject of the novel. T h e Ohnet serial had been completed and no new one was o n hand. I declined responsibility, because so far I had n o t been p u t i n charge of this

department. I said rudely: “ I have t o be told i n advance what is wanted.” From this he noticed that I was angry. I went to my room Three minutes later he came running after me, whining like a

cowed cur. Just as the insult had only been i n the tone of voice before, the

miserable beg-your-pardon now was also only i n the tone. I sensed immediately that he wanted t o give me something to put me in a good mood.

Sure enough: he came i n with Bacher and asked me for m j

19-year-old, bad youthful novelette Hagenau for the serial section. I gave i t t o him, but without signing m y name t o i t . 18 years 2g I went peddling t h i s manuscript t o t h e smallest papers; now I appears i n the Neue Freie Presse under the t i t l e D i e Heimkeht

(The Homecoming), by H . Jungmann. ‘Two things are apparent from this experience. 1.

That Benedikt hates me, even though h e 1s coward enough

E R Z L 921 F THEODOR H O S IE R IA D TE TH E COMPLE g boss nsiders himself the bi co e H . es nc ue eq cons 10 tremble a t the e boy. in io n of d regards me as an offic people have a lo w op f i rm ha y an do n’t es t do ", to fame obscure trash is raised of ce pie a s ar ye 18 r te Af something. rided Jewish State! N

That

and fortune. How, then, wi %

ll it go wi th the de %*

%*

ow I for tom orr ow mo rni ng . N me for t sen ain ag s ha er Koerb ua tio n reference to the domestic sit in is s thi er eth wh ow kn n’t do arrest of a

prefer) or t o the and the N. Fr. Pr. (which 1 would s rep ort ed to me subscription sol icit or wh ich wa Galician sharefrom Kolomea today.

Mar ch 27%, Vie nna , 11:3 0 at nig ht

use of the reThe last §6 hours were again interesting. Beca

d n o time duri ng hearsal of Gret el and m y work at the office I foun the day to enter these mem orab le incid ents .

At nine o'clock yesterday morn ing I was with Koer ber. I t was ese not about the subscription, b u t about sancti oning the Vienn electoral reform. He greeted me with amiabili ty and embarrassment: “So this 1s the day on which the bomb goes off.” I again had t o seat myself on the by now familiar sofa and light the customary cigar, whereupon he presented his request t o me. Oh yes, the Prime Minister of Austria had a request to make: the Neue Freie Presse should n o t make too much of a row about the electoral reform. O f course, i t would have t o come o u t i n opposition—he realized that; b u t i t should not strike too massively.

I briefly explained t o him that he need n o t worry too much about f o tonic demonstrations of the Liberals and their papers. But

be in 2 position 10

grow more s e r i o u s , more alarming, I might come t o his aid.

Barre N E

Pr. ! said I was next i n line to succeed Bacher;

y agreed t o

it in

December of 'gg, and

922 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]

this had run aground only on Benedikt’s opposition. When hour came, I might force a showdown with Benedikt. H e was visibly impressed. Then I said that he should f y publish an unofficial presentation of his non-antisemiti c Motives for sanctioning the reform o f t h e V i e n n a municipal elections,

H e said he had already written one for the Wiener Abendpost “May I see it?” I asked. H e immediately went out, got the release, and showed me int an adjoining room where I was to look through the manuscript Then he troubled himself to get m e a pencil and left me alone,

while he used the time t o receive someone. I now went through the release and found some things to criticize, which I told him about when he returned. I thought that he left himself wide open with the passage: “ T h e electoral reform means no serious encroachment on any part of the electorate.” He immediately crossed o u t the phrase “serious encroachment,” and a t my suggestion he changed this t o ““. . . partisanship for any part, etc.” ‘Two other places he changed without further ado on my say. Then he showed me o u t the back way. After that I w e n t to the Raimundtheater for the rehearsal, and from there, i n the afternoon, to the office.

Benedikt already knew about the sanction. B u t I advised him not t o make too sharp an attack o n Koerber, who, I said, was a better Minister for the Jews than one of the Bohemian feudalists. However, t o play safe, I went t o the office again i n the evening in order t o influence Benedikt before he wrote his article. While we were talking about i t , Koerber’s private secretary telephoned him and invited him t o call on Koerber a t his private residence. I had an unpleasant feeling when Benedikt told me this. What if Koerber gave him the substance of our conversation t o make Benedikt more favorably disposed toward himself? I was very worried and, although i t was ten o'clock, drove 0 Koerber’s private residence. I n a coffee house I bought an envelope; put m y visiting card i n i t and sent i t u p b y the superintendents

R HE RZ L IA R IE S OF T H E O D O D E ET PL M CO E TH

923

d sa id th e h e wo ma n came ba ck an T . ge rria ca the n i d ite wife. I wa ‘nister was not hom e yet. ng to wri te h i m tha t a bad evening. A t firs t I was goi ten 1n my

igh I counted on his discretion. Overn

t counsel came t o me

him tric ky. I dec ide d to go to see sleep, as usual. Wr itin g is always s 0Ccasions. at the Min istr y, as I had o n the pre viou ute s

afte r onl y a few min was there at g o'clock and was adm itte d g. T h e arti cle i n the Neue of waiting. H e came tow ard me bea min n on the poi nt of wri tFreie Presse suited him just fine. H e had bee , there pro bab ly was ing me a letter of thanks. Now that I was here ain i n con tact —"1 n no need for it. H e hope d that we wou ld rem [

amicable contact,” he added, and repeatedly pumped

my hand.

spoke Now there began a one-hour conversation In whic h he relawith the greatest frankness about everything, inclu ding his tions with the Emperor.

His position, he said, was basically different from, and better

than, that of his predecessors who had never dared to say N o to the

Emperor.* “The Emperor don’t dare t o talk t o me like he d i d to Badeni or Thun, 'cause he thinks I ' m gonna resign on him. T h e

previous Prime Ministers, they always had kittens i f four days gone by without their gettin’ called t o an audience. Why, they thought right away: I ' m in dutch. Me, I ' m n o t pushin’ m y way in. I do my job, and he knows I do. H e sends m e Schiessl to ask i f

Iain’t too busy—Sometimes I talk 1 m o u t a somethin’ he wants t o do, but so that he don’t catch o n to the reason. F ' r instance, h e was gonna invite the deputies to court dinner, one b y one. N o w I

t'ought to myself, he can invite t w o dozen of ‘em, a t most. So who are you gonna take? T h e m that you don’t invite, they're gonna b e

gunnin’ for me. And another thing—the Emperor, he’s startin’ to get talkative as he gets older. H e tells them deputies o r delegates

anything that happens t o come into his head. Then the embarrass* Translator's Note:: Koerber spoke Ko

in i

the Viennese dialect, and Herzl took the i

rouble to reproduce i t faithfully. Essentially, this dialect, which was and is spoken e s t by most Viennese from governors to garbage men, professors to proletar ians

ransiatable. An attempt has been made here t o achieve a similarl y relaxed tone in English;; b u t i t must be pointed out that this language d a low educational level on the part of the speaker, 5 0 6 n o t necessarily denote D

poi

i

924 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy ment is there. Well, so I tole h i m why don’t cha p u t off them court

dinners for them deputies till October, then we can invite they one by one. But I t'ink by then the critical period’s gonna be over” And i n this tone of complete confidence he spoke about a Jot of other things: A b o u t Badeni, whose mendaciousness a n d cowardice

he described drastically; about the Lobkowitzes and Schwarze. bergs, and many others de moindre importance [of less impor. tance].

H e was visibly concerned about making a good impression upon me, which he managed to do. I repeated t o h i m my prognostication that he would head the government for a long time.

Among other things he confided i n me that when the Reichstag reconvened he would submit the new language b i l l . I placed myself a t his disposal in case he wanted t o have the draft examined in advance by an unprejudiced eye. H e immediately agreed; he also wanted t o give me the argumentation t o read. Although he was called away b y the court secretary (or was this

only an attempted rescue such as is arranged systematically?) he continued talking to me for over a n hour, and then dismissed me

most amiably. The lackeys i n the ante-chamber were greatly astonished at the long favor.

Ap ril g Nordau sends a n “open letter” to Rumanian Jewry for publica: tion i n the W e l t . H e counsels p u r e m e n t et simplement [purely and

simply] to migrate i n groups of 1 0 0 people, and b y stages. Without authoriz ation, without resources. L e geste est beau [The gesture is fine]—but i t would produce 2

désastre [disaster]. For the time being I am not having the letter printed.

R Z L 925 THEODOR HE F O S IE R IA D E THE COMPLET . Letter to Koerber A p ri l g, 1900

your Excellency: at I beg t o in fo rm yo u th n tio sa er nv co st la r ou ereI n connection wi th m on th t o May ond. Th is th of th 16 e th m fro I shall no t be here e opinion t o know my humbl e lik d ul wo y nc lle ce fore, if Your Ex on m e wo ul d ask yo u to su mm I ll, bi e ag gu lan a for of the draft rked words ve that a few carefully wo lie be I . ay nd Su r ste Ea to r rio hearts]! t o the sursum corda [li ft u p your to introduce the bil l— a

this time. people—could work wonders blic un til after May Should the draft n o t be made pu a t any time. then naturally be a t your disposal

2,

I shall

Wi th the deepest respect, 1 rem ain

vant, Your Excellency’s very obedient ser

Dr. Th . H .

Ap ril 14 to m e even Koerber had writt en me that he wished to speak

before my departure, and had given m e a n appo intme nt

for yester-

day at noon. At 12 o'clock I was in the Minis try of the Interi or. Koerb er came toward me in gala dress. “ O n accoun t of you I have stayed all dressed up. After church I didn’t have time t o go home, otherwise I would've had t o keep you waitin’. . . . ” Then he came t o the point, after he had once more installed me on the sofa and given me the regulation cigar.

“I've got the language bill done, but haven't finished the argument to support it. Can’t show that t o you till you get back. Where are ya goin’ anyway? Paris? I ' d like t o get away, too, but, gee, 1 can't.

I'm tied down from morning’

to

evenin’. Like

t e dz

see, for lunch, and they phone me t o come A and see t e home A n 1d get l o s N ranz. Well, 1 didn't dash right out. First I had a spoonP an’ a hunk o’ meat. After that I went to see 'im—you

926 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy know, on ‘count of’ the weddin’. Well; and so I sat with hip hour and a half. After that a couple of hours with Goluchowg; I n the evenin’, soon ’s I get home, I find papers layin’ there agi waitin’ for me. Well, so I kept o n working until one i n the ayemn,

An’ I get u p a t five i n the mornin’! Today t o church again at hy past nine (Good Friday) and stayed t i l l ha’ past ‘leven. After thy you're dead.” I mutely commiserated with him. “See,” he continued, “it’s all like that with us. Ain't got no seriousness. Everybody's senile. They don’t think anythin’ over first. That's the way i t is with that business about Archduke Fran I f you're a Prince, an Archduke, why, then you can’t do what you please. With them people you never know i n advance whether its serious. Maybe he’s gonna send her packin’ again after it’s over. A n Archduke’s gotta be considerate. I f he goes and marries a com moner, this can harm the monarchic principle. He's gettin’ rela tives from h i s wife’s side and they're gonna have a n influence.

That’s why they always c u t off them princesses from the world like that, so no one could get a t "em, so there’d be n o influences from that side. “We just ain’t got no seriousness i n anything! ‘Mong the people same as with the authorities. D’you think I can rely on a governor: Haven't got a one. Could you name m e one gov’nor? I don’t know

none. Then why do I keep the gen’lmen? 'Cause I ain’t got any other, that’s why. Can’t b e every place a t once—and they don!

do a blessed thing.” I permitted myself to remark: “ T h a t ’ s d u e to the way the gentle: m e n are recruited. Young fellows from good families, who then

simply are promote d.” “There's no initiative, ” he complained. “ B u t this can perhaps b e remedied,” I said. “ T h e governors could be given secret instructions o n h o w they are t o improve the

attitude of the people. I believe the dissolution of the Reichs! will come. A t least, that’s the way i t seems t o me.”

give you some inside that he had the Imperial instru¢

H e nodded: “ T o me, too. I f I could

dope. . . . ” He let i t peep o u t

T H E COMP LETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL

927

tions in his pocket. “ I t ’ s o n l y o n account o f Galicia. I f i t comes t o

an election, there's gonna be a bloodbat h i n Galicia.” “Things would simply have t o be prepared i n advance. I n Galicia there are a large number of Jews on whom influence could be exerted.” “Yes, but ain’t they Socialists?’’ he asked. “ O n e c o u l d drive a wedge i n t o that,” I said, w i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g Zionism. “ I might b e able to h e l p you w i t h this, Your Excel-

lency! . . . I n general, i t would be a matter of establishing contact with the people over the heads of the professional politicians. Even when the language bills are made public the coming dissolution of the Reichsrat ought t o be kept i n m i n d and the present Parliament put i n the wrong. Economic necessity should be emphasized, as well as the fact that the language disputes are undermining the existence o f the state as well as o f the individual prov-

inces. A modern program, a program for the public welfare, is needed. I t would have t o be popular, appeal t o the imagination. New, meaningful slogans ought t o be circulated, instead of the worn-out ones o f the language politicians. T h e government has the means for i t sooner than the parties. I n the secret instructions to the governors, i t should be explained t o the gentlemen how they

have t o prepare their elections. T h e formation of an economic party should be brought about and encouraged. New men should be brought in from the circles of merchants, industrialists, scientists, jurists, physicians, including the heads of the cooperative societies, etc. T h e first step w o u l d b e to make a l i s t o f those men,

who should preferably be recruited from outside the existing organized groups of politicians . The governors would have t o try to establish contact w i t h them directly o r indirectly . Some will d o i t for the sake o f profit o r distinctio n, others o u t o f true seriousness;

many will already feel honored by merely being brought i n . A soirée [dinner party], a rout [social gathering] may suffice i n some cases.I n short, practi cal conci liation by association.” 1 could t e l l b y the expres sion o n his face, which had origin ally mirrore d Austria n unconc ern and n o w becam e pensive and deeply

928 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HEggy interested, that he was gripped. H e n o w urged m e to look h i n up r i g h t after m y return, as well as t o write h i m o n m y trip.

I offered t o compose the Sursum Corda t o the peoples of Austr; which h e acknowledged with a grateful smile and a handshake, “ O f course,” I said, “ t h i s w i l l remain between us.” Minister Baron Call was announced. I arose, and he took ap even more cordial leave o f m e than usual. H e told m e to be sure tg be here again o n the 2nd of May. I am handling Koerber a b i t the way Scheherazade did the Shah, After each conversation he wants t o see me again, because I bring h i m something. What I want is truly nothing bad, neither in the means nor in the end. By means of the pacification of Austria, i n which I am secretly

participating, without ambition or desire for gain, I wish to im: prove the lot of the Jews and solve the Jewish Question. Does Koerber understand me?

April 18, o n the train from Karlsruhe t o Paris Have again been to Karlsruhe t o see the good Grand Duke. Today's conversation with h i m was, politically speaking, by far the most interesting of all the talks I have had with h i m over the years, just as from the point of view of result i t was the most meaningless—in fact, a downright refusal o n the part of Germany.

By now I already know this ante-chamber, too, its lackeys, its general i n charge, von Miiller, and its historical family portraits, so that I waited i n the red salon less agitated than ever. Nothing has changed there since I was here for the first and for the last time. Against the background of all the inanimate things, the good

Grand Duke happily has n o t changed; on the stroke of eleven he came through the door of his study t o m e e t me and welcomed me with a long handshake. This time we stayed in the red salon whose damask furniture, 3 I could not h e l p noticing, had become a bit threadbare.

T H E COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L

929

] opened the encount er w i t h a present ation o f the state o f affairs,

something like what I had given i n my letter of March 5th. I had been quite surprised when upon m y entrance the good Grand Duke had expressly thanked me for m y letter “of March sth.” I had happened t o read said letter of March 5th i n the morning at the hotel, i n order t o prepare myself for the conversation, so that I knew what he was talking about. T o the considerations which made the present m o m e n t seem suitable t o me for a

campaign in Constantinople I added the Paris Exposition and the resulting desire for peace o n the part of France. I sketched a picture of the situation i n condensed brevity,

whereupon the Grand Duke took the floor. Things were different, he said. Precisely the South African War in its present state was a danger to Germany—in fact, t o world

peace. The moment could come when England would realize that i t could not cope with the Boers. Then they might cast about for a pretext t o leave the Transvaal, because “more important interests are at stake.”

Even now England probably was avid for a diversion i n the direction where her power was still unimpaired and superior. She would beware of tangling w i t h Russia; France, too, was too strong

for her on the seas. O n the other hand, she might n o t be disinclined to hurl herself a t Germany, which was still incapable of defending itself o n the seas and offered a n important area o f attack through

its magnificently increasing commerce. During this exposition I had a strong impression. Someone was speaking o u t of the Grand Duke’s mouth, and i t was German policy itself. The kindness, particularly the kindness of telling me these things, was that o f the Grand Duke, b u t the data, the reports of the attitudes from all cabinets, as well as the t h i n k i n g that

summed i t all u p i n strong arguments, were obviously the work of German ambassadors and of Biilow.

Germany was now avoiding complications i n general, said the Grand Duke, and especially anything that could give England an excuse for making the trouble she was looking for. That is why

Ambassador Radolin

at

St. Petersburg, whose recall had been

930 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R ] rumored, was given a decoration just so h e c o u l d stay. That is why

the ailing London ambassador was n o t being replaced; that is wh the aged Miinster was staying o n in Paris, just for the sake gf quieta non movere [not stirring u p things when they are quiet],

Strangely enough, Germany feels threatened by England's South African defeats. I would never have drawn this conclusion from the situation. From the Grand Duke’s statements I saw i t w i t h clarity,

I also sensed that my “letter of March 5 t h ” had been the subject of investigation and action on the part of German diplomacy. | further conclude from i t that Eulenburg didn’t just happen to invite me t o have lunch with Friedjung and Frei. Perhaps the other t w o Jews were invited only so that I might see nothing very special in i t after the long silence. I m u s t admit now that there is something t o the Grandducal and German reasoning. Germany's sea surface [area] is enormous, and its capacity for defending i t , as the Grand D u k e says, infinitesimally small. “We would be i n n o position to defend ourselves against a blockade.

I t will be 1 5 years before our fleet is ready. However, our com: merce and our industry are expanding daily, in a way which 1s as gratifying as i t is alarming.” H e now adduced a number of highly interesting data which attested t o his statesmanlike seriousness and his fine, faithful soverelgn’s concern. Industry, he said, was draining agriculture o f its strength. At the construction o f a harbor—I forget, where—only Italian

workers were used. Recently

3000

Italians had come into the

country v i a Lucerne. I n t h e army, too, t h e manpower shortage was

making itself felt. Serviceable non-commissioned officers d i d not want t o stay. “ G i v e m e three marks a d a y , ” says o n e o f t h e m , “and

I ' l l stay.” Here i n Karlsruhe there was a cartridge-case factory in which the female workers earned five to eight marks a day. Thus, everywhere the most auspicious prosperity, and w i t h 1t a way of life that has remained constant—but the neighbors cast a covetous

eye a t this prosperity. As i t was, i n England there was great dissatisfaction with the

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL

931

progress Germany h a d m a d e i n industry a n d world trade. T h e

English would be glad, he said, i f they could pick some holes 1 n us. France and Russia could only encourage that. A n d i f o u r industry, our m a r i t i m e commerce a n d merchant marine w e n t t o ruin, i t

would suit the Englishm en just fine. This danger o f a naval war, w i t h its possibilities o f economic

ruin and the destruction of so many people’s livelihood, was one of the German government's greatest worries. Despite the German

land power they were exposed t o such a great danger, and the only alliance which might promise a certain security was perhaps with America. A t any rate, the greatest caution was imperative, and they could n o t expose themselves to the possibility that England might use a

German protectorate i n Palestine as a pretext Africa t o “this more important problem.”

t o turn

from South

One bright spot i n this situation, however, was the imminent

visit of Emperor Franz Joseph t o Berlin. “ I have discussed Austrian politics with you o n earlier occasions, and, as you may remember, m y judgment was n o t always a favorable one. I am all the more pleased t o be able t o tell you that a turn for the better has now occurred. Emperor Franz Joseph, for whom I personally have the greatest sympathy, has n o t always had the happiest policy. We are now very happy that he is getting back o n the right road. “The Emperor's visit, of course, is n o t only private i n nature, as has been remarke d; i t is, rather, a political visit. T h e Triple Alli-

ance, which had already fallen t o pieces, w i l l come into being again with renewe d strengt h. Italy, too, has already announ ced a

visit when the Crow n Princ e comes of age.

“I'think Emperor Franz Joseph will be satisfied with his trip. He

will return invigorated, something he proba bly can use.

“Despite all personal predilection for Emperor Franz Joseph, I

must say that we did not get much o u t o f the allian ce w i t h h i m.

“However, we certai nly w a n t t o main tain Austr ia i n its present

existence. B u t this does not also mean that we enco urage certa in

932 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

efforts aiming a t incorporating Austria’s German malcontents int, Germany. We reject this idea. “Now, to return to your matter: while we are i n n o position noy

to recommend you a t Constantinople, Austria is well able t o dogo After his return from Berlin the recommendation o f the Austria

Emperor will carry greater weight than would have been the case previously, o r even now. T h e two Emperors o f Central Europe do

mean a great deal more now.” I had mentioned t o h i m m y relationship with Koerber, saying that I believed I could obtain a recommendation t o the Sultan through him. But I thought that Austria's foreign policy was under Catholic influence; and the Curia probably was n o t favorable to the Zionist plan. T o b e sure, I had also spun some threads in this

direction. I mentioned the letters from Rome which Baron Gleichen-Russwurm (Schiller’s grandson) had written me concerning his occasional talks with church dignitaries a b o u t t h e Zionist Question. I had also mentioned the fact that I had recruited adherents to our cause i n the circle around the Sultan. T o the Grand Duke's question about their identity I replied: “ I cannot keep anything secret from Your Royal Highness. I t is Nuri Bey.” Whereupon the Grand Duke put his hand o n his heart and said: “You may be certain of my discretion.” However, Germany did n o t wish t o expose herself under any circumstances, and the German ambassador c o u l d n o t undertake anything. I'should get myself recommended t o the Sultan by Austria. Since

the Bagdad Railroad Russia's stock had been highest with Turkey. They had tried t o make the Sultan understand that i t was better not t o rely on one friend (Germany) that was demanding such concessions for itself. Now Russian influence was overwhelming in Constantinop le.

“When are you going t o Constantinople?” he finally asked. “ I don’t know yet, Your Royal Highness! I a m going to London

first. I shall try

to

speak with Lord Salisbury i f the South African

worries leave his head free for other things. Perhaps I can get him

D O R H E R Z L 933 THE CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H E O with out Ger man :nterested in Zionism. The pure ly Zion ist idea, rly i n the protection, numbers many friends i n England. Part icula ical influ Church; and i t surely has social influence, perhaps polit enceas we ll.”

He nodded i n agreement. “If I succeeded in winnin g over Lord Salisbury, would there then be more of a chance that Germany would interve ne in our behalf? Because this seems t o be the only objectio n that gives rise t o WOITY.

that case,” said the Grand Duke, “ i t would also be a matter of convincing Count Biilow of i t . ” “Count Biilow unfortunatel y is an opponent of Zionism,” I said. “He is just cautious,” said the Grand Duke, “and, after a l l , h e has to be.”

“But what i f I could induce Lord Salisbury t o send word t o Berlin, perhaps even in writing, that he had nothing against our plan —would there then not b e a modification o f Germany's attitude i n

our favor?” “Yes, that might be something different.” “ I shall take the liberty of making a report i f anything note-

worthy can be achieved in London. I n other instances, too, despite the present unfavorable situation, I should like t o ask permission to inform Your Royal Highness when we take a step forward o r backward.”

“ I hope it will never be backward! I am glad t o see with what perseverance you are pursui ng your great work.” “ I have to, Your Royal Highness, i f I want t o accomplish anything. Let us hope we shall live t o see i t ! ” “You will, I w o n ' t ! ” said the Gran d D u k e with a smile . “ I admi re

you for the way you persevere despite your adversaries. Parti cu-

larly among your co-re ligio nists d o you have oppo

nent s. Her e I a m

yoursole adherent. I have repeatedly assured your fello w Jews here that we don’ t wan t any of our loca l Jews to leav

e, that non e o f them

shall and will go. I have many acquaintances among your co-re-

ligionists wh om I esteem.”

934 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] Then he dismissed m e very cordially, after a conversation thy,

had lasted for an hour and a quarter. I n the ante-chamber, General von Miiller stiffly returned my formal bow, and only a group of younger officers i n gala dress wh had been obliged t o wait such a long time looked with some as. tonishment and respect a t the Jewish stranger w h o had been with

the sovereign for so long. I passed through the group without a greeting, because I k n o w t h e i r ways a n d d i d n o t want t o give them

a n opportunity to take m y greeting as Jewish servility. T o be sure,

I didn’t have much time t o reason thus: just the time i t takes to cross the ante-chamber ( I think i t is the one where the flags once impressed me) a t a brisk pace. *

%

*

M y hotel carriage drove u p and I rolled o u t of the palace square i n style. I think I was not yet a t the guard-house when I had already made u p m y m i n d to turn this unsuccessful attempt t o account after all, by informing Koerber in Vienna of this disposition of German policy, which is of great interest t o Austria. T o what extent I can use the Grand Duke's disclosures vis-a-vis Lord Salisbury I don’t know a t the m o m e n t . Could little me contrive a rapprochement between England and Germany on the basis of Zionism, of all things? C’est a creuser [ I t is something t o explore thoroughly]. *%

¥*

*

O n the train, beyond Strasbourg.

Letter t o Koerber—to be dated Paris, April 19:

Your Excellency: Your Excellency was k i n d enough t o say a t m y departure that |

should write occasionally. N o w I actually have an occasion to do so which seems t o me gratifying and n o t without importance. Following a n invitation by the Grand D u k e o f Baden, I have been t o Karlsruhe. T h e Grand Duke, w h o always treats m e with such kindness, this time, too, expressed himself o n many subjects,

H E O D O R H E R Z L 935 TH E CO MP LE TE DIA RIE S O F T believe I including our Emperor's forth com ing Berl in journ ey. I

er o f Germ an am com mitti ng n o inde licac y i f I brin g the temp the word s licy, which I was able to gathe r quite disti nctly from

ntio n. of His Royal Highness, to You r Excellency’s atte our Many favorable things are being expected from the visit of

to Emperor. The Triple Allian ce, which would soon have fallen y, will b e pieces, partly because of Austr ia’s forme r dome stic polic

newly strengthened or, actually, restored. Austrian foreign policy

will meet with the desired suppo rt, partic ularly as far as Bulga ria is concerned. “Emperor Franz Joseph will be satisfied!” These were the Grand Duke’s words. I believe i t can be of value i f i t is known i n Vienna beforeha nd what expectations one should adopt—q uite apart from the selfevident civilities of the reception—and that Count Goluchow ski’s calculations thus face favorable eventualities from the outset. There are certain motives a t work about which I may have an opportunity to say a few things after m y return.

I t might also be of interest that the turn i n Austrian domestic policies, Your Excellency’s attempts t o restore more orderly conditions, are meeting with the greatest recognition and sympathy i n German circles. The aspirations of the German-Radicals are most vigorously rejected, because Germany needs a strengthened Austria. This aspect, too, can perhaps be exploited a t the approaching

Bohemian understanding. I n any case, I had the impression that Your Excellency’s regime inspires i n Germany just as much gratification and the readiness for an alliance resulting from it as the earlier governments aroused suspicio n and i l l - w i l l . Under such circumstances there w i l l b e a better possibi lity o f getting the Germans—and the Czechs, for that matter —into that modera te, tolerable and tolerat ed degree of dissat isfacti on which is alread y the Ideal among us. Your Excellency may consi der i t wise to infor m His Maje sty the

Emperor and possibly Count Goluchowski of the foregoing. I

would have only one urgen t reque st to make , name ly, that n o one else should learn anyth ing abou t it, for i t woul d b e infini tely pain-

936 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R ? ful if some distorted rendering gave the Grand Duke, whom | venerate most sincerely, the impression that I had become guilty of unseemly tale-bearing .

O n Sunday I am leaving here for London, Hotel Cecil, will be there until Thursday, and i n Vienna again o n May 1st. With deepest respect, I remain

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, Dr. T h . H . Mailed in a second envelope addressed t o my father on April 20.

April 2 1 , on the train from Amiens t o Calais

Yesterday, a conversation of several hours with Nordau about Zionism et de omni re scibili et ceteris alits [and about every conceivable thing and others too]. This time N . was very nice, n o t only outwardly b u t inwardly as well, and submitted t o my leadership, particularly with regard to the letter t o Rumanian Jewry which, following m y advice, 1s not being published. However, I shall make use o f i t i n London; I shall

say that I want t o keep Nordau from publishing this letter, which could lead to catastrophes.

A t parting I mentioned my intention of seeing Lord Salisbury

(through the good offices of Lord Glanusk [?]). Nordau said that the poeta laureatus [poet laureate] Austin h a d been shocked by my failure t o pay h i m the visit that had been announced t o h i m last summer. I had forgotten about the whole thing, b u t declared my readiness t o make u p for the omission now. N . immediately composed a telegram in which I asked Austin t o wire me whether he would be willing t o receive me a t Ashford today. I n the evening came his reply:

With pleasure, A u s t i n*. Accordingly, I am now on my way t o Ashford. ®

I n English i n the original.

937

OF THEODOR HERZL TH E CO MP LE TE DI AR IES

Apr il 2 2 , on the train from Ashford t o London g in Swinford Old I spent a wonderful evening and mornin

s, the Lor d of Poets Manor with Alfr ed Aus tin, the poeta laureatu in England. h surp rised and miff ed [ wasn't met a t the station yesterday, whic ed m e with me. So I drove t o the Saracen’s Hea d Hote l, whic h pleas its English style.* I washed and changed, left m y luggage in the hotel, and drove out of the little town, throu gh a delica te earlysummer landscape, t o Swinf ord, the count ry residence o f the Lord of Poets. A quiet park, a delicious garden, silence all around the venerable manor. A short, elderly gentleman with a martial- looking white moustache and a grey knickerb ocker suit came to meet me. H e said |

|

|

he had sent a carriage to the station, b u t to meet the next train.

WhenI said that I wanted t o continue m y trip the same evening, he was displeased, as was the amiable Mrs. Austin, beautiful even

under her grey hair. B u t they soon caught o n that I wanted t o leave only because there had been n o carriage to meet me. I willingly let

myself be convinced by the timetable that this morning would be time enough.

My coachman was sent t o the Saracen’s Head Hotel for my luggage, and we ensconced ourselves i n one o f the drawing-rooms for tea. The ideal English

most

country home.* Outside the windows, the

gentle spring landscape; in the drawing-room, nevertheless,

blazing logs in the fireplace. The conversation was soon i n full swing, because, speaking

about Zionism, I said that anti-Semitism could also come t o England in consequence o f South Africa n failure s which were attrib uted to the money-men. I n England there was n o anti-S emitis m and there never could be, declared dear Mrs. Aust in, and the “ l a u r e a t e ’ * confi rmed this.

And from that point on we spoke only about the war. What

charming jingoists these two are, prou d o f their beau tiful * I n English i n the orig ina l.

Engl and,

938 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER],

which they call the first, foremost, finest Power i n the world. Mon, avis [My opinion]! Since I was aiming at getting a n introduction to Lord Salisbury from Austin, I expressed the desire that a n alliance be achieveq

between England and Germany. England ought t o make the Ger. man Kaiser its agent with the German people. Since I know from the Grand Duke of Baden that Germany is afraid of England, I can operate a coup sir [on a sure thing] when I promise that I could induce the Kaiser t o do this. O n the other hand, from Austin’s words I recognize the feeling of England which, t o be sure, is proud and self-assured, b u t purely defensive.

The Grand Duke's fears of a lightly provoked war are evidently groundless. All the meanders of our afternoon conversation a t five o'clock tea, later over dinner a t the beautiful English table decorated with flowers—MTrs. Austin i n evening dress, the “laureate”* and I in compromise clothes, h e w i t h black t i e , I w i t h white—cannot be re-

produced. These are the people, this is the m i l i e u that I need for my well-being. Comme je les comprends, les Juifs assimilés de Angleterre [How I sympathize with them, the assimilated English Jews]! I f I lived i n England, I might be a jingo.* I didn’t even need t o ask Austin for the introduction t o Lord Salisbury. When I told h i m that I would like t o speak with Salis bury, he immediately offered t o give me a letter t o him. Je l'avais amorcé [1had hooked him] by parading before his eyes the chance of an understanding with Germany. Among the theories of the “laureate” * i s his declaring England t o b e a n organism* a n d Germany, France, etc. m e c h a n i s m s . * He

calls German colonial policy mechanical, i.e., contrived,‘whereas

English policyi s organic. A t eleven o'clock we went t o bed. T h e wonderfully quiet night in the guest room of Swinford O l d Manor.

The rosy morning, The dear Mrs. Austin. I sensed her liking for me, j u s t as I took t o this delightful matron. I s h a l l send h e r some

thing from Vienna. ®

I n English i n the original.

ERZL THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H

939

Mr. Austin took m e to the statio n i n his victor ia. T h e coach man was styl ish.* The ridiculo us revolut ionarie s mock at old forms and externa ls. But the shiny table, the order i n the house, the correct coachm an

mean something, too. The form which derives from the substance and has rigidified through the infinite toil of many generations i n turn reacts upon the substance.

With all my liking for the laureate,* a few comic touches did not escape my notice. H e is a guerrier e n chambre [an armchair warrior], a conqueror of colonies i n his quiet flower garden. Mrs.

Austin is taller by three heads than he is; he likes t o put his hand on her shoulder, just as he patted mine reaching u p from below. He gave me a pretty quotation from the Prime Minister of Canada:* “It will be the eternal glory of England that she ( I think he said “she”) was not prepared for this w a r . ”* We attack no one, he said, but we are ready for war with the whole world.

I must break off. Here is London . I still have t o write m y speech for tonight and have i t translated into English . *

%*

*

While riding t o the statio n Aust in read me the letter of recom mendation t o Salisbury. H e seems t o have a good impr ession of me.

Apr il 25, Lon don Days of annoyances an d honors. At the Great Cen tral Ho tel, day bef ore yesterday, a rec ept ion * at which I had to talk. Gaster came an d welcomed me w i t h a bit ter Sweet expression, wit h for ced enthusiasm. Th en all kin ds of * I n English i n the or iginal.

940 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7}L thanks.* The most interesting thing about the whole business wag the presence of De Sola from Montreal and Dr. Hertz of Capetown, They made the same speeches that are made i n Vienna. Evidence ip

favor of Zionism.

Worries at the Bank. T h e directors Kann and Lurie frustrated t h e session b y

their

absence. Wolffsohn wasn’t there either. For the first time he fails us. N o w I reluctantly have t o stay here two days longer t o provide a quorum. I n the City* I a m a sort of banker.* Curious adventure. At the Burlington Hotel, October 'g8, I was a promoter.* Now the bank is established, b u t don’t ask m e how. Secretary Loewe displays

the worst will imaginable. Deputy governor* Rabbinowicz figures every quarter-hour that h e sits there a benefaction, because he gets

nosalary. The Solicitor* runs u p expenses. Go “parade i n state” with such people. The dreary Viennese wit Bauer was right. * * H e knew himself and his kind. *

¥*

*

I a m determined not t o leave before I have p u t things i n order.

With i t all I am plagued by the worry whether my office will forgive me for this absence. %*

%*

*

A dear letter from Austin. Lord Salisbury has regretfully refused o n account o f t h e war worries. H e cannot receive m e n o w . ®

I n English i n the original.

Translator’'s Note: A n allusion t o J u l i u s Bauer's eight-line satirical poem about Herzl (1897) which ends with the words: “ E r d e n k t daran i n dieser Zeit m i t Juden ®®

Siaat zu machen!” Also see note on P- 797.

HE RZ L 941 IE S OF T H E O D O R THE COMPLETE DI AR an d Vie nn a May 1 , on the tra in between Lin z

My trip wouldn't have been

complete if, as usu al, the wo rry

ce I can always undertake about the return hadn’t interfered. Sin onsibl 1ty these extracurricular vacation trips only on my own resp reun ion with and with a certain boldness, I have t o thin k about the ial goles my two slave-drivers with concern. Afte r all, I am i n a spec se wou ld be [exile], and the loss of my job with the Neu e Frei e Pres a great catastrophe for me. The poor Jews really have egregious touch luck. I f someone finally turns u p who wants to help them and could d o it—fo r I

am fimly convinced that through my personal interve ntion I would get things ahead quickly—he is a wage slave and has t o tremble for his children’s bread. I intended to go t o Constantinople soon after this—but I don’t dare to be absent again soon. M y masters could resent i t too much. Haven't I just now received proof of their cowardly ill-humor? In order to be forgiven for this trip, I wrote a feutlleton about the exposition the very next day after my arrival in Paris and sent i t to Vienna by a passenger on the Orient Express. They didn’t print this feutlleton, but the day before yesterday they publis hed one by Wittmann with the same contents. [ f e l t a certain relief when in today’s paper, which I bought a t Attnang,I at least found my second (London) travel feuilleton .

’ " such an unstable situati on I musn’ t make any experi ments .

vould real oppor my family and myself i f I lose my post? I y

be o u t i n t h e stree t a n d woul d have t o try t o place

feutlletons i n German papers. Added to this is the fact tha t I h ave already made enorm ous nancial sacrifices and b y now am alm

ost without any funds. o p Honismn should offer me an ything near what I now make e e ar e f o Eress is sim ply o u t of the question. Besid es, I Ost all my rep uta tio n ov ern igh t, and t Proachme act)

for €very mo uth ful of bread,

;

ney wo uld re

. r such circumstances i t wo uld be my duty t o re

Actual]Y» unde

942 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy| sign, since I would be unable to serve the cause f u l l y and cop,

pletely. B u t do I have the right t o do that? I t would be an idea to turn over the leadership (at least nom;

nally) t o Francis Montefiore, who 1s a man of independent mean; %*

3%

%*

Yesterday, half an hour before my departure from Paris, I ran into Bernard Lazare o n the boulevard. H e greeted m e most amica. bly and assured me he had never ceased being of one m i n d with me. Since he told me that h e intended to go to Constantinople soon as representative of the telegraphic news-agency Agence Nationale,

I asked him i f he wouldn't try t o win Ambassador Constans for our cause. Constans is said t o be accessible for money. One could intimate t o h i m the economic consequences of a large-scale organiza tion of Palestine carried o u t b y us: railroads, harbors, etc., and also

that there could be some money i n i t for him. Lazare plans t o visit me i n Vienna next week i n order some more about this. %*

¥*

to

talk

*

I have thought of a good epitaph for myself: “ H e had too good an opinion of the Jews.”

May 2 Letter t o Koerber :

Your Excellency:

I have the honor t o advise you that I am back again. I believe i t would be useful i f I were permitted to pay m y respects t o y o u this very day, perhaps i n t h e evening, for I have something to

say t h a t could be of importance t o Count Goluchowski even prior t o his departure. I shall wait for a possible summons i n my apart ment this afternoon between 5 and 8 o'clock.

O R H E R Z L 943 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D Ministry at 9 Otherwise 1 shall perm it myself to call at the o'clock tomorrow mo rni ng . Wit h deepest respect, I rem ain Your Excellency’s very obedien t servant,

Th. H . M a y 4, 1 9 0 0 , Vienna

Yesterday morning a t g o'clock with Koerber, who gave me a very friendly reception. H e said he had informed the Emperor (at this he gave a strangely meaningfu l smile) and Count Goluchow ski of my Paris letter. H e was going to see Goluchowsk i i n the afternoon and would then give him the information I would give h i m now. 1 said that people were accounting for Germany's present pro-England about-face by saying that Germany had got something—an island or the like.

|

As Isaw it, they really did get something: namely, scared. They are scared of a naval war with England which would ruin Germany's commerce and industry. That is w h y they were anxious to have a Triple Alliance emphasized, and Goluchowski would b e

able t o negotiate from a good position.

Koerber said he would inform Goluchowski of this. Then he told me in detail what he intended t o do i n the Reichsrat and outlined the speech he planned t o make before Parliament

when the language bill was introduced. I approved of some things, criticized others, e.g., his intention rhetorically t o call for the aid of the parties not involved i n the language dispute. Neither the Germans nor the Czechs would willing ly p u t u p w i t h the interve ntion of Poles, Slovenes, and Clerica ls. Instea d, t h e govern ment

ought to shoulder the respon sibility for media tion. I concei ved of this appeal to peace n o t as f u l l o f patho s, b u t o f plain bonh omie . “Wanna write i t down for me?” he asked. “Glad ly,” I said. H e there upon hand ed m e i n comp lete confidence the drafts of the language bill, whic h aren ’t to be mad e public un til May 8th.

944 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy| I promised t o study them within t w o days and draft for his speech.

to

send him the

H e once made a slip of the tongue, as though h e had a slight at.

tack of paraphasia. I n general, he gave me the impression of weak. ness and debility . May

Kann resigned the day before yesterday, which caused some excitement i n t h e Bank. I have taken over the command and shall restore order.

May

Draft of the language-bill speech which I am writing for Koerber. Je prends date ici [1 fix the date for this here]. The day after tomorrow I shall confirm this t e x t as mine by re. cording after these lines a death that will occur tomorrow. (Honored House:) The moment when I have the honor of placing upon the table of this house the drafts for the legal regulation of linguistic cond: tions in Bohemia and Moravia can become a moment of good fortune for our fatherland i f you will i t so. More than by logical reasoning this bill is motivated by a pro found general longing for domestic peace. By far the largest part of the populatio n harbors such a longing, and the government, which wants t o b e a government o f peace and o f work, believes i t is o n the right track i f i t makes itself the interpreter of these clearly recog nized desires of the people. Precisely because we are not under the influence of any national faction or political party, precisely be: cause we stand o n the raised platform of the general interest, we feel ourselves called upon t o settle the dispute which has already lasted too long.

H o w d o we want to end it? B y a law! That is to say, through the

purest expression of the collective will.

THE COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 945 The persistent confusion of recent times is t o blame i f we have t o

things all over again and even explain them. The linguistic conditions in the aforementioned crown-

say the most self-eviden t

lands have unfortun ately become the subject of contentio n. Well then, they can, they shall, they must b e regulated. A n d n o one

would understand i f in the house of representatives of the people, of all places, voices were raised objecting t o this regulation being carried out i n a constitutiona l form. T h e constitution al form is the

law. The representatives of the people would have t o demand it from us i f we d i d not bring i t to them.

And now read our bill. Read it, examine it—improve i t ! I n every line, i n every word of our bill you will a t least recognize a sincere effort t o effect a just compromise. We want t o take into account the accurately determined local conditions of the majority and its consequent needs and rights just as conscientiously as we want to allow for the rights of the minority. T h e propertyless, the lesser-educated, even the defendant i n a law-suit shall enjoy the fullest linguistic freedom and security with the authorities. I f our bill has any bias, i t is only this: to meet the needs of practical life with consideration and respect for national individualities. A n d this single tendency you will be able t o trace down t o the regulations governing the internal affairs of the bureaus. Everywhere we wish t o make i t possible t o live together, work together, and communicate with one another o n the natural basis of the real needs. The communal life of human beings requires, t o be sure, a cer-

tain mutual consideration. Sacrifices have t o be made by anyone who wants t o share i n the enjoyment of the benefits of the community. These sacrifices, however, are the smaller the more willingly they are made.

We have bad years behind us. The language dispute has had a virtually paralyzing effect o n the most divers conditio ns which are apparently remote from i t . Let u s admit i t t o ourselves , n o matter

how painful the truth may be: our beautif ul country has suffered severely from this protracted crisis. Commerce and commu nicatio n

have been disturbed, the spirit of enterprise has been intimid ated,

946 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]

and the public projects which augment the national wealth hay been at a standstill. A t a time which has brought the most miracy. lous technical progress o f the civilized world we have had to Jog} o n inactively as the countries and peoples a l l around us became

ever more prosperous and stronger. A t a time when each year js as valuable for economic and cultural development as decade used t o be we have spent years o n self-righteous litigation, and the costs threaten to swallow u p the object o f the quarrel. A t a time,

finally, when the legislators of other lands were able t o direct their attention also t o improving the conditions of the poor and the

underprivileged, we have been hypnotized by the question whether this or that language would be used. T h e government has striven to discover t h a t l i n e at which no

one’s legitimate national sensibilities will be offended. Let the wisdom of this exalted house supplement our proposal. But 1s there an Austrian left who does n o t desire peace? I t i s not a shameful o r a sham peace, b u t a n honest and honorable

one, which is all the more useful for both sides i f only because it benefits the State which embraces them both. Honorable House! Our bill is a document which we are setting u p as a memorial for all time. I t is clear evidence that the govern: ment has not

been lacking i n good will.

I t would not b e the fault o f t h e government i f this attempt

should, contrary t o my hopes, fail. Gentlemen, make peace, and let us get to the tasks that await us| %*

%

%

M a y 5, 1900 Your Excell ency:

I have the honor to enclose the draft o f the speech to accompany the introduction of the bill. T h e passages marked i n b l u e may be super fluous o r dubio us.

I considered i t the main task t o emphasize the necessity fora law In contrast t o an ordinance and also t o intimate that the respons bility for continuing the querulousness has now been shifted onto

T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

947

the dogmatic disputants, because this would prepare the ground for a possible subsequent dissolution of the Reichsrat and the influencing of the elect orate .

I am always willingly a t your disposal for making changes as well as, afterwards, for t h e refutation of counter-argume nts that may come up during the discussion. With deep respect, I remain Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, T h . Herzl.

May #4, Vienna Koerber invited me t o call o n h i m this morning. When I got there at g o'clock he was already waiting for me impatiently. I soon gathered from his words that he wished t o use only a few words of my draft, actually nothing b u t the concluding sentence, because he does n o t wish t o adopt a fighting stance vis-a-vis the Czechs. Rather, h e intends to draw them i n t o the ‘‘Staatspartei”

which he needs once Parliament is functioning again. He quoted me entire passages from his speech for tomorrow which he has already learned b y heart. I gave h i m m y judgment: “The speech is too bureaucratic, Your Excellency! I t lacks the proclamatory tone which you need i f you w a n t t o hold new elections.” H e asked m e to add a few sentences to the speech w h i c h h e was going to send m e i n the afternoon.

Sure enough: when I returned home a t 4:30 I found the type* script of the speech waiting for me. I am making some corrections

in it and writing him: You r Exc elle ncy:

The speech reads very well. T h e reference t o the Bohemian investments is especially effective; the tenor of the whole cannot b u t be taken as conciliatory. T o be sure, only now do I see what Your * I n English i n the origi nal.

948 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

Excellency’s views are, and, of course, I would have had to wor my draft quite differently on that basis. However, i f I may permit myself an objection—otherwise there would be no point i n my modest appraisal—it seems t o me thy the speech lacks authority. I t has n o compelling force which could have an effect i n the hall and o n the outside. T h i s may again be motivated b y aspects of the situation which I don’t know about, I f there is hope that there w i l l b e n o Czech obstruction, or that it

can be broken in a short time, this m i l d speech will be sufficient. I f this is not the case, and inasmuch as the government will henceforth be the government of these language laws and will be known as such, more emphasis on shifting the responsibility for halting any development i n the Empire might have been useful. I have permitted myself t o jot down small corrections on the margin, since the copy is a rough one. These pages, as well as the strengthened concluding sentences which might be included, are on top. With deep respect, I remain

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant,

Th. H . May 1 0 Koerber has made an entirely different speech, and the Czechs have refused t o cooperate. What does he think about my secretarial services? That I want a decorati on or somethin g l i k e that? I am only doingi t so that he w i l l recommend me t o Goluchowsk, and the latter, to the Sultan.

M a 1y1 For the past few days, the Kann crisis. Kann has resigned and wants to run the Bank down publicly. They are all making i n their

THE COMPLET E D I A R I E S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

94Y

pants, especially Wolffsohn. Je leur remets d u coeur au ventre [I put heart into them ]. *

¥%

%

Got York-Steiner as an inspector for the Bank yesterday. H e acted as though he had been oftered three other positions. I stopped him short: “You will get an offer from me only i f you are free.

Otherwise you will later reproach me with having done you o u t of a job.” “So I have t o be starving,” he flared up. Je finis pourtant par avoir raison de l u : [Stil], I finally got the better of him].

May 1 5 I t proved impossible to hire Steiner after all. He acted too much the part of the “savior of the Bank” even before he had done a thing, and the A.C. considered i t dangerous to be indebted t o h i m w i t h “eternal gratitude.” *

¥*

¥%

Kann’s resignation has turned i n t o a disagreeable tempest. H e wanted t o get us over a barrel by threatening that he would publish “the reasons for my resignation.” Since we replied by simply accept-

ing his resignation, he took revenge and caused an indescribable hullabaloo. They are a l l worried. B u t I a m c o n t i n u i n g to steer o u r

ship quite unperturb ed.

An absolutely perfidious, “strictly confidential” circular is being sent o u t by Lourie. T h e answer I

am making t o i t will be preserved {or posterity i n the files of the Congress Office. *

¥*

*

Moi [the Great I Am] has asked for a new memorandum. I wrote him on the 1 0 t h of the month that I have already written enough memoranda. Why didn’t he tell me right o u t i f he was unable to

procure the audience for me. *

¥%

*

950 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz}, Koerber didn’t take m y advice and consequently is i n a pre.

carious position now. Since he failed t o push the obstructionigs t o the wall, they are pushing him t o the wall.

The day before yesterday I made a Zionist speech a t the Israeli. tische Allianz which seems t o have made more of an impression this time. Dr. Alfred Stern told me yesterday that they would

shortly invite me t o a confidential discussion of the campaign to aid the Rumanian Jews which I had suggested. Despite this I am publishing in the Welt a satirical article about

the Allianz, because I don’t believe i n the seriousness of these people. I f they d o call me, I shall propose that they bring about a united front o f all European b i g Jews. They need n o t part w i t h a penny, b u t only empower me t o intervene with the Turkish government

in the name of all of them.

May 18, Vienna. Alex Marmorek, our best man, has been here for a few weeks and left yesterday, i l l , for Paris. While here h e fell sick with rheumatoid arthritis which took a rapid course, to b e sure, but

may not be his only ailment. Yesterday I suddenly had the impres sion that he has tuberculosis. I a m afraid that i n the course of his research o n the T . B . bacillus he has contracted the disease himselt I fear that the bacilli will k i l l h i m before h e kills them. H e thinks, of course, that he has found the cure. H e believes that he w i l l be able to make his remedy public i n two o r three months.

I consider it a fantasy. A child that he treated for meningitis died. I f he has found the remedy and i t proves a success, he will, at m y request, turn over its commercial exploitation t o t h e Jewish Colonial Trust. That would endow i t at one stroke. T h e shares

would be subscribed in one day. Zionism would suddenly have all the resources i t needs.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

951

Mais ce serait trop beau [But that would be too good]. I acted as though I believed i t , although I consider i t an illusion. But what a fine h u m a n being this Alex is inside. W e had some good talks. I love h i m very m u c h . H e told m e : “ W h e n I a m through with tuberculosis, I shall tackle malaria. I want to study i t i n

Palestine, among our colonists. O f course, that might be the end of me. C’est une maladie q u i ne pardonne pas [That is a sickness which shows no mercy]. B u t i f I discover the remedy, Africa will be opened up. Malaria is the bar which closes Africa t o European culture.” What a grandiose conception this is! H e who wills something great is in my eyes a great m a n — n o t he who achieves i t . For i n achievement luck plays a part. I accompanied h i m t o the station; and m y heart was heavy when

I saw him tottering into his compartment.

May 1 9 Letter t o Koerber, w h o hasn’t been i n touch w i t h m e for some

time and whomI won't let fall asleep. Your Excellency: So i t does appear as though the Reichsrat w i l l be dissolved, unless today’s communiqué was only a false alarm. A t present the Ministry is undoubtedly stronger than Parliament. I f i t is n o t pos-

sible in the elections t o create the Staatspartei which is necessary for governing—a kind of Center Party—Parliament will be stronger than the government. I believe, therefore, that i t 1s necessary to run these elections w i t h especial precautions, with new methods and fresh ideas. T h e routine i n the governors’ offices which your Excellency complained of i n one of our talks would be simply disastrous i n this respect. N o r should the district chiefs be allowed to “horse around” with t h e i r red tape, otherwise the

battle will be lost.* I consider the situation of the government i n * Translator’s Note: Herzl’s phrase is den “Schimmel” reiten. A Schimmel is a white horse, Amtsschimmel means “red tape.” Although the latter expression’s connection with horsemanship is doubtful, Herzl jocularly remarks that the district

chiefs would do well not

to

ride a Schimmel.

952 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy the elections to be very favorable, because i t can, without belong. ing to a party, establish direct contact w i t h t h e interests of the citizenry. This t i m e the Staatspartei can b e m a d e popular. T o (,

this, of course, administrative and journalistic preparations are necessary now.

I shall gladly expound my humble views o n this i f I am called for an hour's chat some time, preferably i n the evening. W i t h deepest respect, I remain

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant,

Th. H . May 20 The poor Rumanians are on the march. D r . Lippe of Jassy telegraphed me yesterday:

The hikers you know about are being detained a t Bukowina

border. Intervene for passage; they may take train

to

Czernowitz.

A second telegram of similar content from Botosani. I spent the night reflecting what I should do about it. I believe, above all, that the closing o f the border m a y b e laid t o secret inter:

vention on the part of the Allianz people von Gutmann and Dr.

Alfred Stern. Ils étaient alléchés [They were tempted t o it] by my incautious remark that Hungary was n o t admitting the Rumanian Jews. They must have thought to themselves: W e can d o the same

thing. I t simplifies the aid campaign for them. They are smart, all right. I am now writing t o Koerbe r: Your Excelle ncy:

Unfortunate Rumanian Jews, the poorest of the poor, are now standing at the border near Itzkany. The most abject poverty has forced them t o emigrate t o America. T h e Austrian border authorr ties are denyi ng them admis sion.

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

953

There are g 5 emigrants with passports for America, as I am informed by telegram. I f i t is n o t impossible, unless serious political reasons that are unknown t o me militate against i t , I request i n the name of humanity that telegraphic orders be given t o let these unfortunates pass. With deepest respect, I am Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, Th. H .

May 23 Today I have again been with Koerber a t his invitation. I expounded the program, then, o f h o w the elections would have to b e run. Start work now, send for the provincial chiefs, gather

information about every single election district and treat them individually. Issue a questionnaire, etc. T h e main thing, a proclama-

tion t o the national groups when the Reichsrat is dissolved. I said that the situation of the government, apparently disagreeable, was i n truth tremendously favorable. Perhaps even a Koerber Party could get seats i n the Parliament. However, that would be hazardous, because i t would make h i m a party chief and, as such, vulnerable. The Emperor, in any case, ought t o intervene, t o o . I t is actually a question o f t h e existence o f t h e monarchy.

H e shrugged his shoulders. “The Emperor is old. H o w often haven't I tole ‘im: Your Majesty, you w a n t a policy that looks tough; b u t i f there's any more aggressive action against some party o r line, you are against i t . I f you've got to present the most delicate

questions i n Parliament, you can’t manage t o back down the moment there’s an outcry. Now, o n top of that, there’s the Imperial family matters. Often I don’t know whether I ' m coming or going.” I explained all the things one could accomplish with the administrative machinery, more than any o f the parties could. T h e government can give what the parties only promise as they go along: Railroads, etc. For a n Order o f Franz Josef o r a n “Imperial

954 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Councillor” one can buy a lot i n the elections. ( H e nodded hjs agreement). Further, the veterans’ patriotism should be enlisted. “ B u t for elections one needs money, too,” he said. “ T h a t can be obtained,” I said. “ O u r administrative machinery has suffered a great deal o f harm

i n the last 2 0 years,” he said. “The slackers will stiffen u p when they notice that one is pro ceeding energetically here.” I n short, the upshot was that he asked m e t o work o u t a question. naire for h i m for the authorities t o use. H e would then send for the governors and give them their instructions. I am now sending him this draft:

Your Excellency: Please find enclosed the draft of a questionnaire for the lower political echelons. I imagine the procedure something like this: T o begin with, summoning the provincial chiefs t o Vienna for a confidential discussion. General instructions about the Center Party which is t o be promoted and is to champion, i n the German-

Bohemian language question (outside Bohemia, too), the Koerber draft, the resumption of normal parliamentary activities, a reawakening of economic life, moderate social reforms, etc.

‘The provincial chiefs should copy the questionnaire for themselves and continue t o give i t confidential treatment. Each of them should, particularly, call i n those district chiefs who are absolutely reliable and do not lean towards any party (certainly the great majority). They should b e shown the questionnaire, i n rather free form, so that they may take down its main points. (Questionnaire). 1 . H o w has the representation of the election district been up to now? Have the constituents been satisfied with the activity of the representative? What do they criticize h i m for? What under currents are there? 2 . What party o r parties have been defeated i n the last election? Who were the unsuccessful candidates? Their campaigners? What about their election fund? Causes of defeat?

T H E COMP LETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 955 3. What currents prevail in the election district now? Give a rough estimate of their approximate strength. 4. Are there candidates i n sight already (besides the outgoing deputy)? Who are they? Is there in the district itself a respected man of moderate views and sufficient influence who could be confidentially sounded o u t as to whether h e w o u l d run o n t h e platform o f t h e Staatsparte:

[State Party] or Center Party? The type would be, perhaps, a well-to-do manufacturer, attorney, o r average landed proprietor.

5. What election committees were active i n the last political elections i n your district? Send in any election appeals that may still b e available, b u t i n any case a n accurate l i s t o f t h e l i v i n g members of the election committee who were active i n the last elections t o

the Reichsrat and the Provincial Diet, as well as i n the municipal

elections. Which ones have since withdrawn, for personal o r material reasons? For the sake of clarity, this should be arranged b y parties, one file for each party. 6. Among the officers of the cooperative societies and associations for the common good which are located i n the constituency are there m e n who are not yet o n the election committees and w h o

might be used for the formation of an election committee for the anti-obstructionist Staatspartei? Who are they? These people m u s t n o t be sounded o u t by an official, unless success and discretion are completely assured from the outset. Especially on this point you, Mr. District Chief, w i l l be able t o demonstrate your dependability and efficiency. As a rule, a private person known t o you as reliable should be used for this delicate investigation. Whom do you have i n mind for this? Don’t discuss i t with h i m before you have something t o go on. Then you will instruct h i m cautiously, so that even the semblance of influen cing an election may be avoided. The whole campa ign must have the charac ter o f a n active desire, growin g o u t of the people, for the return t o orderly parliam entary conditi ons and for the sound satisfaction of economic needs.

956 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 7. What political attitude does the clergy of the various de. nominations i n the district take? I s electioneering activity to be

expected from that quarter? 8. What is the nature and influence of the teachers? 9. What local commercial and economic needs that are depend. ent o n support from the state make themselves felt i n the election district? 1 0 . What are the approximate funds that an election committee of the Staatspartei would need i n the district? Can these funds be raised i n the district itself? Possibly through what persons? 1 1 . What newspapers have an influence in the constituency? Are they owned by parties or by individuals? Give detailed information about the conditions of ownership of the individual papers. For what ends does the owner want to use the paper? For business or political gain?

Special attention, of course, should b e paid t o the elections of landed property and chambers of commerce. With the chambers of commerce the matter is much easier, with the landed estates i t is harder. For the latter, special arrangements should later be

made, also according t o the principle of individual treatment. The propagandistic preparations for the election should not be started until later. The press can best be influenced b y the election

committees once these have been organized. A dignified reserve should be recommended for the semi-official people. At a given moment, which is still to b e determined, a rumor should be

launched that should the newly-elected House of Deputies prove incapable of action again, a regime without a constitution might come, possibly with a general as its executive head. Such a rumor which one might let crop u p in some place that is above suspicion would be of the greatest service. I t would paralyze many an attempt o n the part of the radicals, because they would b e ‘‘doing the work

of reaction.” For the primitive imaginations of the voters as well as for the declamations of the campaigners, a sham foe is almost as usable in an election as a real one. The professional politicians who subsist on ruining Austria owe their best successes t o this method.

T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL 957 Those stumping for the Center Party could operate with the threatening “general” among those of limited intellig ence, and with the real danger, the obstructionists, among the more sensible ones. I n elections i t is more importan t to be against somethin g o r someone than for something or someone. Therefore: fight obstructionism! For purposes of publicity, the so-called professional journals should also be brought into the picture. They are in closer touch with the economic needs of their readers and often can make a more effective appeal for a candidate than the big political papers, many of which have lost influence by their financial sins. Let this hastily sketched first suggestion suffice for the moment. Many points are still t o be developed and elaborated on. I f the administrative machinery works quickly and turns i n the first basic information w i t h i n two o r three weeks, the further

necessary measures can be derived from that. With deepest respect, I remain

Your Excellency’s very obedie nt servant, Th. Herzl. Vienna, M a y 24, 1900

June 2 , Vienna Great Conference hub bub since May 25. A l o t of talk and l i t t l e

act ion .

Results: Congress called for Lon don . I was i n favo r of Basel

aga in, Bodenheimer proposed Bru

ssels, Schnirer, London. The

last proposal passed after I had agreed t o it. I suddenly rea lize d tha t we have ou tgr ow n Basel. Since then the idea of Lon don has gro wn on me. Th is can giv e the

movement a fresh essor [impetus]. Int he Bank, tohu-bohu [chaos]. Wo lfs oh n did n’t come, b u t

Lu rie did . H e asked forgiven

everything. A new Special Comm

ess for

ittee, consisting of Lu rie , Krem

-

958 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] enezky, and, for the time being, Katzenelsohn. Lurie and Katzenel. sohn left for London. We'll see what comes of it. A rather important Constantinople alerte [alarm] in the last few days. T h e papers report that Prof. Vambéry has been called t o Yildiz t o see the Sultan. I immediately sent Hechler to Pest, to see Vambeéry last Friday.

Hechler returned on Saturday and said that Vimbéry wasn't

there yet. On Monday I

sent

Hechler down again. He telephoned

and told me that Vaimbéry had already left. Thereupon I had Hechler telegraph Vambéry a t Constantinople, asking how long he was staying there. Answer: until June 8th. Hechler can’t go until tomorrow and won't be there before the 5th. So as not t o lose these precious days, I sent Heinrich Rosenbaum t o Constantinople the day before yesterday. Hechler will follow h i m there tomorrow. Every effort shall be exerted t o have me received b y the Sultan in audience. I gave Rosenbaum precise instructions for Vambéry, which he took down in shorthand. Perhaps 1t w i l l work o u t this time.

June g, Vienna Yesterday evening the following wire came from Rosenbaum in Constantinople:

Schlesinger (V4mbéry) leaving Monday June 2nd (?), will be gone some time, may initiate business (audience) matter Charter today. Wired reports tomorrow o r next day. ¥*

*

%

Some of i t incomprehensible. I immediately wired back: Is Schlesinger leaving for good or will he return here (Constantinople)? When is he going home? Request wired reply.

A t any rate, I immediately stopped Hechler who was supposed to go to Constantinople today. H e was a b i t disappointed.

Now I am waiting on tenterhooks.

O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 959 T H E CO MP LE TE DIA RIE S dénouement [so luti on] ? O r Could i t be that we are close t o the Yildiz? shall we hear a categorical N o fro m nov el Altn eul and . For I f this came, I wou ld resume wor k on my and a nov el. then our plan will be only for the futu re

Whit -Mon day 19oo Hirsc h.) (Exactly five years, I believe, since my visit t o Baro n ber of This is the way a lost battle looks. Dr. Leop old Kahn , a mem

a low the A.C., comes i n a black frock coat with yellow gloves and

white hat and brings me a wire from Rosenbaum. This wire contains a very odd item. Rosenbaum telegraphs mysteriously “City of Waltzes” instead of “Vienna .” I t wasn't a mot conven u [code word]. Telegram: Galata t o Vienna, J u n e 4 , 2s.

Schlesinger tried Cohn (Sultan) day before yesterday, flatly refused. Had no chance yesterday. Leaving for West today, passing through City of Waltzes where plans one-day stay. Loebel (myself) should wait for him, since place to stay indefinite. H e opines try

mediation of Mot’s superior. Please wire by return if my presence still required, because wish to leave Tuesday steamer.

The only comforting feature of this telegram is that he “had no chance yesterday.” Thus the flat refusal of the day before had not been such that he could n o t have started all over again yesterday i f there had been a suitable opportun ity. I telegraphed t o Rosenbaum:

Ask M ot in Loebel’s behalf how business prospects are a t present. But m e n t i o n nothi ng of Schlesinger. Expect wired reply from there and detailed repor t from Jassy. Kahn

How ever , n o w I a m med itati ng o n wha t our next step cou ld be.

Par tir en guerre contre la Tur quie [Go off to war against

960 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Turkey]? W e are not strong enough i n public opinion, either, and have too m a n y weak spots. Every o n e o f those unfortunate

scattered colonists is a hostage i n the hands of the Turks. A t present I can see only one more plan: See to i t that Turkey's

difficulties increase; wage a personal campaign against the Sultan: possibly seek contact with the exiled princes and the Young Turks; and, a t the same time, by intensifying Jewish Socialist activities stir u p the desire among the European governments t o exert pressure o n Turkey to take in the Jews.

J u n e11 Terrible difficulties in the Bank. Incompetent or self-seeking people. Everything is bogged down. Lurie and Kann are making difficulties, because I did not let the Bank be turned into a Banking House Lurie and Kann. *

*

*

The Congress in London? I am taking my Basel troupe t o London because I have reason to fear that I shall no longer have an audience in Basel. *

*

T h e difference between myself

%

and

Sabbatai Zevi (the way

I imagine him), apart from the difference i n the technical means inherent in the times, is that Sabbatai made himself great so as t o be the equal of the great of the earth. I , however, find the great small, as small as myself.

J u n e17

Hechler, who is back from Miihlbach after seeing V4mbéry, gives me the surprising news that Vimbéry has so far n o t even mentioned Zionism t o the Sultan. Consequently he didn’t get a “flat refusal” either. Une fausse alerte [a false alarm], then. What

J u n e1 7

On the train, o n the return trip from Miihlba ch to Vienna.

I left Vienna last night for Miihlba ch t o see Vimbé ry—14 hours by fast train—and now, after a stay of only five hours, I am o n m y way back, because my Pauline has taken t o bed with an inflamed throat. I have met one of the most interestin g m e n i n this limping, Co

no-year-old Hungarian Jew who doesn’t know whether he 1s more Turk than Englishman, writes books i n German, speaks twelve languages with equal mastery, and has professed five religions, 1 n two of which he has served as a priest. With an intimate knowledge of so many religions he naturally had to become a n atheist. H e told me 1 0 0 1 tales of the Orient, of his intimacy with the Sultan, etc. He immediately trusted me completely and told me, under oath

of secrecy, that he was a secret agent of Turkey and of England. The professorship in Hungary was merely window-dressing, after the long torment he had suffered i n a society hostile to Jews. H e showed me a lot of secret docum ents—t hough i n the Turkis h

language, which I cannot read but only admir e. Amon g them,

handwritten notes by the Sultan. Hechler he immediately dismissed brusquely: he wanted to be alone with me. H e began: “ I don’t wan t any money; I am a rich man . I can’t eat gold beefsteaks.* I've got a quarter of a mill ion, and I can't spe nd half the interest Ige t. I f I help you , it’s for the sake of the cause.”

He had me tell him all the details of our plan, funds, etc . Th e Sultan, he confided, had sen t for him in order t o have him cre ate * I n English in the orig inal ,

962 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ], a n atmosphere more favorable to h i m i n the European papers,

Could I help h i m with this? I gave an evasive answer. Throughout our conversation h e kept getting back to the

memorable events i n his life which were indeed great. Through Disraeli he became an agent of England. I n Turkey he began as a singer in coffee-houses; a year and a half later he was the Grand Vizier’s confidant. H e could sleep a t Yildiz, b u t thinks he might be murdered there. H e eats a t the Sultan’s table—on intimate terms, with his fingers from the bowl—but h e cannot get the idea

of poison o u t of his mind. And a hundred other things, equally picturesque. I said t o him: “Vimbéry bdcs: [Uncle Vambéry]—may I call you what Nordau calls you?—write t o the Sultan that he should receive me, because 1) I can render him a service i n the newspaper world, 2) the mere fact of my appearance will raise his credit. “ I should l i k e i t best i f you were m y interpreter.”

B u t he is afraid of the hardships of summer travel. M y time was up. I t had n o t been settled whether he would do anything. First of all, whether he would immediately write t o the Sultan about my audience. But he embraced and kissed me when I bade h i m goodbye. Hechler’s face was all curiosity when he conducted me t o the station. I told him nothing, and he was kind enough n o t t o ask any questions.

June 1 7 , o n the train ‘Tomorrow I shall write Vambéry as follows:

Kedves Vdmbéry bdcsi [Dear Uncle Vimbéry]: The Hungarian word is good: zsiddember [a Jewish man]. You are one, so am I . That is why we understood each other so quickly

and fully—perhaps even more on a human than o n a Jewish plane, although the Jewish element is strong enough in both of us. Help me—no, us! Write the S. (Cohn) that he should send for me,

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

963

1) because I can help him with public opinion, 2) because m y coming will improve his financial credit, even i f h e does not im-

mediately accept my propositions. We can go into the details after the Congress, provided you come along and act as interpreter. An audience before the Congress will suffice me. Tackles [brass-

tacks] afterwards. I don’t

want t o

hokhmetzen [banter] with you;

you will do our cause a tremendous service i f you obtain an audience for me now. I understand what you intend t o erect with your autobiography: a royal sepulchre. Crown your pyramid w i t h the chapter: H o w I

Helped Prepare the Homecoming of M y People the Jews. The whole of your memorable life will appear as i f i t had been planned that way.

Book Eight Begun on

June 18,

1900

June 1g, Vien na

The Ruma nian emigrants are begin ning to pass throu gh here. A n embarrassment for the Allian ce Israé lite. Today, a band of 75 young fellows, who had been in the army, in shabby athletic clothes, lookin g miserable and bold. This 1s the way my first conting ent i n Palestine will look. These want t o go t o Canada.

J u n e2 1 Vimbéry writes from Miihlbach that the business w i t h the

mamzer ben-nide [foully conceived bastard] (the Sultan) cannot be done in writing. I am answering him:

Kedves bdtydm uram [My Dear Uncle]: That doesn’t sound comforting. You too are saying yavash [take it easy] like a born Turk. B u t I have n o time to lose. There certainly is n o need for your mamser [bastard] t o k n o w that t h e matter 1s

comparatively new t o you. I think that “after long thought and mature consideration” you could recommend this expedient and remedy t o h i m as the best. You surely don’t need t o a c c o u n t t o h i m for the number o f chibouks [Turkish cigarettes] you have smoked

and how many thousands of cups of coffee you have drunk in pondering this matter. Your first word t o me was that you were n o wonz-melammed [imbecile of a teacher]. I really do look upon you as a man of action, as a man of my race which I believe capable of any amount of energy. Disraeli once said t o a young Jew: “You and I belong to a race who can do everything but f a i l . ’* M y dear* Vdmbéry bdcsi [Uncle Vambéry]l we can do really everything , b u t we must be willing. * * I n English i n the origina l.

967

968 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]L

Be willing, Vdmbéry bdcsi! From the way you have described your relationship with him,

I don’t see why you shouldn't write Cohn and say: “See here, send for that man. H e ' l l p u t a n end to your shlemazeln [misfortunes). Listen t o h i m , take a look a t h i m , a n d y o u can always throw him

o u t afterwards.” That's a l l you need to say. B u t that much you must tell him—

i f you are willing. Sincerely and respectfully yours, Th. J u n e21 Yesterday, while talking with people i n the office of the Welt, I had an attack of brain anemia. M y consciousness suddenly blacked o u t and my perception grew blurred, although I was able to

observe myself closely during the spell and even cracked jokes

with Schalit and Reich, the secretaries. After that I didn’t go t o the Neue Freie Presse, b u t drove home and went to bed. T h e doctor ordered a two o r three days’ rest. Hardly feasible. Always new excitements. Yesterday with Wolffsohn who gives me the impression of having gone over to

Kann’s side. The Rumanian emigrants are on the march. I keep getting telegrams from fresh contingents who have started out.

I am supposed t o intervene i n behalf of those who are being detained a t the border. I must n o t and cannot do this any more, because I can’t support them here. Acts of cowardice: Benedikt asked me yesterday whether I knew anything about the Rumanian Jewish crisis. H e said he needed a report. For he has received a threatening letter from a subscriber about the silence of the Neue Freie Presse. “Yes,” 1 said, “ I ’ v e had reports, too, that

ZL 969 THE COM PLE TE DIAR IES O F THE ODO R HER ania. ” they are planning a boycott of the Neue Freie Presse in Rum «I'm n o t afraid of that,” he said, “but we will publis h an article. B u t bywho m? Reco mmen d some one!”

I ommen ded Goldbau m to h i m . B u t Goldbau m declared h e

knew nothing about the subject. He, who has written articles about it for the Welt! *

LJ

%

I am writing t o Alex today t o tell the 1.C.A. people that the desperadoes from Rumania are so desperate that they will some day hold the détenteurs des fonds publics juifs [withholders of the Jewish public funds] responsible for their delay in joining i n with

us. J u n e24

Vambéry replied from Miihlbach that I was a Giour [Infidel] who rushes up hill and down dale without heed for the Turkish

ditches. Still, he had written the Sultan about us, but i t was not certain whether the letter would get into his hands. %*

*

%*

I'shall write to Nuri t o see t o i t that at least we get a teleg raph ic message from the Sultan a t the Congress. The concerted actio n of the Pow ers agai nst Chin a, I sha ll say, is a serious lesson for Tur key . %

*

*

At my Constantinople audience, Octob er 1898, I told the

German Kaiser:

“China is Pandora’s Box!" Not an incorrect prophecy. June 25 The Rumanian migrant gr oups wire me of their im m ine nt arrival from the border o f from Budapest. Th ey wa nt me t o meet

970 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL them. This is evidence of our people’s naivete, their trust in me, but also of the extent of their presumption. The “philanthropists” of Vienna don't lift a finger, and I have n o funds available for the poor. A chilling situation.

June 26, 1 9 0 0 Hechler writes me today that Lord Rosebery is i n town and advises me t o call on h i m a t his hotel. I ' m n o t going to, because his superiority would be too great. I n addition t o his position he has the distinction of being a foreign visitor here. It’s different i n England. There I am a t least a foreigner. *

%

*

Hungarian papers report that I organized the Rumanian emigration. M y denial i n the Welt of the 29th of the month 1s very necessary. I t must go o n the front page.

The Jewish Chronicle had written that I was steering the emigration to England i n order to make a demonstration for Zionism. B y denying this I a m giving the desperadoes to understand that what I never advised them t o d o is the most effective demonstration.

J u n e 2g, Vienn a

Today, Koerber’s card saying that he would like t o see me once again: Sunday, g o'clock i n the morning. What does he want? My guess 1s: Rumanian Jews! I n that case I would ask h i m t o recommend m e t o Cohn. J u l y 2 , Vie nna

Was with Koerber yesterday. H e had just wanted to see m e before I went o n vacation, because

we hadn’t had a chat in such a long time. H e had already discussed m y proposals for preparing the election with several provincial

EO DO R HE RZ L 971 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S OF TH ght of dissolving chiefs. However, a t present there could be no thou basi the Reichsrat—simply because i t 1sn’t necessary. |

the He governs in a very astute, inconspicuous fashi on o n

g Thebmperor, he said, was very satisfied with him. The Emperor had been particularly delighted about the rift in the clouds of obstruction. “You shertainly did thish shplendidly”— he quote the Emperor's words i n the voice of a toothless old man. H e had also earned the Emperor's approbation in the matter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s marriage t o Countess Chotek. Hungarian Prime

Minister Széll had wanted t o draft an omnibus bill “which would have included arranging for the millennium and fine weather.” Through his (K.’s) intervention, a simple declaration o f renuncia-

tion had been made, although i t binds the future Emperor hand and foot. “Archduke Otto must be pleased,” I said.

He made une moue dédaigneuse [a scornful grimace]: “That

man didn’t care much abou t i t , ” he said.

"And the Hungarians?” I asked. “ I f Countess Chotek has boys, in twenty years there might be an Imperial conflict.” This possibility, too, Koerber shrugged off with a disdainful smile.

He did not believe it, he said. Then we again spoke abo ut Au stri an inte rna l pol itic s. H e sai d he was now wo rkin g o n ind uci ng the Czechs to ma ke a dec lar atio n that they would no t obstruct thi ng s i n the fut ure .

“What are you going t o give the m i n ret urn }”’ I asked. “Nothing!” “The Germans won't belie ve th is. ” “Well, they're go in : to see that the C

thing” he said.

8

¢

Czechs aren't getting any-

972 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] After we had chatted like that for three quarters of an hoyy the doorman brought i n a visiting card. I got up. “ I have one more thing on my mind, Your Excellency,” I said. “ T h e question o f the Rumanian Jews. This is a calamity that grows

worse every day. I won't even mention the humanitarian considera. tions. For Austria their transit is a calamity. What shall be done with these people? I f you let them in, it’s an embarrassment, be. cause they are i n terrible shape. If, on the other hand, you close the border, people say that your government is anti-Semitic, which public opinion tends t o say anyway, since you have yielded to Lueger in the question of the Vienna election reform.” H e nodded with a serious face. “I've turned for advice t o the Grand Duke of Baden. H e thinks I ought t o request the Sultan for an audience through the Austrian government and induce h i m to l e t the Rumanian Jews i n . We can

offer the Sultan some money for this.” I said “ a Gold”* i n the easy-going Viennese dialect and quite off-hand, as though i t weren't the most difficult thing, for which I have been trying i n vain for years.

“Too bad you didn’t tell me that a couple o’ days ago. Goluchowski was still here then and I had a long talk with "im." “Couldn’t Ambassador Calice be given instructions directly?” “No, that can’t be done. That's another department. And I don't know h o w we stand w i t h the Sultan. B u t I ' m gonna speak with

Count Széchen** and then give you an answer.” I thanked him. “See you some more, then!” he said, dismissing me amiably.

July 2 Letter to Vimbéry .

Kedves Vimbéry bdcsi [Dear Uncle Vambéry]: Tegnap hosszan beszéltem az i t t e n i elsovel, Kosdrossival [Yester®

Translator’s Note: “Dough. ” Translator’s Note: T h e correct form of this name is Széchenyi.

®®

E R Z L 973 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H tday I conversed a t lengt h with the prem ier of this place, Baske

man]*—you understand?** 1 touched on the calamity of the Ruman ian Jews passin g throug h, a n d asked h i m wheth er i t wasn't

possible to ask Cohn throug h the local repres entativ e to send for

me t o talk about the conditions of their settlin g there. “Too bad that you didn’t tell me that t w o days ago,” he replied . A t that time, you see, the head of this department was still here. N o w he is o n vacation. However, he intends t o send for his deputy as soon as possible and discuss i t with h i m . Note well: this 1s n o t just talk with him. Now, Kedves bdcsi [dear uncle], I shall notify you by telegram

whether this démarche [move] will take place. I f so I would urgently request you t o intervene with Cohn in whatever way you consider suitable, as quickly as you can, b y telegram, i f a t all possible, and t o tell h i m that what comes to h i m in this form is something highly useful t o h i m (Cohn). Make him understand particularly that he w i l l play a beautiful role i f he takes i n the homeless Jews. H e will stand there as the benefactor of mankind, a generous man—and h i s benefaction will

immediately bear interest and capital for him. Jewry all over the world will celebrate him. A revirement [sudden change] i n the public opinion of the entire world! A n d a t the same time he will have the gratitude of the other nations, those w h o m h e has spared an influx of Jews. Surely all this is clear and true.

Your sincere Nephew and Giour [infidel] Th. *

*

*

Letter t o Nuri via Crespi: *** Your Excellency:

I judged i t futile t o send another memo randu m. T h e matte r is more than sufficiently fam iliar . * I e , Koerber. * * I n English i n the orig inal . *** I n French i n the orig inal ,

974 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

I think the difficulty lies elsewhere. Our best-intentioned friends perhaps d o n o t dare t o come for. ward, though it is a matter of H.M.’s supreme benefit. T o fill i n this gap I have tried t o find something else and to make the request for an audience come from another quarter. At this moment I d o n o t know whether that will b e successful. B u t I must

reassure you, you and your associates, that success on the other tack will n o t lessen my gratitude to you i n the slightest. You are dealing w i t h a m a n o f honor—forgive m e for using this

flattering term—who never finds a pretext for going back on his pledged word. Therefore you have precisely the same interest no matter what the circumstances may be. We must be, and continue t o be, friends for the benefit and prosperity of Turkey, which we will perhaps rescue from all its difficulties. I beg you t o bring t o your master’s attention one completely new

fact: the cooperation of the Powers in China! I t is an interesting precedent and possibly a dangerous one for

Turkey. You understand what I mean. Against all eventualities one must be able t o protect oneself, t o have a fleet t o be reckoned with, etc. I t is certain that you will never and nowhere realize this possibility except through us. The one among you who presents such a solution deserves to be Grand Vizier. One more thing.

The Fourth Annual Zionist Congress will be held in London in August. The presiding officers of the Congress will, as every year, send a wire placing their homage a t the foot of H.I.M. the Sultan’s throne. Please b e kind enough to send m e the proper wording for this telegram, and especially d o all you can to see that we get a friendly

and encouraging reply immediately. With deep respect and sincere friendship, I am

Faithf ully yours, T h . He rzl.

T H E COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

975

August 1 0 , Hotel Langham, London I n bed. I have been in bed for three days. The day after my arrival I was seized b y a severe chill. I had already felt sick and wanted to go to

bed. I immediately ran a temperature of 3g9.9.* I t looked like malaria or the beginning of pneumonia. T w o sleepless, feverish nights. I doubted that I would be able t o open the Congress. Last night there was an improvement. B u t I am still very weak and haven’t even started working on my speech. Naturally, during these nights the high temperature caused the most colorful delirious visions t o appear before m y hot eyes. T w o fine English n u r s e s * * attended m e . T h e older, Sister Christine, o n

night duty, the younger, a very pretty one, whose name I don’t know, by day. They were like Good Fortune and Care in Heine's

poem.*** Good Dame Care pulled me o u t of the incipient serious illness before I fell prey t o i t . The Congress promises t o be very

well attended. London, August 14

The Congress is the best attended so far. Its proceedings** are already in the newspapers. A hundred other people are now taking the notes, in memoriam [for the record]. I myself have n o t been inwardly touched so far. The Mass Meeting** i n the East End o n Saturday night was n o longer a novelty to me. T h e cheering o f the crowd means nothing t o me.

The only new note was the garden-party** i n the Botanical Gardens on Sunday. The whole crowd kept trundling after me in a compact mass. I would have liked to enjoy the fine English gar-

den, but I was smothered under royal honors. People watched me admiringly while I drank a cup of t e a . They passed their children Translators Note: 39.9 centigrade corresponds to over 104F. I n English i n the origina l. H *®* Translators Note: A reference to Das Glick ist eine leichte Dirne by Heinrich ®

**¢

eine.

976 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL,

and introduced their ladies to m e ; o l d m e n wanted to kiss hand. I am always tempted t o ask o n such occasions: “Pardon me, but why are you doing all this?” During yesterday's afternoon session I turned the chairmansh; over t o Gaster and Nordau and fled to Kensington Gardens where i n charming surroundings and w i t h a view over the water, I hag a cup of tea in peace.

August 20 On the boat from Dover t o Calais. “The Fourth Zionist Congress 1s over.” I t was a l o t of noise, sweat, and drum-beating. Naturally there

was n o “work,” and yet the results were excellent. We have made a demonstration before the English world, and the demonstration

has been noticed. On the whole, the English papers carried the kind of reports we could use and can still use. Our English colleagues think i t probable that next year, when ,* the Upper Jews* we come again i n July a t the height of the season will swing our way. Seligmann the banker declared a t a banquet that he already felt very close t o us. Apparently he is only waiting for our success before joining i n with us. Francis Montefiore told me yesterday, on our way home from a party o n the Thames, that I should b e o n m y guard against the Rothschilds. They would also come i n , i n order to take control o f t h e Jewish State. O f course, w e aren’t that far along yet, and good S i r Francis seems to be 2 b i t premature w i t h his worries. Incidentally , h e gave me the wel-

come opportunity t o have lunch with Mr. Barrington, Lord Salis bury’s private secretary. I talked a b l u e streak at h i m , and 1t seems

that I succeeded in getting h i m a little interested i n us. Aussee, August 29 Only n o w a m I beginning to recuperate from the wear and tear of London and of m y illness. ®

I n English i n the original.

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L

977

I received a reassuring letter from Vimbéry. H e wrote the Sultan about our cause and didn’t get a negative reply. O f course,

he doesn’t seem t o have received a positive one, either. I n London I let the A.C. dissuade me from promoting the idea of reciprocity as coming from the Congress. That is t o say, the idea of a subscription which entitles anyone who is beggared i n an antiJewish riot t o receive the minimum sum required for moving elsewhere. I think i t would have been a tremendous propaganda item, b u t I was not i n a n energetic enough mood to carry i t

through. A slogan like “capture the communities” would have been effective. This way nothing will be done u n t i l I convene the Congress again.

We shall have financial difficulties i n the A.C. Have them already. But I have seen t o i t that our repayment instalments o n last year’s floating debt are paid promptly. I t reminds me of the way I introduced the representative system a t the First Congress, sans en avoir lair [without seeming t o do it]. With this borrowing and paying I am laying the foundation for our State credit, n o matter how small the amounts may be.

September 2 , Aussee The day before yesterday and yesterday I couldn’t quite make up my mind t o congratulate the Sultan o n his jubilee. However, today i t nags me like a neglected duty, and so I am wiring: *

T o His Imperia l Majesty, Caliph Abdul Hamid Khan, Yildiz, Consta ntinopl e.

I n the name of the Zionists of all countries I have the honor of offering a t the foot of your throne the warmest and sincerest wishes * I n French i n the origina l.

978 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy for the prosperity and long duration of the glorious reign of You, Imperial Majesty. Dr. Theodor Herzl,

President of the Central Zionist Committee, Turkenstrasse g, Vienna.

September § , Aussee The newspapers report a “domestic crisis.” Koerber is to be dismissed or the Reichsrat dissolved. M y advice t o dissolve i t that time after the obstruction was n o t bad. Is Koerber thinking of my wise counsel now? I am writing him today:

Your Excellency:

The newspapers, for which I have a professional distrust, of course, tell about the imminent dissolution of the Reichsrat. This

seemed t o me like the remedy some time ago. Now my—forgotten?—outline for the preparation of an election becomes somewhat timely again.

I shall return

t o Vienna a t

the end of this week. Perhaps I can be

of use i n some way. With deep respect,

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, Th. Herzl.

Se pte mb er 18

T h e day before yesterday, Sunday, I was i n Pest to see Vambery.

Atmosphere of the city of m y youth. However, the “practica l” results of the trip were close t o zero. Vambéry again told m e a l o t about himself—the things he had

already related a t Miihlbach.

T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

979

He gave me his word of honor that the Sultan would receive me

by May. T o be sure, I don’t quite understand how he can give me his word about something that doesn’t depend upon himself. But I must be satisfied with anythin g. For the rest, I a m q u i t e weary.

September 20, Vienna

These days I am often so listless and so lacking in energy that I don’t enter even major and interesting happenings. Naturally they are then forgotten. And my situation is strange enough. Around the time of the Congress I was a master. N o w I a m a servant again, l i k e R u y Blas, and whose servant! Every day I report to the boss, Dr. Bacher, who

is sometimes gracious and sometimes ungracious. On top of that, the great financial sacrifices I have made for the movement are weighing heavily upon me. I have done too much, and simultaneously with my lack of psychic energy I become conscious of my economic debility, which i n turn worsens m y mood. %

%*

*

On the evening of m y arrival a t Pest, while listening t o gypsy music, I ran into Ahmed Tewfik, the Turkish ambassador i n

Berlin. We chatted until half past midnight about Wilhelm and Abdul Hamid, etc.

September 20, Vienna

Une idée q u i me hante [An idea that haunts me] is the emergency insurance which I wanted t o launch i n London and from

which I was deterred by the opposition of the leaders. Yesterday I again brought i t u p i n the A.C. I t is the only thing we can do. A mutual Jewish emergency insurance. T h e insured victims of Jewish persecution will receive a minimum amount for moving. I n the Rumania n exodus i t turned o u t that 2 0 0 guilders

980 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz|

per person (or family?) were needed. That

amount

could not be

raised from private charity. Some guarantee must b e procured fo; the people who are driven out. Everyone must acquire this guar.

antee for himself by purchasing a policy. O f every hundred people paying t w o guilders, one can become a needy case. T h e main thing, of course, is t o define a needy case and t o prevent insurance frauq, This would have t o be construed on the analogy of the accident. insurance business. I imagine the seat of the company i n Basel. Higher insurances with rapidly progressing premiums could also be accepted.

I f the annual premium for premium for

400

200

guilders is

would be five or six; for

1000

two

guilders, the

guilders, not five

times that amount, b u t ten times o r more, because then an indi-

vidual case of damage immediately constitutes a series. T o my astonishment, Kokesch, who usually thinks very cautiously and terre a terre [with both feet o n the ground], was on my side. This encouraged me greatly. Octobe r 1 , Vienna

Nothing from Vimbéry. ‘The matter seems t o be falling asleep again with him.

‘Today I am writing the following t o Nuri: * Your Excellency: More than a year has passed since I had the honor and the pleasure of seeing you a t the Hotel Impérial. And nothing, nothing has happened. I hear from Constantinople that the matter o f t h e Hejaz route 15

the curren t issue. I f we are given the Colonization Charter we are asking for, we shall undertake t o build the Hejaz railroad o r else t o supply the necessary funds. I f you have any useful connections who will profit from i t , you can pass o n this proposal t o the proper person. I shall

provide all explanations and guarantees i f H . M . summons me. * I n French i n the origina l.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L

98]

I await your favorable reply as early as possible and assure you of my great esteem. T h . Herzl.

P.S. One of m y friends, Mr. Kremene zky, w h o m you know—h e

came t o see you a t the hotel—is interested in setting u p a factory on the shore of the Dead Sea i n Palestine . H e has talked t o m e about

i t several times and I have always forgotten to ask you the name of the concessionaire o f the Dead Sea shores. H e tells m e that i t is a

Moslem. I t will be easy for you t o give me this information .

October 5 The memory of some mistakes that I have made keeps tormenting me. My greatest mistake so far was n o t waiting for the Kaiser a t the entrance gate o f the Jews. A t that time I thought i t would b e better n o t to, because then he might have regarded that reception as the one t o which he had ordered the Zionist deputation, and I wished t o have a special solemn audience of our own. However, for the Kaiser, w h o has a penchant for symbolic acts,

it would have been the right thing i f I , whom he regarded as the head of all Jews, had waited for h i m a t the threshold of our city of Jerusalem and had greeted h i m there. That is when he may have turned away from me. I realize this only now. Another mistake was m y n o t writing the Grand D u k e of Hesse a sufficiently courteous and court-like letter when I asked h i m t o in-

tercede with the Czar.

October p

The English Zionist Federation's poll of the candidates for Parliament is very clever. |

60 have declare d themsel ves i n favor o f Z i o n i s m .

982 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]. T h e smartest step that has been taken i n our movement for 2 long time.

Oct obe r y

After keeping silent for a long time and failing to react to two of

my letters, Koerber suddenly calls me again. I am t o come to see him a t the Ministry of the Interior tomorrow morning.

Que peut-il bien vouloir [what on earth does he want]?

Octobe r 8

Koerber just wanted t o have a general talk. However, t h e immediate occasion seems t o have been what he

considers the disagreeable attitude of the Neue Freie Presse in the Italian-Tyrolian question. I was none too well informed about the whole thing, and just presumed that i t was a matter of a demand for autonomy which had been made by the Italian inhabitants of the Tyrol and had been rejected. But I pretended t o be completely au courant [informed], and since I shared his views, I was spared a more detailed explanation.

As regards the general situation i n Austria, we exchanged ap proximately the same ideas that we had i n the Spring and in the Summer. I'said: “ I notice, Your Excellency, that you are n o t running the

elections, but are letting them run themselves.” H e : “There is n o other way. T h e provincial chiefs reported that not much can be done.”

I : “Isn’t the inefficiency of the provincial chiefs t o blame for this?”

He: “What can be done is being done.” ‘Then he spoke about the absurdities of the parties, with special reference t o the Progressives, who only recently made such monumental fools of themselves in the person of the mayor of Trautenau

RZ L 983 IE S O F T H E O D O R HE TH E CO MP LE TE DI AR ror ’s advisers t o the office of the Em pe st ue req a sed res add d ha o cals pro(wh convention of the German-Radi to have the competing |

hibited). how hig h he was i n the He told me about the Emperor and the Em latter's favor. Th is was evidenced rec

ent ly at Gé rz wh ere

e at din ner , so tha t Ca lice , the peror talked wit h h i m all the tim na

i m afterwards: “It’ s bee ambassador at Constantinople, told h the

long time since anyone has enjoyed so much

confidence from

Emperor!” ce who se inte rces sion I had m y own ideas at the men tion o f Cali

with the Sultan for an audience wou ld be brea d and

butt er to me,

n o t oppo rtun e. but I didn ’t say anyt hing , because the mom ent was auth oriGorz, he went o n to say, had been a great worr y. All the

chist ties, especially the lesser ones, had trem bled for fear of a n Anar plot. Every minute the departure of a notable Anarchist was re-

ported. One mome nt one was supposed t o have left London, the

another from Paris or Vienna . B u t the journe y to Gérz could n o t be cancelled; i t had been decided o n months ago, and at that time no one knew that the King of Italy was going to be

next momen t

assassinated. I n short, the trip to G6rz was made 1n real fear, and Koerber had t o go along, otherwise people would have said that he was afraid or was deserting the Emperor. A strong police detail was called out, and fortunately everything went all right. Everyone was glad t o

have returned from this patri-

otic celebration safe and sound. He related a number of other things about the Emperor, who, h e

said, let him do everything b u t did n o t give h i m the proper support. E.g., a lot could b e done with the feudal landed proprietors with appropriate pressure. B u t the Emperor did n o t help o u t i n this regard.

“ I brought him Lobkowitz. That man shook before the audience; but when he came out, he was even a lot prouder. T h e Emperor didn’ t tell him a thing .” So the pesky German-Bohemian dispute goes on. He also repeatedly spoke about the newspapers that are attack-

98¢ T H E COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7z| ing h i m . I took the opportunity to say: “What is needed is a big,

decent paper that you could lean on.” “Well, who's going t o start one?” “That could be arranged, Your Excellency. Only the fund; would have t o be made available.” “By whom?” he said. “Krupp has already given a lot and by now has become skittish.” H e liked the idea of a newspaper, however, and asked me not to drop t h e matter a n d t o

discuss i t

w i t h h i m i f I f o u n d something. |

could come any time I wanted to. H e repeatedly averred that he would be glad i f he could leave office. H e didn’t get enough sleep. “ I ' m sleepy. I ' d like t o sleep my fill some time. First thing I ' l l do when I ' m overthrown is t o hit the hay for three days.” B u t despite this Austrian beefing h e d i d not give m e the impres-

sion of being tired of governing. I said: “The policy you represent is the only one with a future i n Austria—if Austria has a future.” H e made a wry face and shrugged his shoulders meaningfully, as though there were nothing he was less convinced of than Austria's future.

Our conversation had lasted for exactly one hour when he dis missed me and asked me t o come again soon. H e has never had, and never w i l l have, a more selfless helper than me—me who doesn’t want a blessed t h i n g b u t a recommendation from the government t o the Sultan. Naturally I d i d n ’ t come o u t with i t today, because I s t i l l have n o c l a i m to repayment. I told him, among other things, that I would never run a semi-official

paper. “Because i t doesn’t do you any good if i t says in the paper: “I'he Prime Minister is the greatest statesman.’ ”’ H e completely shared this view o f m i n e , and we parted en gens q u i sont de méche [like t w o conspirators]. Oct obe r 14

A curious incident. Tout se tient [Everything is just as i t was). Dr. Ehrlich, whom I had had introduce me t o Koerber, wanted

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L t o speak with me yesterday. H e

985

told me that Koerber had inquired

about me i n connection w i t h a newspaper that was to b e started.

Ehrlich had answered: “ I know Dr. H . as a stylist. Whether he can start a newspaper I don’t know. I n any case, you mustn’t forget

that he represents Zionism." So this was advice against i t . Ehrlich didn’t w a n t me t o learn it from Koerber somehow or other and told i t t o me of his own accord. Evidently he gave me a more harmless version of what he had said t o Koerber. I t seems t o me that Koerber w i l l now drop the idea. I t was m y scheme to propose Zionism to h i m as a secondary matter, panache [trimming], and camouflage. A n idea o u t o f a comedy, really: true

love as paravent [a screen]. This plan, too, like others, has gone u p i n smoke, thanks to a

good friend who has himself notified me “loyally” of what he has done.

October 1 5

I have just had a letter from Crespi (Nuri) saying that their government had “ u n besoin pressant de 7 - 8 0 0 mille L t q u [a pressing need for 7-8 hundred thousand Turkish pounds)].” and wanted to give customs revenues as guarantee , w i t h 6 9 , even 6149,

Interest. I'am t o appear as deus ex machina [a god from the machine] and help, et une fois Uaffaire terminée [and once the business is com-

pleted], H . M . will receive me. I am sending the follow ing telegram in reply: * You may say that we w i l l make offers for the advance of the seven hundred against the guarantee mentioned i n your letter on condition that I

can negotiate directly with n.c. 363. The matte r can be

settled i n a very short tim e. * I n French i n the orig inal .

986 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERzy. B u t kindly note that I w i l l d o nothing unless I a m called by 364

to present my offers t o h i m i n person. *

*

*

I am asking 61469, i n order t o make the thing plausible. If | were gentil [nice] about the conditions, i t would bear the stamp of improbability.

October 14

I was summoned t o Koerber again today, and he spoke for an hour de omni re scibili [about everything under the sun]. I expounded to h i m the idea o f founding a newspaper, and i t seemed t o make a lot of sense t o him. However, whether anything will come

of i t is uncertain. T h e only clue that i t matters t o h i m is the fact that he gave me a whole hour of his time and kept some titled gentleman waiting outside.

October 18

Biilow Imperial Chancellor! Not good for us. Nevertheless, I am congratulating him “on the new chapter in the history of the German Empire.”

Oct obe r 22.

A telegram of thanks from Biilow. I t 1s ever so nice of a great lord . . . *

October 20 Yesterday the “Turkish Consul-General, von Dirsztay,” n¢ Fisch] from Pest, came t o see me a t the office and brought me 2 ®

Translator’s Note: Mephistopheles’ words at the end of the Prologue i n Heaven

to Goethe’s Faust, Part I.

T H E COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L

987

letter, half i n code, from Crespi , N u r i ’ s straw man. Crespi offers his services, because he is the real power . H e wants t o come t o Vienna. So evident ly i t is a matter o f the travelli ng expenses. Since Dirsztay told m e that h e was sure Crespi was i n a position t o

accomplish something—he had repeatedly convinced himself of that—I told him he could write Crespi that he would get 1 0 0 0 francs from me i f he really had some serious propositio n t o make.

October 3 0 Is i t possible that we are closer to a decision than I myself

believed? When I came home last night I found the following telegram from Crespi waiting for me, apparently a reply t o Dirsztay’s letter to him.* Theodor Herzl, Karl-Ludwigstrasse 50, Vienna, from Pera. I f on day after receiving this you can deposit o n account two

hundred thousand Turkish pounds o n loan of seven hundred thousand with six percent interest, I shall place proposal a t foot of

Imperial throne before Ramadan; hope you will then be officially called t o palace. Wire, Crespi. *

%*

%

Since i t can’t be assumed now that Crespi i n Pera would dare to send off en clair [ i n the open] a telegram containing mention o f

throne and palace i f i t were n o t on the level, the thing is t o be taken seriously. I am answering: * E . Crespi, Constan tinople, Pera. French Mail.

You now speak of six percent after having started with six and a half. But this difficulty will probably be surmountable i f I can personally be convinced of the fact that the general disposi tion of * I n Frenc h i n the origin al.

988 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy] 363 is i n our favor. The deposit of the t w o hundred as an ing). ment o n our loan of seven hundred w i l l b e made during the week

following my reception— My plan of campaign in the event that I am summoned by the Sultan has been ready for a long time. I shall immediately have Wolffsohn and Katzenelsohn come here. Wolffsohn must go to T h e Hague to see Kann and ask him if

he can possibly place the £700,000 a t 6%, w i t h Dutch bankers,

As a reward I shall let him back into the Colonial Trust. Katzenelsohn must make the same attempt w i t h Polyakov, Brod

sky, etc. While I go t o Constantinople, they go t o T h e Hague and §t. Petersburg, so that I shall have their wires when I arrive. I shall send Kokesch t o London to push the issuing of 5 0 , 0 0 0 bearer shares which will then immediately be sent t o Russia to be sold. All agents will be asked t o call meetings. O n the day on which m y audience w i t h the Sultan is announced, 1 0 0 0 popular rallies with share subscription must take place. Oskar Marmorek will be sent t o Pest i n order t o invite Vimbéry to go t o Constantinople with me.

Kremenezky will come t o Constantinople with me. Alex Marmorek is t o advise I.C.A. and Edmond R. that I shall come to Paris.

A meeting of the English Federation will be called for the day of my arrival i n London from Constantinople. I am ready. * And now probably nothing will come of it.

No vem ber 6

O n Saturday Dirsztay again called me by telephone. This time I went t o his place. With an important air he handed me letters

from Crespi which contained nothing but drivel. * I n English i n the original.

T H E COMP LETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL

989

Still, I authorize d him t o let Crespi come. Question of 1 0 0 0 francs trave lling expenses. I went along with i t only because Dirsztay really is the Turkish Consul-General and, even more really, a millionaire . Consequently i t can’t be a matter o f doing m e o u t of 1 0 0 0 francs. Today I wrote t o Wolffsohn asking h i m t o go t o The Hague to see Kann and ask h i m whether he can raise the £400,000 from Dutch bankers. As a reward I would let h i m into the Trust again.

November g The Vienna Allianz and Community people are frightened o u t of their wits because we are getting into the Community elections and demanding an Extraordinary General Assembly of the Allianz t o discuss its cruelty toward the Rumanian Jews. Dr. Alfred Stern has already been t o see me a t the N . Fr. Pr. three times t o beg me t o halt our steps “ i n these times.” O n his first visit he offered me a seat o n the governing body of the Community. Naturally I refused and laughed a t him. O n his second visit, the day before yesterday, I kept h i m waiting for such a long time that h e left i n a huff. T h e n I wrote h i m a letter apologizing

for having been tied u p and stating a t the same time that n o compromise could be effected i n this m a t t e r . Thereupon he came yesterday with the “material” of the correspondence w i t h the Pest Community, which, however, proves only the accuracy of last week’s article i n the Welt. He proposed a confidential discussion between our gentlemen and the officers of the Allianz. And what is t o be the upshot? I asked. D o you intend t o remove the guilty officers? I f need be, yes! was his reply. Then he left with Bacher whom he wanted t o brief on i t . Which 1s t o say that he wishes t o have some pressure exerted o n me through Bacher and Benedi kt. Again a few days of war i n sight.

990 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz; November

We have reached a low-water mark. O u r cash-box has hit rock bottom. A few hundred guilders, which is n o t even sufficient to m e e t the demands of the first of December. B u t I am tired of giving money o r of asking others for it. The other members of the A.C. are bewildered.

Novem ber 13

Yesterday a t Oskar Marmorek’s house I m e t the Paris engineer and millionaire Reitlinger who | ] * m y old plan t o buy up the Turkish national debt, which one could get for 4-500 million francs, and t o offer the Turkish government liberation from the dette publique [public debt] i n return for the cession of Palestine. W e intend t o get back t o this later. *

LJ

¥%

Wolffsohn wires from T h e Hague that Kann is ready t o under take the arrangements for the Turkish loan only o n direct order. This does not suit me, for I must get the credit; only the cash may

fall t o the share of Kann and his associates.** Therefore I am writing Wolffsohn that Kann should first secure the money; then he

will receive the orders through my good offices.

Nov em ber 14

The idea of redeeming the Turkish debt occupies me greatly. I must bend every effort to speak with Lord Rothschild. Today I a m writing to Cowen, our most capable m a n i n England, to I i

duce Lord R . t o send for me before we have Zionism brought up

in the House of Commons by the “Zionist” deputies. Translator’s Note: Verb missing i n the original. Translator's Note: Herzl puns o n the difference i n meaning between das Verdienst and der Verdienst. ®

*®

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

991

November 15

After consultation with my father and Kremenezky I am telegraphing the following to Crespi. L’argent est prét. P o u r q u o i n e m e donnez-vous pas de nouvelles

[The money 1s ready. Why don’t you send me any news]?

N o v e m b e r 16, V i e n n a

Today Dirsztay telephoned me and told me that Crespi will arrive here o n Wednesday. Our greatest problem now is the thousand francs for Crespi’s travelling expenses. One of the curiosities of this episode is that we have trouble raising such 1 0 0 0 francs, while we can regard the large amounts as assured. %*

¥*

%

A wire from Wolffsohn saying that Kann will write me the letter I need: his firm is making the £%00,000 available on sufficient security. *

*

A letter from Vambéry i n reply

%

to

my last letter. H e says that he

immediately wrote t o the S u l t a n , requesting a wired answer

whether that story about a loan was true. I f i t is, h e intends t o go

there immediately and have me follow h i m ; then the chances for our project would be favorable.

November 1% Hechler thinks that I ought t o express t o the Kaiser, through the Grand Duke, m y joy a t the fact that yesterday’s attempted assassination a t Breslau was happily averted. I do so:* Most I l l u s t r i o u s Grand Duke, Most Gracious Lord a n d Master: ®

These words are i n English i n the original.

992 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERzL The news of the attempt t o assassinate H i s Majesty the Kaiser

has

which has with the help o f G o d been successfully frustrated, suddenly made me, like so many other people, feel again what this

magnanimous ruler of such uncommonly great intellectual gifts means t o all those who are privileged t o know him. Since the memorable days a t Jerusalem 1n the year 1898 Kaiser Wilhelm J] has been a dear and sincerely venerated figure t o all Zionists on the face o f the earth. O n such a serious occasion I should more

than ever like t o avoid giving the impression of pushing myself forward, and therefore refrain from sending t o Berlin the expres sion of my great joy a t the Kaiser's rescue from mortal danger. | may be permitted, however, t o express m y loyal sentiments t o Your Royal Highness, the Kaiser's paternal friend, with the most respectful request t o bring them t o H i s Majesty's notice as occasion offers. With the deepest respect and most heart-felt gratitude, I remain Y . R . H . ’ s ever obedient Dr. Th. H.

Novem ber 18

Received today from Lissa & Kann, The Hague, a written offer i n which the firm undertakes to make a loan o f 800,000 Turkish

pounds a t 6 9 i f sufficient security is offered. Specifically, £200,000

upon the signing of the contract, £520,000 within six months. I a m acknowledging this letter w i t h the following note: Messieurs Lissa and Kann, The Hague. Gentlemen: I received today your kind communication o f N o v . 16,

1900.

I shall send you more detailed information i n the course of this week.

Ver y trul y yours, Dr . T h . H .

T H E COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

993

November 2 0

Talked again yesterday with Reitlinger of Paris who gave me a few additional clever details implementing the redemption of the Turkish debt. We agreed that I shall summon h i m t o join me in London i f Cowen manages t o arrange a conference with Lord Rothschild. Cowen writes me that he intends t o use the short Parliament week to arrange a meeting with the g1 M.P.’s w h o have expressed

themselves in favor of Zionism. That would be a plausible opportunity* for Lord R . *

%*

*

The manufacturer von Engel came t o Reitlinger’s suite i n the Hotel Impérial i n order t o take me and Oskar Marmorek t o see Klinger, the president o f the Community. T h e latter, a sentimental Tartuffe, buttered m e up, tried t o entice m e t o j o i n t h e governing

body of the Community, declared that at heart h e was more o f a Zionist than O . Marmorek, and, when h e got warmed up, more o f

a Zionist than I . They would like t o make a compromise with us, b u t n o t with the Jidischer Volksverein. Presumably he tells the same thing i n reverse to the Volksverein people. I finally stated that I would c o n t e n t myself with t w o seats (Dr. Kahn and Mohr). Even that was too much for h i m .

Yet conciliation appears hopeful. Novembe r 24

David Gutmann invites me t o a “peaceable” discussion of the Rumania n scandals a t the Allianz. Novemb er 24

Crespi hasn't come. As Dirsztay told me over the phone, he

telegraphed that he isn’t coming until t w o weeks from now. I'am wirin g Crespi: **

* I n Englis h i n the origin al.

** I n French i n the origin al.

994 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

I f you don’t inform me of the result of your activity immediately I shall withdraw my offer of seven hundred. I don’t w a n t t o remajp at

your disposal indefinitely. Nove mber 26

Yesterday's Community election a gratifying defeat. Our cand; dates almost elected with big minorities. *

*

*

Cowen and Greenberg are doing splendid work i n England to make possible a meeting between myself and Lord Rothschild. Greenberg made a speech t o this end a t Glasgow. Cowen writes me they would call on R . i f I had really serious things t o tell him. I am wiring him: Most serious things, but he must desire the meeting, and not as a favour to us.*

November 27

Had a long conversation with coal-Baron Gutmann yesterday. H e will agree to everything so as to avoid a scandal i n the Allianz.

I am demanding the resignation of the officers who have incurred some responsibility i n the Rumanian emigration, t o be replaced by our representatives. The question of blame is t o be decided by a tribunal—I a m also demanding that Oskar Marmorek b e given

a seat o n the board of the Hirsch Foundation. H e was very sub-

dued. I felt pity for the rich man when I saw the empty desk of his recently-deceased son, who made fun of me a long time ago because I wanted t o found a Jewish State. Nov emb er 24

Telegram from Crespi:

Patientez encore quelques jours. Affaire trés bonne vote. Ecris

[Be patient a few days more. Matter well under way. A m writing]. Crespi.” * I n English i n the original.

T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 995 Novem ber go, Vienna The Allianz has set a trap for me. After I had accepte d i n writ-

ing Gutmann’s oral proposal that we settle the matter throug h an amicable exchange of opinion , w i t h the concession that o u r representatives be co-opted as council members, he writes that because of my conditions they reject this form. They are as sly as they are stupid. Public discussion w i l l end with the destructi on of the Allianz. Novembe r 3 0 Brilliant letter from Crespi. H e has discussed the matter with the Grand Vizier, the First Secretary, and the Minister o f Finance. The loan will be made under last year’s conditions of the Deutsche Bank. The 1st Secretary told Crespi that Vambéry had recommended my proposals t o the Sultan. However, the Secretary fears trouble i f I were summoned officially and the loan d i d n o t materialize. Crespi said one could make inquiries about me of the German

Kaiser. Perhaps there is some connection between this and the fact that yesterday the German Embassy telephoned the Welt about me. However, u n t i l now, 1 1 o'clock i n the morning, I have heard n o details. LJ

*

*

Telegram t o Wolffsoh n:

Kohn’s baldov [spokesman] visiting me day after

tomorrow.

Regarding the condition s I learn that they are the same as those obtained by Deebee last year. You introduc ed yourself and Hagen t o Deebee with recomm endation from m y Uncle. Try immediately t o learn inconspicuously Deebee’s last year’s conditi ons. Notify Hagen of this and make sure he stays home Sunday, Mon-

day. My father thinks that Jayceetee should take over Halewi in

company with Hagen and carry i t o u t jointly . Jayceetee could take over one-seventh and thus facilit ate transaction. Benja min.

996 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy] No vem be r go, evening A telegram just came from Crespi saying that he will arrive here

on Sunday morning. *

¥*

J

T h e cash-box of the A.C. is so empty that after payment of the December salaries etc. w e shall n o t have t h e 1000 francs for Crespi,

I also feel a bout de forces [at the end of m y strength] and for the past few days have had more serious attacks of weakness than ever. Actually, the thought of retiring only now hits me with force. Perhaps I am writing this in the hope of remembering it in better days. So as t o be able t o say then: when the need was greatest, etc. . . . .

I am, of course, too complicated a person t o keep a naive diary, even though I make an effort n o t t o pose. I always feel the future peering over my shoulder.

December §

Yesterday morning, then, the Turkish agent Crespi arrived at m y place in company with von Dirsztay, the Consul-General.

Crespi doesn’t make a bad impression. A skinny, wax-yellow, blackbearded Levantine. Appearance of a second- or third-rate diplomat, the necktie over t h e white vest too l o u d , t h e rosette i n the

morning coat too pretentious. B u t h e calls a spade a spade and

speaks frankly about the people i n power in Constantinople. He asked m e whether I had received the telegram yet. For he thinks that i t should have come either yesterday o r today: the summons to the Sultan. But, he said, I must not speak about Zionism at the reception. I may only offer m y services to procure a n advance. Because i t was

a matter of an advance and not a loan. A n advance t o be paid back i n a few months, since the customs receipts were the bread and butter of the Turkish finances. When they need money at Yildiz,

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL

997

they send out to the customs pay-office. T h e advanc e is to b e given

on a note from the Turkis h govern ment. I observed that

in

the

opinion of m y friends a loan and not a n advanc e had been in-

volved, and I explained Kann’s offer t o h i m , withou t mentio ning Kann b y name.

The margin of £80,000 immedia tely made sense t o h i m , and he plans to report about i t t o Nuri and the Minister o f Finance. As regards Zionism, he thinks the only reason the Turks are n o t willing is that they are afraid of interventio n on the part of the Powers. I f the Jews were allowed to immigrate , the Powers would immediately send battle-ships t o Jaffa and seize Palestine. I said it would be our concern t o bring the Powers round. T o which he replied that i f I could make the Sultan understand this the cause would be won. This was the only misgiving the Sultan had. I asked whether I could take Vambéry along t o Constantinople. Crespi said that this would even be an enormous advantage, because V . has access t o the Sultan a t any time. Vimbéry’'s recommendation, he said, had done m e a tremendous amount o f good anyway. A t

first they were going t o make inquiries about me in Vienna and Berlin. But when V's letter recommending m y proposals came, nothing else was required. He chatted some more about this and that. We could easily get the Dead Sea concession, he said, i f we guaranteed the Sultan a

share of the n e t profits of the industries. Furthermore: the Sultan had n o t been able t o deliver the “Dormiti on” plot t o the German Kaiser t o this day, because the Sheik-ul -Islam was opposed to it. Once I was i n contact with the Sultan, I could ask h i m t o appoint

a committee consisting of all ministers for the examination of the Zion ist proposals.

Then came Kremenezky whom I had sent for t o pay Crespi the francs travel ling expenses contre regu [again st receip t]. I laid particu lar stress o n this l i t t l e though tfulnes s. H e was t o see and 1000

talk about how quickly and easily we pay off our friends. What difficulties for the A.C. this little payment involves no one suspects.

998 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]. Dec em ber 3

T w o evenings ago there came a brilliant report from Cowep about the project of a conference with Lord Rothschild. Cowen and Greenberg are doing the splendid work I expected of them, Cowen’s dialogue report about Greenberg's conversation with Ascher, Rothschild’s private secretary, 1s a masterpiece. Ascher

asked why I didn’t write Rothschild and request a conference. Greenberg brushed this off ironically: I would never do such a thing. Whereupon Ascher suggested a meeting at some third

place, possibly a t Seligmann’s.—Va bene [That's all right]. *

*

*

Yesterday's telegram t o Kann (Dec. 2): Kann, V i l l a Anna, Scheveningen.

Baldov brought me favorable news from Cohnheim. Halewi (loan) will be made on basis of control of all Zolent (customs revenues). Expecting Cohn’s invitation t o go there any day. But Halewi must be taken care of in all secrecy. First payment middle December. Are you ready? Wire reply. Benjamin. *

%*

*

‘To which this reply came today:

Confirming letter of my firm. Leaving here tomorrow morning, arriving Berlin Wednesday evening. Kann.

December 3 This morning I wired Kann, T h e Hague: I n place of Halewi (loan) could you make short-term advance

same amount against note from Leier (Turk. govt.) guaranteed by Zolent? O r could you at least advance two hundred middle

December for six months? Wire reply, Benjamin .

E O D O R H E R Z L 999 TH E CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H i m t o the tele pho ne I am writ ing Vambéry that I sha ll call h rnoon t o give h i m the news at the National Casino tom orro w afte m e ? ”* about Coh n. “ A r e you read y to go w i t h

December 4 Nothin g has come from Constantinople u p t o now; the telegra m

announced by Crespi seems t o have been flimflam, and his whole

coming here a little adventu re. Perhap s h e wanted t o feel m y pulse first and only n o w will get to work.

At any rate, making his acquaintance wasn’t worth a thousand francs. Yesterday I saw h i m again a t Dirsztay’s. H e ran Nuri Bey down,

told all

sorts

of Levantine gossip about Constantinople, and

promised me that he would be my slave. I have seldom seen such readiness t o sell everything. Incidentally, he also made suggestions that aren’t bad. E.g., that Ishould have the English government give m e a n invitation to lead

the Jewish emigrants t o the Transvaal. That would make a good impression on the Sultan. This very day I am writing in this vein t o Cowen, saying that Francis Montefiore should ask Mr. Barrington for such an invitation.

Yesterday too Crespi telegraphed t o Constantinople, mais rien nest venu [but nothing came of i t ] . H e explains this t o me b y saying that the cabinet council might have been i n favor of i t a t their Sunday meeting, but might have been unable t o persuade the Sultan to send for me. For the Sultan was proud, d i d n o t want t o

ask for any money, and told the ministe rs who compl ained about

empty coffers: “Look for i t ! What d i d I make you a minis ter for? Just dig u p the mone y any place you can. ”

h e s Minister of Finance had compl ained to h i m , Cresp i, that y £10,000 i n the treasury, and of this 150,000 was Supposed to be spent for the Ram adan , and a few weeks later an-

other 1 3 0 , 0 0 0 for the Beir am (?) Plus debts, sala

ries of officials, etc.

®

I n English i n the origin al.

1000 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL This reminds me of the treasury of the Actions Committee, Spicy detail: the local ambassador, Mahmud N e d i m , is said to

have given Crespi the job of getting h i m his back pay for the past twelve months. I f they did n o t send h i m any money, he would resign his office, “ e t i l fera d u chantage [and h e would blackmail

them].”

December 4

I n reply t o my question about an advance Kann laconically wires “No.” December 6

Cresp1 appears to be a Levantine braggart, perhaps even a con-

fidence man. Yesterday he called o n me twice, together with Dirsztay. H e would like t o have a lump sum for expenses and the like; I flatly refused. First he should give some proof of what he could do, I said, then he would get some money from me. For nothing—nothin g. I n the afternoon he and Dirsztay came t o see me a t the N. Fr. Pr. and brought me a letter from Nuri. H e writes that the Deutsche Bank made an offer that was accepted, although i t wants t o undertake the loan a t an allotment rate of 75 t o 7 8 9 , as compared t o the 9 0 9 , offered by us. I n my presence Crespi drafted a telegram t o the Grand Vizier imploring h i m “dans U'intérét d u gouvernement et de Sa Majesté

[in the interest of the government and of H i s Majesty] not because he had a better proposition t o make.

t o sign,

Dirsztay told m e quietly h e would see to i t that Crespi did not

swindle me with this telegram; i t would have

to

be sent in his

presence. I n that case matters don’t stand badly, because the Sultan will certainly read the telegram. H e will see that a better offer has been

made. However, i f nothing should come o f i t after all, I can have

Vambéry draw the Sultan’s attention t o the way he is being robbed,

R Z L 1001 T H E COM PLE TE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E

andif anyone should approach me again, I can demand a reception

I shall by the Sultan before defin itely hirin g someone. This way not need Kann or any other finan cier befor ehan d. Decem ber g

Yesterday I was a t Pest t o see Vambé ry and t o tell h i m the whole story abou t Cresp i.

On this occasion I learned that a group of German financiers or

entrepreneurs, headed by one Herr Schéller of Berlin, had addressed a request to Vambéry to procure for them the concession

for a German-Turkish bank from the Sultan. The proponents are said t o include the Duke of Ujest and other aristocratic gentlemen—also, from Vienna, Baron Oppenheimer and, strangely enough, Consul-General Dirsztay t o o . T h i s permits the surmise that Crespi was called here more for this m a t t e r than for mine. Je veillerai [1 shall keep my eyes open].

Vémbéry thinks we m u s t

not

immediately make enemies of

those around the Sultan who are interested i n the Deutsche Bank loan and that we should n o t denounce the machinations. H e wants me t o write him a presentable letter i n French for the Sultan's eye. In agreeing on this we forgot that i t was bound t o strike the Sultan as strange i f I wrote to m y compatriot Vambéry i n French.

Therefore I am sending Vimbéry t w o letters that can be shown around: one intimate, genuine one which he can get into the hands of the Sultan “by indiscretion.” This is the better way. The second i n French and written t o be shown around. I1.* Dear Master :

Knowing how deep an interest you have in things Turkish, I think I should bring t o your attention an incident that took place recently. A businessman from Constantinople, Mr. Crespi, who appears t o have connections with the governm ent of H i s Majesty the Sultan and who had been introduc ed t o m e b y the Consul* I n French i n the origin al.

1002 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER], General, M . de Dirsztay at Vienna, advised m e that the Ottomap government intended to borrow 700,000 T u r k i s h pounds. I be. lieved that the time had come t o prove to H.M.’s government that in m e they have a true friend w h o o n every occasion is disposed to

render service t o the monarch who has always treated his Jewish subjects so well and who i n his magnanimity and exalted foresight

could one day take the Jewish refugees into his Empire. I t is certain that they would bring t o him, with limitless gratitude and devotion, their industrial and financial power for the great benefit

of that splendid Turkey, so tolerant and hospitable. As i t i s always necessary t o take the opportunity of demonstrating good will whenever i t exists, I persuaded some financiers, friends of mine, t o offer me, on behalf of the Imperial government, a loan o n especially favorable terms. Indeed, while the Hungarian govern m e n t was able t o obtain a loan several weeks ago only a t 8 7 1%, 4 I got a n offer for the Ottoman government o f what i t needed at 90%. That was n o longer business; i t was a favor to let H . M . see

who his real friends are, on whom he could always call i n case of need. But how great was my astonishment when I learned that this offer, transmitted b y me t o the Consul-General a t Vienna and to the intermediary whom I could only consider a semi-official agent, had not been taken under consideration. I t seems improbable t o me that the money could be found on

less onerous conditions. Through your connections a t Constantinople you will be able t o find o u t easily what the meaning of this 1s.

Believe me, dear master,

Faithf ully yours, Th.H. I . T h e intimat e, present able letter: Dear Friend and Master :

I must inform you o f a rather strange matter today. I d o k n o

what a friend of the Turks you are and how you are particularly

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1003 devoted t o the S u l t a n . Therefore i t will interest y o u t o k n o w t h a t

a very favorable offer which I had made i n order t o give the

Turkish government a first proof of m y friendship has gone unnoticed. I had been informed that the government would have use for about £700,000. I had t o take the agent, M r . Crespi o f Constantinople, seriously and regard h i m as a t least a semi-official agent, because he had been introduced t o m e b y the local Turkish

Consul-General, von Dirsztay. N o w I had m y financier friends make me a written proposal offering the Turkish government a loan of £800,000 against sufficient security a t an assignment rate of go9,—thus £720,000 in cash. This is n o t good business for our financiers, because a few weeks ago the Hungarian government got an allotment rate of only 87149, i n a loan. M y friends and I were simply interested i n giving the Sultan a proof of our great readiness t o oblige. T o m y astonishment this offer was n o t taken up further. I do not believe that anyone could make an offer nearly as good, let alone a better one. You, dear friend, m a y b e able t o

find o u t what is the meaning of the whole thing. With cordial regards,

Very sincerely yours, Th. H . Decemb er 1 1

Today I am writin g

to

Cowen that I am ready

to meet

Lord Roths child a t Seligmann’s o n the 28th of Dece mber.

with

Dece mber 1 1

I n the evening the follo wing wire came from Cres

pi*

Number 73 (Gra nd Vizie r) will wire g 1 9 (Ber lin ambassador) asking him for info rma tion abo ut you r fina ncia l capacity and

whether you are i n a position t o con trac t for the transaction. Do whatever is necessary t o make sure that the info rmation will be * I n Fre nch i n the orig ina l.

1004 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

favorable t o you. Wire will leave immediately after your tele. graphic reply. Crespi

Since at the same time I had a telegram from Wolffsohn saying t o expect my

that he would be in Berlin tomorrow, I wired him

telephone call tomorrow morning. Kann too will be in Berlin tomorrow,

December 12

I a m telegraphing Crespi:*

While knowing that i t is important, cannot

919

(Berlin ambassador)

know where the necessary is coming from. I hold t o my

offer completely. But as it is a special favor, the doctor insists particularly on being called by 365. H e will need § or 4 days grace to

make arrangements with his patients. *

%*

%*

Then I telephoned Wolffsohn a t the Savoy Hotel, Berlin. I told him t o take my Philosophische Erzihlungen [Philosophical Tales] t o Ambassador Ahmed Tewfik in a nice case and ask him whether he knows why my proposition has n o t been accepted. He should know that I am ready, even though he may n o t be able t o say

where I have the money from. The Jewish Colonial Trust will also participate in my group. I also made Wolffsohn give me his word of honor that he would not

tell Kann anything about this visit. %

¥*

3%

Dec emb er 13

Yesterday afternoon Wolffsohn telephoned m e and said that he ®

I n French i n the origina l.

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1005

had been t o see Ambassador Ahmed Tewfik; he had received him very amiably, b u t had n o t heard about anything a t all yet. *

¥*

*

Today I received the following wire from Crespi, dated yesterday:* Doctor, they are pressing m e for a q u i c k favorable answer to m y

telegram of the day before yesterday. Telegraph me immediately. Crespi

I am answering i t : * Yesterday someone w e n t t o see 9 1 9 , who had received nothing from 73 and knew nothing. B u t what other answer do you want than that a l l is ready o n the stated conditions, which I repeat to you.

December 1 4 Yesterday there came a notification from the Pera telegraph office (to Kokesch as the sender), saying that the code telegram t o Crespi had been officially intercepted. Therefore I immediately wired Crespi:* A code telegram i n which I notified you that the money is still a t your disposal under the familiar conditions did not reach you. *

*

*

A n interesting letter came from Crespi yesterday—se non é vero é ben trovato [if i t is n o t true, i t is well invented]—telling about his discussions with the Grand Vizier and Tahsin Bey as well as

about the intrigues of the Ottoman Bank. The latter, however, can lend only £100-150,000, while the government—ac cording to the Grand Vizier’s express declaration—i s aux abois [in desper* I n French i n the origina l.

1006 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7][ straits] and needs 2—3 million pounds. Accordingly, he says, our prospects are favorable. I don't believe Levantines.

ate

%

*

¥%*

From Wolffsohn a report about his conversation with the ambas. sador a t Berlin. Ahmed Tewfik told him amicably what he had told m e two years ago: that h e would l i k e to see us immigrate any-

where i n Turkey, b u t n o t t o Palestine. M y Jewish State, he said, had struck fear into the Turkish government—quel honneur [what an honor]!—and they thought that once we were settled in Palestine we would wrest the country away, as the Balkan states did. T o which Wolftsohn made an excellent reply: I f the Jews were in the Balkan states, they would be Turkish t o this day, for the Balkan states were able t o break away from Turkey only with the a i d o f t h e Great Powers. W e , however, have n o other friends i n

the world b u t the Turks. December 14

‘Today Vambéry's notification that m y letter has gone off. Decem ber 14

Telegram from Crespi: * Urgent necessity to have telegram sent to Grand Vizier from

big French or German bank certifying t h a t the seven hundred thousand Turkish pounds have already been lent under conditions I shall set. *

*

*

This is evidently a trap, at the least a test. I f I name Kann, or rather, have h i m telegraph his willingness to the Grand Vizier, the

follow ing eventualities are possible: ®

I n French i n the origina l.

T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL 1007

a) The banking house of Lissa & Kann will be regarded as

sufficiently “haut ” [ ‘ b i g ” ] , where upon the Grand Vizier will show the offer t o the Deutsche Bank or the Ottom an Bank in order to obtain a competitive offer.

b) Lissa & Kann will n o t be regarded as sufficiently important,

and the matter w i l l be dropped, possibly a t the same time using 1t as under a). c) I n either case, Crespi, who has already betrayed Nuri t o me, can directly p u t himself at the disposal o f Lissa & Kann and try t o carry the matter o u t as a commission deal, which would be much easier t o do without a Zionist flavor. d) I am n o t sure enough of Kann, who has stabbed me i n the back o n a previous occasion, to put h i m i n touch w i t h t h e Turkish government. I t 1s of n o use to Zionism for h i s firm to get access t o

Turkish business. For these reasons I shall refrain from giving the desired name, but after listening t o m y best advisers I shall do things as follows: T o begin with, I am telegraphing t o Crespi: *

I have informed my friends of your request. Their reply will come tomorrow o r the next day. *

¥*

*

Tomorrow I shall telegraph the following : * M y friends do n o t deem i t approp riate t o reveal themselves i n

the way you ask. First, because their conditions are not those of business and represent a favor. Then , because they are afraid this offer could only serve t o elicit others. I n which case we would be doing a favor without any thanks for it. But, since i n your request there is also a question of previous

security, we are willi ng to yield , thou gh it is a bit hum iliat ing for

me.

The way this can be done is as follows. I am auth orize d t o show

the gentleman with whom I talked on the telephon e a t Ladislas’s * I n French i n the orig ina l.

1008 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7}L the offer dated November sixteenth and addressed to me by the

financial representatives of the group.

Dece mber 15

Today a letter from Crespi, who claims that the Grand Vizier is o n our side. I n the Cabinet Council the advance of the Ottoman Bank was supposed to b e discussed, b u t the Grand Vizier removed this from the agenda. H e wants to make a n official inquiry about

me first—see telegrams. The Grand Vizier would like t o conclude a loan of t w o t o three million pounds. Crespi advises us first to frustrate all other financial arrangements for Turkey, then appear as saviors. A major opponent of ours was “Commandant” Berger, the director of the Dette Publique.

Decembe r 19

T o Vimbéry:

Kedves Vdmbéry bdcsi [Dear Uncle Vambéry]: First of all, I am pleased that you approve of my actions. Of course, I a m not authorized to make incautious use of the offer

made t o me o n November 16. T h e banking firm that figures as the underwriter is a distinguished old house, and I shall produce the document only when things become serious, and n o t for any murky maneuvers of :

I received the enclosed letter today. Please send i t back to me immediately after you have used i t . Y o u yourself w i l l know best how you have to write to the Sadrazam. I t would, o f course, be well to expedite the matter greatly, i f only so that I m a y get a first o p

portunity of doing something substantial for our friends. I hope the journey i n wintert ime w i l l not deter you. Just leave i t u p to me to provide the greatest comfort . Perhaps your son will give us the pleasure of comin g along, too.

T H E COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L 1009

Scilicet [that is]—if we are called. With cordi al regards,

Your truly devoted Dor.

The enclosure was Crespi’s letter which arrived today, dated 1 2 / 1 7 , in which a letter from Vimbéry t o the Grand Vizier is requested. Vimbéry wrote me yesterday that he approved of m y policy of showing the offer only t o h i m ; m y purpose i n this is t o keep h i m , whom I trust, i n the combination. Wolffsohn wires me that the firm Lissa & Kann has been in existence for 8 0 - 1 0 0 years and has been highly esteemed for three generations. I needed all this t o cover myself. Decemb er 22

Vambéry wrote yesterday (encl. r) that i f i t turned o u t t o be a deal, he wanted a commission of £5000 o u t of the 7 0 0 , 0 0 0 . T o this I answered V. only briefly that he was very sensible and that I had never had anything else i n m i n d b u t t o let h i m have an adequate share. But since he n o w seems to want a letter o f commi ssion, which I don’t have yet before h e writes to the Grand Vizier, I w i l l make

shift withou t h i m for the time being and am now wiring Cresp i: Prof. a adressé la lettre a u secrétaire [The profe ssor has sent the letter to the secretary].

December 23

Iam replying today t o Vambéry’s letter of December

20:

My good Viambéry bdcsi:

Iam swamped with work on the last few days befo re Christmas, and that i s why I was only able t o make a curs ory acknowledgment

1010 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7},

of your good letter of the 2 0 t h of the month. Now I have finisheq (By the way: read m y story about old Rome i n the Christmas sy plement of the N . Fr. Pr., seeing that you have so much avuncul

indulgence for me—otherwise this would be immodesty on my part). I am now rereading your good, intelligent letter of the 2 0 t h . You are right, every last word. I did n o t and do n o t have the slightest desire t o arrange this loan; I hardly need tell you this. Why should I trouble myself over i t , anyway? There is nothing in i t for me personally, and the cause whose shammes [factotum] I am can only suffer a delay because of it. But C. and his agents—he was recommended t o me b y responsible people from Cohn’s staff—gave m e t o understand that i t was an entrée e n matiére [beginning o f things]. T h e y said t h a t I must fur-

nish a first proof that I was able t o put hard cash o n the table and had n o t only phrases i n m y mouth, but—like the momming hour of the Turkish Empire—gold.* Also, with a relatively small amount only a slight delay could b e involved. This I had to accept as true,

and I induced one of m y most trusted assistants t o procure the desired amount a t once. B u t a t the same time, considering that it would be a business transaction, even though not a good one, |

stipulated honoraria for those of our helpers who are outside our movement and thus have a legitimate claim t o material gratitude as well. With this, of course, I primarily had Vdmbéry bdcst in

mind, and that is why i n my answers t o C. and his associates I kept bringing you into the picture, because this also authorizes me vis-a-

vis my financiers t o demand for you a share i n the commission that will be paid when the transaction is concluded. For this purpose an amount of eight thousand pounds was readily placed a t my dis posal. Of this I promised C. £4000, and the remaining 4 0 0 0 I intended for you—which does n o t mean that I wanted, God forbid, to put you o n the same level with C . I believe that the gentlemen, * Translator’s Note: A n allusion to the proverb Morgenstunde hat Gold i m Mundt

(lit., “The morning hour has gold i n its mouth”), the German version of “The early bird catches the worm.”

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1011 who are n o t cads and whom I have u n t i l now known only as persons of breeding, will add another £1000 a t m y request. B u t d o I really have to tell you that I know what is the proper

thing t o do? From the very first you have behaved so cordially and correctly toward m e that I a m actually looking for a n opportunit y to give pleasure t o you.

T o be sure, o u r great purpose m u s t not b e lost sight o f i n such side issues. I frankly confess t o y o u t h a t I would prefer i t i f o u r

friends did not earn these small commissions, because then they would all the more assuredly and sooner earn the b i g ones which will be realized from the Charter loan. T o this end we m u s t work. I told you from the very beginning that I regard you and your connections as a historic opportunity of the Jewish people. Your whole fine, active, and courageous life reaches full stature a t this peak. Vdambéry bdcsi, you are n o t here to serve as an interpreter for some Shah of Persia. Your true mission is t o help your old people with its self-redemption. Let us n o t miss one day or one hour. Let us n o t say yavash [take i t easy]!, l i k e the Turks who are wrecked o n i t . A n d since according t o C’s letter the Sadrazam requests a letter from you, because without your letter he evidently does n o t dare t o talk t o Cohn about the matter, for goodness’ sake write h i m this letter today rather than tomorrow. With cordial regards Your truly devoted T h . Herzl.

Letter t o Wolffs ohn:

December 25 M y dear Daa de: I am more naive, after all, than I believe d. T h e H a l e w i (loan) matter suddenly bogged down and I didn’t know why. Some help€rs want t o b e o n t h e safe side a n d t o get m a t o n e (comm ission ) let-

ters from us. I n partic ular there is someo ne w h o has the greate st

1012 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL influence upon C o h n a n d w h o m w e decidedly need. H e must get a

larger amount than I thought. A n d since h e m u s t under no cir. cumstances be named and has t o share in any future transactions of

Hagen and of the Trust, Hagen must write a matone letter for the A.C., which assumes responsibility toward the man who wishes to remain anonymous. And this matone is t o be paid i n addition to the £4000, which you have already promised, for the one baldoy

(agent) who contented himself with my verbal promise. The letter is t o read as follows: T o the Actions Committee of the Zionist Congress, Attention: Dr. Th. H . , Chairman. I hereby pledge myself t o pay t o the honorable A.C. of the Z.C. the amount of £10,000 o n the day o n which the loan transaction with the Turkish government, initiated b y D r . H., is completed. further pledge myself t o pay t o the A.C. of the Z.C. 14,9, of the

nominal sum of any additional transaction which I or my firm may conclude with the Turkish government directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with others, o n the day of the signing of the contract. T h e A.C. o f the Z.C. is under n o obligation t o give me an

accounting of how these payments are used.

Respectfully, Jacobus Kann, for the firm of L . & K. This request certainly does n o t m e a n a n y damage t o Kann’s in-

terests, for he will be able t o write off this additional matone against the transaction. I t will then b e a n easy t h i n g to obtain correspondingly better conditions, because we shall have every necessary assistance. Naturally, any obligation for h i m will

arise

only i f the thing materializes.

Arrange this with him quickly, so that I

too

can continue to

opera te unhin dered .

I surely don’t need t o tell you that, i n the first place, the A.C. uses everything that comes to i t for the cause, and that, i n the sec ond place, I personally have nothing to d o w i t h the incoming and

1013 THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL outgoing monies, but that everyth ing is taken care of b y m y colleagues, under the control of all. I congratulate you o n your election to the Commu nity, b u t I am not pleased with i t . This is a fresh distraction for you, and n o w you may give even less attention to the Bank. I a m convinced that

you have still made no arrangements whatever for the approaching deadline for payments. I n m y opinion, everything ought t o be mobilized right now for the impending collection of final installments by registered postcard. I n particular the thing ought t o be organized inexpensively, and the cards should be sent from London at foreign-postage rates, b u t s e n t o u t i n each country b y the national headquarters a t domestic o r local rates. When will that be done? Who is thinking of it? No one, I fear. For this reasona terrible displeasure a t the management of the Bank is growing among the masses of our adherents. With cordial regards,

Your Benja min. Dece mber 2 8

Yesterday, first vict ory ove r the Allia nz.

I n the info rma l conference the day befo re yesterday, the gentlemen, who had invi ted me thro ugh AssizeCourt Cou nci llor Koh n, had declined a trib una l on the ir misdee ds i n con nec tion wit h the Rum

anian emigration, but had offered t o giv e me and my friends everything and t o show us all their books. I immediately accepted this, because I wa s anxious t o see the books. Yesterday evening we we nt there. Th ey had hoped t o pu t us off with phrases and letters select ed b y the m. B u t I ha d the ma tte r j n hand and steered things t o the bo oks. Quel malheur [how unfor tunate]! Th ey co uld n’t sho all accounting of

w us the bo ok s, because the bo ok ke ep er ne ho me . Pe All right, show me the ca

an old man, ha d already go

sh book. They showed i t t o me reluct-

1014 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]. antly. Dr. Kuranda, who was standing b e h i n d me, wanted to leaf through i t quickly. However, I turned the pages slowly; I looked

for and found the questionable items: a subvention of 6 0 0 guilders for Bloch and other uses of the donations which were contrary t g regulations.

Thereupon I formulated my questions as follows: 1 . By what right did the Allianz restrict the personal freedom of the emigrants and send them back t o Rumania although they did n o t want t o gor 2 . By what right were the contributions used for other things than what the donors were told about in the appeal?

3. Where is the proof that the repatriates were granted adequate support?

For in the meantime I had managed t o get the old bookkeeper brought back, as well as t o have the books produced. Messieurs Kuranda and Katzau had said that the old man probably was still working on November in entering the Rumanian acc o u n t . No, he was a jour [up t o date]. The payment t o Bloch was already entered i n the Rumanian a c c o u n t . A t this I remarked: “The minutes of the Allianz ought t o record thanks t o the old bookkeeper for having entered everything so promptly.” Ces messieurs ont passé u n mauvais quart d’heure [those gentlemen spent a bad quarter of a n hour].

And now they are mine. The investigation was suspended for the time being, and I shall probably n o t continue i t . I have already got all the material I need. %*

*

*

Vémbéry has written t o the Grand Vizier and, “confiding in my honesty,” given the financiers his unconditional endorsement. Thereupon I am writing him:

My good Vdmbéry bdcsi: I t was n o leap in the dark.* W i t h m e everything, not just this or that, is a matter of honor, and i f I tell you something, you can swear t o i t i n k i t t e l a n d talles [by all t h a t ®

I n English i n the original.

is holy]. I

am now

enclosing for

O R HE RZ L 1015 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D believed me, the original let t e r from the bankers, because you t o me immed iately re and ask yougt o ret urn this impor tant docum ent ) frer you have examined it. I t ; one of the oldest and finest Dutch banki ng houses, i n busi ness for about eighty years. The present head 1s the third generation, very rich and highly esteemed i n government circles, some:

|

|

thing thatI personally assured myself of at The Hague.

|

The matter was negotiated by the president of the Jewish Colonial Trust (Colonial Bank), one of my most trusted and most devoted assistants. We chose this Dutch house for this campaign becausei t is the most suitable for the purpose a t hand. For the Charter loan, to be sure, i t would be o u t o f the question. For this I have

another group which has several millions pound sterling i n readiness. I wish we had got far enough w i t h Cohn for m e to furnish you

with proof of this as well. Today the Politische Korrespondenz issued the enclosed announcement. Kindly return the clipping to me. I not only consider this as not a bad sign, b u t as a good one. T h e whore wants to raise

her price, so she says that she can’t be had. Am I right?* I don’t need t o tell you that you are t o keep the name of the banker a strict secret. This bank er, of course, is a “gent lema n,” b u t

the circle around Cohn could approach him directly. The n you would have pulled the chestnuts o u t of the fire for othe r people.

For this my bdcsi is

too sma rt.

The greatest hokhme is that you

understand me, trus t me, and go alon g with

With cordial regards,

me.

You r dev oted Doni.

December 28

To Crespi I telegraphed the fol lowing mo ts convenus [code rords] reg arding the dispatch of Vamb éry’s let ter to the Gr an d Objet pa rti avanthier [objec t sent off day before yeste rday]. * I n English i n

izier:

the or igi na l.

1016 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] December 31

Two days ago Councillor of State von Bloch called on me. We spoke about war and peace. While we talked i t occurred t o me t g mention Austin, Salisbury’s friend, as the possible peace negotia. tor. Austin had recently written me t o be sure t o remember hj; words: i f England shows strength i n the Transvaal, no one will at. tack her. Bloch now wanted t o tell the English through the Neue Freie Presse that they ought t o submit their dispute with the Boers t o arbitration. I pointed o u t t o h i m that t h i s was a wild-goose chase. However, England might let the peace proposals of a private indi: vidual be discussed more readily than those of a Power. I now offered t o write t o Alfred Austin that Bloch was prepared t o launch i n the Neue Freie Presse, and seemingly under his own name, those proposals that were agreeable t o the English government. Bloch agreed with pleasure t o this idea which promises him le

beau role [the starring role]. *%

*

¥

Under the date of December 29th Vambéry writes a letter important to m e because he says i n i t that i n the farewell audience he granted h i m the Sultan had expressed himself t o h i m quite differently from what the notice of the Politische Korrespondenz says: “ H e doesn’t give a hoot; all he wants is money and power.” ¥

¥*

LJ

Letter t o Vambéry . December 31, 1 9 0 0

M y good Vdambéry bdcsi:

Thank you for your good letter, and cordial wishes for the New Year! M a y this year see something great for mankind, particularly

for our people, issue from our friends hip. I c a n ’ t get that i t e m i n t h e Politische Korrespondenz o u t o f my

mind, i f only because i t is getting i n t o every newspaper i n the world. I t has been telegraphed everywhere. Although this hasn't

1017 T H E COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L effect o n seriously worri ed me, I s t i l l can’t conce al from myse lf the public opinion . Theref ore, since m y last letter to you the decisio n

has matured i n me t o strike a major blow, based o n this semi-official notice. Flectere si nequeo superos Acheronta moveb o. [ I f I cannot bend the powers above, I w i l l move the lower world]. I n the middle of January I shall start on a tour of my financier friends and induce them t o c u t the Turkish government off from all financial sources. That will perhaps show them that your Dori is n o quantité néglige-

able [negligible quantity]. However, as a real Jew I wish t o offer one last opportunity for an amicable settlement. What I have in mind is that you immediately direct t o Cohn a friendly warning i n something like the following vein, though in your own words which will be more clever and more Turkish than mine: Dear Cohn, because o f m y intimate relationship w i t h Dori I can

today give you some information from which you can derive benefit, that is, avoid harm. For years Dori and his friends have done you favors, or offered them t o you. When the Greek war broke o u t , Dori sent five physicians t o your theatre of war a t his own expense. O n various occasions he had your praises sung i n his newspapers, defended you and propagandized for you. The first thing he d i d a t every Congress was to send you a telegram o f homage. W h e n h e

heard that your government urgently needed money, he immediately offered about £700,000 on terms far more favorable than the market ones. H e never received a word of thanks. I n fact, as a response t o his latest kindness, the offer of £700,000, he gets a slap in the face from a semi-official news-agency. One of its releases says that the Turkish government is prohibit ing the Israelites from entering Palestine, because the Zionis t movem ent wants t o set u p the

Kingdom of Judea. This is an absurd ity. All the Zionists want to d o 1s t o settle t h e countr y o f P a l e s t i n e , u n d e r y o u r sovere ignty, with Peaceful workmen who are too unhap py elsewhere. You and your

h o e Empire woul d deriv eeno rmou sbenefits trom this. B u t you be a friend

toch

rig t , too!

Nobody can o r will force you t o

0 atriend to the Jews. B u t s i n c e the Jews have nothi ng to hope for om you, you no longer have anyth ing t o expect from them either .

1018 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L Dori has just informed me that i n the middle of January he wij set o u t o n a tour of his most powerful financier friends. H e intends t o induce them t o grant you n o more loans when you most urgently

need them. Dori also writes me, among other things, that negotia-

tions are now going on with the Canadian government (according to a report from Pineles, Galatz) regarding immigration. This gov.

shows itself favorably disposed t o the idea. I f you want t o heed my advice, send for m y friend Dori imme. diately, before he leaves and starts something that can make in calculable trouble for you. Be pleasant t o h i m , a t least listen to him—then you are still a t liberty t o say n o t o h i m i f what he preernment

sents does not suit you. B u t this way you will at least keep a friend

in him who can do you more good i n the world of the press and of finance than you seem to be aware of. This 1s the loyal advice of your Reshid. But don’t you believe, my good bdcst, that this is only a trick. I f have no invitation from Cohn by Jaunary 1 5 , I shall carry o u t what I have said above. This is my decision. With cordial regards,

Your devoted Dori.

1901

January

1,

Vienna

M y good Vambéry bdcsi: Just one more word to supplement m y yesterday's letter. I t should be made clear that i f you intervene now, aiming at prevent:

ing my campaign planned for the middle of January, you will be doing a service t o the other side, i.e., Cohn. You must make him understand this. Tell h i m you have learned o f something that

O R HE RZL 1019 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D

r done

makes one fear difficulties for him. And truly, you have neve

w mad e u p m y m i n d Cohn such a servi ce as this one. F o r I have n o

and am ready*. With cordial regards,

Your devoted Dori.

January

1

Last night Hechler came t o see me. I told h i m that I wished to

propose t o Lord Salisbury through Austin that Bloch formulate England's peace conditions in the Neue Freie Presse. I want t o perform this service for England. Hechler asked me for permission t o notify Sir Francis Plunkett, the ambassador, o f this, because i n this

way the thing could be done more quickly. I agreed all the more readily because I had intended t o have h i m propose this to me.

January 1 Yesterday I went t o see David Gutmann and concluded the Allianz peace with him, under the condition that three Zionists be coopted into the Allianz and one (Prof. Kellner) into the boar d of |

trustees of the Hirs ch Fou nda tion .

Gutmann also promised that they would muzzle Bloch’s Wochfirm o f Gut man n Bro ther s had give n Bloch fifty thousand guilders for the defense of Rohling. enschrift, and told m e that the

Jan. 3, Vienna

Today sen t off the letter t o Austin wh * I n English i n the ori gin

al.

ich Hechler wrote i n Eng-

1020 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy] lish and i n which I offer Bloch’s intervention i n keeping with

whatever peace conditions England may desire. ¥*

*

¥%

M y good Grand Duke replied by telegram Year's wishes with his old cordiality.

to

my wired Ney

Jan.3 Yesterday I received a clipping from the anti-Semitic Berlin Staatsbirgerzeitung, dated December 27%, 1900, which reproduced a yellow i t e m from the dastardly news service Information of the

dastard Graf. The poisonous item accuses me of having boasted of m y relationship t o Kaiser Wilhelm, etc., and is obviously intended t o have me semi-officially disavowed b y Berlin. I immediately telephoned Prince Eulenburg and said I would like to speak with h i m ; i n the evening h e received me, amiably as always.

First we spoke about his and my literary attempts, then I read him the clipping and left i t with him. I informed h i m about the scoundrel Graf and told h i m the blackmail story. What did I want h i m to do, asked the ambassador. “Simply to ignore this needling. T h e fellow wants to provoke a disavowal o f m e o n the part o f the German government—to take revenge o r to get money. Now, I certainly have made n o use of the

letters and statements of t w o years ago. Therefore i t would be very disagreeable t o m e t o b e disavowed—in t h e first place, because the

things are true, and i n the second, because I haven't said anything. Rather, o u r good Mr. Hechler seems to have been too talkative. I t 1s the only fault of this thoroughly honest m a n . H e probably talked

about letters from the Grand D u k e t o m e announcing the assump tion of the protectorate by the Kaiser. I myself haven't told anyone about this protectorate which was once planned. I f they now sa% fit t o disavow me, I wouldn’t know what I have done t o deserve this

cold douche. Nor would people understand i t i f I kept silent about

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1021 it, because, after all, I am n o t dependent.” (The expression i n his eyes told m e that h e had understood this gentle hint).

I continued: “After what had gone before, the Kaiser's reception and declarations i n Palestine d i d n o t m e e t m y expectations. B u t I understood a t once that i t couldn’t be helped, that insurmountable obstacles had been encountered, and I said t o myself: ‘Now you've

got t o keep your m o u t h shut!” ”

Eulenburg rejoined: “ I can assure you that your behavior a t that time and since then has given us the highest opinion of your character. And I would discuss everything w i t h you with the greatest confidence and without any reserve. What the difhiculty was a t that time we have been unable t o find o u t t o this day. T h e Sultan rejected the Kaiser's suggestion regarding the Zionists so brusquely that i t was n o t possible to pursue the matter further. W e were anxious to remain o n good terms with h i m . As a guest the Kaiser c o u l d n o t o f course press the subject.”

I : “ I presume that i t was Russian influence—then as now. Per-

haps we d i d n ’ t contrive things shrewdly enough a t that time. Germany’s open support was bound t o arouse jealousy on the part of the others as well as the suspicion that i t was a m a t t e r of occupying Palestine under the guise of Zionism. I f we repeat the attempt, it ought t o be managed i n such a way that Germany gives its consent to the arrangement only reluctantly. I have n o w shifted the center

of gravity t o England. I n the last parliamentary elections there we picked u p some forty supporters i n the House of Commons.” He said pensively: “You are quite right i n n o t dropping your project. This support in the English Parliament is very important. Don’t get discouraged.” “Yes, ‘we come from other times and hope t o go o n t o different ones,” I quoted Grillparzer’'s words. “For usitisa delicate task,” remarked Eulenburg. “ I t is inherent In our situation that we m u s t strike a balance between England and Russia. Today we incline the balance staff toward England, but it will n o t always remain this way; the staff w i l l have t o be inclined toward Russia again i f we want t o keep our equilibrium. And par-

1022 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] ticularly i n Asia Minor, where Russia wants t o expand too, we must have no differences.” I sensed that Russia's expansion was something feared and im. mediately made use o f this. I explained t h a t Russia was behing Turkey's resistance, and that Russia was evidently making tache

d’huile [spreading out] in Asia Minor—until i t would suddenly be a t the shores of the Mediterranean. Only then would Zionism be lost. Only when Palestine belonged t o the Russians would we have no more chance of obtaining i t . A t this point he said: “What you are telling me now interests me very much.” I also mentioned that I had recently offered the Sultan £400,000 on favorable terms. H e had not accepted the offer, evidently prevented by Russia. But I was determined t o spoil his loans for him if he absolutely refused t o give me a hearing. However, i f he sent for me, I could make a great deal of money available t o him. We had talked for an hour and a quarter. I got up. H e said he hoped t o see me a t his dinner table soon. E t nous nous quittdmes dans les meilleurs termes [and we parted o n the best of terms].

January 4, Vienna This has been a curious day today. B u t this evening I still don't know, and probably won't know for a long time, whether it has been a day sans conséquences [of n o consequence] o r one to be

marked i n red later. T h e day before yesterday I had received a card from Secretary von Bleyleben, saying that the Prime Minister requested m e to call o n h i m today. I took this as j u s t a n answer t o m y N e w Year's visiting

card which I had left on the first, and gave the invitation no further thought, because m y previous visits to Koerber had never amounted to more than dicerie [chats]. I was more concerned, as an echo of the conversation with Eulenburg, w i t h the following notice

in yesterday's evening edition of the N. Fr. Pr.:

I n an article in the United Services Magazine there is a peculiar proposal, one hardly t o be taken seriously, regardin g an Anglo-

O R HE RZL 1023 THE CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H E O D

German exchange of territory. England is t o exchange

the island of

s i n c e the Cyprus, which has been unde r Engl ish admi nistr ation r to safeJune agreement of 1848, for Germ an East Afric a, i n orde

guard for England the strategic and comm ercia l value of the Cape Cairo railroad which would otherwise i n part run throu gh foreig n territory and be dependent o n a foreig n power . Accor ding t o the article, Cyprus has always been of doubtf ul value t o Englan d, and on the other hand, thinly populate d, tropical East Africa 1s not particularly valuable t o Germany, while Cyprus would be an excellent acquisition for her, as a base for her aspirations i n the Near East as well as a station o n the long road t o her possessions i n the Far East. I f Germany ever got i n t o the position o f having t o defend

her rights in Asia Minor by force of arms, Cyprus would constitute a very valuable base of operations, and England would 1n n o way have anything t o fear from Germany's taking over this island. I n Germany, t o be sure, there is a different opinion regarding the value of German East Africa, despite the abandonment of Zanzibar and Witu; therefore Berlin will probably attach only academic importance to the proposals of the above-menti oned English periodical.

The comment that the proposal was not to be taken seriously

made me not entirely incredulous, for the judgments of the N. Fr. Pr—a fter all, I know its judge s—ar e not alway s the wise st. In the first excitement I wanted t o write t o Eulenburg and mak e

proposals I n case i t was true. Germ any wou ld then have to welcome a Jewish settlement on Cyprus with deli ght. We would rally on Cyprus and one day go over t o Eretz Israel and take i t by force, as i t was taken fro m us lon g ago. But I slept o n this all- too -lur id ide a, and the nig ht bro ugh t m e the dec

ision that at this mo me nt the wisest thi ng was to a y not hing. Should Germany get Cyprus, I shall afterwards sti ll have the op ert un ity to attempt the matte r via Eu len bu rg and the Gr an d A,

"

ie

ay s wi th England, which is ap parently tire d of Ps h e c anc es are eve n be tte r, bec aus e | sha ll b e a b le to i t with Salisbury i f my bons offices [good offices] i n the it

1024 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7].

Transvaal question give me access t o him. This means that if the Sultan’s refusal assumes even more distinct form than i n the notjce o f the Politische Korrespondenz I w o u l d present a Cyprus project to the next Congress for which I could obtain the support of the big

millionaires beforehand. O n my trip t o Koerber in the morning I thought over this Cyprus speech of mine for the 5th Congress. I would declare that i t was a combination of the currently bogged-down hopes for Palestine with the indispensable campaign t o aid our poorest. Poor Trietsch’s idea, then, w h o m I also sent for mentally to put

him t o work on the preparations. I would further declare to the Fifth Congress that Cyprus was only a step o n the way t o Palestine. That Turkey would then take us more seriously, etc. I could even hear the opposition and agreement of the Congress. Thus I arrived a t the Wipplingerstrasse [and] simultaneously [came up] against Austrian domestic politics.* Koerber tore me out of my Oriental heaven with an amiable jolt.

The eventuality which I have long foreseen has come about: he wants to o r has to govern i n opposition to the N . Fr. Pr. This is why he had called me, as I immediately found out.

“ I t was no soap with Auer,” he told me after the first words of greeting. “ D i d you find something, maybe?” “ I didn’t look, Your Excellency.” “Anything t o be done with the Neue Press? I s i t t o be had?” “ I think so, i f matters are handled correctly. I t is a question of

money.” ““T'he money is there,” h e said plainly. “Money for a new, quality

paper, or for the Neue Freie Presse. There is a group.” “Who?” I asked. And when he hesitated with his answer, I said: “ M y word of honor that i t will remain between us.” ‘Then he answered: “Scho ller!”

That sufficed me. H e n o w asked m e whether I wished to speak with Count Auersperg who was negotiating the matter. I said I was willing. B u t when he mentioned that the “group’’ wanted t o have * Translator’s Note: Apparently a fragmentary sentence; completed according t o Herzl’s proba ble intent ion.

D O R H E R Z L 1025 THE CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H E O Com mer ce— Karu s the Secretary of the Reic hen berg Cha mbe r of the pub lishe r, I exor Karplus, I didn ’t catch the name clearly—as ld hard ly pressed a reservation, saying that a majo r journ alist wou first want ed t o consent to serve unde r such a chief . For the rest, I

hear the details from Auersperg and then express myse

lf a t greater

length.

Then we spoke about the intern al situat ion i n Austr ia. H e claimed t o be tired of being i n office, althou gh he certain ly didn’t give me that impression. H e said i n a somewhat nervous tone of voice: “ I ' m just curious about m y successor. I can’t wait t o see i f

he'll do a better job, or what he'll do. W h o are they talking about?” “Lichtenstein o r Schonborn,”’ I said.

“Or Gautsch!” “But he would only have a ministry of officials all over again. Then you might as well stay, Your Excellency.” H e spoke about the elections. “Nobody knows nothing certain.” He had the least good t o say about the German-Progressives. They are the most troublesome. I believe h e thinks so because they are the weakest. H e praised the Christian-Socialists, “because a t least they are willing t o work.” With the Czechs, too, one could manage

somehow. These hints showed me i n what direction he wants t o steer. Incidentally, he denied that he had made concessions t o the Czechs prior t o the Prague Diet, as the German-Nationalists indignantly assert. The reason that the work of the Prague D i e t had run smoothly, he said, was that he had previously sent for Governor Coudenhove and given h i m instruction s to dissolve i t i n case there were disturbances.

He also had the Oberstlandmarschall [provincial chief marshal] notified of this, and thereu pon the Czechs were well-be haved and

subdued. The “concession” was the threat of dissolu tion i n the event that the marria ge o f Archd uke Franz Ferdin and o r the Bo-

hemian states’ rights were broug ht u p i n any way. |

What d o you think of that, D r . Herzl ?”

‘ I think that you have done some governing.”

1026 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L I also admitted to h i m that contrary to m y previous opinion he

had been right i n n o t “running” the elections. “That can’t be done the way it 1s elsewhere,” he said. “ I n Hun. gary the government can make a unified party for itself. Here we have t o go along with a different party in each crownland. So it’s better not t o interfere in the first place, otherwise you have them all against you. Yet I've done a thing or t w o on the quiet, for in. stance in Krain.” H e still has the Emperor’s confidence, as he told me i n reply to my question; but his answer n o longer sounded as positive as i t had

last summer. Then he dismissed me. When I was at the door, he saw me out and said t o the doorman: “Call Count Auersperg.” So, vederemo [we shall see]!

January 4, Vienna ‘This morning I a m to g o t o see Ministerialrat Count Auersperg.

What will come of it? This question has been agitating me mightily for the past two days. I t can just as easily lead to nothing, t o a diceria [chat], as t o a great deal, t o everything.

I am now reciting t o myself my old saying: Rien n’arrive, ni comme on le craint, n i comme on l'espére [Nothing happens either as one fears or as one hopes]. *

*

*

The same must apply t o Constantinople as well. Vambéry writes m e under the date of January 4 that h e had repeated m y last letter t o the Sultan in detail. However, Vambéry does n o t expect much

from it. %

*

#*

Cowen reports from London that the meeting with the Roths childs is t o be “managed” by Seligmann as soon as I get there. I n about two weeks I shall probably go t o London where Wolffsohn 1s

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1027 calling me o n account of the Bank. Regard ing the Bank, regardi ng the Rothschilds, too: rien n’arrwve. . . .

January 8 Yesterday morning I went to see M inisterialrat Count Auers-

perg. A tall, slim gentleman of some forty years with an intelligent, sometimes too intelligent, look i n his eyes. A future minister, cela se devine [this much may b e guessed]. A t first h e tried t o act re-

served. I disarmed h i m by making the battement [gambit] of frankness. I spoke without any reservation, whereupon he too spoke freely. A “group of industrialists” wanted t o give the money for a new paper, or for the acquisition of “an old one.” This group had turned t o Koerber through him, Auersperg. Koerber had said that he knew someone—myself—and so the ball had started rolling. “The fundamental reason for this plan of the industrialists is the impending commercial treaties. People don’t read about them i n the papers. That is why they want t o create o r acquire an organ for informing the public.” I believe, however, that the deepest reason is the creation o r acquisition of a baronetcy for Herr von Schéller. B u t that is none of my business. Scholler’s money is as clean as money can be, and it is all right for me t o take i t i n order t o start a decent newspaper, especially since Auersperg kept emphasizing that only an independent journal was t o be created. We agreed that I was to get details about a rendezvous with

Schéller in the course of the same day. I promised t o be a t home from five o'clock on.

Then an incident intervened which made me rather nervous yesterday afternoon. A t noon there was a call from Prince Eulen-

burg t o the office of the Welt saying that he wanted t o speak with me at six o'clock. I couldn’t say n o because, after all, the meeting

between Auersperg and Schéller had n o t been definitel y set for the evening.

1028 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

Accordingly I made rather complicated arrangements in cage something came from Auersperg during m y absence from the house, and a t six o'clock I drove t o Eulenburg. H e gave me some surprising information. H e had made inquiries about the provenance of that scoundrel Graf and had learneg that this item was traceable ‘ t o a difference o f opinion between Dr, Herzl and the secretary Dr. Landau.”

I

set

him straight on the character of the fine S. R . Landau and

reassured him that nothing need be feared from “exposures” on the part of this fellow, simply because I had never confided any. thing t o him. Anything he might know he could only have gleaned from our good Hechler’s incautious chatter. Eulenburg said he planned to send for Hechler and appeal t o his conscience t o keep silent. H e further said: “As I learned, the matter is n o t t o stop with this first article, b u t there are other articles b y Landau t o come.” I shrugged m y shoulders, because, after all, I a m not afraid of this

pair of rascals, Graf-Landau. Incidentally, Eulenburg told me he had reported t o the Imperial Chancellor o n our first conversation about this matter i n the spirit

desired by me. Then we discussed literature again. H e gave me a new book by Frau von Gerstenbergk about Ottilie von Goethe. When I got home, there still was nothing from Auersperg; not

until late i n the evening did a pneumatic-tube letter come from h i m , requesting m e t o v i s i t h i m a t ten o'clock today. *

%*

%

‘This night, too, brought m e counsel.

I t occurred to me 1) that the Landau-Graf coup was probably not mounted against me a t all, b u t against the German govern m e n t . F o r t h e matter i s disagreeable t o i t , not t o m e . Those charac-

ters want t o extort something from the German government. Therefore I must call o n Eulenburg this very day and warn him,

since he apparently has his information directly from Graf.

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1029 2) that Auersperg’s card might mean snow. For yesterday he said he would see me a t Schoéller’s. Today he calls me t o his office. Does this mean letting me down easy? I n an hour I ' l l know .

January 8, i n the evening.

I have been t o see Auersperg. H e was i n a Privy Councillor's gala uniform with very many decorations, and considerably more for-

mal than yesterday. O n account of the uniform, the decorations? Or because i n the meantime something unknown t o me has happened? D i d hoar-frost fall during the night?* H e said the “group” wanted t o get more detailed business infor-

mation. The % 0 0 , 0 0 0 guilders for the new paper didn’t frighten them, they had been prepared for that. B u t the indefinite a m o u n t for the N . Fr. Pr. Why didn’t I say how much 1t cost. I said: I don’t know. A t the moment the N . Fr. Pr. is not for sale. A disposition t o sell would first have t o be fostered by establishing a rival paper. The gentlemen further wished to have the assurance o f a ten-year aver-

age profit as the basis for a 7-89, capitalization. I said I could n o t hold o u t even the remotest prospect of this either, because I was not acquainted with the intentions of the owners. However, I thought that with a down-payment of seven hundred I could carry o u t the transfer of the shares with full payment within t w o years. I also said that I believed only i n the possibility of a five-year average as a basis for sale. Auersperg took these statements down and promised t o speak

with the group this very day. Then I might possibly be asked t o attend a conference. A t parting the Count was frostier than he had been yesterday. H e has a curious way of smiling. H i s smile is very friendly, and the friendliness suddenly vanishes. T h e n h e smiles again, and his face stiffens without recognizable cause. ® Translator’s Note: Probably an allusion to Heine's line: “Es fiel ein Reif i n der Friihlin gsnac ht.”

1030 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ], T h e impression today was rather disagreeable.* Are they letting

me down easy? &*

*

*

Afterwards I drove t o Eulenburg’s, who received me immed; ately although I had come mea sponte [of m y own accord], which filled the valetaille [underlings] in the magnificent vestibule with reverent awe. I gave him my impression of the Landau-Graf affair. “ L a n u i t m’a porté conseul [the night has brought me counsel]. Those boys aren’t gunning for me, b u t for you, the German government. After all, these disclosures about past relationships between H i s Majesty and myself could n o t be disagreeable t o me. On t h e other hand, i t could turn o u t t o b e bothersome t o the German government i f the world found o u t that originally i t had the inten-

tion of proceeding in Palestine and then had t o give i t u p on ac c o u n t of unforeseen obstacles. Therefore I believe that i t 1s the tender beginnings of a chantage [blackmail] aimed a t you. What was written there is evidently based on schemes derived from Hechler’s chatter. Those fellows want t o exploit a presumed embarrassm e n t of the German government, because they don’t know that the Kaiser can implicitly rely o n m y silence.” A t my words there was a flash of summer lightning in Eulenburg’s diplomat’s face. When I remarked that as far as I was concerned the extortionary intention would be clear i f he had the news that further “exposures” were t o come from Graf or his circle—he nodded and thereby admitted that he had actually spoken with this shady character. Then he said: “Yes, I too had the feeling that something could

be fixed there with money. When the person involved made me the disclosure, I naturally didn’t let h i m see any reaction. For i t would b e sad i f I didn’t have myself under control t o that extent. I am used t o b e i n g faced suddenly with t h e strangest things. A s far as the

matter itself is concerned, I have informed the Imperial Chancel* I n English i n the original.

F T H E O D O R HE RZ L 1031 O S IE AR DI TE LE MP CO THE sation w i t h you, an d no thi ng lor of the exact contents of m y conver

uss ion o r dis sem ina tion of the will be done tha t cou ld lea d to a disc ple. For the tim e bei ng, 1 announcement issued b y these two peo

they nevertheless conthink, we shall leave i t a t that . B u t sho uld

shall not ify y o u and d o .” nothing without having discussed i t with you first tinue things as they hav e ann oun ced , t h e

nI

t o tell the I replied: “ I n that case it migh t be advisable for you

galley blackmailer that I am afraid of him. He should send me the call proofs of the n e x t publication before i t appears. Then I would

those two characters t o my place, let them comm it the crime of extortion, as the Chief of Police advised some time ago, and then have them arrested.” Then I mentioned i n passing that Landau had also polemicized against me i n Harden's Zukunft, and when I added that I had always wondered how such a good judge of human n a t u r e as Bis-

marck could have become so deeply involved w i t h Harden, Eulen-

burg said: “Hatred drove h i m t o i t . That was his most striking characteristic. His greatest passion was hate. A lot could be said about this, andI i n particular, who spent m y entire youth i n the circle around Bismarck, could make the most remarkable disclosures about it.

But I shall be careful n o t

to.

The German people won’t have this

idealized figure touched. A n d anyone w h o would interfere there

would have everyone against him. “ I t is true that he did a l o t for us, b u t h o w many lives h e de-

roved " well! I f he hated someone, he shrank from nothing. Then h y e C81 his private life and ruined everything about the man. ethan 2s o contributed a great deal to this. She was o f a n

Prine

i f anyone had incurred her hatred, urging she He kept always g" 8 the 0 rinceand o n u n t h e too was quite possessed b y it.

and thus Bismarck's o n ers . nacred, anc only when

passion of his. a . 250 i

the State,

ence, was involved, did he bridle this

f o Ceclsions whether o n a given day he had

whol gras o r only one, whether h e had drunk a e bottle of cognac o r only half a bottle. Both o f the m were kind :

:

1032 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]. t o me, and only when, after Bismarck’s dismissal, I w e n t over to the Kaiser were they against me t o o . I t was this way: anyone who dig

not follow them i n t o moral exile, and physical exile as well, was

regarded as an enemy by them. As for me, I stood by the Kaiser.” (Parbleu [Aha]! I secretly thought t o myself.) “And after he had been dismissed, h e made use o f anyone at al] as long as he could indulge his hatred for the Kaiser. I t hasn't even

become public knowledge who-all was allowed t o come t o see him. As regards his behavior toward the Kaiser, history will presumably pronounce the right judgment.” While saying this Eulenburg gave me a deep look with his cold and yet visionary eyes, as though he were giving me a commission for history, since I was a man of letters. T h e Kaiser, he said, had always acted chivalrously toward the dismissed Bismarck. Bismarck, however, had missed n o opportunity to embarrass

the Kaiser who, t o be sure, was a very impulsive person and offered such opportunities. *

*

%*

I t 1s now seven o'clock andI still have no news from Auersperg. I already saw myself at the head o f a b i g paper o n which I could work for the greatest aims. Was I like the market woman with the

eggs who makes bigger and bigger plans for the future and, while dreaming, slips and breaks all her eggs? *

%

¥%*

D i d I make mistakes i n m y negotiations w i t h Auersperg? D i d 1

dampen him, annoy him, make h i m suspicious? Presumably I shall n o t recognize my faulty move i n this chess game until later. O r d o they want t o conduct t h e m a t t e r slowly, i n order not to let

on that they are in a hurry? Will they have the data supplied by me translated into action by someone else, a man more acceptable to the group? Waiting is a bad thing for the nerves. *

%

A quarter past eight, the same day.

%

1033 THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L These three hours since m y return home durin g which I have been waitin g for a message from Auers perg have once again d u g at my nerves. I am racking m y brains where the mistake was. Was i t the battement [gambit ] of frankness? D i d I say too much, speak too

incautiously? On a toujours les qualités de ses défauts [one always has the virtues of one’s defects]; this time i t seems t o have been the reverse. T o an Austrian Privy Councillo r and aristocrat one

mustn't open any wider perspectives; that disconcerts him and makes him suspicious. I now have the feeling that I didn’t make the right impression o n Auersperg. M y feeling is similar t o the one I had with Biilow long ago, and I wasn’t mistaken that time either. Perhaps my mistake was i n telling h i m about the compensations I rejected when Badeni made me an offer. Maybe he thinks that this time I would accept the compensations. Perhaps he is frightened a t the great advantage the proposition ofters me. Maybe they have another chief i n petto [in prospect] and w a n t t o use the Jew all right, b u t don’t want to give h i m a job. On the other hand, the fact that the “group” wishes t o stipulate a two-year period for payment d i d appear t o b e o n the level.

But not on the level that they should let me have 400,000 guilders whenI said that I could manage with half a million. %*

¥%

%

Iam making all sorts of conjectures. Perhaps there is a wire-ta p o n the Germa n Embassy, and i t was

learned that I was called t o i t yesterday and from there made t w o

telephone calls t o the Cottage section. Mayb e they are takin g m e for a German agent and harbo ring suspicion because of that. *

¥*%

LJ

At any rate, i t is strik ing that now , at half- past eigh t, n o word

has come from Auersperg as yet. %*

¥%

LL

: Among the eggs which may be broken by now ther

e also was one

or my poor relatives. Yesterday I had told m y parents m y inte ntio n

1034 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

of giving a monthly pension t o each of my penniless relatives if my situation improved. Among them there also was an egg for Oskar Marmorek, whose life is being embittered by his wealthy father-in-law because he made a bad speculation with the unrentable house on the Prater.

strasse. This is the house I wanted to rent from h i m for the newspaper

offices, although t w o days ago he acted badly and resigned his seat o n the A . C , because I d i d n ’ t push h i m onto the board o f trustees of

the Hirsch Foundation, into the company of the rich Jews who are supposed to impress his father-in-law and presumably get h i m con

struction jobs. All the things that play a part and reverberate! I wanted t o forgive Oskar for this flaw i n his character and thought of Bacon's saying that riches is to virtue what the baggage is t o an army. Hélas, tout est rompu, gendre [Alas, everything is ruined, son-inlaw].* Half-past ten.

Nothing has come.

Since Auersperg promised t o send a messenger, but didn’t even send a card b y pneumatic tube making a n appointment for tomor-

row, my blackest fears are justified. Goodbye, freedom! Goodbye, independence! I must continue to remain a slave o f the Neue Freie Presse.

However, in the course of the evening I have calmed down. Crespi’s letter which arrived yesterday and which I had only glanced a t i n the tension of the last 24 hours contributed t o this. He sends me the draft of a proposal for a loan which I am t o forward to the Grand Vizier, which is t o be followed immediately by my sum: mons to Constantinople, plus distinction honorifique [public

honor] and reception by the Sultan. So I have something else t0 think over and sleep on. ® Translator’s Note: A quotation from E . Labiche’s play U n chapeau de paille d’'Italie.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L 1035 This is the good thing about having several irons i n the fire of one’s imagina tion. I f one o f them doesn’t work out, one can a t least hope that anot her will.

However, as I write this I still have the hope deep down that m y

pessimism is premature and that something will come of the paper after all. This, of course, would mean infinitely much: freedom! I now feel like a Count of Monte Cristo who breaks o u t of prison, already feels the air of freedom blow against h i m from the hole i n the wall—and then hits a rock that h e cannot remove.

g January Until now,

10

o’clock i n the morning, n o news o f any sort from

Auersperg. I consider the incident as closed, n o matter what may still happen. Shall therefore participate i n the future discussions, which will probably only smooth over the defection, with that reserve which, imprudently enough, I failed t o display from the very beginning.

Wenn m a n alt wird wie eine Kuh, Lernt m a n i m m e r etwas zu.

[ I f you live to be as old as a cow,

You keep learning something new.] January g Answer to Crespi’s letter o f December 28, his wire o f January 2 ,

and his letter of January 4: *

Januar y 10, 1go1

Dear Sir:

Please excuse my delay in answering your estimable letter of

January 4. I had t o consult with my friends first. * I n French i n the origi nal.

1036 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL We would like t o believe that this time the matter is becoming more serious, b u t we cannot completely forget how we have beep treated u p t o now. As you very well know, about the middle of the month of November we placed ourselves—at your request—at the disposal of the Imperial Government. I got m y financier friends to formulate the offer o f a loan, and that offer, dated November 16,

had the costly effect of immobilizing the capital for more than a month. You cannot believe that serious people l e t such sums lie inactive

indefinitely. Thus the impression made upon them has been a rather disagreeable one, and I have been reproached for my gull bility. What is more, the proposition is n o t so tempting i n itself; and i f i t were not linked with interest i n other matters, the affair would have been abandoned without the least regret with the small loss of amonth of waiting. Even so, when you d i d m e the honor o f coming to Vienna to see

me, I persuaded my friends t o prolong their offer on my account. When you telegraphed me that i t was necessary t o prove the existence of that offer, I was authorized to show i t to a m a n honored by

the confidence of H . M . the Sultan. I showed i t t o the Prof., who was able t o certify the document. B u t neither m y friends nor I want t o enter into competition with other groups. Neither d o we wish to l e t our proposal serve t o provoke a compe tition.

I t would be said: “Here is what the Zionists are offering. Do bet: ter than they!” No, we will n o t lend ourselves t o any such arrange: ment. O n the contrary, we would have two q u i t e weighty reasons for abando ning the matter complet ely. 1) T h e conditions which you set n o w are different from those

which served t o open the subject. Your first proposal was six and 2 half percent. Later you reduced i t and offered only six. Always keeping the greater end i n view, I managed to get m y friends to accept this rate. Today i t is a matter of only 5149%,. As for the intermediaries, at M . Dirsztay’s h o u s e I h a d promised y o u t h e sum of one hundred thousand francs i f the matter should be concluded

H E O D O R H E R Z L 1037 THE CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T a new dem and , for 5 % through you r efforts. Tod ay ther e app ears

ing that the of the loan. I can understand this only by suppos ked o u t tions will be bett ered i n a way still to b e wor

1n

con di-

secret, for

will give 9570 you cannot believe that in a mat ter of this kind one discuss, and i t of the capital. This , then, wou ld be som ethin g t o

ds does n o t seem t o me impossible t o satisfy everyone i f my frien andI are satisfied.

|

2) But here comes the real difficulty. What was my astonishment,

not to say my

disappointment, when I read in the Politis che Kor-

respondenz of December 27,

1900

a semi-official notice of the

ut-

I represent. I t was like a brick falling on my head. What? Is this the reply t o all the friendliness which I have evidenced, t o all the services rendered, or a t least offered, to these gentlemen of Constantino ple over the last four years? What is the source of this dispatch date-lined Constantinople? What is certain is that the news has been reprinted b y a great number of papers. The correspondent of the Daily M a i l had confirmation of i t at the Turkish Embassy i n Vienna. Was i t H . E. Mahmud Nedim Bey? I t doesn’t m a t t e r t o me what the source is, since i t hasn't been denied. And I am tired of being taken i n . So much the

most violence against the moveme nt

worse for Turkey i f i t doesn’t want us. B u t then w h y w o u l d we b e

stupid enough t o do favors? But t o come t o offer services after this incident, before reparation.of some sort or other had been made, would be n o t only stupidity, but also a stooping to which I would never consent even i f our

financiers were will ing .

I will sum up, and I return t o our starting point. More i t i s indispensable that I be invite d by H . M . t o come |

than ever

to see h i m . Only that gracious act can a t o n e for the errors comm itted by your officials. The n I will come and place m y com plete loya lty at the foot of the throne. I'wil l brin g with me or be follo wed by one or t w o of our finan|

ciers who wil l han dle the ma tte r o f t he loan during

Constantinople.

my

g my

stay

at

stay

1038 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

This proposal ought t o be enough. M y word is as good as a finap, cier’s. I am charged with interests and responsibilities that are 1mportant in a different way. Nevertheless I believed that my position was sufficiently well known. B u t while repeating that I am sti]

available one last time, I assure you that i f I am n o t summoned by January 2 0 , I will consider the whole matter irrevocably closed. You may show this letter t o H . H . the Grand Vizier, t o whom| beg you kindly t o convey m y respects. With kindest regards, Yours, Th. H.

January

10, 1 0 : 3 0

i n the morning

T o this hour no news of any sort from Auersperg. After twice twenty-four hours of silence such a matter must be regarded as dead. N o w the unwelcome part of m y saying applies: rien n’arrive—

comme o n U'espére [nothing happens—as one hopes]. How far advanced i n my dreams I already was, how high the battlements of my castle i n the air rose. I t has collapsed. %

*

*%

I'still don’t know where the mistake was. D i d I display too much intelligence a n d thus arouse mistrust? I n conversation w i t h Koer-

ber o r with Auersperg? D i d I betray too m u c h self-will

which

looked bothersome? Quien sabe [Who knows]. *

But I

must

%*

*

pull myself together for new decisions. I f I don't hear

anything b y Saturday, I shall request Koerber for a n audience and make another attemp t to w i n h i m over again.

I shall tell h i m that I will always remain a Koerber man, ever

R HER ZL 1039 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O

him a after he is overthrown. I t was my intention anyway t o write geste [fine letter on the day of his over throw —if only for the beau gesture] —pledging h i m my cont inuin g devo tion.

January 1 0 A case of the plague i n Consta ntinopl e—wh ich would n o t deter me from going there tomorr ow i f the Sultan summoned me. I am sending word t o O . Marmo rek to wire his brother Alex: You ought t o telegraph the Sultan, offering your services in fighting the plague threat with serums. Twelve o'clock. Since I made t h e decision t o see Koerber I have been calmer.

January 1 o Letter t o Wolffsohn:

My dear Daade: This 1s an important letter. I beg you t o get o n the next train

with i t and go t o Hagen. I f he accepts the conditions h e will find i n the enclosed copies, 1

hope that Halewi (the loan) will materialize. But this still leaves the question of the assurance t o the A.C. which I requested in my letter t o you dated 1 2 / 2 5 . The answer you gave me was unsatisfactory. A t first I didn’t care about it, because there was a pause i n the negotiations , such as unfortunate ly Is

part of these people’s system. I t is their misfortun e—and good

fortune. They are ruined by it—but ruined slowly. However, I can be i n an awful scrape i f the thing materializes and I don’t have a letter from Hagen i n m y hands. You see, I have already made promise s o f commis sions, and I would b e held t o

dem I t would be sheer madness on my part i f I d i d n o t cover myself.

1040 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz] T h e letter to the A.C. must b e sent to us verbatim and without

delay, otherwise I shall immediately c u t the threads and tell g) those concerned that they won't get anything. After all, the letter contains n o sort o f obligation for K . i f noth.

ing comes of the m a t t e r . H i s refusal would therefore really give me pause. I imagine, however, that i n his ignorance of the character of the place he erroneously assumed that the entire negotiations weren't to be taken seriously and that therefore he didn’t even want to write a letter. B u t come to t h i n k o f i t , the tone i n which he

speaks of the “great unknown” 1s actually insulting. Does he perhaps believe that this unknown is o n the A.C.? H e doesn’t seem to

know whom he is dealing with. After all, the receipts and expendi. tures of the A.C. as well as a l l the papers are subject to control.

Well, I won't get excited. Your friend has simply been guilty of folly once again. Telegraph me a t once when you are a t Hagen’s whether he accepts the formulated conditions and will write Kokesch the A.-C. letter. Cordia lly yours, B e njamin .

January 10, a t night A t 6:45, when I was writing the l e t t e r t o Wolffsohn, a letter from Auersperg came at last. H e asks m e to come to his office at 10:0 tomorrow morning, so that we may go to the conference together.

M y hopes were raised the way parched flowers are raised by a sudden rain. Again the fantasies moved past while I walked u p and down in my children’s room. The children were being bathed and put t0 bed, as they are every evening. They made their daily jokes, draped bedclothes around them-

selves after they had been undressed, lustily sang their way Into the bathroom, danced into their beds, a n d said t h e i r evening prayers

today I made them say a Hebrew prayer i n addition t o the German

H E R Z L 1041 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R be mov ing one. And they had no idea that today their fate may leads t o past over their youn g heads. I f tomo rrow' s confe rence

m y life something serious, there will again be a great change i n and therefore also in the lives of my child ren.

Incidentally, the ups and downs of the last few days have made

me serious, humb le, and tacitu rn. I plan t o contr ol myself greatly tomorrow and, i f possible, to make n o mista ke.

But there is something intoxi cating about the idea of becom ing

free, free from Bened ikt’s order s and wishes. Mais rien n’arrive n i comme o n le craint, n i comme o n Uespére

[But nothing happens either as one fears or as one hopes]. January 1 2 Yesterday was the day of the duel. I showed u p a t Auersperg’s office a few minutes before the appointed time. H e told me that the “industrialist gentlemen’ first

of all wanted more detailed information. Schéller didn’t

want t o

do i t alone; Krupp had t o be brought i n , t o o . Later I was able t o see that the latter was the master m i n d of the combination. “You will have to pass a commercial examination i n front o f the

gentlemen,” joked Auersperg, who had unbuttoned somewhat. “0000,

then I ' l l make o u t badly,” I said; “because I ' m n o t a com-

mercial man. O f course, I can give information o n the technical details.” The day before I had paid a visit t o the composing room of the N.Fr. Pr.and therefore was au courant [ u p t o date]. Then Auersperg was called t o a Section Head, and for a quarter ofan hour I enjoyed the still life of an Austrian ministry office. T h e gold-bricking that goes on i n such an office is probably downright grandiose. Through the t h i n wall I heard the conversation of the scribbling clerks. Suddenly a grumbler was heard outside, invisible to me. I n the tone of a foppish man-abou t-town he beefed about

the impending transfer of his office t o a new building, one presumably still w e t : “Why do we have t o dooo it, huh? Catch

1042 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] rheumatism there? Get sick for life? W h y d o we have to dogo j

huh?” Later he opened the door t o the room where I was sitting and we |

recognized each other. I t was young von Fries whom I had once m e t a t Suttner’s house.

Then Auersperg came back and we left. I t is part of the situation that I was embarrassed about being seen i n the street with this great lord.

W e went t o the new, magnificent Schoéller house o n the Wild. bretmarkt and went u p in the elevator. Schéller and Krupp were already waiting i n the conference room. T h e former, tall, blond, young—=2g years old, as i t turned o u t afterwards. T h e latter in his

forties, fresh, jolly, bold, good type of a business man. Kr. started the discussion, described what the “group” wanted—a most decent

program which I can accept with a good conscience. With the aid of figures I then sketched a picture of the new paper, which seemed t o please them. “What 1s its name t o be?” asked Kr. I said slowly: “ I would call the new journal—Die Neue Zeitung [The New Journal].” A t this they all grinned, and after all the facts and figures and the good preparation with which I had preceded them they were evidently won over. Reste la question délicate [There remains the

delicate question]. Raising the needed little

million—%-800,000

guilders t o start

worry Kr. less than i t did Sch., who raised all sorts of objections, maybe in order t o appear quite conservative, but with—seemed t o

perhaps also because h e did not really appreciate the scope of the

whole thing. For the other possibility—acquisition of the N. Fr.

Pr.—another allotment, 4 t o 5 millions, was made. But will it be available? I would first have t o resign, s o as t o b e able t o negotiate. Thus I would have to b e covered i n advance against all eventuallties. Accordingly I requested a contract before I d i d anything. The gentlem en asked m e to draft i t for them. T h e conference had lasted for 214 hours. I a m convinced that|

T H E COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1043 made n o mistake this time. I f the project does not materializ e, i t

will have been throug h n o fault of mine. I n the afternoon I drafted the letter o f contract at the office o f the N . Fr. Pr. where I have suffered so much for five years and which I

may soon leave forever—alas! perhaps not. (Enclosed i n an envelope of the N . Fr. Pr.) *

LJ

*

I n his introductory remarks Krupp had said: “We want neither an anti-Semitic paper nor (with emphasis) a Jewish paper. That we are n o t Clericals is shown b y the fact (with a laughing glance a t the Count) that we are Protestants.” And this is the wondrous, amusing situation that i n this declining Austria the Protestant industrial forces, through the intervention of a Catholic Count i n the government, negotiate with a Jew for the purpose of creating an organ of public opinion. A n d what is even more wondrous is that only this Jewish Jew is in a position to create a clean, decent organ, and that h e wants t o d o it, too. %

#%

%*

Krupp further said quite openly, as truly intelligent people do when talking with their intellectual equals: “We industrialists need a paper t o inform the public. We are now without any journalistic representation. For instance, a Danube-Oder canal is a necessity. B u t the Neue Freie Presse doesn’t want this t o be talked about. I t has probably received money for it from Rothschild and the Nordbahn [Northern Railroad]. ”

And a t this point the contrast was drawn with wonderful clarity between the big bankers, who have been hostile toward me for years because of my Zionism, and this group of industrial ists, who have sought me out . But I certainly committ ed n o act of cowardice, didn’t flatter

them with regard t o Social Democracy, but said t h a t I would never

use a rude capitalistic tone toward the workers. Rather , I would try to conduct the discussio n o f social question s i n a concilia tory

1044 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ], tone, with superior amiability, i n order to enlighten the workers

about their true interests, which, after all, are closely related to the prosperity of industry.

January 13 Yesterday morning I sent the letters t o Auersperg and then again waited a b i t nervously to b e summoned. I t got to b e afternoon, nothing came. Finally, toward evening, a letter from Auersperg. I was requested t o appear tomorrow, Mon

day, a t half-past eleven at the same place (Schoéller’s). Tomorrow, then, is the day of destiny. *

%

%

I n the evening a letter came from Alfred Austin with the answer t o my proposal t o have Councillor-of-State Bloch mediate between England and the Transvaal. England will hear nothing of mediation. She wants surrender,

pur et simple [pure and simple]. *

*

%*

Afterwards I gave a rather absent-minded lecture i n the Congress Ofhice about women and Zionism.

January 14 I forgot to enter a n important incident i n Friday's conference

with Krupp and Scholler.

When we were discussing the income of the newspaper, partic larly the notorious “ l u m p sums,” Krupp said with a meaningful and watchful look: “ W i t h us, o f course, there can b e n o question

of such income.” Whereupon I countered, blow for blow: “Otherwise I wouldn't have any part in i t . ”

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1045 This gave all three o f them a visible j o l t , and I believe they knew

only from that point on whom they were dealing with. January

14, 10

o'clock i n the morning

And today is probably the day of destiny. I n another t w o hours I shall know where I am a t . Whether m y life will really take a n e w turn, o r whether I have to continue to b e

stuck i n my slavery under Benedikt. Will they accept m y conditions—or reject them? There is an-

other possibility, which Schéller hinted a t : postponement. This I would have to take as a courteous backing o u t . T h e n they will per-

haps have my program carried o u t by someone else. However i t may be, I am resolved t o preserve an iron calm— amiable i n case of rejection and composed i n case of an agreement. After all, I am n o t le premier venu [just anybody] and must n o t show myself disappointed or exultant, like some clerk t o whom the great prize of a managership beckons, o r w h o unexpectedy becomes

boss. What I would deserve is a bigger position than I now have. I f I don’t achieve i t , I shall simply remain a u dessus de m o n sort [above

my lot], which is something t o be proud of,

too.

January 14, 2:30 i n t h e afternoon

After my return . Letter to Koerbe r: Your Excellency: May I request Your Excellency, at the suggestion o f Count Auersperg, to b e k i n d enough to receive m e today o n a very press-

ing matter. I can come t o Herrengasse. However, the way matters stand a t the moment and i n the interest of the success of the n e x t steps, i t would be better i f I were n o t seen there today. Therefore, if at all possible, I should like t o request that I be told t o come t o Rathausstrasse. I am ready t o come a t any time.

1046 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

The bearer of this note is waiting for a reply. With deep respect,

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant Th. H . January 14, 5 o'clock in the afternoon

At half-past eleven I was on the Wildbretmarkt. Auersperg was already a t Scholler’s. O n the conference table were several folded papers with print showing through. I said t o myself: the contract! I t wasn’t that, however, b u t only a counter-draft. Young Schoéller, w h o m I liked much better today and who virtually gave me the impression of being an intellect, started right in t o go through the individual items of my tabulation, though with o u t the slightest expert knowledge.

Then came Krupp who had something like a winter wind about h i m today. H e was i n an angry mood, as became apparent later dur: ing the brawl over my percentage. O n the whole they had accepted m y draft. They had n o objec tion t o t h e salary o f 24,000 guilders. B u t the percentage was to run only for the length of the contract, which was t o be limited to five

years. Now there was a lengthy discussion of these controversial points frequently in a rather blunt commercial tone. After much back and-forth, they finally conceded me, i n lieu of a percentage, share worth 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 guilders o n the new paper, and 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 guilders ir case the N . Fr. Pr. was acquired. T h e latter only after a sharp incl dent. When I asked for a n amount i n shares that would correspon to a yearly net profit of 2 0 , 0 0 0 guilders, Krupp jumped u p indig nantly :

“Why , then you would make a tremendous profit . About half: million o u t of the purchase price of four millions. We can’t g o ! our friend s with this.”

THE COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1047 And Scholler added:

|

“Well, what are they going to say then? They are going to ask: ‘Who is that man , anyway? I s h e mad e o f gold?" I explained that i n the interest o f m y children for w h o m I was workingI must provide for the future. A m a n does a t h i n g l i k e this only once i n a lifetime; i f h e does i t , i t must b e successful; i f i t i s , h e

must get something o u t of it. We finally agreed o n the amounts of the compensation (50,000 guilders) i n case of an earlier dissolution o f the contract through their giving notice, etc.

I flatly rejected the stipulation that the Executive Committee should have the direction of the paper, for then I would have n o more authority i n the office. O n the other hand, I accepted Auers-

perg’s compromise proposal that the Executive Committee should have the “supervision.” However, even after this “agreement” the matter was not, and is not, concluded. T o be sure, at m y insistence Krupp finally declared

somewhat testily that he had no further objections. B u t Schéller again was the more cautious one, pulled back a t t h e last moment,

and said: “We'll sleep on that once more.” Now there is one final interval 'twixt the cup and the l i p . What can come between them now? Despite everyt hing, the irritab ility o f the gentle men is n o t a bad

sign. For if they weren't serious about things, they wouldn’t need to be so angry.

Incidentally, I gathe red from myst eriou s rema rks abou t a joint visit they plan ned to make tomo rrow mor ning that they wou ld go

tosee Koerber. This was confirmed by Auersperg who accompa nied me o u t t o

the ante-room after I had taken my leave. The y wou ld be received by Koerber tomorrow and therefore I should go t o Koerber before that, this very day. Auers perg seems to have faith that the thing will

materialize,

Then I drove t o the office which my mas ter Benedik t had already left. I afterwards hurried t o my parents wit h whom I had a late

1048 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy luncheon, because this bellicose conference had lasted ti] tw o'clock. Once home, I wrote the above letter t o Koerber, and now |

waiting for an answer.

January 1 Koerber sent me word by my gardener that he expected me seven o’clock a t his private residence. A t seven on the dot I was there. I n front of the house I saw young guard who took a remarkably close look a t the number my cab. O n the staircase I passed an elderly gentleman who was walki with deliberate slowness and evidently wanted t o see a t any cc where I was going. I would have preferred n o t t o be seen, and I felt a little li

Marianne in the first act of Gretel. Maison bourgeoise [middle-class house], the residence of t

Prime Minister which he probably does n o t leave o u t of super: tion, because a civil-service minister never knows h o w long i t w

last. “Pourvu que ¢ a doure [Provided i t lasts]!” said Napoleo mother. K., an old bachelor, also lives alone with his old mother. The maid was already expecting me and immediately took! t o his rather

elegant study by the back way, through his bedroo

where a used shirt and laid-out clothes as well as a large oil paint! of a nude attracted m y attention .

Right after that Koerber came o u t in loose-fitting house cloth i n a woolen undershirt and slippers. Through the crack i n the de I had seen his old mother sitting a t the supper table. I n a few words I reported t o h i m about m y negotiations. H e asked whether I had been good and careful and implica

h i m i n n o way. O n this point I could completely reassure h i m . H e particula didn’t want people to find o u t that Krupp was i n o n it.

“You know—on account of his episode with the Reichsweht.’

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L 1049 This, too, fully agreed with m y own wishes. I observed: “ B u t i t appears t o me that the gentlemen are very little informed . They negotiate w i t h me as i f I were the manager of a factory. They don’t seem t o have any understa nding o f the politi-

cal significance of the whole thing. ” “Never you mind. That's awright. . . . b u t d’you think you're gonna get the Neue Press’? 1don’t think he’s gonna let you have i t . ” I told h i m that I considered i t possible. The danger of losing money, I said, was so important that Benedikt might give way. “ I t sure would be a relief!’ he muttered. “Why, he spoils everything with his stirring u p things and his spitefulness. Even Lueger would keep quiet i f the Neue Press’ didn’t keep startin’ things. He'd even take on Jewish teachers i f i t depended on that. B u t nol they keep stirrin’ him up. Look, it’s all right t o write about anything. There was a satirical poem about me in the Wage. That didn’t bother m e a b i t . B u t that certain odious tone o f Benedikt'’s, that does an awful lot 0 ’ harm. People abroad pay attention only t o the Neue Press’ . . . I t would be a terrific relief i f only that stopped.” I n the same murmuring t o n e I held o u t hope t o h i m that I might be able to carry the t h i n g through i f only arrangements were completed quickly. I f they gave m e the contract today, I would immediately speak with Bacher, who plans t o leave for the Riviera tomorrow, and conduct the negotiations with the greatest vigor. H e said: “Schéller’s comin’ t o see m e tomorrer a t t e n . I ' m gonna talk t o him. ” I left. H e again led me o u t through the bedroom, always moving ina way that was intended t o keep me from seeing the toilet articles and the picture of the nude woman. He accompanied me as far as the hall door. When I was closing the hall door behind me, a gentleman was Just coming u p the stairs again. I t was an elderly man with a grey moustache and blue eyes which he opened wide. H e seemed t o know me, and his eyes seemed t o say: “Oh? So that’s where you've been. What was your business there?” So, on leaving, Marian ne’s situati on again. |

1060 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] Janua ry,5

Is this the day of my liberation? Will a slave who slept badly last night g o to bed emancipated to.

night? Janua ry 15, 7:15 i n the evening Letter t o Koerber:

Your Excellency: I beg t o inform Your Excellency that unless I am mistaken the whole thing has come t o a negative conclusion. I have just had a conversation with the gentleman who was received this morning, and have the impression that he has abandoned the plan and is only looking for a polite way o u t . What has happened between yesterday and today I do n o t know. Naturally I shall facilitate the gentlemen's withdrawal i n every way. I do n o t need t o assure Your Excellency of m y absolute discretion, and remain, with deep respect,

Your very obedient servant Th. H .

January 16 L e t t e r t o Richard v o n Scholler:

M y Dear Sir: Since we are not likely t o meet again in the near future, I should like—more o u t of a passion for logic—to come back to two of the

remarks you made yesterday. First of all, you said that the attitude o f your lesser colleagues in the last elections militated against the project. No, i t speaks In its favor. You are surprised a t n o t having produced a long-range ef:

fect. A comparison will explain this most succinctly. You possess power, that is certain. (This is why I took the matter

seriously). But you could just as well put wires under a waterfall; at their other end n o effect would still b e produced, even i f i t were

THE COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1051 Niagara Falls. T o make the power transmissible, you must first convert i t into electricity , and this is done b y means o f a dynamo. But such a machine must b e constructe d correctly and must work,

otherwise i t too is only junk. Once the installation is successful, you produce a long-range effect and propel wheels. The other matter was everybody's consent, which you said must come first. I n my modest opinion, this can never be attained i n a |

large group. I f i t is achieved par impossible [in the face of its impossibility], i t 1s no gain. For then there appear all sorts of windbags, know-it-alls, and busybodies w h o frustrate sensible, purposeful work. You can’t get many heads under one hat. I f you ask them first, the result is only talk, perhaps a brawl, and the hat is more

likely t o be torn t o pieces than t o be put on. That is why the guiding intellects must simply put o n the hat and lead the way, then the others will tag along with admiratio n and devotion. D o they admire the intellect? I cannot esteem the masses that highly. Rather, I believe that they admire the hat and the courage i t took to put i t on. This is the way things really are i n the world. I have seen many

kinds of individuals and of corporate bodies and have never found anything else. The big committees are just as rotten as the republics. I f I understood Mr. Kr. correctly, he shares this view. Very sincerely and respe ctfull y yours,

Th. H . January 16 Onl y now d o I hav e a cha nce to ent er the eve nts o f yes terd ay, a

day that means a lost battle.

Nothing was t o be expected in the mo rning. As usual I we nt t o the office of Die Welt, t o my parents, and then t o the Ne ue Fre ie Presse. Cordial conversation wit h Be ne dik t ab ou t the elections of two days ago, wh ich h e considers a vic tor y, etc .

But fro m 2:30 on I started t o get nervous. I div ert ed mysel f by taking care of the ma ter ia] tha t ha d com e i n for me . Wa s j t m y las t

1052 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy] batch? W o u l d I leave t h i s last r o o m w i t h one window to become

emancipated? Since becoming literary editor o f the N . Fr. Pr. 1 had map

thousands of times enclosed with rejected material the same letter expressing keen regret. Only a few weeks ago i t had occurred to me that I could have the four main forms o f these letters of rejection

mimeographed. I discussed this with the stock-room manager and ordered the letters—and yesterday, of all days, they were delivered, with my handwriting reproduced a hundred times. I gazed a t these piles with hope and with regret, because they had come only now when they were superfluous. I immediately used these letters for some twenty mailings o n which I only had t o write the addresses. Meanwhile i t had grown late. A call from Sch. was supposed to come b y four o'clock. Half-past three, a quarter t o four—nothing.

I cheated my anticipation by working. A few times I was called to the telephone—trifling annoyances. Then, at ten minutes past four, a letter came. T h e agreed-upon letter without signature. I was t o come between four and six. I began t o get a little feverish,

but I did complete my work first. Come t o think of i t , “between four and six” was strange, i f all the gentlemen were t o be there. Would they wait for me? I was i n low spirits, to b e sure, b u t did in-

dulge i n the possibility that an agreement was impending. I had t o wait for a few minutes i n the reception room. There were n o drafts on the table. Then Sch. came o u t and immediately informed m e that the situation was ‘ n o t favorable.” I instantly had

my complete composure and self-control. Rebus in arduis [in ad: verse circumstances] I always manage t o keep m y equilibrium. I listened t o his remarks very amiably, the upshot o f which was that I was t o bring a n offer for the purchase o f t h e N e u e F reie Presse and

that they would then see h o w the necessary funds could be raised.

This I declined t o do. H e then talked back and forth about a number of other things which I tried to argue down even-temperedly. T h e most important things are mentioned i n m y letter above: he thought that the industrialists’ refusal to fall i n l i n e w i t h his sug gestions boded n o good for t h e n e w paper.

O n l y n o w did I begin to have a more discri minat ing view of this

RZ L 1053 IE S O F T H E O D O R HE THE CO MP LE TE DI AR of intelligence i n his ponderous: young man. There is a great deal str ia. wi ll yet play a big rol e 1 n Au e H t. an ph ele an e lik is He s. nes He evidently wants to be i n the

Mi nis Re ich sra t. H e wil l bec om e a

nt. rhaps the hea d o f a gov ern me

tak ing m y leave, did he get on ly t h e end, wh en] was already ask ing such a lot ! T w o to thre e to the financial question: “Yo u are hundred thousand gu ilde rs. ”

o i t mor e che aply ,” 1 “You will get plenty of people who wil l d

e. He said he said with a shrug and bade him a friendly good-by I repl ied that I would let me hear from him again in a few days. y. He would probably go t o Paris a t the beginning of Februar

re, like smiled, apparently taking i t for another pressure manoeuv lly did my mention of Bacher’s departure, altho ugh the latte r actua leave last night. As for me, withou t getting excited about i t further , I think the

whole thing has broken down. When I got home 1 immed iately wrote and sent off the letter t o Koerber. But I again slept rather badly in m y chains. H a d I let m y liberation slip away? Yesterday evening I had agreed with m y parents that I would write Auersperg today and ask that my original draft of a contract be returned to me. I slept o n i t and changed m y m i n d . I mustn’t cut the line so sharply. I m u s t continue t o carry o n negotiations, even though I n o longer expect anything. There m a y still b e turn-

ing points. I can still have a saving idea. Maybe Koerber will save the situation by his intervention. Perhaps I shall find an honorable way of moderating m y demands.

In short, I didn’t write t o Auersperg, but t o Schéller.

January 1 4 Calm, but n o t the halcyon kind . Noreaction from either Koerber or Schéller so far.

The Project really seems t o have been abandoned. I am re-

proaching myself greatly because of my excessive demands whi ch

1064 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER]

may have wrecked the plan. I would now be satisfied with m y less. I a m softened up—et je suis rentré dans la domesticité [and

am back in harness]. Yesterday afternoon Marmorek a n d I inspected his Nestroy-Hof T h e house w o u l d m a k e a wonderful b u i l d i n g for a newspape office. While I was taking t h e negotiations seriously, I didn’t dar

t o inspect t h e house o u t o f s u p e r s t i t i o n . N o w I n o longer cared. A

some later date, when the matter is definitely over, I shall te]

Marmorek what I had i n mind with him. Again I slept miserably. I n the dark morning hours, whe m y brain works best, i t occurred t o me that I can use this builc ing t o resume negotiations. A t the same time, as a test of th seriousness of their present intentions. I f I haven't heard an thing by Monday, I shall then telephone Schéller, tell him th I have discovered a splendidly suited house which could be ha for 5 0 0 0 less than we tentatively budgeted, and ask h i m whethe I should get a few days’ option from the owner. I had also figured o u t what I would tell them about Zionist which w o u l d have to come u p i n some fashion, because they m u

have informed themselves about me. I intended t o say: “Zionism is the Danube-Oder canal of th Jewish Question, which Benedikt also kept silent about becau of the rich Jews. I t is a big thing, a world-historic solution which I have even persuaded the German Kaiser. And Benedil kept silent about i t . A n d yet, i f you don’t w a n t me to, I would n ¢ even report Zionism i n the objective form i n w h i c h the Kolnisch Zeitung and the Times o r Temps have done i t . M y friends coul n o t even hold i t against me, for this would show them once agai

that my livelihood is independent of Zionism; that I do mal sacrifices for i t , b u t derive n o profit from i t . I t is

true

that

could have the movement pay m e a big salary, as has been oftert me. I c o u l d also become t h e manager o f t h e Bank which I hal

established. But I don’t w a n t t o . I earn my living only with nm pen.” B u t a t the same time I think t o myself that through the gre

T H E COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L 1055 connections that I would then have I could be of infinit ely greater service t o Zionism than through a few partisa n articles. ¥*

*

%*

For consolation I tell myself, finally, that i f Messieurs Sch.

and K. rejected my demands which aimed

at

safeguarding my

future—their ulterior motive might have been t o exploit me, t o have me set u p the machinery for them, and then push m e out.

January 1% Letter t o Vimbéry:

My good Vdambéry bdcsi: The deadline has expired, and the project of the £800,000 loan is finished. The firm of Lissa & Kann withdraws from the transaction, and this also cancels all promises of commission which i t has made. Misled by C. and his associates in Constantinople, I have disgraced myself a b i t i n front of these financiers. T h e agents down there are really n o t t o be taken seriously. Imagine, a t the eleventh hour they put i n a claim with me for much higher baksheesh than was originally agreed upon. Naturally this was the last straw. However, in this matter, which fortunately constituted only an incident sans conséquence [incident with n o consequences], I m u s t be covered completely and i n every direction. O f course, I don’t want to be the dupe o f the financers either, nor t o have

my dear Schlesinger-bdcsi taken in. I hope you haven't mentioned the name of the firm t o anyone, for otherwise i t would be possible that i t will be approached directly now or later. B u t should you have been incautious enough despite m y warning, I beg you Immediately to inform the same man t o whom you mention ed the firm that i t pays no commissions. Caution urges me t o notify you of this, and I beg you t o confirm receipt of this cancella tion. You probably remember m y having written you that, prudently

1056 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL enough, the firm of L . & K . had been brought i n b y the president of the Colonial Trust only for the single and specific purpose of

this small loan. Our great project would of course be managed by a different and larger financial power. B u t I believe that we will first have to give Cohn trouble i n order t o make h i m amenable. M y departure has been delayed b y m y indisposition during the last few days. Before starting o u t I want t o be quite fit again, and this will probably be the case 1n eight or t e n days. With cordial regards, Your loyal

Dor.

January 18

Sleepless nights. I f I think o f freedom, which seemed so close, a t night, i t costs

me my sleep.* This morning, however, I received a letter from Auersperg: why didn’t I call on him “sometime.” B u t so as n o t t o appear overanxious, I am answering h i m that I have n o time before Monday the 2 1 s t and will come then. %

*

%*

Meanwhile I want to write a political feuilleton for m y duelling

opponents sans en avoir lair [without making

it

look like one].

As a thread o n which to string m y glass beads I chose the sub-

ject of the population question. Benedikt, whom I informed of this yesterday, couldn’t see that as material for a feuilleton. But I stuck t o it. Thereupon he himself supplied me with material on political economics, a book b y Molinari, etc. Comedy hasn't dis-

appeared yet. * Translator’s Note: A paraphrase of a line from Heine's poem Nachtgedanhken ( “ D e n k ’ ich a n Deutschland i n der Nacht [So b i n ich u m d e n Schlaf gebracht”).

7 O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 105 TH E CO MP LE TE DI AR IES 21 Ja nu ary

my wife's relatives. I Yesterday evening 1 played cards wit h rev iate d p thr oug h the abb

wanted to keep on pla yin g and the n slee

a muz zy hea d toda y as I did night, so that I wou ldn 't hav e suc h

after the previous sleepless nig hts . this shal l be a But I lost a lot and was greatly put out. N o w ce and to lose lesson t o me t o play cautiously in today’s conferen

en beau joueur [be a good loser].

January 2 2

Yesterday eveningI went t o see Auersperg. H e was very amiabl e; I , reserved. He said the Prime Minister had shown h i m my letter (that is what I had written i t for), but that i t was by no means all over. The industrialists only wanted t o make the foundation secure. I would probably be invited to a conference this very week.

I told him that I would like t o attend this conference only o n condition that my emolument wasn’t discussed any more. I said I didn’t like the idea of talking about my salary and my abilities

like a

t u t o r or a

female cook. The financial question had been

discussed sufficiently. Let the gentleman make a definite offer. I would accept i t or decline i t , and come to the conference o n l y

if I had accepted it. For I am determined t o accept any propositio n whatever, because the financial opportu nity is n o t remotel y so important t o me as the freedom, the fealty t o the Empero r alone, which beckons to me 1n case an agreement is reached!

Then, too, I

want n o more nervou s strain from this confer ence.

Allr ight either way.

January 2 2 Lo ombery writes under date of the 18th inst. that I can set my Ind at rest , h e h a d n ’ t men tion ed Kan n’s n a m e t o any one

10568 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] January 24

Jours d’attente [days of waiting]. After Auersperg’s words | certainly can’t assume that the project has been abandoned. Or

have we plunged back into the indecision 'twixt the cup and the lip? The day before yesterday, when I was o n m y way t o the Neue Freie Presse, i t suddenly occurred t o me that m y situation bears a resemblance to the one o f 2 2 years ago when I was sighing my

way through the last weeks of secondary school. Before me lay graduation, and beyond that, the freedom of the university. I expect the invitation t o the conference for tomorrow, because Krupp said that Friday was his lucky day. I've been kept on the string for t w o weeks now. ¥%

*

*

I t would be the greatest of all miracles if my Zionism did not harm m e with these financiers o f the Christian faith. Don’t they

know about i t yet? Can i t be that they will n o t find o u t before the agreement? I t is very improbable that they won't, for they will undoubtedly make inquiries i n advance about me at an informa-

tion bureau, and the first item m u s t surely be: Zionist. And will this then be grounds for a break? “ I don’t like the nose’? B u t one gets used t o waiting for decisions, t o o , and so I am facing the coming events* with more composure than I had last week.

January 24

U p t o this evening nothing has come. I am consoling myself also for the eventuality that nothing m a y come o f i t . I t would have great disadvantages, too. I would surely b e unable t o produce anything more and would be sniped a t by all the world every day. ®

I n English in the origina l.

T H E COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R HERZ L 1059 January 25, i n the evening Not hin g.* I f nothing comes tomorrow too, i t w i l l b e all over, p o u r de b o n

[for good and all]. I have already consoled myself. T o be sure, m y draft of a contract said that the paper must be run honestly and respectably i n every way—but perhaps later they

would have exerted pressure o n me anyway, in the spirit of capitalistic exploitation and squeezing the people dry by industrial magnates. I would have had to p u t u p with i t o r get out—despite all

independence, even as my own editor-in-chief. Actually, I lost n o more i n these negotiations than the free hours of the last few days which I ordinarily use for my own work. And all i t cost me was a few cab fares. O f course, i t would have been the most ingenious arrangement

of my life t o have Christian big capitalists found a newspaper for me, under the benevolent eye of the Austrian government, i n which I could have worked dynamically for very lofty ideas. I t would just be interesting t o know what wrecked the project. Was i t the discovery that I a m a Zionist?

After I have entered this additional item, the episode w i l l be finished for me and my diary. Who knows what i t was good for?

January 26, evening

Niente [noth ing]!

January 26 A fatuous letter from Crespi: I am t o guarantee that n o tollé général [general outcry ) would result i n Europ e i f the Sultan received me. ®In English i n the origi nal.

1060 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL I am answering: Get me the audience, pocket the audience baksheesh, and leave the rest to Allah.

Janua ry2;

This morning between dark and light was fruitful. I drew up m y plan of action for the next two weeks. T h e day after tomorrow

I shall inform Koerber and Auersperg of m y departure for Paris on February 2 , asking Koerber t o receive me before that date, i f possible. I even know everything that I am going t o tell him. I n any case, I want to put a stop t o this waiting and baiting.* I f the paper project has a negative outcome, I w i l l speak with

Reitlinger and Edmond Rothschild i n Paris. I am already having a dinner with Lord Rothschild arranged a t Seligmann’s house in London. There I shall sketch the outline of a Jewish financial policy entre la poire et le fromage [over the dessert].

Further, I am having a banquet with the Zionist M.P.’s arranged by Cowen and Greenberg. I shall also put things i n order a t the Bank, and perhaps take the occasion o f a mass m e e t i n g * * t o announce the start of the

Bank's operations.

January 28

Today the hilarious “Consul-General’” Fischl “von Dirsztay” came to see me and brought m e letters from Crespi, who now wants

a monthly salary of

1000-2000

francs. I told Dirsztay that Crespi

had better n o t make a fool of himself. Before h e had obtained that audience with the Sultan for me I wasn’t interested i n having any further dealings with him. After the audience i t would probably be no trouble t o employ Crespi as a correspondent a t 1 0 0 0 tO 1 5 0 0 francs a month. ®

Translator’s Note: Herzl’s play o n words is Warterei u n d Marterei. I n English i n the original.

*®

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1061 January 29 After what jactatio in alto [tossing about o n the sea]* day after

day, from morning till night, I am finally writing these t w o letters: T o Koer ber:

Your Excellency: I am planning t o be o u t of town for about t w o weeks early

|

in

February. M y next address will b e Hotel Chatham, rue Daunou,

Paris. I would postpone my departure from Vienna only i f some-

thing important came up. However, this does n o t seem t o be the case at present. With sincere respect,

?

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, Th. H . T o Auersperg:

My Dear Count Auersperg: Early i n February I plan to take a trip of about two weeks,

going t o Paris first. Should the gentlemen with whom we have talked wish t o see me before my departure, i t would have t o be this week. With deep respect, I am

You r very obe dien t servant

Th. H .

Janu ary 30 Three months tor n o u t of my life , b i t by bit , in great expectations ** * Translator’s Note: Reference

t o Virg il's Aeneid, Bk. I , 13: iactatus et al to .” “mu ltum ille et terris * ® Editor's Note : I n English i n the orig ina l. Refere nove]. nce to

the title of Dickens’

1062 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

First that fellow Crespi, who led me a merry chase, then the big-business boys with their newspaper. I n the meantime | have neglected m y novel w h i c h becomes worse a n d worse and more

and more insipid the longer i t lies there. N o w I have to go to London and won’t b e able to get back to

my desk again for three weeks. The wind blows through the stubble. I feel the a u t u m n of my life approaching. I a m i n danger o f leaving n o work to the world

and no property t o my children. I t would be ridiculous t o take u p the novel again t w o days before my departure. But I am giving myself my word of honor that I willdo so right after I return.

January g1, evening. Until now I actually still believed that something would come of the newspaper project. But since I have had n o sign of life up to now—Thursday evening—and I had placed myself a t their disposal only until the end of the week, there can no longer be any doubt of the negative conclusion. I t has left me with an uneasy feeling.

February 4 , Paris Until the last m o m e n t before m y departure I hoped some word on the paper project.

to

get

Nothing. Mort et enteré [dead and buried].*

February 4, Paris Through the greatest of all coincidences I got

onto

a new track

o n the Orient Express yesterday. A nice Parisian woman, who

made a party of all fellow travelers with her chatter, was respon sible for my getting better acquainted with a good talker. I t was * Translator’s Note: A phrase from the famous French song ‘“Malbrouck s'en va-t-en guerre.”

H E R Z L 1063 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R going t o a former inspector of the Ottom an Bank w h o is n o w

California as manager of a gold mine. I had h i m tell me all he

knew about Turke y and her finances. 1 learn ed that the dette publique [public debt], like the Ottoma n Bank, was i n the hands

of the Protestant Parisian (as well as London ) haute banque [big bankers]: Mallet, Hottingu er, Pillet-W 1ll, etc.

On the basis of this I constructed a new plan i n the sleepless hours between night and morning. I f Lord Rothschild, as Cowen informs me, refuses t o meet w i t h me, I shall try to get from the Ottoman group, through Reitlinger,

an option on its Turkish assets. This group will perhaps be glad to get o u t of Turkey with a profit of 50-60 million francs and to leave us its bonds as a fair exchange for the Charter. Iam now going t o see Reitlinger.

February 5, Paris Spoke with Reitlinger. He thought the idea of buyin g o u t the

Ottoman group very good. I explained t o him my plan of acqu iring from the Otto man

group an option on their holdings of Turk ish bonds. Wit h this option in our hands we could demand the Cha rter

In

return for surrendering the dette publique.

from the Sult an

Reitlinger thin ks, however, tha t we wou ld hav e to give the Ottoman gro up a guarantee of at leas t 50 mil lion fran cs, and this would req uire the for ma tion of a big syn dic ate .

February g, London Arrived last ni gh t. o rCowen, Greenberg me t me ohn, Rosenbaum at th

e hotel.

at the sta tio n; Wo lffs oh n, Ka tze ne l-

I re quhis esgun ted Soelm;gma nn to cam e of come to see me . H e did . Za . l ng wil :

At

first I drew Seligmann aside :

and explained the dette

pu bl iq ue

1064 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL plan to h i m . H e laughed at m e for believing that I could get Rothschild for i t ; incidentally, the two have had a falling out, Lord Rothschild’s fortune, h e said, didn’t amount to five milliop pounds. T h e South Africans Wernher, Breit, and people like

that were wealthier. Then I discussed the other way t o R . with Zangwill and Cowen. Zangwill would like t o bring R's cousin, Lady Battersea, into the picture, and I gave my consent t o this.

February gq

Zangwill is bending every effort

to

build social bridges t o Lord

Rothschild for me. I a m supposed t o go to dinners, etc. Greenberg wanted to try it,

without m y approval, through Asher Myers, the ed:itor* of the Jewish Chronicle and Lord R’s adviser i n communal matters.*

But when I found o u t about this, I rejected this method, because Asher Myers is a wretched fellow. Then i t occurred t o me this morning that a snobbish way to R . would be the one via the King of England. I therefore decided on the following telegram t o the Grand Duke:

T o His Royal Highness Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden. I a m addressing a very great request t o the tried-and-true benev-

olence of Your Royal Highness. I t would be of the greatest value t o the cause in whose service I have placed m y feeble powers

if I were received by His Majesty the King of England, even though for b u t a quarter o f a n hour. I should like briefly t o expound to His Majesty the unaltered basic features of the plan with which Your Royal Highness is acquainted.

inform His request his Most

My whole desire consists in being allowed Majesty the King o f the matter, a n d I wish t o

to

High Benevolence for it—no more and n o less. I n the English

Parliament some thirty deputies of all parties are favorably dis®

I n English i n the original.

ZL 1065 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R HER ed toward our cause and inten d t o bring i t u p for discussion o when the opportunity arises. We have had the good fortu ne t gain valuable sympathizers i n Englis h churc h circles. This and no more I wou ld like t o tell His Majesty.

My respectful request is that Your Royal Highness may be

pleased i f possible to introdu ce me t o H i s Majesty telegra phically in such a way that I shall be granted an audience i n the next few days. I can stay here only until Thursda y or Friday. With deepest respect and most heart-felt gratitud e,

Your Royal Highness’ devoted servant Dr. T h . H . , Hotel Cecil. London, February 1 3

A few listless days, with sporadic hours of dejection. I omitted noting these moods. The following wire came from Karlsruhe:

Grand Duke instructs me t o inform you that H i s Highness regrets being unable t o give you requested recommendation i n desired way, considering political significance of your business. Babo. %

Pe

*

Actually, I hadn’t even had a strong desire t o b e received b y the King,

More than by this refusal I was worried by the feuilleton about “M’amour [My Love] in the Palais Royal” which I have intended to write every day since leaving Paris and haven't been able t o finish because of constant disturbances. This feuillet on was supPosed to be an excuse for my absence from the N . Fr. Pr., for m y staying away is irregula r, and, after all, some day I could lose m y jobonsucha trip. Until I got the idea t o ask m y good father —two days ago— to see

Benedikt and ask him how much the N . Fr. Pr. costs. The question

coming from here will thro w them off the scent.

1066 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7],

This evening the reply came from m y father, saying that p wanted t o discuss the m a t t e r with Bacher. H e will obviously say no, b u t n o longer dare t o reproach me because of my absence. *

*

*

T h e conference with Rothschild has been refused by him,

Zangwill, who has become very nice now and is all Zionist, had me meet Lord Rothschild’s cousin, Lady Battersea, yesterday. She was waiting for m e i n Zangwill’s apartment. A charming old woman, kind, amiable, refined. I explained everything to her, made m y old Address to the Rothschilds to her. She was won over

and immediately contacted Lady R . Their meeting was t o take

place today a t Lady Battersea’s house. However, this noon a telegram came from Zangwill: *

She (Lady Battersea) wires following three words: “Quite unsuccessful, alas.” Zangw ill.

A t the same time a letter came from Alex Marmorek, saying that

Edmond Rothschild didn’t wish t o see me.

Maintenant c’est bien fini des Rothschild [now I am completely finished with the Rothschilds].

I just saw cross-eyed Meyersohn of the I.C.A.—I think i t was he—at t h e hotel. I t i s n o t impossible that h e i s here i n order to

thwart me i f I should undertake something. Je suis leur béte noire [ I am their bogeyman].

The Jews are a wrangling, divided people. I n the East E n d made peace between such factions. I was able t o do i t , because they consider me above them. Wrangli ng in the West End, too. Lady Battersea complained about Sir Francis’ Congress speeches. So the Rothschild family has remembered these speeches. Sir ®

Original text.

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1067

Francis Montefiore, on his part, today sent me a derogatory book about the Rothschilds by Reeves, in which a passage about their quarrel with the Péreire family was especially marked. Yesterday, when he had luncheon with me, he already recommended that I

form a coalition against the R’s with the aid of the Péreires’s, because there was an old family feud there. ¥*

¥*

¥*

I am writing t o Lady Battersea:

Mydear Lady Battersea: Permit m e t o say t o you before m y departure a word o f the

cordial thanks for your kindness. You were n o t able t o help me further, b u t I was nevertheless delighted w i t h you. Surely I may say this t o a lady of your age. For the sake of Lady Battersea the House of Rothschild will one day be forgiven a great deal. Tout cela, c’est de I’histoire [All this is for history]. Your cousin and I are t w o eras that do n o t understand each other. I understand h i m better than he understands me. Thus I most

consider i t quite loyal that h e does not even want to see me, since

he is determined n o t

to

participate. I t would be less nice i f he used

excuses. But i t is a mistake on his part t o believe that he does n o t commit himself by keeping away entirely. There are ideas which one cannot escape. One commits oneself by saying yes, by saying no, and by sayingnothing a t all. Your cousin could have expedited a great work which he is too weak and too poor to prevent. N o w many hundreds o f thousands

of people will continue t o sigh, continue t o weep. Among these are men and women who are in despair, children who are going t o seed. We must simply g o o n working as best we can and d o our recognized d u t y . A s for me, I shall always remember y o u , M i l a d y , w i t h

Pleasure and grat itude . With sincere admi ration , Yours very sincerely,

T h . Herzl.

1068 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER], February 2 0 , Vienna After mature consideration I didn’t mail this letter after a]]. Zangwill wrote me that Lady Battersea had also won Lady Roths. child to our cause. This has to suffice for the time being.

Letters and telegrams, London, February

190.1.

February 2 0 , Vienna. Yesterday a wire came from Crespi which he sent from Pera and which has thus come t o the attention of the Turkish government; i n i t h e asks m e t o renew last November's offer o f a loan, since the

Turkish government needs money again. I am answering him immediately:

“Je ne ferai absolument rien, avant d’étre appelé [ I shall do absolutely nothing before I am summoned].” February 2 0 ‘Today Bresse, a teacher of French, brought Don Diego Lastras, a Spanish abbot attached t o the local Spanish Embassy, t o see me.

Lastras needs 3 0 0 0 guilders as security for the congrua [emolument for prospective priests). I promised him t o think about how I could get thisamount for h i m .

I think I shall be able t o use h i m in Rome a t some time or other. I would have given him the money immediately if I had had it. But I ' l l try t o get i t for him. Lastras used to b e a Dominican and then became a diocesan priest. I should very much like t o have a Catholic helper too.

February 25 Another communiqué from the Politische Korrespondenz about the prohibition of immigration, b u t with the interesting statement

that Italy is against i t .

R H E R Z L 1069 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O t agai n be According t o my old principle, this new diffic ulty mus ire parliaused for getting ahead. I am writi ng Nord au t o try to insp ise mentary intervention in France and Italy; Cowe n1s t o do likew

,I in England, Gotth eil i n Ameri ca. Once these voices are heard

shall have Vambéry call the Sultan’s attent ion t o the fact that he

would do better to come to a n unders tandin g with us and our money than with the Powers which w i l l deman d the same thing

from him gratis. This will possibly b e the theme o f the 5 t h Congress ; w e shall call upon the Powers to get us permission to immigrate —all t h e Pow-

ers! A tremendous appeal! February 26 Between night and morning i t occurred t o me who m u s t make the interpellation in the French Chamber of Deputies: Rouanet, who, as Leven told me a t Salzburg in 1895, received money for his speech about Jews. Today I am sending instructions t o Alex Marmorek, without telling him Rouanet’s secret.

February 26 Letter to Leopold Auersperg announc ing m y return.

March 1

Yesterday evening Prof. Kellner was a t our house. H e brought upasubject en passant [in passing] which has frequently occupied

me and which I haven’t explo red furthe r only o n account of m y family: my movin g to Lond on. M y wife didn’ t seem to have any

lecti on toit. I f I can also persuade my parents, I shall go through ith it.

The suggestion conti nued work ing i n m e all nigh t. I could al-

ready see everything in London: my house in Regent's Park, my Parents’ apar tmen t nearby, the Congress Office, the office of the

1070 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy]

Welt, m y communication with t h e East End jp weekly articles in the Yiddish edition (letters t o the East End: “My Dear East End. . . . Your Friend T h . H . ” ) , m y visits of inspec. t w o editions o f t h e

tion t o the Colonial Trust which will flourish because of my pres. ence—a whole full life. This would presuppose the N . Fr. Pr.’s giving me the position of London correspondent with a minimum of £1000 a year and a , or 10-year contract. B u t perhaps m y leaving Vienna would be worth that much to them. Situation

a creuser [ A situation to ex.

plore]! March This morning I read t o m y surprise that Parliament wants to go back t o work after a strike of almost four years. T o Koerber’s very remarkable credit. I immediately wrote him:

Your Excellency: M y congratulations on the tremendous success which, t o be sure as 1s customary here i n Austria, people w i l l spoil, belittle, and later deny, b u t which, nevertheless, n o one b u t you has accomplished. ]

would recommend starting a collection of newspaper opinion: from the past half-year, especially the past month, where what is an actuality today was called a fantastic impossibility, and t o submi the most characteristic expressions o f o p i n i o n t o t h e Emperor. 5

Majesté s’amusera [His Majesty w i l l be amused]. With deep respect,

Your Excellency’s most obedient servant

Th. H . Ma rch 6

Koerber writes a card with “warmest thanks for your very kinc words” and “hopes for a personal meeting soon.” Thus the threac 1s n o t completely broke n yet.

1071 THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L Marc h 1 4 Yesterday I was called to Police Headqu arters t o give informa -

tion about the deceased Russian Georg Taubin who visited me quite some time ago in order t o bequeath his property— I believe he once mentioned 200,000 guilders a n d another time 140,000

rubles—to me for the use o f the Zionist movement. I can still see

him in my mind’s eye and described him

to

the police inspector

the way I see him: H o w he came t o see me the first time i n the Cottage section i n company with D r . Brod’s brother and spoke sensi-

bly, even nobly. H o w some time later, a t the request of m y friends, I returned his visit and found him in a strange get-up, drunk o r demented. On this visit, too, he declared that he wanted t o donate some money to m e for Jewish purposes. I n o longer remember

whether he mentioned the 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 guilders o n that second occasion or on the first one. T h e figure has stayed with me; i t cannot have been crowns a t that time. (The police attorney spoke of an estate o f 600,000 crowns). I also told t h e m h o w I h a d t h e n left, promising Taubin t o call o n h i m again and let h i m know. Which

I didn’t do, however, because I didn’t want t o accept any money from a madman. I also told m y friends that I was droppi ng the matter because I didn’ t want such mone y. I saw Taub in on one subsequent occasion, a t a students’ party a t the Bayrischer Hof, where he sneaked past me with the look of a whipped dog, b u t didn ’t dare to come close to me, obvi ousl y because he was ashamed of havi ng been drun k that time .

The bank er Vogl —fro m a weal thy anti- Zion ist fami lyl— has cheated his way into possession o f the inhe ritan ce I scor ned .

Mar ch 1 4 Iam now industriously wo rki ng on

Alt neu lan d.

My hopes for practical success have now

Nonovel now. So the no ve l is

my life .

disintegrated. My life is

1072 T H E C O M P L E T E

DIARIES

OF THEODOR

HERZL

M a r c h1 6

Letter from Crespi who wants t o have me for some financial in. trigue. Refused.

Mar ch 18

T h e Taubin affair—the Russian Taubin w h o wanted to be-

queath his money t o me—has risen from the dead again and is now in the papers, because Vogl the banker has committed inheritance fraud. Some people admire me because I didn’t let myself be dazzled b y the 200,000 guilders. Others explain the m a t t e r t o themselves

by saying that I didn’t take Taubin t o be so rich. This is the rascally point of view taken by the Neues Wiener Tagblatt (W. Singer). Yesterday I wrote Singer a n indignant letter.

I t 1s curious the way the pares [peers] always get together. The moneyed Jews, as whose representative Vogl must be regarded, are secretly furious a t me 1) because I have given an example of restraint when confronted by money, 2) because i t is becoming apparent that I a m different from them.

Logically enough, in the polemics greater emphasis is placed on the insane character of Zionism, while for a time i t had been custo-

mary t o mark me, in connection with the Colonial Trust, as a confidence man and cutpurse.

Ma rch 18

‘Two evenings ago I went t o see Kremenezky a n d f o u n d Seidener

there. What did we discuss, of course? Palestine Exploration.” Seidener said that one of the first things h e was going to make In Palestine some day was a limestone sand brickworks, using the syst e m known only for the past t w o years.

“How much money will this require?” I asked. “ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 francs!” ®

I n English in the original.

F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1073 THE COMPLETE DI AR IES O o f this mo nth the re wil l b e a tter . Th e brickworks board meeting® here. I wil l brin g up the ma “ I will get tha t for you . O n the 29t h

branch bank a t Jaffa. shall come into being a t the same time as the this bric kwo rks as This gave me a second idea. We shall establish pany. Tha t way .n Austrian or German anonymous joint-stock com mea ntim e the «ve shall have the prote ction of these powe rs. I n the

shares will be put in our Bank's portfolio.

move I believe this mom ent was anoth er turni ng poin t i n the ment. We are movi ng out into the pract ical.

The Turkish government can prohib it the immig ration of set-

tlers, but not a Germa n, French , o r Austria n indust rial establis h-

ment. PerhapsI shall call Beer the sculptor in on this. March 1 9 Letter from Nordau about negative result with Deputy Bérard who was supposed t o make an interpellation regarding the Turkish

difficulties about immigration into Palestine. However, Bérard offered to bring Nordau together with Foreign Minister Delcassé, which Nordau declined as pointless.

Iam writingNordau t o go back t o Rouanet and keep Delcassé in reserve. ¥%

¥%

¥*

Letter from C., who talks drivel about a loan o f three millio n

pounds which Krupp is flirti ng with.

He says that he has writt en to the Sulta n, warn ing h i m not to

make such a bad deal, b u t to sum mon m e inste

ad.

March 2 1 Beginning of Spring.

Yesterday was a curious day and an imp

Levo ntiin, the bank dire cto r wh ont *In English in the original.

ortant one, I believe.

om I had sent for fro m Russia, pre -

1074 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] sented to me, Wolffsohn, Kremenezky, Marmorek, and Kokesch his

plan t o buy u p the shares of the Jaffa-Jerusalem railroad plus aj| that goes with i t . I thought this a splendid idea. I n Levontin I may have found the long-sought banker. I accepted this plan a n d today a m sending i t t o Paris, where the Palestinian Navon, t h e agent for t h e railroad shares, lives.

Levontin will be here again next week. Then he will go t o London as assistant manager of the Trust. H e will stay there till aut u m n i n order t o put the Colonial Trust i n order. Then we shall send him t o Jaffa as manager of our branch. However, i t is n o t t o appear as a branch b u t as an independent bank with its home office i n Cologne, Germany. Yesterday I had Marmorek write t o Bodenheimer t o draw up the by-laws etc. of the bank for Jerusalem and Jaffa immediately. Share capital 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 Marks with assets of 5 0 9 . The Trust will take over the shares and put them in the portfolio, i n order t o give up the minority holdings when revenue comes in later. The controlling shares of the Jaffa railroad as well as of all enterprises will always have t o remain in the possession of the Trust. Next week I shall call Beer, w h o is to go t o Palestine to set up a

cement and brick factory. Yesterday another idea came t o me i n a flash: t o buy a Mediterranean shipping company, that is, one that is n o t doing well, whose control can be had cheaply, and which we shall then reorganize. T h e “Adria” of Fiume would b e suitable for this, as a cursory

glance into the commercial register tells me. Levontin also has the idea of making our Jaffa bank the collector of taxes and customs i n Palestine for the Turkish government. Ma rch 21

A l e t t e r from Crespi w i t h the enclosure o f a Turkish l e t t e r which

h e claims t o have written t h e Sultan i n o u r interest.

I am sending this Turkish swindle t o Vambéry for translation, asking h i m a t the same time whether he is ready t o go t o Constantinople .

1075 PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R ZL Mar ch 24

mE

dikt fore day-ak yesterday I decided to speak with Bene re day-bre Befo fer to London. i

entitled “Uverund unter ——ytheday I wrote a feuilletonby the thought of being )

hough greatly distracted

a bretit,

* %

evening sent the manuscript to the office b y m y gardener.

the

Then I called Benedikt t o the telephone and asked for a 1appo ment for today or tomorrow morning, to discuss somet n e ight away I heard the excitement i n Ihis voice o v

i.

In

-

h o n Why Hidn't I say immediately what i t was 2 about.p r e fused. He became more pressing, l i k e someone w h o i s afrai won't. be able t o sleep t i l l he knows. I had t o laugh i n t o the t e phone, but stuck to m y refusal. However, we won't b e able t o t until the day after tomorrow , Tuesday afternoon . |

Mar ch 25 The “ability of the Bank t o operate” has been the unso lved prob lem fora long time.

Ihave had the following idea which I had already touc hed upo n several times and finally made Wolffsohn and Rosenbaum understand yesterday. There are now 3 1 7 , 0 0 0 sha res which have been subscribed and on which a down-payment has been made, bu t only

£200,000 has been Paid in cash on the m. N o w I thi nk tha t one ought to find a banker or a group wh o wo uld pay in cash the remaining 60%, on the shares on wh ich a down-payment of 4 0 9 , ha s been made, and i n ret urn for this we wo uld give the m the fu ll shares as secu rity as we ll as a gu ara nte

sohn was immediately for it, possible to fin d such

e an d a co mm iss ion . W olf f-

Rosenbaum th ou gh t i t wo ul d be im -

a ba nk er .

* Translators Note: Th e

Ub

erbretti was a famous lite rar y café an d by Ernst von W olzogen. Br ett ] means som cabaret i n Gbaret,” and Herg)'s Pu eth ing lik e nning title mig

Berlin, founded and

up

Gbaret,”

** In English i n the

ht be rendered as “Superca ba

or ig in al .

ret and Sub-

1076 T H E C O M P L E T E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ], Mar ch 2p

I am writing t o Crespi that Vambeéry 1s ready t o go t o the Sultan

if he is summoned. This is what Vambery had written me the day before yesterdav. He thinks Taptschi Crespi’s Turkish letter to the Sultan might be a fraud.

March 27 When I got t o the office yesterday, Benedikt had already left. I t seemed to m e that h e had evaded me. A n d this was indeed so. For when we met today, h e looked embarrassed, and when I told him that I wanted to speak w i t h h i m now, h e really recoiled. “No, no,”

he resisted, “not with me alone. I f you have some editorial matter to tell us about, tell i t t o me i n Bacher’s presence. W e always have differences of opinion afterwards; you claim t o have heard something different. So i t is best i f Bacher 1s a witness.” But I still wouldn’t be put off and told i t t o him: I t is possible that I shall go t o London. H e took i t with mixed emotions: joy and regret. H e said that they couldn’t do without me here, couldn’t spare the literary editor and still less the Vienna feuilletonist. H e saw absolutely n o possible replacement. B u t i f I insisted o n it—they would simply let me have m y way, just as they did when I wanted t o come back here from Paris. I f they had t o make a choice between losing me entirely or sending me t o London, they would naturally do the latter, for the Herzl brand must not be lost t o the Neue Freie Presse. I n short, the most extreme compliments. H e said that the two of us—he and I — i n that room were the best that Viennese journalism had produced. There was n o substitute for us. A n d actually, I was too good for a

correspondent, et autres balivernes [and other nonsense]. But if I insist on i t , i t will be done. There obviously remains the question of money. This may be the stumbling-block. We parted friends. H e was really charmin g.

T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1077

Marc h 24 A bluffing letter from Crespi. I am supposed t o write h i m that the Zionists would fight a usurious loan which the Sultan plans to take from Krupp. Pas st béte [Not so stupid]. O f course, I a m not

taken in by h i m and won’t even answer him. For he would commit blackmai l and fraud with m y letter.

March 28

Forgot t o enter from the conversation with Benedikt: H e asked me how long I wanted t o stay i n London. I said: “For good! Unless you called me back t o Vienna t o be co-publisher of the Neue Freie Presse.” This he rejected with his hands and his eyes. But he said he expected one good thing from my London sojourn: that I would give u p Zionism and return a different person

after a few years. I answered: “Why, the very ideal! I shall never abandon Zionism.” That 1 a m going to London precisely because o f Zionism he

didn’t guessand I didn’t tell him. April 2

The whole London project collapsed the n e x t day, because I told my parents about i t and they got terribly excited. They won't

come along a t any price. I f I don’t manage t o persuade them i n a shrewder way, I shall have t o abandon the entire plan.

April 2

Yesterday with Alex Marmor ek. He wants t o turn over his remedy for tuberculosis t o Reitlinger i n Paris and will settle for 50%, o f the net profits, because Reitlinger w i l l make t h e 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 francs available.

1078 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL I told h i m that the Colonial T r u s t c o u l d handle this instead of

Reitlinger. I f Alex presents Reitlinger’s draft contract, both we and he will be covered against recriminations. I consider i t a splendid acquisition for our Bank. The shares will a t once rise greatly in value, and because 1 a m firmly convinced of i t and m u s t accord. ingly persuade Alex to leave the matter to us, I shall sell my 2000

shares. Then i t w i l l be documented that I am n o t asking Alex for this donation t o the Bank in my interest. For I am letting my shares go the way I bought them, minus loss of interest. I t is, of course, something exaggerated on my part, b u t i t is necessary, because only this w i l l give me the authority—in Alex’ eyes as well as those of outsiders—to support this arrangement effectively. Something that Alex w i l l probably n o t d o a t Reitlinger’s: He could stipulate a year’s monopoly o n his remedy for the benefit of the Jewish people. After one year he can announce the remedy to the public. However, the prospect of this one year will put the Bank on its feet, because a l l the shares will be subscribed i f the J.CT . . hassuch a business in its hands. Preliminary question, of course: is the remedy any good? %

¥*

J

April § Yesterday Alex, Oscar and Isidor Marmorek came t o see me. They gave quite the correct reasons why i t wasn’t feasible t o turn

Alex’ tuberculin over t o the J.C.T. The physicians hit in their livelihood would seize the chance and call i t a put-up swindle on the part of the Zionist Bank.

I was convinced by this argument. %

LJ

%*

Meanwhile an expedient occurred t o me overnight. Alex could tell Reitlinger that he has an offer from me, b u t that he is declining

that he is using h i s position o n the make a business deal. However, he did want t o let the

i t , 50 as not t o incur suspicion

A.C. t o

R Z L 1079 THE COM PLE TE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E movement get some benef it, and theref ore h e was stipul ating that

’ an optio n t o buy his share for a millio n Reitlinger give the J . C .T. francs when the gross receipts had reached 1 , 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 francs. %

*

*

April 4 Vimbéry writes me who his friends around Cohn are (Crespi’s request), and calls me t o Pest.

April 1 1 Yesterday I was i n Pest tosee Vambéry. He himself offered t o go to the Sultan now, because according to the latest reports he was high in favor a t present. T h e Sultan would probably want Vambéry to establish a good relationship w i t h Ed-

ward V I I with whom V. is friends. V. intends t o use this opportunity t o tell the Sultan that he should send for me, because I could be of use to h i m i n a variety o f ways. V . plans t o say t o the Sultan:

“After all, you can hoodwink Herzl. Be friendly toward him; that won't commit you i n the least.” I mentioned t o V. that I might be able t o work o u t an arrangement involving the redempt ion of the Turkish debt, etc. Inshort, V. is leaving next week. As traveling expenses he asked for 6 0 0 guilders, but I offered h i m a thousand guilder s—mor e cor-

rectly, 2 0 0 0 francs. Which he accepted, remarking: “ I shall return toyou any part that I don’ t use. ”

| am also prepared for his return ing witho ut any result—but this expenditure must be risked. Now the treasury of the A.C. is so

empty that we have to raise these ed

2000

francs i n the form o f a

loan f o m the Viennes e membe rs o f the A . C , because w e

1s avallable to us by

Constantinople.

posit of £3000 i n the Unionbank which

the Board's deci sion unti l I get the sum mon s to

1080 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Ap ril11 Just received a most curious letter from Crespi: I am to ask Vimbéry what was i n the letter-package which h e received recently

from Yildiz Kiosk via the Foreign Minister. And whether there was anything in i t that concerned our pending negotiations. The wording of Crespi’s letter is strange: as 1f he knew that there was something of interest to m e i n the package. I f that is correct, something more serious than I had thought and h e told m e might be behind Vambéry’s decision t o go t o Constantinople. Then his bonhomie

[joviality] would have a false bottom; he knows already that the Sultan wishes t o see me and is just playing a trick on me. C’es¢ ce que nous verrons [That is what we shall see]. L

*

¥*

April 1 3 The day before yesterday Alex Marmorek came t o see me before his departure for London and suggested that I take over one-tenth of the amount which Reitlinger is t o give for the T.B. serum. I immediately declined, because I want n o financial benefits from him—which are probable in this case. H e said that he was thinking of my children; still, I didn’t w a n t t o . N o w my wife reproaches me with i t ; perhaps my children, too, whom I have also deprived of so much earning power, would some day reproach me i f Alex’ remedy yields t h e participants a b i g profit. F o r t h i s reason I a m writing h i m the following letter, n o t without a certain repulsion: Maile d o n A p r i l 15 Dear A l e x :

I was incautious enough to tell m y wife—without any details— that you wanted to give m e a n opportunity t o participate i n an enterprise I consider splendid, a n d t h a t I rejected your proposal

because we are friends. N o w she gives m e n o peace w i t h her re-

proaches. T h e nagging wouldn't bother me, b u t she is right about one

T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1081 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F s I have n't criticism, because i t is one I am mak ing myself. For year

thought of the advantage of my children; in tact, I have cven done

, 1 them grave mater ial harm throu gh m y Zionis t activi ty. N o w [1 am your remedy were, G o d forbi d, good —je suis gent il, quoi? I wou ld have nice, eh?]—and your hopes and m i n e were fulfil led, sal to listen to reproaches foreve r. I n short , I accep t your propo aft era ll.

But I like clean situations and want you t o give me the follow ing confirmation in writi ng: 1) that you remit t o me the a m o u n t of 2 0 , 0 0 0 francs n o t o u t of your half as the inventor b u t out of the purely commerci al half of the financier Mr. Reitlinger of which i t represents a one-tenth share and which I shall send t o you a t Paris as soon as you wish. 2) that you regard m e i n this matter n o t as a friend, b u t as just such a backer (on a reduced scale) as Mr. Reitlinger. Finally and chiefly, that your offer and m y present acceptance are null and void i f you should succeed i n inducing Mr. Reitlinger to grant an option to the Jewish C o l o n i a l T r u s t . T h e substance o f

this option is

to

be as follows: After a gross yield of

1,200,000

francs has been achieved, the Jewish Colonial Trust will have the right to pay Mr. Reitlinger 1 million francs for his share. You will,

of course, send the draft of the contrac t here before you sign it, sO

that Isidor and I may examine i t for legal validit y. I f you manage to get this option from Reitlinger, which would be a great windfa

ll

for the Bank (not so much on account of the profit b u t because of

the “multiplication of strength” which I explained t o you here ), I i . naturally n o t participate, because as the president of the ouncil I must not carry o n any business transa ctions with it.

then

C75 | would n o t be reproac hed with being a heartless , because i f I didn’t i t would b e “turpis causa [a dis-

graceful act],” as the jurists say. I hope to hear soon what you have achieve W ith co rd ial regards,

d in Lon don .

You r dev ote d

Be nja min .

1082 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL Ap ril 1 4 Letter t o Count Leopold Auersperg:

M y dear Count Auersperg: May I ask another great favor of you? Some time ago I gave you a hand-written draft of a contract which they have forgotten to re. turn to me. I would b e extremely grateful t o you i f you were kind

enough t o send me this document. With deep respect, I remain

Your very obedient servant, Th. H .

April 14

Vambéry acknowledges receipt of the 2 , 0 0 0 francs and writes that he is going t o Constantinople today or on Tuesday. I a m writing him:

My good Vdambéry bdcs:: Just a few words, since you may already have left. Should Cohr be inclined t o withdraw the restrictions that we spoke about, thi would have t o be done cautiously. Otherwise the consequence

would be a rush* that I wouldn't want

to

be responsible for. But |

w i l l assume the responsibility i f the matter is n o t publicized anc

the choice of those t o be admitted is left to m e o r t o m y men.

With best wishes for your trip, Yo ur fait hfu l

Dori

Have changed my mind. This letter could do harm and only cal attention to the rush.* I f i t comes to i t , I shall have time t o tell i t t the Sultan. * ®

I n English i n the origina l.

*

*

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1083 April 1 5 The organization of the Bank, which the “expert s” have been dozing over for the past t w o years, is occupy ing me now. Gam zu letauvo [May this too be for the good]! I t was necessary for this time to elapse. I n

the meantime I have learned t o administer and t o di-

rect. I n Levontin I hope finally to have found the suitable instrument for the organization of the Bank. I a m writing h i m : Dear Mr. Levo ntin:

Your news that business is brisker gratifies me. Be sure t o exert all your acumen and your energy so that we may have the Colonial Trust all finished and ready for action b y the middle of July, the time of the Congress. Then I have even bigger things i n mind for you than we discussed here. You see, I would entrust a n even more important post to you, one i n Russia, i f you n o t only stand the test u n t i l July, b u t

distinguish yourself. I t is my plan t o create an international credit organization, with headquarters i n Russia. Here is this plan, i n brief outline.

The “International Credit Bank” (unless such a firm already

exists) will be founded with a share capital of one million rubles in Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Odessa ( I should like Odessa best, i f that place is suitable from a financial-technic al point o f view). The majority of the shares will be taken by the Jewish Colonial

Trust—that is, for example, 5 5 0 , 0 0 0 or

600,000.

The rest of the capital we shall either leave t o financiers whose names we need on the board of directors, e.g., Polyakov, Brodsky,

Poznansky, or we shall put i t up for public subscription. The International Credit Bank will set u p branches i n all important Russian cities, b u t also i n Berlin, Vienna, Constant inople, New York, etc., wherever we have interests and a potentia l clien-

tele. The main thing will be the business i n foreign currenc y, especially w i t h London where our Colonial Trust w i l l b e made

use of. The safety of credit grants could perhaps be assured every-

1084 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7], where according to (my Dad’s) Columbia System which you have

studied. I would entrust the management o f the International Credit Bank to you.

I f you have understood me, you will as soon as possible work u p a complete founding program for me, which I would then

submit t o the Council and the Board of Directors and put through, The International Credit Bank ought t o come into being as early as this autumn. Don’t discuss this matter with anyone for the time being, and send me word. ( I am also asking him whether he has a sufficient quantity [100,000] of bearer-share forms i n stock, in case of sudden mass orders; I have Constantinople in mind for this). With kindest regards, Yours,

Herzl.

Apri l 1 5 Crespi informs me that the lettre-paquet [letter-package] to Vambéry contained a decoration for the wife of the editor of the Pester Lloyd. Apr il 17

Wrote t o Koerber again today (in order t o pick u p the thread) and told h i m that I would l i k e t o see h i m . H e sent m e word that

I should come tomorrow morning. *

%*

3%

April 17 Oskar Marmorek is offended again, because h e is not being sent

into the Allianz. Yesterday, during the meeting of the A.C. he wrote me a letter of resignation, and today another one.

R H E R Z L 1085 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O nal I don’t have enough annoyances and have t o deal with perso

sensibilities on top of that. *

%*

*

Have been t o see Koerber today. H e had the opening session of Parliament today; therefore I only rode a short, sharp attack. I told him what I had heard from a contribu tor t o the Neues Wiener Tagblatt t w o days ago: that a middle-class, sharp opposition paper was being planned for autumn. T h e n the N . Fr. Pr.

would probably change its attitude, which is now friendly to the government, so as not to have the opposition wind taken out of its sails. If, therefore, our friends of January still had the too

paper in mind, i t would have t o be started now, otherwise i t couldn't be done a t all in the foreseeable future. One doesn’t build a sugar refinery either when another one is just going up. And 1t was possible that he would face a rather disagreeable journalistic situation i n the autumn. He didn’t say a word, a shadowy figure, b u t I think that he understood me perfectly. Then he told me that I should see Count Auersperg, which I declined t o do, giving as the reason that Count A. hadn’t answered my last letter. I preferre d his sending for his Ministerial Councillor t o my having t o ask the latter for anything. He did immed iately instru ct the doorm an t o call the Coun t,

and, as I noticed later, this order rushed through the Minis try

with increasing urgency. We then spoke about Arch duke Ferdi nand ’s enco unter with the Catholic School Association. I perm itted myself t o call this

archducal noto riety rathe r inca utiou s and supe rfluo us. H e was

quite of my opin ion. H e also agreed with me whe n

I said that this

affair had obviously been arranged before the ope

ning of Parlia-

Men t, 5 0 as t o cause him , Koerber, emb

Deputies. I~ PIs

arrassment i n the House of

| sock Tuy leave: When I came into the ante -cha mbe r, the to c o p s y calli ng o u t to one anot her: C o u n t Aue r-

o His Excellency immediately.” Eh bien, nous verrons [A ll right, we sha ll see]

1086 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L

Apr il22 T h e day before yesterday, Saturday, I telephoned to the Nationa] Casino i n Budapest to ask i f Vambéry was there. T h e servant told

me he had last been there on Thursday and had said he was going t o Constantinople.

After this information I wasn’t even sure that he had left at all. Then, this afternoon, I was called t o the telephone a t the office.

Dirsztay told me he had just received a letter from Crespi dated the 1gth (Friday, then) informing h i m that he had just spoken with my bdcsi and that things were going well. Vambéry was on his way t o the Sultan, and i f I received a telegram, I should immediately notify Dirsztay who in turn would wire i t t o Crespi. Crespi’s letter presented my summons as so certain that he already recommended the Hotel Luxembourg or the Hotel Khedivial for m e to stay at, because one was more undisturbed there. But of course these are hotels where Crespi has his spies.

A t the same time Dirsztay asked me i f I knew for what purpose Director Taussig of the Bodenkreditanstalt had gone t o Constant: nople. I have n o idea; b u t i t is disagreeable i n any case, because

only recently Taussig made a speech against me before the Jewish Community and therefore will do me as much harm as he can In Constantinople i f he has only the slightest opportunity for it. My first impression of Dirsztay’s disclosure was favorable, be cause this is how Crespi’s letter presents the situation. But now | have figured i t out: the situation evidently is n o t favorable. A telegram could have reached us ahead of Crespi’s letter mailed or

the 19th, that is three days ago, but u p t o now n o telegram has ar

rived. I immediately w e n t t o Kremenezky t o whom the telegram was t o be addressed—n othing had come. Vimbéry intends t o spend only a week in all in Constantinople and three days of that have already passed. This means ice a n snow o n our hopes. A n d i f Taussig gets there w i t h loans i n h i pocket and bad information about me, we shall b e frozen stiff.

The Vambéry attempt is the most serious we have made t o date therefore its failure would b e the most severe diplomatic defea

THE COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1087 since October, 1898, when the German Kaiser was forced to blow a retreat.

The next few days will again have historic value. Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem [Remembe r t o keep a n unrufled m i n d i n adverse circums tances]! *

April 24 The “next few days” had n o value whatever. I a m n o t even a

48-hour prophet. Nothing has come from the Emperor of Turkey, and nothing from the Grand Vizier of Austria. These are days of which i t may be said: I don’t like them. A good remedy for i t 1s n o t t o expect anything any more. Car rien n’arrive [For nothing happens] etc. I n this connection i t must be stated that i t is better for m y personal well-being i f nothing comes from either quarter. M y present personal situation is quite pleasant; a t my well-paid literary post o n the N . Fr. Pr. I have reasonable peace, respect, lickspittles, flatterers, etc.

A trip t o Turkey could expose me t o serious danger, even mortal danger; there is no doubt about that. And yet i t is a disappointment t o m e — t o which I resign myself aequa mente [with a n even mind]—that n o t h i n g comes.

April 25 Now finis has been written t o the new paper. Auersperg has returned m y draft o f a contract to me. Requiescat [Let i t rest]!

Our life consists of miscarried attempts. %

*

LJ

Nothing from Constantinople, nothing from Vimbéry. *

¥*

%*

Yesterday I attended the five o’clock** of Bertha Suttner, i n honor of d’Estournelles. ®

Translator’s Note: A line from Horace's Odes, 11, 3.

** In English i n the origi nal.

1088 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L D’Estournelles is a pleasant Frenchman who, le plus agréable. ment d u monde [ i n the most pleasant way i n t h e world] makes fup of his o w n dream of creating a United States o f Europe. Since he wants favors from the N . Fr. Pr. we immediately got o n a footing of pleasant familiarity.

Among those present was the Italian ambassador, Nigra, who not only knew m e b y name, b u t even confessed—which is a lot for

these people—to having seen me a t The Hague t w o years ago. We chatted a parte [apart] from the others; he seemed t o prefer me, he reminisced about Paris a t the time o f the Empire. Among other things, he said that he had been a t the meeting of the Corps législatif [legislative body] a t which Minister Ollivier had declared d ' u n coeur léger [light-heartedly] that h e was going to war.

Someone else who was present was Province Marshal Baron Gudenus of Lower Austria. W h e n h e arrived, the Suttners said:

“It’s Pepi [Joe]!” Pepi, a lean, elderly cavalier w h o looked l i k e a n officer and not

intelligent, greeted me with a friendly smile before he knew my name. Then he became brusque and cool. So he too knew me— namely, from the opposition side. I was n o less gruff and cool than he was.

Apri l 25 Ussishkin, Bernstein-Kohan, etc., w h o m I invited here for Maj

5th t o convince them of the necessity of holding the Congress ir London in July, don’t plan t o get here u n t i l May 16th and don’ want t o have the Congress a t that time and n o t i n London, b u only i n October and somewhere else. These troubles exhaust me. ! am complaining bitterly about this t o Mandelstamm today. T h i

is the old “practical” Hovevei Zion spirit which always leads then t o defeats. Now they are frittering their time away w i t h the I . C A meeting and the Palestinian labor question, instead o f working for the Congress and the Bank.

E R Z L 1089 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H M a y2

Today I am forty-one years old. Der Wind saust durch die Stoppeln, Ich muss meinen Schritt verdopp eln. . . . [The wind blows through the stubble, I m u s t redouble my pace. . . .] I t is almost six years since I started this movemen t which has made me old, tired, and poor. ¥*

¥*

¥*

Last Sunday, April 28, since no news of any sort had come from Vimbéry who according t o my calculations m u s t have been already departing, I decided t o force m y luck superstitiously. I wanted t o be absent when Vambéry’s telegraphic summons came.

Therefore I decided t o start the long-due trip

to

the Salzkammer-

gut to rent a summer residence o n Monday. However, Wolffsohn, who was here, advised m e first to ask Vambéry b y telegram whether Icould absent myself for t w o days.

Isent the wire Sunday night. Monday morning Kremenezky, the agreed-upon addressee, came fairly beaming with joy, since he knew nothing about my inquiry, and brought me the following telegram from Pera:

“Pouvez vous partir? Venez jeudi a Budapest pour me voir [Can you get away? Come t o Budapest o n Thursday t o see m e ] . Schlesinger.”

His misconception that the pouvo ir partir [ability

to

get away]

meant t o Constantinople was soon cleared up.

However, that same day a secon d wire came .

“Empéché de partir . N e venez pas jeudi a Budapest [Prevented

from leaving. Don’t come t o Budapest Thursday].”

Therefore I w e n t t o Aussee o n Tuesday axayrpevog Atop [trou -

1090 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] bled a t heart], took a summer residence, and returned again yester.

day. The 19 hours of this round-trip were whiled away for me by Hess w i t h his R o m e a n d Jerusalem, which I had first started to reag

in 1898 i n Jerusalem, but had never been able t o finish properly in the pressure and rush of these years. N o w I was enraptured and up. lifted by him. What an exalted, noble spirit! Everything that we have tried is already i n his book. T h e only bothersome thing is his

Hegelian terminology. Wonderful the Spinozistic-Jewish and na. tionalist elements. Since Spinoza Jewry has brought forth no greater spirit than this forgotten, faded Moses Hess! Fiducit [ A toast]!* When I got home, I found two letters from Crespi waiting for

me. I n the first, dated April 27, he writes, supposedly on instructions from Vimbéry, that the latter was asked b y the Sultan n o t t o leave u n t i l Monday, and that i t had already been decided that the Sultan

would receive me. B u t this was n o t t o happen until after Vimbéry’s departure, and as soon as he got t o Pest, Vambéry would give me the details of the arrangements. A t the same time Crespi inquires whether my previous promises regarding an audience still stood. I n addition to this letter there was another, dated April 2g, in which Crespi asks who Mr. Mayer is, who is i n Constantinople now carrying on the Jewish colonization of Palestine and also planning t o appoint someone Rothschild’s representative. I don’t know if this is Mayer, the secretary of the London Rothschild, or Mayerson of the I.C.A. . . . At the same time Crespi reports in his second letter that Vambery has been detained by the Sultan until the end of this week—that 1s, until today or tomorrow. I don’t understand the whole thing yet. W h y a m I to b e received only after V.’s departure when V . was supposed to serve as the best interpreter? I s i t a case of some Levantine swindle? B u t what

kind? After all, I am n o t giving gratuities for an audience until after t h e audience. Naturally I wrote Crespi yesterday t h a t a l l my ® Translator’s Note: A Latin term used as a response to a toast a t German students drinking parties, expressing acceptance and loyalty.

H E R Z L 1091 DI AR IE S O F T H E O D O R THE COMP LE TE my year I did i t mea sponte [of promises are sti ll in force. Last h V. first. I pro ba bly sho uld own accord] whenI trie d t o operate wit have done i t this year, too. at b y V.’s inv itat ion to The situation is corroborated somewh oo

wh eth er i t is hok um o r not , come to Pest. We ll, we sha ll soo n see t o be tom orro w or the day afte r. assoon as V. is back. Tha t ought

May 5 nt]. Today I am having a bad day of défaillance [discourageme

enan ts. From East and West come Crisis repo rts from m y lieut

The Russians are grum bling and don’t want t o have such another trifling Londo n Congress as last year’s. ‘They don’t want to go to London in July. A Congress i n late a u t u m n at Basel would have 80 participants a t the most and would be proof of the decline of the movement. Without a Congress, however , n o shekel, n o

operating funds. De Haas also gives a critical picture of the situation i n England. The Bank is n o t getting ready. I n today’s N . Fr. Pr., a despatch from Rome, interpellation 1n

the Chamber by de Balzo about the prohibition of Jewish 1mmigration into Palestine. I t appears from i t that in 19oo the Turkish government twice turned t o the Powers for prevention of Jewish immigration. The Powers gave n o answer. However, the worst thing today is—the rising of the Turkish bonds at the stock exchanges. Apparently the coup [stroke] for hose execution Taussig, that cheat, went to Constantin ople. A n d am powerless! I f today I a t least had the paper which I lost i n

January through indescribable stupidity!

May

This morning Kokesch sent me the foll

armvedlast night: :

ppd.Pera.

:

:

owing

wire

:

which had

1092 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERyL

Dites Théodore se trouver Budapest demain soir [Tell Theodor to be i n Budapest tomorrow evening]. Cr es pi

Consequently I am leaving for Pest i n the afternoon.

M a y 8, o n t h e Budapest-Vienna train

When I reached Vimbéry’s apartment yesterday evening, he had not yet arrived. H i s wife, his son, and his daughter-in-law

received me. The first they knew of his imminent arrival was through my telegram of yesterday morning. I n the afternoon a wire came from him, saying that he would come on the Orient Express. According to the time-table we had three hours t o wait. A t the station i t grew t o four—the train was an hour late. H e arrived a t 12:45 a.m. With a volley of oaths this grand olc man of seventy stepped from the train. The train-shed resoundec with his voice because no porter was a t hand. His son and I carriec his bags t o m y carriage. The son and daughter-in-law took their leave. H e drove along with me, since we only had these few minutes i n which t o talk N o w he turned his abuse against the Sultan who had detaine him on and on. B u t first, the upshot: T h e Sultan will receive me! N o t as Zionist, but as Chief of the Jews and an influential journalist. “When I arrived,” Vambéry related, “he received me witl

suspicion: ‘Why did you come? I told him that I had bee invited to see the King of England; perhaps h e had some messag to give h i m . Secondly, I thought i t necessary t o improve publi

opinion on his behalf; that is why he ought

to

receive one of th

respected and influential journalists (myself). Six times h made me come before he yielded. The fellow is plumb crazy an

most

arobber.

Z L 1093 THE COM PLE TE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R

«The latest is that he has confiscated all of the European mail. He figures that they won't go to war against h i m tor that.

“You mustn't talk t o h i m about Zionism . That

1s

a phantasma-

goria. Jerusalem is as holy to these people as Mecca. B u t Zionism 1s good nevertheless—against Christend om. |

“ I want the continue d existence of Zionism— and that is why I have procured the audience for you, because otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to face your Congress. You must gain time and keep Zionism alive somehow.

“As long asI was there he simply refused t o receive you. I t might give rise t o complications that could turn o u t t o b e bothersome to him. Ibrahim Bey, the introducteur des ambassadeurs [official

greeter of ambassadors], will serve as interpreter. “I will give you letters t o Tahsin Bey, the 1st Secretary, w h o 1s completely devoted to me, and t o m y trusty Wellisch, a fine Jew. “But you m u s t be patient. I t may be a week o r t w o before you are admitted.”

When we reached Vambéry’s door, we again kissed each other several times, and I promised t o c a l l o n h i m again the day after

tomorrow, that is, Thursday evening a t eight, so that he may give me instructions and letters of recommendation.

I'forgot the most important thing. I asked V. whether the Sultan had made any remark about me personally. “He doesn’t even know your name,” V. replied. But maybe he was only annoyed a t me for having helped me into the saddle, or jump y from the trip. For how could this square w i t h V.’s earlier statement that the “Basel Conferences” had done me harm with the Sultan? Either it did me some damage i n his eyes, or he doesn’t know me! Actually, I a m highly satisfi ed w i t h this result , provi ded that I

can have at least an hour 's talk with the Sulta n. The n I shal l promise to cure his ills and inspire his confidence.

I t he shou ld wan t to sell m e Pale stine righ t now , I wou ld

be extremely embarrassed. Afterall, I must raise the mo ney firs t.

1094 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7|

Right now I need the bag he will leave me holding. This bag I will then fill.*

Naturally I didn’t sleep much after that talk in the cab. I wa; u p again as early as five o'clock and planned my program for the next few days. M y first errand after leaving Vambéry was t o the telegraph office, where I wired Wolffsohn that h e m u s t b e i n Vienna tomorrow, Thursday, because we were going t o Cohn.

I f he doesn’t come, I shall take only Oskar Marmorek along.

May 8, i n the evening I was met at the Staatsbahnhof [State Railroad Terminal] by

Kokesch and Marmorek. I drove into town with Kokesch. O n the way I told him everything, and he raised the question whether i t was all right for us to use the £3,000 which the Bank has placed a t our disposal t o secure a n audience o n such vague prospects. I replied that the A.C. would

have t o make a decision on it this very day, and that I would drop the whole matter i f there was n o unanimous vote. W h e n I got to the office, neither Bacher nor Benedikt was there any more. I took care of m y duties, put m y manuscripts i n order,

and continually had the feeling of the “last day”’—as though I were never again t o occupy the shabby little despots chair of the literary editor. I have decided not to ask for a leave o f absence, since I have to

go away i n any case, and take my leave by letter. This way I

shall a t least save myself the nervous strain of the last clash. I n the evening the gentlemen o f t h e A.C. m e t a t m y house which

right now exhibits the awful confusion of moving. We are

to

move into the new place i n three days, and I have to go away and

leave these big little worries t o m y wife. A t the A.C. meeting i n the attic I made all the arrangements * Translator’s Note: Herzl uses the i d i o m “jemandem e i n e n K o r b geben,” “t© turn someone d o w n , ” literally, “ t o give someone a basket” (from the ancient German

practice of fixing a basket on the house of a rejected lover).

E R Z L 1095 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H hs. with the gentlemen which I have been pond ering for many mont Sealed orders will be depos ited with Alex, Cowe n, and Katze nel-

sohn to be opened only upon a telegraphic signal from Kokesch. Bernstein-Kohan will be called here from Paris withou t furthe r information. A telegraphic code and instructions were drawn up. Then came Secretary Reich whom we partially took into our confidence after swearing h i m t o secrecy. Wolffsohn wired that he would have a hard time getting away; was it absolutely necessary? I would have l i k e d best t o answer h i m to

stay where he was. B u t his coming along may be good for

promoting the Bank, and therefore he m u s t go with me. I once more asked h i m urgently b y telegram. I then helped t o put m y dear children to bed. I n golden innocence, untouched by the troubles of moving or the long, hard

journey ahead of their father, they made their usual bedtime jokes and blissfully fell asleep. Then I went t o see my parents who are also moving now. May my old folks never know sorrow i n this new home of theirs —only happiness and joy. I am not tellin g anyone, of course, that this journ ey is not

without danger. I a m not so muc h worr ied abou t the plag ue i n

Constantinople as about putting myself into the power of a half-

demented Sultan who has just robb ed the Eur ope an pos t offices. *

%

%

Le tte r to Be ne dik t:

Dear Fri en d:

A month ago, when I discussed my fut ure wit h you, you

advised me to take a short trip i n ord er to thi nk ab ou t these thi ng s at su re and

with detachment. Th is presc ription, you said, had

l f ond L e d

a demi

In

your case. I t gave one a cleare r ins igh t int

Sit uat ion s. I

o one-

am now taking your friendly advice an d away for ten days to t w o we eks. Naturally you may y co un t on my co nt rib ut ion t o the Pentecost nu mb er , even

1096 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L if I shouldn’t send in anything before that. I am enclosing the key t o my desk. Everything is in the customary order. With kindest regards t o you and Dr. Bacher,

Yours very sincerely, Herzl.

May g. Awoke before daybreak, thought everything over with refreshed senses. The main thing, of course, is t o arrange t o m u t e the explosive echo which the audience will have in Europe if i t materializes. This is why the sealed orders contain instructions for Nordau to see Delcassé, Katzenelsohn t o go to Shipyagin, Cowen—Francis Montefiore to Earl Lansdowne, and Hechler will b e sent to see

the Grand Duke. Only for Rome I didn’t know what t o do. Overnight i t occurred to me: Gleichen-Russwurm, who has just threatened me with a novel and a feuilleton. I am now writing him:

M y dear Baron: I received your kind letter shortly before my departure. I am going t o Constantinople for a few days. I don’t recommend that you send a manuscript during m y absence; i t could easily be lost. Please send i t only after I am back. You could now do me a great favor, my dear Baron. I have long had the desire t o give t o H i s Holiness the Pope and Cardinal Rampolla exact information about the Zionist movement which

they are perhaps not accurately acquainted with and may even judge unfavorably. I am convinced that they would bestow their favor on the cause if they had detailed information. I would be infinitely grateful t o you i f you were good enough t o ask the Pope and the Cardinal, with w h o m you are certainly i n touch, if I could count o n being received i n audience as soon as I came

t o Rome.

THE COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1097 Please do n o t address your kind response to the office, but to m y private address: Haizingergasse 29, Wahring, Vienna.

And in any event, the whole thing will remain strictly between us, won't it?

With the kindest regards, Yours very sincerely, T h . Herzl. *

LJ

*

I shall end this book here, because I cannot take i t with m e t o the land of the mail-robber. Ishall start anew book en route. What will i t contain?

On Pentecost i t will be six years—no, sixty years—since I entered the Zionist movement.

Book Nine Begun o n

May g, 1 9 0 1

May 10,

1901

O n the Orient Express, somewhere i n Serbia. Yesterday I went from Vienna t o Pest, alone. M y Wolff-

sohn, well-behaved again, had listened t o reason after all and wired me that he would arrive i n Vienna punctually. So I made the final arrangements i n the A.C,, said good-bye t o my parents, wife, and children amidst the awful confusion o f house-moving, and de-

parted. M y dear children didn’t like the idea, and especially sad was our good Trude, whose birthday is o n the who fears that I may n o t be here.

20th

of May and

I t was only when I was sitting in the train on my way t o Budapest that the whole fatigue and strain following the nervous shock of Schlesinger’s announcement made itself felt. While a t the N . Fr. Pr. a storm was probably raging over m y brusque and unauthorized departure and they were perhaps making the de-

cision t o dismiss and replace me, I was traveling Pestward i n a complete abrutissement [daze].

Only my old saying que rien n’arrive, n i comme on le craint, n i comme on l’espére must serve as consolation and assuagement. I didn’t rouse myself from my stupor until just before Pest. I t 1s one of the curious things that I should be passing the same stations two days later, l i k e a railroad conductor. There is Banhida; to the left o n the m o u n t a i n , the magnificent monument: a bronze eagle

alighting on the Hungarian land with outspread wings. There is Kelenfold, from where the electric street car hastens toward the

city as i t did t w o days ago. The ordinary people continue on their dull, sullen, comfortable trot without any presentiment of world history. And there is the cemetery with already forgotten graves no longer the object of any living piety, and there again i t makes n o difference whether one was a m a n o f t h e day o r o f eternity.

Schlesinger gave me a less friendly reception than usual. H e seemed to regret the service h e had done me. H e gave m e i n structions and a letter for Cohn w h i c h was enclosed i n a n envelope addressed to T B . I n addition, h e gave m e D r . W.’s card, who, he said, would accompany m e to Yildiz and bring m e to T B . W . 1s 1101

1102 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R ]

his confidential agent. However, I should be o n my guard againg C. and Moi. Je serai partout sur mes gardes [I shall be on my guard

in every direction]. But my telling him that I would of course honor the promise I had given Moi aroused a storm. H e screamed, cursing and swear.

ing, that I was being cheated; he had done everything, and those people didn’t deserve a thing. I insisted that I would have t o honor m y word like a promissory note, although I had given it but orally

and without witnesses. H e was furious. For three weeks he had toiled and slaved, and n o w others were t o reap the fruits.

I understood, b u t wanted t o keep h i m coming. H i s son was

in the adjoining room. I made the proposal t o let the son decide whether my sentiment was the right one. The son came i n and listened to the story with a wry face, for h e seemed to understand

that I wanted t o give something only t o the Moi-C. group. Perhaps the whole thing was only an excuse o n m y part and I had posé un lapin [broken a promise]. However, b y n o w I was shrewd enough not to l e t myself be

carried away by the prevailing i l l humor t o make a fresh promise. merely submitted i t t o Schlesinger’s judgment t o decide how I was t o distribute the go. Naturally he would have wanted the whole thing for himself, b u t he didn’t come o u t with such a proposal. With difficulty he conceded that I give T B one-third and gave me a card for him. I mustn't give the others anything. His son shared this opinion: no pay-off without production. We parted without having reached an agreement. I promised t o come t o h i m directly from C o h n a n d give h i m a report. The

leave-taking was cool.

His son and daughter-in-law accompanied me

to

the restaurant

and then t o the station. While we were listening t o gypsy musi

and chatting about futilités [trivia], I thought about what word I could send h i m by his son so as t o wipe o u t the unfavorable lmpress ion a t parting.

“What do you think?” I asked, as i f I hadn’t been sure that he would accept a n offer of this kind. “ I f I gave T'B, Schlesinger, and

1103 THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L the Moi group one-third each, would that be all right with your Dad?”

“Certainly!” said the young man, whereupon I asked him t o be

my advocate with his father. H e promise d me this. Then we parted friends. I forgot something interestin g in the conversation a t Schlesinger’s. He said: “You won't get the Charter now. That w i l l take a few years and will cost u p to a hundred thousand guilders. ” “Donel” I replied. “It’s all right i f i t costs even more.” %

*

¥

On the whole, however, the after-effects of our difference of opinion a t Schlesinger’s must be good, even though he is annoyed that others will get something for his “work.” For he sees that Iam keeping my word and am n o t breaking any promises. H e and all interested parties must regard me as miché sérieux [a whorechaser), as they say in the Jardin de Paris. Wolffsohn and Oscar were already o n the Orient Express. A n evening conversation, then I had a swell night's rest. I n the fresh-

ness of morning I got m y plan ready and drafted the following letter to V.

O n the train, M a y 1 0 Mygood V. bdcsi: I t was very difficult for me t o get across t o you yesterday, al-

though we usual ly comm unica te so well w i t h each other . Since

Iknow so well that your aid is given from the noblest motives in

general and from personal friendship for me— which makes me

very Proud —in partic ular, I was a b i t emba rrasse d abou t comi ng

right o u t with my inten tions . Yesterday I repeatedly p u t the word s I t o your mou th, b u t you wou ldn’t unde rsta nd me. Fort una tely I

later spoke with your clever and charming son, and he

encouraged

ME to present to you what I have i n mind . I f I make a mista ke i n this, you mus tn't rake me over the coals, bdcsikdm [my l i t t l e unc le],

1104 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] but Rustem. B u t I hope you won't be angry a t h i m either, for gy; idea is that of approximate justice. The “group” probably doesn't deserve anything; but I have pledged m y word that after I haye had a conference with Cohn I will distribute the familiar amount. I shall redeem m y pledge as a matter o f honor, even i f I have been

taken in. But I

want t o

do i t sensibly. Rustem shares my opinion

that the following 1s the right way. I shall give one-third to you,

one-third t o the man for whom you have given me your card inscribed i n Turkish, and one-third t o the “group.” I f you don't give m e your consent, I shall have t o give two-thirds to the “group,”

otherwise I shan’t have kept m y word. I hope, m y dear, rude bdcsi, that you will give me the pleasure of accepting. I f you do, then send me a wire a t the Hotel Royal saying “quite right.” And sign it with your nom convenu [code name]. I f you are n o t willing, then just telegraph me “ N o . ” However, I expect you to wire m e “quite right,” which certainly

doesn’t mean that I consider the debt of gratitude of my friendship as paid off by it. You said yesterday that the Charter would cost 1 0 0 . Get it for me for three hundred, and i n addition t o m y gratitude you will have the everlasting gratitude of K o l Israel [the entire Jewish people]. With cordial regards t o your dear family and an embrace for you, my good, growling bdcsi,I am Y o u r devo ted Dori . ¥%

3k

*

However, i t is my plan t o give the group the full 24 after all, and T B 14. But I want t o raise a fourth third for Schlesinger. B u t I shall ask C. and M o t to give m e the list, and I shall have Wolftsohn hand the amounts to the individuals.

I shall demand the list in particular. This way I shall get the chiefs. Then i t w i l l be u p to C . and M o i t o persuade the people,

R Z L 1105 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H E and thus inclin e who evidently don’t know anythi ng yet, to accept themin our favor. ¥*

¥*

¥*

M a y 1 3 , Constantinople.

HereI am, after five years, sitting i n the same H o t e l Royal, even in the same suite, where I stayed w i t h Newlins ki at the beginni ng of the project. I look o u t the windows, a changed man, and see the

unchanged Golden Horn. Beauty n o longer moves me. For me the world is no longer Representation b u t Will.* Strange how one’s whole weltanschauung involuntarily and unwittingly assumes

another character when one gets into such an engrenage [chain of circumstances] as I have done. *

LJ

¥*

Dr. Wellisch, a Hungarian Jew who has become a Turkish official, is truly useful to us. H e came right after our arrival two days ago and placed himself entirely a t our disposal.

Afterwards came the Levantine “scissors-grinder” Crespi, timid and crafty, prepared t o be thrown o u t . B u t I gave h i m a friendl y

reception and only asked him t o come back the next morning.

Yesterday morning there came a wire from V : “Quite right . Schlesinger.” So I have guessed his innermost thoughts. H e is accepting. Je

n'y attendais un peu [I rather thought he would]. Then Crespi showed up. First of all I had him give me the |

list of those t o be given a share. Nat ura lly I consider his list to

be de pure fantaisie [made up o u t of whole clot h]. But let him be forced to have them really paid off by Wolffso hn. Thi s way I shall really ge

t these inf lue nti al people. At 1 0 : 3 0 In the morning I drove o u t t o Yild iz Kiosk wit h Wellisc

h, The familiar

rou te

winked me. Th e arm y o f do orm

on which Newlinski once hood-

en an d loa fer s.

Then we entered Tahsin Bey’s qua

rters and waited in a salon

1106 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7], with a pretty view. W e sent o u r cards i n t o Tahsin Bey. After , while a n attendant came with the information that Tahsin Bey

was too busy now. Wellisch sent h i m the forceful message that I had a letter from Vambéry to deliver. I n response to this there came a n official and

inquired what my profession was! 1 gave as an answer: “ A writer, homme de lettres [man of letters].” H e asked m e whether I was the head o f the N . Fr. Pr. 1 told

Wellisch that I wished t o be announced only as a writer, n o t as : representative of the N . Fr. Pr. After another few minutes the official came back and invite us 1n t o see Tahsin. We now went t o his office. A delicate l i t t l e man, with a waxen, pallid, immobile face, half

closed eyelids, black beard. H e got up, gave me his hand, asked m t o sit down opposite him a t his writing desk without a raised rim and said some ceremonious Turkish words of greeting t o Wellisch which were translated into German for me and t o which I replie

with similar cold phrases of politeness. I said I was grateful t o hin for the kind reception, was delighted with Constantinople, whic I wasn’t seeing for the first time—I had been here with the Kaise in 1898—and was completely loyal t o the Sultan. Then, afte replying t o a question from Tahsin by saying that I intended t stay here for §—4 days, we took our leave. *

*

ik

Now we are waiting for m y summons. Yesterday afternoon a excursion t o t h e Sweet Waters. I

ruminated o n w h a t I should te

the Sultan so that the fabulous m o m e n t of m y desire might nc go by unused. M a y 14, Con stan tino ple Yesterday Wellisch drove t o Yildiz i n our carriage to see Tahsi

and brought word that our matter didn’t seem t o stand badly. H had been invited t o state the highest decoration that I possesse

R Z L 1107 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R H E die, Well isch When 1 ment ioned m y Com man der o f the Meji

also inqu ired m e d up his nose: he had that one hims elf. I had

coat. H e had whether I was to come i n a full-d ress suit o r i n a frock sin had invit ed not been given a decis ion o n this yet. How ever , Tah

her me to attend the selamlik o n Frida y. Then I woul d learn whet

n—pr oor not I would get to see the Sulta n. Appa rently the Sulta vided he wants to—wi shes to receiv e m e under t h e powe rful impression of his assembled warrio rs, as a migh ty lord. 3%

*

*

In the afternoon we went t o the Bazar and t o the Church of Saint Sofia. Impressive spatial effect of this dome which has weathered all tempests of history. I n the evening I went alone t o see the beautiful view from the Taxim Gardens. T h e view over the Bosporus! I n these years I have gone through the development from “life is a dream’* to “ l i f e is a struggle.” Nevertheless, this

sight made something of old dreams well u p i n me. But I had t o think of the more immediate things. That business of a decoration with the impending ludicrousness of a 2nd-class order came into my mind. A t noon I had s e n t Oskar t o Crespi In order to arrange a meeting with N u r i in Crespi’s apartment for that evening. Nuri declared he definitely couldn’t come now, for he was under surveillance. So I went t o the Anatolie H a n i n the

evening by myself. Wolffsohn, my faithful companion, was and stillis sick. He was very worried when I went off by myself. I joked: wasn't back by morning, they should look for me i n Crespi’s

en. Crespi was waiting for me a t the Anatolie H a n passage. As I

walked past him I told him that I wished t o speak with him a t his

house. He followed me. A shabby house i n a dark back alley

Jehind the H a n . Shabbily furnished, too. I n t h e study o f the Spirit, who put o n such aristocra tic airs i n Vienna, framed

newspaper illustrations adorned the walls.

y convers ation he proceeded from timidity to boldness, spoke cs and million s of pounds . H e timoro usly inquir ed ®T

’ ranslator’s Note: A reference to the title of Calderdn’s play L a vida es suefio.

1108 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L

about the bad things that I might have been told about him. I ] y e y doutait u n peu [he could more or less imagine them]. The hote] manager had told m e that only a few weeks ago Crespi had had hjs

face slapped by a swindled Frenchman a t the Hétel Royal, Viambéry had thrown h i m out, etc. I acted as if I knew nothing. I would, of course, redeem my promise—although Vambéry had told me that the group had done nothing, nor could do anything. B u t I wanted services i n future. A t this he got cocky and showed me a letter from Dirsztay prom. ising Crespi a monthly salary of 1 , 5 0 0 francs de ma part [from me] i f the audience materialized. I said: “Yes, i f I were allowed to s u b m i t the entire plan t o the Sultan a n d h e appointed a com-

mittee.” But soon I sensed threats and counter-intrigues i n the tramp’s words, and quickly came round: “Je ne lésinerai pas avec vous, st vendredi je suis content [I won't be stingy with you if I'm satisfied on Friday].” I slept on i t too: i t will be well i f I give h i m this gratuity for the first few months until the Congress is over, otherwise he will play tricks on me. For the beginning I shall promise h i m 1 0 0 0 fr., and when the Committee for the Study of Zionism has been appointed, 1 , 5 0 0 fr. per month. Incidentally, I managed t o stipulate that N u r i will give me 2 receipt for the money, like that time i n Vienna. For the time being I didn’t mention Tahsin’s “third,” and I also slept on that. I t w i l l perhaps be worth 1 0 , 0 0 0 fr. to keep the Nuri people, who belong t o the Izzet faction, from knowing about the donation to T a h s i n . Otherwise t h e y could use i t against h i m . A l l I have to do

1s t o get my companions’ consent t o this increase i n the expenses. F o r t h e rest, Crespi declared—and t h i s was probably the only

true word he said—that he couldn’t d o anything for m e prior to the audience. N u r i must n o t even show himself i n the matter. He couldn’t come forward until later. Consequently h e couldn’t inter-

vene for a higher decoration. B u t why didn’t I refuse the 2nd class. Actually, then, I left the coupe-gorge [cut-throat] plundered all

THE COMPLETE DIARIES

1109 OF THEODOR HERZL

ss w a s als o wo rth ice t o ref use the 2 n d cla adv his t u B over again.

money. s no ch to tel l Ta hs in tha t I wa h i s or an g I asked We llis they had sent this grd class friend of decorations. Five years ago d t o m y house. I ha dn ’t ref use one, which I hadn't asked for either, w, to giv e m e a dec ora it out of courtesy; bu t i f the y wis hed

I couldn’t accept less than 1st class wit hou

tion no

t ma kin g myself rid icu -

lous.

Wellisch is useful to us.

M a y 15, Cons tantin ople

An idle day yesterday. Excur sion t o the Bosporus whose beaut y

finally did stir even my hardened heart. I n the evening, i n the coupe-gorge [squeeze] again a t Crespi’s, who tried t o have me turn blue in the face. I let him tell me his bourdes [fibs].

Day and night I ponder the words which I intend t o say t o the Sultan in the moment of my desire.

May 16

Today another empty day of expectations. I am considering every turn which the conversation with the Sultan might take. Details of the day: I n the evening we went t o the Taxim Gardens. Nuri Bey sat there with a European and as I approached held his handkerchief in front of his rogue’s face which was coveredby his red beard and blue glasses anyway. I got the point— and didn’t see him. However, I recommended to Wolffso hn and armorek that they take a look a t h i m when we went out, so h e y might know h i m when the gratuitie s were passed out.

With o r a detail this one from Offenbach’s L a Vie Parisienne. about - © sch, our table companion, we talk de omni re scibili ia

erything under the sun]. H e is very much interes ted i n fi‘al

matters.

The president of the Colonial Trus t, my good

1110 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER;

Daade, betrayed a funny weak spot yesterday. H e wasn’t able

figure right off how much 49, of 5 billions in French war; demnities came to. Wellisch was surprised. M a y 17, Cons tanti nopl e

This will perhaps be a big day, perhaps a very small one perhaps n o day a t all, i.e. I shall n o t even be received. I n the latter case I would immediately wire t o Vambéry in su a way that they will have t o read the telegram here as well. A t any rate, I d i d n ’ t sleep badly—from ten till six.

Was rather alert in the morning. I thought o u t my Pentec story for the N . Fr. P r . : sunset, a diplomat’s last love, told himself o n the Petala stone terrace a t Therapia, with the wat o f the Bosporus a t his feet. T h e Countess i n the garden, etc. ‘Then I thought about the Sultan. Perhaps h e is “ t h e Master’

I imagine him. While sitting in my hip-bath, i n front of a mirror, I rehear the conference as i t may possibly unfold. “Est-ce que Sa Majesté permet que je parle ssmplement, ouver ment, sérieusement . . . [Will H i s Majesty permit m e to sp

plainly, frankly, seriously]?”

“Je ne suis pas venu p o u r de petits services mais p o u r les gra services [1 have not come to render small services, but great one: “Les articles des journaux se payent de 5 0 a 5 0 0 louis. Mot, ne peut pas m’acheter—je me donne [Newspaper articles 5 0 t o 5 0 0 louis. As for me, I cannot be bought—I give myself].” L ’ histoire d’Androclus et d u lion [The story o f Androcles

¢

the lion], etc. H o w much of all this shall I be able t o get in? an tin op M a y 19 , C on st

l

I got everythin gi n . I wasn't able to make any entries yesterday, because I was cal t o the palace i n

the morning and had t o stay there t i l l evening, W

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1111

ingabout t o the point of exhaustion. After that, writing was o u t of the question, and so my a c c o u n t of this first memorable conversa-

tion with the Sultan has probably lost its freshness already. On Friday morning at ten o'clock, then, after a careful toilet—

frock coat and Mejidiye rosette—I drove with Wellisch i n my coupé to Yildiz Kiosk. I t was already warm, b u t nevertheless I sat there in my overcoat (which I had had custom-tailored for this very purpose two years ago, o n the occasion o f Newlinski’s last expedition, and had taken very good care o f since then), and kept the windows closed, so as n o t t o get a speck o f dust o n m y suit. Troops were marching t o the s e l a m l i k , sturdy fellows o n foot a n d magnificent horsemen.

There are strict rules for keeping certain areas blocked off during the selamlik, b u t comme par enchantement [as i f b y magic] all

barriers opened before me. I was immediately escorted t o the First Secretary, Tahsin Bey, with whom I found Fuad Pasha. Tahsin was more amiable than hitherto and introduced me t o Fuad. Next Iwas called to the Grand Master o f Ceremonies, R . Ibrahim Bey. A suave, smooth gentleman, round-shouldered, and w i t h a f u l l grey-

streaked beard. Here, too, the most splendid reception. Then I was taken to the spectators’ section where I had been w i t h Newlinski five years ago. This time there were only a small number of people, because lately admission has been granted very sparingly. Even so, I didn’t find the prospect of standing there t i l l one o'clock very pleasing.

Again as i f par enchantement, m y wish t o sit down i n the shade was fulfilled. A n adjutant came u p to m e and asked m e to step i n t o

the ambassadors’ reception-ro om. There I found the diplomatic

corps assembled who seemed much more ordinary and stupid

at

close range than from a distance. Even the women who, as seen

from the lawn, stood by the windows and looked the pictures of elegance, were much less so when I had a closer view of them. T h e time passed quickly for m e as I watched that beautiful Osmanli

opera they call the selamlik. Every Friday the same thing. Troops Sart marching and form walls more impenetrable than s t o n e . T h e court, eunuchs, princesses i n closed landaus, pashas, dignitaries,

1112 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7| flunkeys and lackeys de toutes les couleurs [of every sort]. All move; past to the accompaniment o f music. Over yonder, the Bosporys

gleams wondrously blue. Then the muezzin calls from the minaret, and the Padishah drives in his partly closed carriage t o the mosque,

Another brief half hour of sitting quietly and amusing myself by watching the vacuous, ugly diplomats. Then H . M . ’ s chamberlains entered i n order to welcome the

guests. I was told t o wait there for the 1st Secretary. Then Ibrahim appeared with a large case containing the Grand Cordon for a Rus sian admiral who is here with his escadre [squadron]. The admiral turned quite red with joy and vanity, and accepted the congratula tions of the assembled company. I stood i n a corner by the window and watched quietly. Presently Ibrahim Bey came u p t o me, too and informed me that the Sultan had conferred upon me the orde of the Mejidiye, 2nd class. I thanked him most kindly and said | didn’t want any decoration. The grd class had been given me fiv years ago by mistake. A t that time I had accepted i t only o u t 0 courtesy, b u t now I would forgo the honor entirely. T h e least .

could accept was the 1st class. Ibrahim repressed his rage beneat! great politeness, saying that he would inform the Sultan of this.

Finally, the whole company withdrew. I remained alone in th room, looked over t o the floating blue islands and would have pre ferred to remain sitting there. B u t after five o r ten minutes servant

came. They passed me from one t o the other. We walked dow gravel paths t o another kiosk. There I was first taken t o Ibrahin Bey who, with a beaming face and a happy titter, informed me tha

H . M . had bestowed o n me the Grand Cordon of the Mejidiye—a in the Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein.* And another few minutes later I was conducted back throug the ante-room to the audience chamber, which was located to th

right of the entrance. “The Master” stood before me, exactly as I had pictured him

short, skinny, with a large hooked nose, a full dyed beard, a smal tremulous voice. H e wore his grand selamlik uniform, a cloak ove his tunic, diamond-studded decorations, gloves. H e gave me hi ®

Translator’s Note: A comic opera by Jacques Offenbach.

H E R Z L 1113 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R ly and hand, and we were seated. W i t h o u t furth er ado I sank deep comfortably into m y chair. H e sat o n a divan, h i s sword betwee n

his knees. Ibrahim sat and stood; he kept jumpin g forward , so as

to catch H.M.’s words, and translate d them for me—and , vice versa, my words to him. As he d i d so h e contin ually beame d w i t h happiness, smiled blissful ly, and reprodu ced everyth ing i n a tone o f i n -

finite importance. Whenever the Sultan spoke to Ibrahim I observed the Master carefully, and he did likewise when I spoke i n French. He began with salaams, and so did I . H e said he always read the N.Fr.Pr.1am just wondering how he does it, since he doesn’t know any German. I t was the paper through which he informed himself about the Transvaal, China, etc. Next I thanked h i m for the high decoration. Then he spoke of the friendly relations between our countries (meaning Turkey and Austria). H e rejoiced to hear that Emperor Franz Joseph was well, and more of the same. But I didn’t want t o stay o n that subject. I told h i m (through Ibrahim) that I was devoted t o h i m because he was good t o the Jews. Jews all over the world were grateful for this. I in particular was ready to render h i m any service, naturally not minor ones—there were plenty of other people for those—but great services. I emphasized that I didn’t intend t o publish anythin g about our present conference. He could speak with me i n all confidence. H e thanke d me, took two cigarettes o u t of a small silver box, gave one t o m e and

kept the other for himse lf. Ibrah im, w h o was n o t perm itted to

smoke, lit first his, the n min e. Then the Sultan said: “ I am and always have been a frien d of

the Jews.I n fact, I rely only on the Moslems and the Jews. I have n't

the same amount of confidence in m y othe r sub

jects.”

be ihereupon lamen ted the injus tices we expe rienc e throu ghou t »

and he said he had always kept his Emp ire open t o Jew-

ishrefugees as a Place of ref

ech about A n

Andon,

ug e.

: J u d “Wh en Prof. Vambery infor med me that His recei ve me, I h a d to t h i n k o f the b e a u t i f u l old story

clesand the lion. His Majesty i s the lion, perhaps I am

cles, and maybe the re i s a tho rn tha t

has t o b e p u l l e d out .”

1114 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7| H e acknowledged the compliment w i t h a smile. Might I continue t o speak openly and plainly? H e begged me

do so. “The thorn, as I see it, is your dette publique [public debt). | that could be removed, Turkey would be able t o unfold afresh it vitality, i n which I have faith.” H e sighed, and smiled, sighing. I b r a h i m translated: Ever sinc

the beginning of his glorious reign H i s Majesty has striven in vai t o remove this thorn. This thorn was acquired under His Imperi: Majesty's exalted predecessors, and i t seems impossible t o get rid o I f I could be of help i n this, i t would be ever so nice. “Well then,” I said, “ I believe I can. B u t the first and fund

mental condition is absolute secrecy.” T h e Master raised his eyes to heaven, placed his hand upon h breast, and murmured, “Secret, secret!”

I gave h i m the reason for my insistence. The Powers who want Turkey weak would try as hard as they could t o prevent its reco ery. They would make every effort t o frustrate this operation. I understood. I continued—and from that point o n I took the lead generally the conversation—that I would have this operation carried o u t m y friends o n a l l the stock exchanges o f Europe, provided I h

His Majesty's support. However, when the time came, this supp would have t o take the form of some measure particularly frien to the Jews, and i t must b e proclaimed i n a n appropriate mann I b r a h i m drank i n h i s master’s words w i t h a n astonished air a

translated them with a happy face: “ H i s Majesty has a court jew ler, who is a Jew. H e might say t o h i m something favorable abc the Jews a n d i n s t r u c t h i m t o p u t i t i n t h e papers. H e also hasa Ch

Rabbi for his Jews here, the Hakham Bashi. H e could say sot thing t o h i m also.” This I rejected. I t occurred t o me that D r . Marcus once told that the Hakham Bashi spat a t the mention of m y name. “ N o , ” I said, “that would n o t serve the purpose. I t wouldn't out i n t o the world i n a way that might b e useful to us. I shall |

mit myself later t o indicate t o H i s Majesty the moment a t which

O D O R H E R Z L 1115 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F T H E an use i t for our great ends. 1 shoul d like to p u t the active sympa

thies of Jewry t o work for the Tur kish Emp ire. The

refo re the proc -

s spok en lamation would have to have a n impo sing chara cter. Word to the Hakham Bashi would only rema in i n Turk ey.”

conThe Master nodded his agreement t o ever ythin g I said. I tinued: “All this beautiful country needs is the indus trial skill of our people. The Europeans who usually come here enrich themselves quickly and then rush off again w i t h their spoils. A n entrep reneur should certainly make a respectable and honest profit, b u t after

that he ought t o remain i n the country where he has acquired his wealth.”

Again the Master nodded contentedly and said t o Ibrahim, who repeatedi t t o me, beaming with joy:

“Unexploited treasures still exist i n our country. Only today His Majesty received a telegram from Bagdad, saying that oil fields have been discovered there, richer than those o f the Caucasus.” I f 1 remained here long enough, H . M . would ask m e t o take a look at

the areas served by the Anatolian railroad. T o the right and left of the line, the land was l i k e a garden. There were ores, too, and gold

and silver mines. During the reigns of H.I.M.’s exalted predecessors the gold had been mined, made i n t o ingots, and t h e n coined;

this is how the soldiers had been paid.

I'had in fact noticed that during his last speech the Master had measured off a length i n the air with both hands: evidentl y these were the little bars of gold.

Then something surprising happened. The Master asked me, via Ibrahim, to recommend t o him a capable financier who could (feate new resources for

the count ry: for example, taxes that would

not be too onerous, simi lar to the mat ch-t ax.

ha oh

extremely flattered by this display of confidence, b u t said involved a great respon sibility for me, because, after all, for

egrity | gnment I could recomm end only a m a n o f whose inl a i d thas Just » r m a convic tion as I had o f his efficien cy. B u t

oon

T had f o ook into the matter and let H . I . M . know as ound the right man. Incid enta lly, I thou ght that the

1116 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy], m a n should only study the financial situation i n secrecy and give me his results; o n the basis of this information I would then work o u t a program for economic recovery.

B u t the Master was o f a different o p i n i o n . H e imparted i t to [}. rahim, who was a l l ears and then repeated i t to m e with a blissfy

smile: “ H i s Imperial Majesty thinks i t would be fairer i f the map were given a n official position, because that would attract less at-

tention. H e should be attached t o the Ministry of Finance—osten. sibly as an under-secretary—and give you regular reports. The Mas. ter can then correspond with you through this confidential agent.” I recognized the superior soundness of this idea, and went on to ask 1n what way I could get my letters into H.I.M.’s hands; didI need a special mark or seal for this? ‘The Master told me, through Ibrahim, that my own seal would suffice. Letters sealed by me would be handed directly t o H.I.M. by Tahsin Bey. Then the Master turned t o the pending project of consolidating the national debt. I asked what that m e a n t . The Master explained i t t o the very i n t e n t Ibrahim for m y benefit. Consolidation con-

sisted i n contracting a new debt i n place of the old one, thereby ef: fecting a total saving o f one to

114

million pounds, to meet the

previous year’s deficit. “What? So l i t t l e ? ” I exclaimed w i t h a regretful shrug, and the

Master also regretted and also shrugged his shoulders, with a sad smile. I now requested that I be informed about the whole consolidation project, so that I could judge whether i t was advisable t o proceed with i t a t all i f one had bigger things t o be accomplished. Per haps consolidation would b e good, perhaps bad. First I would have t o k n o w t h e entire plan. H . I . M . declared t h a t m y w i s h would be

fulfilled. Someone would b e instructed t o give m e a l l the necessary inform ation.

We then continued our conversation, meandering from subject t o subject. I held his interest. I n broad outlines I sketched a pro

gram for the future, all that could be done in this naturally magn® ficent city and i n the Empire. With a view t o getting decorations

7 F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 111 O IES AR DI TE LE MP CO E TH hn and Mar mor ek for them, | mentioned my companions Wol ffso rces of revenue cou ld be who might possibly be available. Ne w sou pow er. openedup, for example, a monopoly on electric him , that the H I M . informed me, thro ugh the delig hted Ibra . was pleased with palace had an electric-light plan t and that H . I . M the light. I t was bett er tha n the oth er kin

d.

tor inThen I spoke about possible improvements i n the city: ships stance 2 new Stamboul bridg e, high enou gh for the biggest of the Gold en to pass under (Marmorek’s idea) into the harbo r Horn, However, H.I.M. requested me through Ibrahim t o drop these plans for the time being and t o occupy myself first w i t h the remova l of the dette publique. By that time I was exhausted; the conversation must have lasted over two hours. I had spun the threads the way I had wanted to. I was fairly certain now that he would wish to hear further details from me. So I let the conversation flag. T h e Master, too, found

nothing more t o say, and after a brief pause he arose. H e gave me hishand. However, I stayed a little while longer and recapitulated: above all, profound secrecy as t o our intentions and understanding. The Master repeated: ‘Secret, secret!” Further, I desired a pro-Jewish proclamation a t a m o m e n t t o be designated by me ( I had the Congress i n mind). Finally, I requested a detailed presentation of the financial situation and the consolida-

tion project. All this was promised me. Then the Master took a few sideways steps toward the door. I b rahim and I withdr ew—Ib rahim bendin g low and a reculo ns [backwards], I with a half-tu rn and three bows, each o f which the Maste r returned.

’ wy before that at one time during the conversation I comhimself as friess e a t and bowed—when the Sultan described Protection i f t h

o

e Jews and promised them h i s permanent

Then That © > ; t refuge i n his lands. me the red cue oon ucted me back again to his salon and handed |

the Grand Cordon , exactly l i k e the one which

1118 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER71 the Russian admiral Kriger had received during the selamii} , while ago. I left the salon. I n the ante-room a lot of baksheesh hangs stretched out toward me. I passed o u t gold pieces. M y top-coat, which I had checked w i t h attendants several times, has already

cost me a fortune. When I emerged from the Sultan’s kiosk, who should be waiting for m e outside? Crespi! I t was extremely embarrassing for me to

have Ibrahim see me i n his company. B u t Crespi was n o t

to be

brushed aside. H e tagged along w i t h m e right u p t o the gate.

There another scuffle for baksheesh broke loose. A crowd of fellows pressed about m y carriage. I handed o u t louis as long as my

supply lasted, and sent Crespi t o get Wellisch. But I had hardly seated myself in the carriage, and had seen Wellisch coming, when someone called me back into the palace. We thought i t was Ibrahim; but i t was Izzet, whom I hadn’t seen i n five years. He stood among the shrubbery i n front of the audience-kiosk, apparently talking t o some one. H e looked a t me with an expectant grinas went past. I was conducted to his office. There sat a n unknown person, and with h i m the chamberlain

who had told me earlier i n the day, i n the ambassador's room, to wait there for the 1st Secretary. What was the meaning of this? Again I had t o wait awhile. The one good thing about all these tortures o f waiting i s t h e v i e w o f t h e p i n k a n d b l u i s h landscape. At

last Izzet came, with the evil eyes of a beast of prey and a friendly grin. H e offered m e a cigarette, w h i c h I courageously puffed, lit

one himself, and treated me like a dear old friend. “Quand pourrais-je causer avec vous [When could I have a chat with you)?” I asked, as though this were my most ardent desire. “Mais—tout de suite [Why, right now]!” he said. I remarked that I was too t i r e d . T h e long conversation w i t h the

Sultan had greatly taxed my strength. I said I would wait upon him tomorrow, and then we could chat about everything. H e continued t o probe. “Il est question d e l'unification de lo dette [It is a matter o f consolidating the d e b t ] , ” h e said, as i f h e a l

1119 OF THEODOR HERZL THE COMPLETE DI AR IE S conon ly co nti nu ing the Sultan’s ready knew everything and were |

versation. h tire d eyes. I told h i m tha t [looked past him o u t the win dow , wit I was inc apa ble of thi nki ng Jfter the mental stra in of the aud ien ce oo

ring tom orro w (1e. , or talking. I asked h i m kind ly to give m e a hea for 1 2 o'cl ock alla fran ca yesterday). We made a n app oint men t

[western style], andI took my leave.

|

p abo ut the high Wellisch, who drov e w i t h me, was a l l stirr ed u

ys i n success. decoration and the long audience. I was calm , as alwa ,* at the Wolffsohn and Marm orek were waiti ng, like Soeur Anne 1 wave d t o look-out of the hotel wind ow. Whil e still at a dista nce in them from the carriage. W e embra ced. Marm orek, w h o even normal times is jumpy enoug h to give a stone nervou s fits, was o f

course beside himself. Wolffso hn wanted t o hear details. B u t I had already been through enough, even o n this journey, from the in-

cautious remarks of my otherwise dear companions, and therefore said:

“Ishall tell you nothing. N o t a word. Only when we are sitting in the train will you hear something. That w i l l save you the agony of keeping a secret.” Being good fellows, they submitted, too. I had hardly got home when Crespi showed up. H e and his partner i n crime N u r i now demand the reward for what Vambéry has accomplished. Il faut s’exécuter [ 1 m u s t comply]. H e wanted t o g o to Nuri with me, but I

declined his company, saying that we must

now be careful and henceforth not show ourselves together. H a l f a n

or ar

I drove to Nuri, w h o o f course acted very important, as g he had done i t all. I left h i m the illusion. “C’est u n art de

grand seigneur de se laisser voler [ O n e of the arts o f a great lord 1s t o

himse lf be robbe d)”; ** just let h i m rejoice like a thief— which eis,

,

*T

or o r

.

]

Note: Sister Anne, i n Charles Perrault’s Bluebeard story. Anne's

sis arrival > he $s seventh wife, asks her t o keep a look-out a t t h e window for the oe Translators amers h o are to save her from her husband's homicidal desires

comedy Le G ine f r o mthe ote: Por i e r s Son-in-Law), by Emile Augier and m e d y Le Gendre de M . P :

\

Jules Sandeau.

;

ier

(Mr.

1120 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL I asked h i m whether my interpreter, the Grand Master of Cere. monies Ibrahim, was on his list. “ N o , n o t he!” replied His Excellency Nuri ( I ' d like t o know who is.) Some time I ought t o send Ibrahim a fine carriage and a span of horses, preferably through Crespi. (The very ideal) I let him give me this and other counsels, and acted as though I believed every word. However, I asked how much he intended t o give Izzet. “Between 4,000 and 8,000 francs,” h e lied, with a wavering

glance behind his pince-nez. “Izzet is m y closest friend.” B u t when I told him that I had seen Izzet and would see him again tomorrow, he earnestly warned me against him. “How's this? B u t he is your closest friend!” “Bah—nhe 1s one of my good friends all right. B u t i n the interest of our cause you musn’t see him again, otherwise you’ll make an enemy of Tahsin.” “And how much do you propose t o give Tahsin?’ I asked innocently.

“About the same amount,” he lied on. “Tahsin is all-powerful. But beware of Izzet. He's a squeezed-out lemon. You may believe me, for I am fairly friendly with h i m . His calling you into his office was a trap. H e wanted i t bruited about all over the palace. He will claim that you made disclosures t o h i m about the audience—and everything will be ruined.”

M a y 20, Consta ntinop le

Interpolated letter to Tahsin: * ( I shall enter the happenings o f M a y 18 and 19g e n route).

Your Excellency: Before awaiting H.I.M.’s orders here yesterday, I had instructed m y friend, Mr. Wolffsohn, to deliver to Your Exc. a communica

tion which had been forwarded t o me by Prof. Vamb. Mr. Wolffsohn did n o t have the honor t o be received by Your * I n French i n the original .

O R H E R Z L 1121 TE DI AR IE S O F T H E O D THE COMPLE

plorable misunderstanding

had some de Fxc., and I fear that he se cir cu mof the lan gu ag e. Un de r the there, caused by his ign ora nc e fro m Pr of.

c. the co mm un ica tio n stances I must transmit to Y. Ex wh en I leave he re today. Vamb., whomI am going to vis it Y. Exc. cer tai n

t o exp lain t o At the same time I shall ask the pro f. . cidents of these last few days assure Y. Exc . of m y deep But I do not want t o wa it un til the n to i n all circumstances andlasting gratitude. You may a t all times and

count on my absolute and very sinc ere dev

otio n. T h e pro f. will tell

you whether I may be believed.

Assuring Your Exc. of my deepest respect, Dr. T h . H .

May 2 0 , Constantinople I have the events of the 18th and 19th t o note down.

On the morning of the 18th I was just about

to

write the Sultan

that I desired another audience, when a letter was handed m e from

Ibrahim Bey who asked me t o come t o the palace a t

10:30.

Wolft-

sohn and Oskar had gone out t o get the 40,000 francs from the

bank. I left word for them that Wolffsohn should wait at the hotel until I came back, but that Marmorek should go t o N u r i and tell him that Wolffsohn had t o wait for m y return from the palace.

Only after my return would he come and pay the 5 0 , 0 0 0 francs. oa o r uneasy. This is a country of quick changes. Yesterday reap]a d r

I

du Medjidié, today perhaps foutu [on the scrap

: arrived at Yildiz with anxiety and called on Ibrahim, who

” amiably but gave me a penetra ting look. a s rated ourselves in his office, and he questioned me, with a a carly " : outJhings he knew perfectly well. They had wanted,

ce. bux R E

hem to as ask

ay, t o send me the invitation t o come t o the palt

been able t o

locate me. Then i t had occurred t o

my address from the gentlema n who had accosted m e

1122 T H E COMPLETE D I A R I E S O F T H E O D O R HER7 yesterday outside the audience-kiosk and had walked along w i me—what was his name, anyway? “Crespi,” I said calmly. “ O h yes, of course, Crespi. A n d afterwards you were with Izzet; “Yes sir, he sent for me. I hadn’t seen h i m i n five years and h; been quite o u t of touch w i t h h i m . H e wanted t o talk w i t h me abo matters connected with the audience. B u t I

told h i m that I was tc tired. I intend t o give information only as far as I am authorize by His Majesty.” Ibrahim nodded his gratified approval. I don’t know t o this hol whether he belongs t o the Tahsin party or t o the Izzet party. “As a matter o f fact, I have sent m y excuses to Izzet Bey for bei

unable t o keep this noon’s appointment, as I have been co manded t o keep myself a t H i s Majesty's disposal.” Ibrahim again was pleased. From time to time reports were delivered, and h e wrote lette T w o of them were addressed to the Sultan, as I inferred from t

reverence and special care with which he sealed them. Several g sips dropped i n from other offices. A t times Turkish was spoken very, very low tones. This, of course, was due t o m y presence—

though they weren't quite certain that I didn’t understa Turkish. Noon came. Ibrahim invited me t o e a t w i t h h i m . A lunche table had been improvised, army style, i n the ante-chamber. . numerable dishes were served u p , each one worse and mc Turkish than the last.

We were sitting over the second course when the door ¥ flung open and i n walked Izzet, en maitre [like the owner of | place] and with a friendliness that boded i l l . H e immediately down with us and started eating greedily. We had gone throu several courses when another mysterious something made its

pearance. A blue envelope, which I b r a h i m handed m e : from H . I . M . I thanked h i m w i t h emotion and opened i t . I t was a stick-pir

token of friendship. A golden-yellow diamond.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1123 I was the only one d r i n k i n g w i n e , t h e others having water. I rose, raised m y glass, and drained i t t o the Master's health. T h e others drained t h e i r water-glasses, standin g.

After our meal, over coffee, Izzet identified himself as the man charged with explaining to m e the plan for the consolidation of the

public debt. Obviously a thieves’ plan. A syndicate was t o supply go million pounds, w i t h which t h e d e b t c o u l d b e b o u g h t u p o n t h e stock exchanges. Sheer nonsense. I listened calmly, and finally I said that

I would think i t over and then give them my opinion. Izzet w e n t off with his wild-animal’s grin; then I asked Ibrahim to announce my presence t o the Sultan. T h i s had best be done through Izzet, said Ibrahim; a n d from that moment o n I was convinced that he belonged to the Izzet party. Izzet was overtaken

before he had left the ante-chamber and undertook the assignment, although I foresaw a negative result. I stayed for a while longer with Ibrahim, who questioned me about my position on the N . Fr. Pr. I had repeatedly emphasized that I was only the editor of the literary section. B u t they consistently treated me as directeur [the editor]. His attention attracted by my corrections, he asked me with ironic penetration: “Il y a donc u n directeur général [There is a managing editor, isn’t there]?” “Oui, M . Bacher [Yes, M r . Bacher]!” A n d as I said this and felt a certain embarrassment about m y grand-cordon, the usually

harmless Ibrahim’s expression became malicious. Presently the Sultan’s reply came: he was t o o busy and regretted being unable t o see me now . The yellow diamond was the only result of the day. Later, Nuri called on us a t the hotel, accompanied by his lascar Crespi.

Wolffsohn had made difficulties about the receipt, and there ensued an angry scene at the w r i t i n g table when Nuri refused to give such a clear acknowledgmen t.

When Wolffsohn demanded a receipt on his visiting card, he

1124 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L rose t o his feet with an air of deeply offended innocence. I patcheg

things up by letting Nuri sign i n any way he wanted to. Then he got up, s t i l l offended, and refused t o accept the thick wad of bank. notes himself: “Give that to Crespi!” A n d as h e left, he coldly extended his hand to Wolffsohn and said to m e : “ C e monsieur ne

fera pas beaucoup d'affaires ici [That gentleman won’t do much business around here]!” I deferentially showed h i m to the door. A t the staircase he said:

“Je rendrai ces 4 0 , 0 0 0 francs a cette banque. E t je compte sur vous comme t e l — [ I ' l l deliver those 40,000 francs t o t h a t bank. And

I rely on you as a—this]” (at which he gave my wrist the Free. masons’ grip). “ V o u s m e connaissez [You know m e ] , ” I said, and returned the

sign in jest.

May 1 9 , Sunday

A miserable day. I n the morning I had sent Wolffsohn t o the palace, together with Wellisch. I gave Wolffsohn a note for Ibrahim with a n enclosed letter to the Sultan, as well as a letter

containing t e n thousand francs for Tahsin. They were away until 7 o’clock in the evening. We w e n t through great excitement. Oskar’s terrific agitation while waiting made me terribly nervous as well. I n the end I locked myself i n m y room, in order to get away from h i m , and lay o n the bed for hours, thinking. T h e long absence of the two m e n was really mysterious and alarming. H a d Tahsin perhaps taken offence at the remittance of money and raised a storm? O r what else was it? A t last they came back. Tahsin had refused t o receive them at

any price and had rebuffed their repeated attempts. They had had t o wait a t Ibrahim’s t o the point of unconsciousness. %

%

*

Interpola tion o f M a y 21, farewell:* ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1125

Sire: In taking leave of Your Impe rial Majesty I once more place at the foot of the throne this acknowledgment of m y unalte rable

devotion and of my profound gratitude.

|

I shall only remain i n Vienna the requisite period of t i m e and shall set o u t immediately i n order t o be able t o submit the com-

pleted project within one month. During my travels i t may become necessary for me t o p u t myself inimmediate and very confidential touch with Y.I.M.’s orders. For this reason, Y.I.M. in your exalted wisdom may perhaps deem i t useful to instruct your ambassadors in Vienna, Paris, Brussels, T h e Hague, London, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and R o m e immediately t o transmit to Y.I.LM., b y wire and i n code, the communications

which I shall permit myself t o make t o you, o r to have conveyed by the Embassy courier the very respectful letters that I shall have the honor to address t o Y.I.M.

I humbly beg Y.I.M. t o let me know through H.E. the Ambassador to Vienna i f this easy, discreet, and rapid form of correspondence has met with your exalted approv al. The coming weeks will be filled with work. M a y i t please G o d that i t be useful and serve the glorio us reign o f Y . I . M .

With complete devotion, I am Sire, Y.IL.M.’s very loyal and obed ient serva nt, Dr. Th. H . I o Ibr ah im :

*

Your Ex ce lle nc y:

Ihave the honor t o submit t o to H.LM. I t contains directions

you her ew ith my farewell lett er for the safety of the reports which

Iam to make. At the same tim e I beg Yo ur Exc elle ncy kin dly to tak e no te o f my priv

ate address where all communications

I t i s Haizingergasse 29, W * In French j p the or

igi na l.

iah rin g, Vi en na .

should be directed.

1126 T H E COMPLETE D I A R I E S O F T H E O D O R HER7 Begging you to accept the expression o f m y deepest respect ar

my profound gratitude, I remain

Your Excellency’s very obedient servant, Th.H. *

¥*

¥*

May 21, on board the “Principessa Maria”

We have just left the Bosporus, the beauty of which made¢ morning hours short, and only n o w is this part o f m y adventy

happily concluded, an adventure I considered

not

without

dangers.

I got into the power of a despot whom I had every reason regard as half-demented, and whose government, as the debate the Italian Chamber of Deputies showed, had twice during t past year demanded the intervention of the Powers against Jew immigration. T h e situation was made hazardous i n another direction by fact t h a t I was obliged t o introduce myself, a t first, n o t i n my r

and universally known capacity as head of the Zionists, but as

editor of the Neue Freie Presse—they turned this into direct [the editor], and again I endeavored t o modify this by add

littéraire [literary]. As a matter of fact, I remained i n constant fear that I would 1 onto

some rock and n o t only be shipwrecked but disgrace my:

forever. I n addition, a l l that money would have been thro

away, and I would rightly have been held responsible. Well, things turned o u t better than that, b u t tremendous I cares and troubles arose. Not the least of them is over my fut and that of my family, for this will probably cost me my posit o n t h e N . Fr. Pr. and I shall run the risk o f having to pursue liter odd jobs. Mais C’est u n engrenage. Quand o n y a mis le doigt, i l faut pa: tout entier [ B u t it’s a cog-wheel; once you've p u t i n a finger, you got togoall the way in].

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1127 I have seen Yildiz Kiosk as i t really is, and have gained one particular impression from i t which i t may n o t be without interest to history t o recor d. I n this diary I am sometimes forced t o distort my fresh impressions, for I record them right o n the spot where a stroke o f bad luck or a trick of espionage m i g h t p u r l o i n the book from m e as a n incriminating document. B u t here and now, o n a Rumanian boat

in the Black Sea, I feel quite free, safe, and a t liberty, like that time on the “Dundee” after leaving Jaffa. For this reason the favorable things which I say here about Sultan Abdul Hamid for the benefit of posterity have the full value of truthfulness. Naturally, neither his red cordon nor his yellow diamond has influenced me i n the least. Such things leave me completely cold, as they would any sensible person. For m e they have only political value, which I weigh calmly, neither overestimating nor underestimating i t . I believe that some capital can be made o u t of these things for the benefit of the movement. T h i s w i l l make us stronger, give us more authority, and this authority w i l l i n turn enable us to make further progress. My impression of the Sultan was that he is a weak, cowardly, b u t thoroughly good-natured man. I regard h i m as neither crafty nor cruel, but as a profoundly unhappy prisoner i n whose name a rapacious, infamous, seedy camarilla perpetrates the vilest abominations.

I f I didn’t have the Zionist movement t o look after I would now go and write an article that would give the poor prisoner his freedom. Abdul Hamid Khan I I is a collective name for the most depraved pack of rogues that has ever made a country unsafe and unhappy. I never even suspected that such a troupe de malfaiteurs [gang of crooks] was possible. T h e shamelessness of this business of tip-taking, which begins a t t h e palace g a t e a n d ends only a t t h e foot of the throne, is probably n o t even the worst of i t . Everythi ng 1s a business, and

every official or functionar y is a crook. A t least,

this is what I heard from all sides, and what I have seen o f the

goings-on makes me believe that i t is n o slander.

1128 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL I can only compare this anonymous band of bums t o a tangle of venomous snakes. T h e weakest, sickest, a n d least noxious snake

wears a l i t t l e crown. B u t this army o f snakes has such a peculiar

structure that i t looks as though its crowned head were the one that b i t and poisoned everything. T h e rabble of Yildiz Kiosk is the real bande de malfaiteurs [band

of crooks]. They always scatter after committing some infamy; and since there are always several of them, n o one is responsible except h i m , the Master, i n whose name the deed was done.

And t o this name attaches all the horror which only a shrewdly cruel criminal on the throne could inspire, while i n reality the criminals surround the throne. I n my idea for a play, The Master, I had had i n mind just such a cowardly, unprincipled set of servants, enfeebled and enervated

by the horrors of slavery, as represented by dependence on modern capitalism. The “Master,” however, played b y a comedian, was to b e a stupid, weak, ludicrous figure, so that t h e absurdity o f the lord

might make the tragedy of dependence appear even more shattering. This ridiculous Sultan 1s almost the embodiment of my conception, and yet he is n o t , for I can’t help feeling sorry for him. Perhaps I ought to add a new dimension to m y idea for a play by making the manufacturer, the “Master,” secretly a bankrupt. I can s t i l l see h i m before me, this Sultan o f the declining robber

empire. Small, shabby, with his badly dyed beard which is probably freshly painted only once a week, for the selamlik. The hooked nose of a Punchinello, the long yellow teeth w i t h a b i g gap on the upper right. T h e fez pulled low over his probably bald head; the prominent ears “serving as a pants-protector,” as I used to say about such fez-wearers t o m y friends’ amusement—that is, t o keep

the fez from slipping down onto the pants. T h e feeble hands 1n

white, oversize gloves, and the ill-fitting, coarse, loud-colored cuffs. T h e bleating voice, the constraint i n every word, the timidity 1n

every glance. And this rules! Only on the surface, of course, and nominally.

B u t who 1s the real blackguard behind the grotesque mask of this poor Sultan?

D O R H E R Z L 1129 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O Izzet Is it the 1st Secretary Tahs in Bey? I s i t the 2nd Secretary swamps Bey?Is i t still others whom I don’ t know yet, lurki ng i n the k? andbehind the bushes of that glor ious Yild iz Kios

at Tahsin is a man of cold impas sivity, Izzet 1s ready t o pounc e any moment like a tiger.

Probably my best piece of work this time was the way I tamed the tiger Izzet. Surely he is ready t o tear me t o pieces a t the first opportunity, but for the present he had t o slink off snarlin g and craven, with his tail between his legs. And this is what happened yesterday:

May 2 0 , Trudel’s birthday. We packed all our trunks and bags the first thing in the morning, in order t o be able t o leave a t noon. Oskar Mamorek was assigned to get everything ready for our drive t o the station, so that we could still catch the Orient Express even i f we got there at

the last moment. I wouldn't let Wellisch accompany me this

time, for Wolffsohn had told m e that o n the previous day h e h a d fingered and sniffed the letter t o Tahsin a b i t conspicuously. I took Wolffsohn with m e to the palace, and h e had o n h i m the letter with the 1 0 , 0 0 0 francs to give to Tahsin i n case a circonstance

favorable [favorable occasion] could be arranged. I wanted t o make a friend of Tahsin, b u t didn’t wish to risk a n éclat [scandal] o r a

refusal of the money. The occasion would have t o be taken accordingly. Ibrahim Bey was already waiting for me when I arrived a t the palace at g o'clock. I left Wolffso hn i n the ante-chamber and went with Ibrahim into his office. First h e gave m e a message from the

Sultan. H.ILM. (an awestruck bow a t each menti on of this hallow ed pseudonym) was too busy t o receive me a t this time, b u t had asked num Ibrahim, t o commu nicate t o h i m w i t h o u t delay whatev er 1 o say. H . I . M . had immed iately read m y yester day’s letter, o r her, had 2 trans lation o f same mad e b y t h e hone st I b r a h i m . His

nymu striou s Highness had even deigned t o take cognizance of

doa) ve on his afternoon walk. T h e great lord was very curious

Y proposals, the more so as the finances a t this partic

ular tim€ Were i n an even sadder con ditio n than at any time since the iti

1130 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L

beginning of his glorious reign. The Sultan had also repeated 3 number of times my saying about the lion’s thorn. Accordingly, why didn’t I express m y views t o h i m , Ibrahim; i t would almost be as if I submitted them directly t o H i s Supreme Highness, for he would immediately write them down and send them over to the Sultan.

So I started right in, and Ibrahim took notes. I gave a sort o f systematic presentation, calculated for the weak

brain of H . I . M . the Caliph. M y oral outline broke down into two parts, which I clearly expounded t o poor Ibrahim and had him write down I n the following manner. I . Negative Part.

a) Izzet’s consolidation plan is impracticable and even t o

at

tempt i t would be harmful. b) All loans are inadvisable a t present, the main reason being that in her present situation Turkey could only obtain money on the most severely usurious terms—et encore [and then]! I I . Positive Part.

a) Buying u p the dette on the stock exchanges should be carried o u t in complete secrecy by a trustworthy syndicate, something that under the most favorable circumstances could be accomplished within three years. b) Meanwhile, immediate requirements m u s t be provided for, and, i n particular, steps taken to meet the deficit o f

114

million

pounds by October 1st. ¢) During this time, however, tapping new sources of revenue should be studied and implement ed. I I I . General Rationale .

We Jews need a protector i n the world, and we would like this protector (the aforementioned lion) t o regain his full strength. Ibrahim wrote and wrote, and made a clean copy o f his notes— everyt hing o n the palm of his hand and o n his propp ed-up knee,

THE COMPL ETE D I A R I E S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1131 Turkish fashion. Meanwhil e I asked h i m t o have me announced to Tahsin, to whom I wanted to pay a farewell visit. Tahsin again

sent word that he was busy, and afterwards he was called t o H . I . M . At 1 1 o'clock Ibrahim had finished, sealed the report w i t h reverential care, and sent i t t o H . I . M . After a short time h e was summoned b y the Sultan, w h i c h I

could tell from his slipping on his Turkish court-jacket. When he returned after a l i t t l e while, Tahsin Bey was w i t h h i m , positively amiable this time, something I couldn’t immediately account for. He squeezed m y hand, smiled, regretted h e d i d n ’ t have more t i m e

for me, and said with charming certainty that he counted o n see-

ing me again soon in Constantinople. Again I had t o wait a short while. T i m e was passing; i t was already unlikely that I could still catch m y train. Suddenly the door opened, and who should jump in b u t the lean and malignant panther Izzet. H e held i n his hand a paper which I recognized immediately: i t was the strictly confidential report which I had dictated t o Ibrahim and which was intended only for H . I . M . T h e former American Ambassador, Straus, had told m e i n Vienna long ago that H . I . M . was a scoundrel.* Was this the “‘secret, secret”

that he had promised me with eyes solemnly upturned? Izzet brandished the paper grimly and triumphantly, as i f t o say: “What? You never guessed, did you, you Jewish dog, that I would get m y hands o n your scheme and tear your intrigue t o

bits!” He cleared the decks for action. So did I. “En quoi, Monsieur, le projet de I'unification de la dette est-il

nuisible [In what

way,

sir, is the plan for consolida ting the debt

harmful)?” he asked harshly, and I recognized that my proposal had thwarted his thiev ish designs. A t first I gave way before h i s onslaug ht. I tried to b e polite. “Je ne dis pas que ' i d é e n’est pas bonne [ I a m not saying that

the idea isn’t goo d), I said. “Ah, elle est donc bonne [Ah, then i t is good)?” h e said sarcastic* I n English i n the orig ina l.

1132 T H E COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER? ally, and then h e imperiously turned t o Ibrahim: “Ecriy

[Write]l” So Ibrahim was supposed to take down a statement which wou

evidently be submitted t o the Sultan, garnished with lies. But that “Ecrivez!”’ and Izzet’s furious glance drew my attentic to the full extent of the danger. H e n o w intended to ruin me ar

discredit me in the eyes of the Sultan. I n a m o m e n t I had regain my fighting spirit, and calmly said to Ibrahim: “Out, Excellence, écrivez! L’idée est bonne et belle, comme serait beau aussi de voler [Yes, Your Excellency, write! The id is good and fine, just as i t would be fine t o voler*]. . . A furtive look suddenly came into Izzet’s eyes. D i d I mean ste .”

ing or flying? I politely added: “De voler dans lair. Mais c’est impossible dans ces circonstanc E t puisque vous pourriez, en tentant impossible vol aéri tomber et vous casser quelque chose, l'idée est nuisible. L a ter tive n’aurait d’autre résultat que de faire monter le cours des tit turques en Bourse, mais l'opération est infaisable. Vous ne tro erez jamais les trente millions de livres nécessaires pour commen le rachat. E t méme si vous les trouviez, les cours monteraient |

suite de vos achats et 30 millions ne suffiraient plus du tout | in the air. B u t under the circumstances this is impossible. A since in attempting the impossible aerial flight you might

and break something, the idea is harmful. The only result of attempt would be to raise the price of Turkish bonds on the st market—but the operation is impracticable. You will never f the thirty million pounds needed t o begin the redemption. A

even i f you found them, the price would go u p as the result your purchases, and the go millions would n o longer suffice b long shot].” “ C e nest pas ce que j'ai v o u l u dire [That isn’t what I mean said the rogue, giving i n . For that is what h e had said yesterday

I didn’t make i t hard for h i m t o come round. After all, I wan ®

Translator’s Note: Voler means both “ t o steal” and “ t o fly.”

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1133 to win h i m over. A n d after I had shown h i m m y clenched fist, I

tried t o make him tractable b y glances. As Ibrahim was present, I couldn’t say anything to h i m ; I could only look deep into his eyes and say: W i t h our cooperation every

financial operation on behalf of H . I . M . will turn o u t well. With our cooperation you w i l l do well, etc. A n d many other tempting,

promising sous-entendus [hints], which I accompanied with a wink. I looked at m y watch. W e had missed the train. Then I made a mistake, maybe a big one, b u t perhaps not one at all. I went outside

and handed Wolffsohn the letter for Tahsin which had been prepared in the hotel, for immediate delivery. I n this letter I told him that I would send him, through Vambéry, the message that he had refused t o accept from Wolffsohn yesterday. When I returned t o the office, Ibrahim and Izzet arose according to Turkish custom and did n o t sit down until I had done so. The conversation continued. Izzet was more gentle. We talked about the ressources a créer [revenues to be created]. H . I . M . was

offering me the exploitation of five monopolies: mines, oil fields, etc. Presumably this meant that we were t o raise the money for the purpose. They would l i k e to clean us o u t . I looked friendly and dense: that could be done all right. Then Izzet blurted out:

“We need about four million pounds in the near future. We have ordered warships, etc. I n short, we need something l i k e four

million. Could you get that for us?” “ I think i t possible. I should have t o consult my friends. Everything would depend on the attitude H i s Imperial Majesty would adopt towa rd us Jews .”

“What is your idea,” asked Izzet, “for raising and covering such a loan?” I s t i l l d i d n ’ t want t o come right o u t with the Charter, b u t wanted to let them work u p t o i t , and said I would send them word 1n three or four weeks, after I had consulted with m y friends. It

was a t t h i s point, I t h i n k , that I s m a i l Hakki Bey, Tahsin’s

confidential dragoman, came in, and with a very unfriendly air—

1134 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]. obviously o n purpose, because o f the presence o f I b r a h i m and the

mortal enemy Izzet—asked me what kind of message was men. tioned i n my letter. Tahsin requested me t o send h i m the message through Ismail Hakki. Izzet pricked u p his ears, a n d I saw h i m give I b r a h i m a knowing

wink. They guessed that money was involved. I couldn’t understand what was going on. D i d Tahsin w a n t t o nail my attempted bribery? Was he simply asking for money? Since I wasn’t sure about the local set-up, but knew i n any case that I was i n the presence of the enemy, I said as nonchalantly as possible that i t was something Prof. Vambéry had asked me t o communicate t o h i m and which I would write h i m before I left. Ismail Hakki went o u t angrily. W e , however, went o n w i t h o u r conversation, w h i c h n o w reached

an unexpected climax. H . I . M . asked me, through Izzet and I b r a h i m , what about the

citizenship of those Jews who wanted t o do business, i n one form or another, with or inside Turkey. “Ils peuvent venir chez nous, les Israélites,” said Izzet in his barbarous French, “mais ils doivent accepter la sujétion ottomane. Par exemple, si vous rachetez les titres de la dette publique, les membres devront étre des sujets de S.M.I. Ainsi de méme ceux qui viennent comme colons.Ils devraient non seulement devenir sujets turques mais aussi renoncer a leur sujétion antérieure et se faire attester leur sortie de la sujétion par le gouvernment respectif [The Israelites can come here, b u t they must agree to become Ottoman subjects. For instance, i f you b u y back the bonds o f the Public

Debt, the participants will have t o become subjects of H.I.M. The same thing applies t o those who come i n as colonists. They must not only become T u r k i s h subjects, b u t must also renounce their

previous allegiance and m u s t have this renunciation documented by the government concerned].” “Et faire le service militaire si S.M.I. les appelle sous les drapeaux

[And perform military

service i f H i s Imperial Majesty calls

them t o the colors],” said Ibrahim . “Dans ces conditions-la o n pourrait recevoir les Israélites de tous

E O D O R H E R Z L 1135 THE CO MP LET E DIA RIE S O F T H the les pays chez nous [Under these conditions we could let i n dline ss of a [sraclites of every land ],” said Izzet w i t h the frien hyena. I thought to myself : “Eine gute Krink , [You shoul d live so :

for us to long)!” I t would just suit Messieurs Izzet and Com pany

B u t that bring in poor men and rich m e n for them t o plund er.

wasn’t the moment t o raise objec tions with blackguards from whom, at a later date, the Charter will have t o be boug ht section by section anyway. So I pretended t o be delight ed a t the prospect of comin g under

the old reliable and glorious sceptre of Abdul Hamid , and said I was agreeable t o entering into details. “For another thing, colonizatio n must not take place i n masses. Instead, let us say, five families here and five there—scatt ered,

without connection.” “So you can plunder and slay them more easily?” I thought t o myself and made a friendly face expressing agreement. “Even though I wouldn’t have the slightest objection t o such a dispersion, certain technical and economic difficulties neverthelessmilitate against i t . Last year, as y o u know, H i s I m p e r i a l Majesty

was gracious enough to make some land i n Anatolia available to

Rumanian Jewish refugees. With all gratitude for so much generosity I still was not i n favor o f scattered settlements, because the

economic foundation was lacking. Such haphazard emigration be encouraged. There is no point t o it. What could be

must not

done, however, is t o organize a great land company t o which uncultivated territory could be assigned and which could then settle People on it. Surely there is land enough i n Palestine which could be used for such a purpose. I f this land company, w h i c h would n o doubt have to be a n Ottoma n corpora tion, were given a suitabl e concession, 1t could make the land arable, settle people , and pay

taxes. And on the prospective income of this land company, money could perhaps be borrowed i n advance. Y o u would have a ressource

[source of revenue] righ t there.” I n that inoffe nsive form I propo unde d the Char ter t o the Sul-

1136 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ].

tan’s representatives for the first time, and contented myself wi, their listening t o all these suggestions. I t will be time enough t o elaborate o n the matter i n the sub. sequent negotiations, and gold will serve t o sweep away all the misgivings of doughty Izzet and his likes. Izzet disappeared, ostensibly i n order t o inform H.I.M. of everything I had said. After a while he returned with a farewell greeting from H.I.M., who expects my definite proposals within : month. Thus we have actually entered upon negotiations for the Charter. All 1t takes now t o carry o u t everything that I have de signed is luck, skill, and money.

A t the present stage, I am giving the grant of a Charter mor the character of a favor rendered t o us i n order t o awaken ou sympathies for the Turkish Empire. E t nous verrons aprés [And after that w e shall see]!

These were the noteworthy incidents of May 2 0 , 1go1, the nint! birthday of m y daughter Trudel. So far there is not much that is tangible in these results, and ye I already see in them the embryo of the whole.

May 24, Vienna Returned home yesterday evening. There has only been a trick] of news from Constantinople. The N . Fr. Pr. has been silent, ( course. M y Dad told me that the fellows had s e n t someone t o Ir house to get m y address. M y D a d went t o t h e office last Saturd:

and spoke with Benedikt, also showed h i m my telegram sayin “I'rip

most satisfactory, homeward bound Monday.” Benedil

said: “That's terrific.” B u t they definitely counted o n my suppl ing that essay promised for the Pentecost number. I a m n o w writing to Benedik t: Dear Friend:

I returned home last night. I a m planning to write the Penteco feuilleton. I t i s a simple love story entitled “Sunset.” Since I assun

THE COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1137 that you want it for the main section and n o t the supplement, I shall turn in the manus cript tomor row evenin g.

I suggest that you r u n the enclosed item among the despatches. Of course, I need have n o fear that the matter will b e taken u p

further i n the paper, b u t b y way of precaution I would recommend awaiting my oral inform ation . With kindest regards,

Sincerely yours, Herzl.

Enclosure. (Despatch): Constantinople (Special). T h e Sultan has bestowed the Grand Cordon of the Mejidiye Order on Dr. Theodor Herzl of Vienna, whom he had received in a two-hour audience last Friday after the selamlik. ¥*

%*

¥*

Addendum: T h e letter which I addressed t o the Sultan o n Sunday, May 1gth: *

Sire:

The gracious welcome with which Y.I.M. has deigned t o honor me has gone straight t o m y heart, and I beg Y.I.M. t o count m e among his most devot ed serva nts. I t is for this same reason that I request the honor of being received again before m y departure which must b e effected tomorrow, Monday, o n the Orient Express, because m y duties recall me to Vienna. T h e informatio n which H . E . Izzet Bey was good enough t o give me on orders from Y.I.M. has sufficiently enlightened me o n the project i n question, and from now on I shall be able t o express

my humble opinion i f Y.I.M. does me the signal honor I am Tequesting. I t would be most useful i f this could be done orally. *

Translator's Note: A t this point the original manuscript contains the rough ’

.

°

draft of the lette r to the Sult an, i n Fren ch.

a

o

°

°

1138 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]. I have another scheme t o submit i n the profoundest secrecy, t the lofty wisdom of Y.I.M,, [Instru ction to Embassy: I shall have another ,

final talk with Izzet]* and this very day, because Y . I . M . may wish to g o i n t o the details

and the explanations might take some hours. The hour may have come in which the lion will be relieved of his thorn. God the Almighty, who is above us, willing, Turkey has arrived a t a turning point i n its history, and the glorious reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan II, so beloved b y his Moslem and Jewish subjects whom he makes happy, will cover i t with new splendor. I am very moved as I direct these words from a sincere heart to the august person of Your I . M . I have the honor to be, Sire, Your I . M . ’ s very faithful and

obedient servant, Dr. Th. H.

Whit-Monda y, May 27, Vienna Yesterday or today i t is six years since I visited Baron Hirsch and, following his refusal, decided t o c r e a t e the Jewish State on

my own. What travels, what travails! M a y 27, i n Vienna I a m writing to Benedikt i n order t o avoid seeing h i m and letting h i m get m e excited , because I definit ely have to leave tomorr ow:

May 28, 1 9 0 1 Dear Friend:

I t is better i f I write you than i f I talk w i t h you about it. A few weeks ago you told m e that such altercations get you a b i t excited, ®

I n German i n the original.

L 1139 THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z and that certain ly isn’t necessary. A t that t i m e I expla ined t o you that I don’t feel q u i t e happy i n m y positio n w i t h the N . Fr. Pr, rabecause ] am more depen dent than is i n keepi ng w i t h m y tempe

ment. No matter how amiable and amicable you and Dr. Bacher may always have been toward me, still, I didn’t feel the way I would have wanted to.

The “editorship” of the feuilletons and of the literary section of

theN. Fr. Pr. canno t satisfy me.

Now I have searched my m i n d and am making you a proposition. The reason for my dissatisfaction and nervousness is the abovementioned “editorship” of the literary section, e t c . This is a cobweb and a suit of mail. I am superfluous there, and yet tied down. I f at any time I want to get away for a week o r two, i t is a whole

project. T o the e x t e n t that i t isn’t mere pen-pusher’s work, Dr. Ganz, for instance, could and would easily take care of i t . That you don’t give the literary editor his independence I understand perfectly; a newspaper can be run only by a central will. Anyone can draft a telegram to Dreyer o r Brieux.

I t I may be so immodest as t o speak of the small value which I may have t o the N . Fr. Pr., i t can be only that of m y articles. B u t I can also write them the way W i t t m a n n does, that 1s, w i t h o u t working at the office. I f I a m i n Vienna, I can come t o the office every day, t o hear what is going on, t o keep i n touch, and you com-

mission a feuilleton. When I am in the country, the same thing can be done by telephon e o r telegrap h. I f , finally, i t should happen

thatI take a trip for a week or t w o , I can send a feuillet on a week, as I have been i n the habit of doing from Paris or London i n the last few years. This expresses the essence of m y relatio nship t o the

N. Fr. Pr. Naturally, I could imagine this form of relationship

to

the paper only under the conditio n that m y emolum ent remain the

same. The fact that part of my income is put down for the “editor ship” you called only a matter of bookkeeping a t the time, and

I'have never rega rded i t as a n y t h i n g diffe rent . May I request you to address your k i n d reply to m y father , Mr.

Jacob Herzl. He will forward i t

to

me, for I should like

to

take

another trip of a few weeks: natur ally, this w i l l exhaust m y vaca-

1140 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy]. tion. Then, from the end of J u n e on, you can count on my

feuilletons each week even during the saison morte [dead season] i f you so desire. With the kindest regards, Very sincer ely yours, T h . Herzl. *

*

¥*

T o Crespi, May 28, 1go1, Vienna: * Dear Sir: I am leaving today for several weeks, and this is why I am sending you the enclosed check for a thousand francs, covering the montt of June, before June 1st. Please address your letters t o me in a double envelope t o Dr O . Kokesch, Tuchlauben 14, Vienna I.

Expecting your useful information and begging you t o conve! m y kindest regards to our eminent friend, I a m

Cord ially yours, Herz l.

May 28, Vienna,

T o Ibrahim Bey: * Your Excellency: Permit m e to send youa l i t t l e souvenir o f the fine hours durin

which I had the honor and the pleasure of meeting with y o u ! your devotion to H . I . M . I t is a snuff-box, which I a m sending b

mail. T h e kettle plates have been ordered and w i l l b e sent to YO next week. ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1141 By doing m e the honor o f accepting these trifles you will give

me evidence of your good will which I value so highly. I am setting out today with the purpose you know about.

With the expression of my profound respect and gratitude, Faithfully yours, T h . Herzl.

May 29, o n the express train t o Franzensfeste, tosee Vimbéry

Yesterday there was quite an uproar before my departure, until I finally landed a t the Siidbahnhof [Southern Railroad Station] four minutes before the express train left and was just able t o have my suitcase thrown into the baggage car, but didn’t have time t o register it.

I n the morning I went t o see Dirsztay, who read me vilifying and

threatening letters from that blackguard Crespi. This Dirsztay seems to be a Jew as dirty as h e is rich, of the aptkorsim [free-think-

ing] kind. For he evidently has Crespi do h i m favors i n return for

promising this Levantine scamp t o put i n a good word for him with me.For this intercession he probably wants some decoration, unless he even uses i t for speculation—he, who gets an annual stipend of hundreds of thousands of guilders from his father-in-law. Of course, I acted as though I d i d n ’ t think i l l of h i m , b u t asked

him to write his friend Crespi that he shouldn't dare t o write me In an insolent tone, for otherwise I would immediately and without further ado break off relations w i t h h i m . Naturally I wouldn't be taken i n b y Crespi’s l i e that h e hadn’t got anything o f the 30,000 francs. I h a d n ’ t even checked o n whether I was b e i n g

cheated o r not. B u t they shouldn't take m e for a n idiot, even if 1 acted generously. Dirsztay obsequiously promised m e t o write

quite in accordance with my wishes. Then I drove t o see Ambassador Mahmud Nedim Bey, who greeted me with the words “Congratulations, effendil”

1142 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]. And immediately he was off and told me all his worries ang stupidities. That a diplomat?! What am I , then? H e grumbled about all his secretaries, who were spying on him slandering him, and n o t doing any work. Nothing but liars, block. heads, and blackguards. ‘The First Secretary of the Embassy, he said, was writing reports t o Constantinople in which he, the ambassador, was presented as a drunkard who staggered about plastered all day et ne peut tenir sur ses quatre pieds [and can’t keep on his four feet]. O n my four feet! said the jackass. And t o make i t even more graphic for me, he got u p and w i t h a serious expression per-

formed the actions of a souse, babbling and reeling about. This solo comedy-act took about half a minute. I f I had hitherto been able t o take his inanities for a shrewd pretense a t simple-mindedness—it was that improbable that an ambassador could really be so stupid—after his ridiculous behavior there could no longer be any doubt that he really was an ass. Then he vilified the Second Secretary, who, h e said, came from

his mistress a t 9:30 i n the morning, smoked a few cigarettes, and left again a t 1 1 , with which his work was done. Then he berated the embassy councillor whom they had assigned t o him, an 1gnora n t Egyptian who couldn’t read or write, and the husband of a Mohammedan woman who attended evening parties i n low-cut dresses. She is the Khedive’s sister, and had wanted h i m to introduce her to the Emperor. B u t her brother h a d flatly refused her

this, because i t ran c o u n t e r t o Mohammedan c u s t o m . And the way he tried t o illustrate all this for me by examples from Judaism: i t was as i f I wanted to serve pork to a Rabbi o n Saturday, or offer

him a cigar. T h e n h e complained a b o u t conditions i n Turkey—the mismanagement, the rascalities. They still owed him £4,500 i n back pay, a n d h e h a d t o pay 10%, o f h i s salary t o usurers. J e fis l a s o u r d e oreille [ I turned a deaf ear]. I f he should ever be able t o be of use, 1 shall

get h i m t h e loan a t 4 o r 5 % :

H e also spoke critically of Izzet whom he called le mauvats genie [the evil genius]. H e had already fallen from favor once, i t Was true, b u t the Sultan could not part with this sharer o f secrets. If

THE COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1143 he should disappear, however, the Sultan would surely ofter four candles “dans une église non catholique [in a non-Catho lic church].” Tahsin, he said, was somewhat better. B u t Mahmud N e d i m

can't forgivehim for his failure t o have the £4,500 arriérés [arrears] paid to him, although the Sultan had already issued two irades to this effect. The secretaries Tahsin and Izzet did whatever they

wanted. But Tahsin was the more loyal one, and even though, for example, he seemed to b e the creature o f Maximow, the Russian,

this was surely happening with the Sultan’s knowledge and approval. Mahmud Nedim was visibly impressed when I told him about my long audience with the Sultan. I said that I had t o keep silent about its contents, b u t I was authorized t o transmit m y letters to

the Sultan directly through Ibrahim. I n reply t o my request t o send my letter through the courrier de l'ambassade [diplomatic pouch] he told me that they had no such institution. Every ambassador, he said, sends his letter by ordinary mail! But he did place his code key to Tahsin a t my disposal, and we arranged that he would sign his letters and telegrams t o me “Dym.” I shall sign mine t o him “old man.” Dirsztay had told m e that permission to wear m y Grand Cordon

would be granted by the Austrian government only upon the request of the Turkish ambassador. This seemed improbable t o

me, because surely an ambassador cannot do anything b u t what his master wishes—in one of his stupid remarks Mahmu d Nedim

hadrepresented himself as the former's “exécuteur testamentaire” [executor of his testament]—but I requested him t o do i t anyway. He refused, perhaps o u t of innate malevolence, but perhaps beCause he really is unable t o . Je n’insistais point [1 didn’t insist a t all] and -

I would take i t u p w i t h Koerber as soon as the decree

arrived.

Th en we pa rte d frie nd s.

1144 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz], I n the afternoon the A.C. met a t m y home, and I gave instryc. tions for the period of m y absence. *

*

3%

I shall write N u r i from Paris that h e shouldn't l e t Crespi bother me.

May 29, evening O n the train, between Innsbruck and Munich. Vambéry entered m y compartment a t Miihlbach, we rode to

Franzensfeste, and over lunch a t the local inn I gave h i m my report. H e thought what I had achieved tremendous. I for my part told him that he had accomplished a great deal more than he had promised me. T o this he replied: “You are a noble person for not minimizing this now.” H e thinks that we shall have the Charter this very year. He plans t o go t o Constantinople again i n September. Meanwhile he would like me t o make a draft of the Charter which he intends t o present t o the Sultan and get i t signed by him without any Secretary or Minister finding out about it. For this I promised h i m 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 guilders and a eulogy in world history. H e showed himself receptive t o both. I also asked h i m to get Wolffsohn and Oskar Marmorek one

order second class each. Moreover, he should write Tahsin that I was his friend, and to the Sultan, that I a m n o w traveling to various courts i n order to

dispel the concern that m y appearance i n Constantinople on behalf of Palestine may have given rise to. Also, that I was going to render

the Sultan journalistic assistance once I had straightened out his finances for him. M a y 31, morn ing, o n the Orien t Expre ss, outsid e Paris

Yesterday, then, I visited the good Grand Duke. This time the

audience did not take place w i t h o u t difficulty. T h e train which

THE COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1145 took there from Munich was more than a n h o u r late, because earlier a train had been derailed at a Bavarian station. I arrived at

Karlsruhe a t four instead of three. A t the hotel I was told that the Grand Duke had expected m e two days ago and had twice sent messengers there. Yesterday a t three, too, a c o u r t lackey had been there to tell me to come t o the palace the minute I arrived from the station. However, the train had been sectioned i n Wiirttem-

berg, because they had n o t been able to straighten o u t the Bavarian delay, and one section of the train had arrived i n Karlsruhe a t three; when I wasn’t o n it, the Grand Duke probably thought I wasn’t coming at all, although I had sent h i m a telegram from

Munich. When I had them telephone the palace right after my arrival tosay that I was here, the answer was ‘ t h e Grand Duke has n o more time today” for me. In giving m e this message, the hotel clerk, w h o had treated m e

submissively, made the face expressing ironic regret which one shows to courtiers who have fallen from favor. But his saying that the Grand D u k e had probably gone to Baden-Baden was worse. Then the chances for an audience were dim. I already resigned myself t o the idea o f losing a day i n Karls-

ruhe. But I personally telephoned the palace t o say that I was expecting H.R.M. ’s orders. I was now a t liberty t o be bored stiff for t w o hours and meditate

about the difficulties of dealing with princes.* But at half-past six a telephone message came from the palace, saying that the Grand D u k e was expecting m e a t 8 o'clock. I was to wear my overcoa t. N o t evening dress, ** then. |

In

I had them harness the hotel carriage for me, packed my suitcase such a way that I could depart a t the last momen t even i f the

audience should take a long time, and made a careful toilet. Frock

coat, but without

the Mejidiye rosette . I didn’t want

to

appear t o

on te ap ior’s Note Heral’s phrase i s tiber das Kirschenessen mit F trsten, based m 1st nicht gut Kirschen essen, “beware of eating cherries with

him,”»j e , he is hard t o get with . ** I n English in t h e origialong na 1.8,

i

l,

1146 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL be fishing for decorations.* A t this particular time a Germap decoration would b e a great impediment to me. A t five minutes

eight I drove u p t o the palace courtyard i n style. The guards almost presented arms. When I didn’t return the half-salute, the soldiers smiled. to

A t the gate ramp the lackeys helped m e o u t o f the carriage like a n old acquaintance. And so I stood once again in the flag room

with the war pictures. Waiting among these flags and pictures is another recurring chapter i n the novel of m y life. I had thought that the invitation for 8 o’clock m e a n t a dinner invitation and had n o t eaten. I hadn’t had anything since 1 1 o'clock that morning. B u t one should always e a t before going t o see princes; for they don’t know that ordinary mortals have stomachs too.

A t 8 o'clock the changing of the guard took place. The young fellows marched across the palace yard at a goose-step. Then I had

n o diversion until half-past eight and stood t i l l I was fit t o drop. Finally, a t half-past eight, the Grand Duke opened the door to the red salon, so familiar t o me by now, and gave me a very friendly greeting. We seated ourselves i n the red salon i n armchairs, and he began b y saying that he had already learned the gratifying news from the Welt, which h e read regularly, and from Hechler. Hadn't h e always told m e that I must try to get to the Sultan directly?

Parbleu [My heaven]! I thought t o myself. H e himself and the Kaiser must n o t dare t o come out i n behall of our cause, out of consideration for the German Jews, for people might interpret i t t o mean that they wanted t o be rid of then Jews. Caution was required o n account o f the anti-Semites as well for they could support the movement i n a compromising manner: O u t with the Jews! Anti-Semitism was altogether a dangerous anc detestable m o v e m e n t which ought t o be opposed everywhere. Tres b i e n ! mais ca n e faisait pas d u t o u t m o n affaire [Very well

but t h a t didn’t serve my purpose a t all]. I said: “ I too believe that a t present the German governmen cannot stand u p for the Zionist movement i n a tangible way, b u ®

I n English i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1147 fora different reason. I t w i l l be possible , when the t i m e comes, t o

make the German Jews understan d that precisely as German patriots they can and should support our cause, even i f they d o not emigrate. For there are German interest s i n Asia M i n o r which

would undoubtedly be served by it. The Jews all over the world are an element of German culture, which was shown conclusiv ely

by the language i n which our Congresses were conducted. I can see another reason for the German governme nt's reserve: namely, for Germany t o set itself u p as the patron of the Zionist movement would arouse the utmost distrust and jealousy of the other Powers. I understood this so well that I didn’t bat an eye-lash when the protectorate promised i n 1898 didn’t materialize. A n d yet that was a frightful blow t o me. Many who had already joined us dropped off when the magnificently staged reception in Jerusalem didn’t lead to anything.” “ I hope these weren’t the most influential elements,” said the Grand Duke regretfully . “It took a great deal of steadfastness on m y part t o survive this

blow. But I told myself that the only way in which I could show myself worthy of the trust placed i n me would be t o keep silent. People said that all the assertions about German good will were 2 fraud. I kept silent about that and let them snipe a t me. I t was part of the adverse reaction that the funds for publici ty became Scarce. On this occasion I should also like t o rectify somet hing that our good Mr. Hechler has done. H e asked Your Roya l Highness to donate money for

the Zionist Bank. This happened without my knowledge and intention. He m e a n t well. But i t would be terrib ly

Painful to me i f Your Roya l Highness could believe for even a second that I was interested i n anyt hing but mor al supp ort.”

He smiled amiably, every inch a king, and said: h a this occasion, too, you are displaying the delicacy of feeling you have shown from the beg inni ng.”

Isaid: “When I arrived i n the city of the Sultan, my first impulse i yISt to word, pasend tron of ou r through cause.” Hechle r, t o Your Royal Highne ss as the

1148 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER]

H e replied modestly: ‘helper!’

Patron ’ 1s saying too much. Let us s;

After that I reported i n brief and non-commital outline abo

what I had accomplished a t Constantinople. I said that I hadn got beyond the initial steps. I n general, negotiations were only a n embryonic stage, and therefore I trembled greatly for th

embryo. M y particular worry was Russia which might interfe ' t w i x t the c u p and the l i p . “Russia,” said the Grand D u k e , “ i s otherwise occupied. T t

Far Eastern difficulties are greater than was thought. There Russ has territorial complexes t o defend which aren’t easy t o hold. Mo of all, the popular principle of uniformity of language and fai cannot be p u t into effect there. I n the Balkan peninsula, to Russia has worries enough. I t could happen that a crisis over tl Serbian succession will lead t o an enlargement of Montenegro. | any case, there are no interests i n Palestine comparable t o the which would be of major importance t o Russia, w i t h the exceptic of the religious ones. B u t surely you will take care n o t t o infrin, upon these?” “ O f course!” I said. “Jerusalem w i l l remain extra commerciu

[untouched by business].” “Incidentally, the present conditions there are rather a disgra to the Christian creeds,” said the Grand Duke. ‘ B u t there is respe for the Turks, otherwise there would constantly b e the great disorder. A t any rate, a further expansion o f the influence of t

Greek Church would be neither possible nor desirable. But wh do you want from Russia?” “Nothing. Just an audience with the Czar.” ““T'hat young gentleman,” said the Grand Duke, “despite all |

ability has a very introverted, reserved nature. H e certainly cann b e induced to make a decision. Y o u would have t o turn t o oth

persons of his circle: Grand Duke Constantine, whom he has Jt made Inspector o f Military Training, o r t o Minister Witte,

Lambsdorff, or t o the new Minister of Education. Grand D u Constantine seems t o b e a person o f i m p o r t a n c e . H e proceeds t h e assumption that i n a n a r m y spirit is more t h a n numbers. T l

THE COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1149 was our good fortune i n 1 8 7 0 . I t was the spirit that fought our battles, even though we faced a ten-fold superiority. Constantine’s wife, a German princess ( I t h i n k he said the Princess of Anhalt), was in Baden recently; she was the one who told me these things. I t will show you what kind of woman she is i f I tell you that she has remained a German and a Protestant i n Russia. Through her I could get the Grand D u k e interested i n your cause and i n you and get h i m to receive y o u . ”

“Perhaps i t could also be done via Denmark?” “Through the Emperor's mother? I don’t think so. I t will be hard t o get the Czar anyway.” “ I want nothing from h i m b u t an hour's conversation—a symbolic act of benevolence. As far as I a m concerned, h e can l e t m e

tell him something about the theatre i n Paris. I need this conversation so that the Sultan i n his timidity won't be afraid that he will provoke Russia against h i m i f he has dealings with us. I don’t want any help from Russia—on the contrary! For then we would get under its terrible thumb. N o r d o I want a decision from the

Czar. Rather, I shall be very glad if, after hearing me, he is just bored and dismisses the matter as uninteresting. M y only desire in this is to reassure the Sultan.” “The Sultan is stronger than he thinks. You could and should draw his attention t o this—now that you are a Knight of his

Mejidiye Order!” he said teasingly. But he added: “This decoration has really caused a stir—the highest that h e confers. That

has given many people food for though t.” We spoke about many other things of n o major importance. B u t I think he liked the idea that I d i d n ’ t want any b i n d i n g aid from Russia, and h e offered to write to Grand D u k e Constantine and

recommend that he receive me. H e promised me a prompt answer, because I told h i m that I didn’t w a n t t o make the Sultan any Proposals before I had assured myself of Russia's neutrality. But he regarded the fact that the Sultan had permitted m e to make proposit ions to h i m as a n enormo us success. I t was ten. I gave h i m to understand that m y train was leaving

1150 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]. soon, and h e dismissed me, amiably and charmingly as always,

assuring me of his continuing favor. H e is the noblest person I know—cultivated, great-hearted, ang helpful. There have been times when I considered h i m intellec. tually insignificant, b u t yesterday h e was altogether independent

and sagacious in his political remarks.

May 31, Paris Immediately after my arrival I telephoned Reitlinger and asked him t o come t o see me. I told him everything and requested him t o let me know by tomorrow whether he could raise a t least £114 million for the Charter; I told him that I wanted t o try the I.CAA, t o be sure, b u t was under n o illusions about the envy and jealousy of those people.

J u n e 1, Paris

Yesterday, following an hour-and-a-half’s conversation with Reitlinger whom I tried to entice a l i t t l e as a Zionist and a lot as businessman, I w e n t t o see A l e x Marmorek a t t h e Taverne Royale.

Alex was very pleased about the success i n Constantinople. How ever, he said that the Russian Hovevei Zion, who are a t the same time members of the A.C., had received the news very coolly. As? matter

of fact, Kokesch had already told me i n Vienna that Tschle

now, Ussishkin, Bernstein-Kohan, and Barbasch had reproachec us for having drawn upon Bank funds for such a purpose, though

was only a loan and on our personal responsibility. They were against the Congress because we had nothing “offer,” and they don’t consider the negotiations with the Sultar

worth all that money .

And this a t the very time when their humiliating visits

©

supplication t o t h e I . C . A . a n d t o Baron Edmond R o t h s c h i l d have

netted them the most disgraceful of rebuffs. These are the “helpers” I have t o work with.

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1151 Once the Jewish State is i n existence, everyth ing will appear small and obvious. Perhaps a fair-mi nded histori an will find that + was something after a l l i f an impecu nious Jewish journa list i n the midst of the deepest degradation of the Jewish people and a t a time of the most disgusti ng anti-Sem itism made a flag o u t o f a

rag and a people o u t of a decadent rabble, a people that rallied erect around this flag. But all this and my skill i n negotiating with Powers and princes arenothing. Noone can appreciate what I have done and what I have suffered who doesn’t know

1) what I have endured these past six years with the N . Fr. Pr. when I had t o tremble for m y children’s bread,

2) what toil and trouble procuring the funds for propaganda has caused me, 3) who my helpers have been. Those with the best intentions are either too poor or hamstrung or unsuited. %*

%

*

From the Taverne Royale we went t o see Nordau. I made m y report, i n the middle of which I was interrupt ed b y Feldman n the

newspaper correspondent, an old comrade. He said i n response tomy questions that h e knew absolut ely nothing about the Zionist

movement. He is a baptized Jew. After he left I continued.

Then Nordau made a speech. My audience with the Sultan was

a world-historic fact, b u t I had comm itted the enorm ous mista ke

of playing va banque [all or nothi ng]!

|

People were going t o say later that I had forced my way t o the Sultan under false pretenses, etc . Bref, i l m’a écoeuré [In short, he nauseated me]

.

No help might be expected from I.C.A., just as little as from

Rothschild. Wh en I inte rjec ted that I was con side ring req ues ting an audience with the Czar, so that the wealthy Russian Jews mig ht be ssed " himpre pressed and donate money, Norda u disposed of this b y sayi

1152 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL “ T h a t is a hallucination!”

Finally I proposed that the three of us should get together with Zadoc Kahn and ask h i m i f h e was w i l l i n g t o intervene with the I.C.A. and with Edmond Rothschild—provided that h e expected some success from this, and at least n o harm.

We were supposed t o sleep on this and make our decision today.

June 2 , Paris T h e Reitlinger arrangement must, I believe, already be regarded

as collapsed. Reitlinger despairs of getting rich Jews t o cooperate i n the matter. I am making h i m the following proposal: Since I consider i t a waste o f t i m e t o a t t e m p t t o make Zionism

intelligible t o the rich Jews, he should try t o set u p a syndicate that would first of all subscribe and make available the £50,000 needed t o enable the Bank t o function. I n return the syndicate will be given the option o n the remaining 1 1 4 million shares, t o be exercised after the Colonial Trust has obtained the Charter, which 1t should be given. Besides, the syndicate will get a share of 2 5 t o 3 0 9 , of all business which the Colonial Trust transacts w i t h the Turkish government. H e 1s t o think this over. *

*

*

After the luncheon a t Reitlinger’s I took Alex t o see Nordau. The phenomenon Nordau is interesting t o watch right now. H e wishes me well—I am convinced of that—, b u t he has t o make some effort t o put u p w i t h m y successes. I f i t were the other way around I would surely be n o better, probably even much more

envious. H e feels that certain humiliation common among relatives, as when a cousin's enterprise 1s successful. I t expresses itself i n cold

criticism, putting a damper o n m y further hopes, and i n an

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1153 unmistakable desire t o view the matter as i f I had made false representations t o the Sultan—which, b y the way, Nordau is prepared to forgive me, as a politician sans scrupule [ w i t h o u t scruples]. However, the situation is different and therefore all the more

splendid. I made n o definite offers i n Constantinople, b u t only promised

my efforts. Therefore I can say i n three weeks: M y Jews are favor-

ably inclined in principle, but they would like t o have an assurance first—the Charter, for example! The upshot of the conversation a t Nordau’s was that we agreed to ask Zadoc Kahn for a conference. Alex immediately went t o see him and made an appointment with H i s Jewish Eminence for today, 1 0 : 3 0 i n the morning, a t Nordau’s home. ¥*

¥*

¥*

However, the m o s t noteworthy thing yesterday was a letter from Moritz Benedikt which m y Dad copied and s e n t t o me. Cruel Moritz writes with bewitching amiability. H e appeals t o my heart: “Wittmann is i l l , Speidel is old, and you are tired of allegiance to the empire. Thus the whole burden lies o n Bacher’s shoulders and o n m i n e . ” H e wants t o have a sensible heart-to-heart

talk with me as soon as I r e t u r n from my leave, which means that he recognizes the latter. I a m n o t b e i n g treated as a deserter.

This means: he is afraid that I will raise the money for a new Paper now and wants t o make u p w i t h me. H e says I should n o t Start anything now. Therefore, when I come back he will either have t o excuse me from working i n the office, make me copublisher, or sell me the N . Fr. Pr.

~The first alternative would suit me best right now, although i t

Is

the least luc rati ve.

J u n e 3, Paris

Yesterday, meeting w i t h Zadoc Kahn at Nordau’s; Marmorek present.

1154 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Afterwards the three o f us took down a protocol and sent i t to

Zadoc. Zadoc advised against the I.C.A., which is s t i l l unattainable for us now, b u t recommended us Edmond Rothschild. I said I wag

willing t o go

to

h i m i f Edmond Rothschild invited me and pro-

mised m e discretion. However, i t should b e noted for the record that the initiative was n o t mine, b u t Zadoc'’s.

Nordau and Zadoc se chamaillaient [squabbled]; Nordau insulted Zadoc first. I succeeded i n restoring the peace. *

¥*

¥*

Result nil. Today Zadoc writes that Edmond is n o t willing. ¥*

¥*

¥*

Letter t o Fr. Montefiore:

Strictly confidential!* J u n e 4, 1901 Dear Sir Francis:

The latest infamy of the Rothschilds (the insulting denials in the Financial News, etc.) were the last straw. M y patience is at an end and I intend t o wage a campaign o n the largest scale against

these people. But this cannot be done with speeches and propaganda alone. A financial group t o oppose them must be created. Now that I have returned from Constantinople with a tremendous success in my pocket (which I m u s t n o t make public as yet), the time has come. I remember our last conversation i n Green Park, You said that I should w i n over the Péreires. All right, I shall do m y part. B u t for that I need you, Sir Francis! I know i t i s a sacrifice for you to come over here, o n account o f your sea-sickness. But

I also know that you are just as ready

to

make sacrifices as I am. I

beg you, come here t o Paris the day after tomorrow. Then we shall go t o see the Péreires together. I should l i k e t o have you, the head of the first and foremost Jewish firm, by my side when I go on this ®

I n English in the original .

O R H E R Z L 1155 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D Pére ires, a n d errand. Surely you have some conn ectio ns w i t h the

attacks as 1 even if you don’ t, you have n't been the target of such have. I t is entirely possible that the Péreires think me a dangerous person, i f they have their inform ation from the hostil e press. In short, this time I need you as I need n o one else, Sir Francis! Please wire me tomorr ow whether I may c o u n t on you. With cordial regards,

Yours very sincerely, T h . Herzl. *

*

¥

Reitlinger wants to try to bring in the speculator Michel Ephrussi.

June 5, Paris Yesterday evening, another attack of brain anemia. One day I shall remain in such a condition. I was just taking a drive i n the Bois when I fainted in the carriage. A t first I lay down o n t w o chairs in the bushes, then drove home with greatly diminished consciousness. Today I feel better again. B u t m y nerves are gone.

Ican’t stand this flogging dead horses in the conferences a t Nordau’s every afternoon any more. Nordau paints a graphic picture

for me of all the disagreeable things in store for me. The hostile press, he says, will say shortly that I am a new Baron Hirsch who Wants to make business deals w i t h Turkey o n the backs o f the

Jewish people—et autres bonnes choses [and other nice things]. It's enough to give a ma n a stro ke. ~ Nordau is against my speaking i n opposition t o

I n London now.

the Rothschilds

The speech would only cause a sensation, and we

ought to keep away from demagogic declamations. As for benefit, Nordau foresees none from it.

1156 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Jun e 6, Paris

M y good English boys have immediately flocked t o the colors, Francis Montefiore—honor t o him!—telegraphs that he plans to be here today. Zangwill has arranged a Maccabaean Dinner,* Cowen is making the general arrangements. ¥*

*

J

I n any case, the English Jews present a picture quite different from that of the French. Yesterday I paid Zadoc Kahn a visit for the sake of appearances H e defended the mauvais vouloir [ill will] of the Rothschilds, and said i n his funny Alsatian French: “Il vaut bourdant bleintre les riges [Yet ve haf t o piddy de rish].”

Bleintre les riges! That sufficiently characterizes the pious man. *

*

*

Francis Montefiore is here, but doesn’t know the Péreires. My first move now is t o find o u t which Péreire is the master mind and what kind of a m a n h e is. This afternoon Nordau is calling on a Comte de Larmandie, w h o knows Péreire, i n order to get the

necessary information from him. Then Sir Francis is t o go to Péreire first and ask h i m whether he is willing t o m e e t with me.

Today Nordau criticized

to

Alex—in my absence—the way I

had acted u p t o now. H e thinks me insincere and sneaky in my dealings with princes and the Jewish people. I believe that one day he will carry this censure of his into the open and disgrace himself, myself, and all of us with it. I n any event, his behavior a t this moment is discouraging. Should things go wrong later, h e w i l l have covered himself. I f things keep going well and upward, h e will simply, entre nous [between us], have made a mistake—et n ’ e n parlons p l u s [and let's not

talk about i t any more]. ®

I n English in the original .

THE COM PLET E DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1157 June 6, Paris. Let ter to the S u l t a n : *

Sire: I n accordance w i t h Y.I.M.’s desire, I have set t o work 1 m mediately. I have the good fortune t o b e able t o report today that matters

stand well. Among my friends I have found dispositions that permit me t o hope that I shall be able t o submit definite proposals to Your Imperial Majesty this very month. B u t I must n o t gloss over the fact that there are also Jews who d o n o t share m y views. Y.I.M. i n your lofty wisdom will be able t o make o u t easily whom and what interests those people are serving. I t has seemed opportune to me first of a l l to create a current o f opinion favorable to the general project of coming t o the a i d of the Ottoman finances,

and to this end I shall make a speech i n London n e x t week, a t a Jewish club of which I am an honorary member and which is tenderingme a banquet. I t is known i n London as elsewhere that I do n o t pursue personal interests, and for this simple reason I believe that my words w i l l produce a certain effect.

Perhaps the enemies, Jewish and non-Jewish, of the prosperity of the Ottoman Empire w i l l also use the occasion to pounce upon

me—but with the aid of God and the trust of Y.I.M. I shall proceed with the task I have undertaken, and I hope t o succeed within a very short tim e.

The lion will be relieved of his thorn. Begging Y.I.M. to continue t o grant m e your favor, w h i c h gives

me the necessary courage and makes me proud and happy, I remain, Sire,

Y.I.M.’s very devoted and obedient servant, D r . T h . Herzl.

June 8, Paris r p Sterday I gave a lunc heon at m y hote l i n hono r o f Fran cis ontefiore, and utiliz ed the table talk t o draw Nord au’s atte ntion * I n French in the origin al.

1158 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

in a very delicate manner

to

the fact that I now need forbearance,

and not criticism, from m y friends. A m a n o n a tight-rope should n o t be made dizzy.

At first he was piqued, but then he became pleasant and said: “You are right; all we can do now 1s hurry along with the mattress.” (Thatis, in case there isa fall.) N o answer so far from Péreire as t o whether h e is willing to see

us. Good Sir Francis has just gone there again. This goes t o show what assurance great social standing gives a man. I would have thought that I would compromise m y dignity terribly by it. Sir

Francis simply hasn’t received as many refusals in his life as I have. ¥*

*

%

The most elegant thing about yesterday's luncheon, which was

very chic [smart] was Mr. Reitlinger’s mezummen bentshen [joint after-dinner grace], in accordance with Nordau'’s truly discriminating suggestion. The yellow-damask-covered furniture of the Hotel Chatham had never heard anything like that.

June 1 0 t h , Hans’s (tenth) eleventh birthday

O n the train, between Folkestone and London. I have now dozed and rested for 24 hours i n Folkestone. Before my departure from Paris, the Jerusalem Jew Navon Bey called on me with projects—a badly Parisianized Oriental Jew, type of red Oriental Jew, face of a bird of prey, furtive crook. He once made intrigues against me and now offers me his services. 1 let h i m come, i n any case. H e isn’t going t o cheat me.

J u n e 11, I.on don

Considering the hopelessness o f winning over wealthy Jews, i n Paris o r anywhere, Alex Marmorek and Nordau suggested the

idea of touching Carnegie, the American Croesus-philanthropist for some money. Nordau expressed his willingness t o go t o se€ him,

THE COMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1159

introduced by the American Ambassador Porter. However, Porter wasnot in Paris. During the night before m y departure i t occurred to me that Hechle r would be a better man for it. I immediately sent h i m a telegram, and he is arriving here this evening.

Vimbéry is also here and will attend tonight's dinner of the Maccabean Club. Zangwill, w h o 1s very nice, sat u p late i n t o the

night translating m y speech.

June 1 3 , London Iam awfully dinnered.* On commence a me s’arracher [ I ' m beginning t o be i n great demand].

The day before yesterday the Maccabean Club Dinner*

went

off the way I had intended it t o . I said so l i t t l e that a l o t can be conjectured. The press* has been rather good so far. I had a telegraphic newsagency wire a manifesto t o America w h i c h Zangwill had to com-

pose for me. I am asking £114 million. Yesterday noon I lunched a t Lady Lewis's w i t h a few Jewish ladies from among the uppers,* got i n t o a violent dispute with

them, made an impression, and got further invitations . But a more important figure has turned up: M r . Bramley

Moore, the bishop of the Irvingites, who once came t o see me in Vienna. Hechler is staying w i t h h i m . Bramley Moore, too, 1s a n ardent

Zionist, and wanted t o have me join h i m for luncheon yesterday. I came, b u t d i d n ’ t eat anything, because I wanted to save m y

appetite for Lady Lewis's. The bishop's house is very elegant. B u t i n the drawing room tabernacle is set up. * In English in the original.

1160 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER; Then I decided, au méme titre que [by the same token Hechler, t o include M r . Bramley Moore in the Carnegie proje H e felt moved, i t seemed, t o be collaborating on the Jew restoration.* H e is a charming, good-humored old man qui q religion gaie [whose religion 1s cheerful]. T h e bishop's wife is a nice, friendly old soul, too. Bramley Moore proposed that we approach the Duke of Nor umberland as mediator with Carnegie. I accepted this idea, a now I am waiting.

J u n e 15, Londor

High society! Society* is curious about me. I am an object interest, a dish a t t h e dinner-table; people come t o meet .

Herzl.* Yesterday a t Sir Francis’s house w i t h several ladies and gen men. Present: Princess Lowenstein, Lady Jane Taylor, and oth

whose names I didn't retain. Also Gilbert Farquhar, both a L and an actor. I shall use Princess Lowenstein t o get t o the K i n g . For they invited me. Lady Jane was i n the audience a t the last Congress

told me that her daughters had envied her for having lunch w me.

Only the Jews of the Upper Tens* won't hear of it.

J u n e 17, Rich mon I have been here since yesterday, i n order t o have a rest and w the Sultan. I n the meanti me, I have a few irons i n the fire. I a m hay

Zangwil l pave the way t o Carnegie for me. I sensed that he war to get i n t o the act when I told h i m about our agreement i n P * I n Englis h i n the origina l.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1161 that Nordau should obtain an introduction t o Carnegie from General Porter, the American Ambassador. Yesterday i t occurred to me that Rudyard K i p l i n g could b e the intermediary, since Zang-

will is on good terms with h i m . I wrote Zangwill from here t o go to Brighton t o see Kipling. D o n ’ t know i f he'll do it. On Saturday I sent Hechler to the Bishop of Ripon, a friend o f the King’s, i n order to get m e a n audience w i t h the King. Good

Bishop Bramley Moore also thought this would raise m y prestige. I would ask the King t o tell his b i g Jews that they could help me

.* without prejudice t o their English patriotism On this occasion Hechler told me that after the first time I had called on Bramley Moore, the latter had immediately gone t o the nearby Irvingite church with him. There Bramley had put on his bishop's vestments and said: N o w l e t us pray to G o d and ask h i m

what our duty is. Good Hechler wept as he told me this, and I too was very touched. These simple Christian hearts are much better than our Jewish clerics who think of their wedding fees from the rich Jews. ¥*

*

¥*

Alex Marmorek has been t o London and had a breakdown when the experiments o n animals, made b y English physicians, failed completely. I cheered h i m u p and told h i m that I had faith 1n him nevertheless and would get h i m the necessary money, which he can’t get from any other source now. The only condition I made was that he m u s t n o t leave his position a t the Pasteur Institute until he felt secure. I told h i m that he had t o take a six months’ leave, but must n o t quit enti rely . *

*

*

Let ter to the Sul tan : **

Sire: I have the honor to place a t the foot o f Your Imperial Majesty's Throne the resu lt o f m y end eav ors. : I n English i n the orig ina l. I n French i n the ori gin al.

1162 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy) Following the l i n e Y . I . M . saw fit to suggest to me, I believed; urgent first of all, that is t o say, u p t o the month of October, obtain a million and a half Turkish pounds to take the place, in

less burdensome way, of the difficult, if

not

impossible, task

consolidating the Debt. The arrangement that m y friends and I have worked o u t is ; follows. T h e 1,500,000 Turk. pds. could b e raised b y the immedia

creation of a new source of revenue. B u t this source of revem must, at the same time, be o f a sort to make the Jews aware of t}

highly generous feelings toward them which Y.I.M. cherishes| his fatherly heart. I n this way we shall prepare the ground for: future undertakings. T o this end m y friends are willing t o set u p a joint-stock cor

pany with a capital of five m i l l i o n Turk. pds. The purpose of th company would b e t o develop agriculture, industry, and cor

merce—in short, the economic l i f e o f Asia Minor, Palestine, ar

Syria. All the necessary concessions being granted by Y.I.M.’s grac the company would engage to pay a n annual contribution 60,000 T u r k i s h pounds t o Y . I . M . ’ s government; a n d o n the ba

of this contribution, guaranteed by the company’s capital, a loa t o be amortized i n 81 years, could immediately be floated. Tl loan would cost nothing, because the interest and amortizati service would be absorbed b y the company, which itself wou take the bonds and then place them. T h e govt. would simply dr: the 1 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 Turk. pds. I t 1s of course understood that the company must be 1nco! orated i n Turkey and that the Jewish immigrants i t would bri i n m u s t immediately become T u r k i s h subjects, accepting milit:

service under the glorious banners of Y.I.M. With the 1 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 pounds there would be time t o study a exploit other sources o f income. Y . I . M . deigned t o speak t o ! about matches. Among m y friends I have found some who will able t o handle i t . I n t h i s matter, too, t h e y w i l l m a k e every eft t o offer the Imperial Govt. the m o s t advantageous terms, sO t

the revenue from matches may be used as the basis for a furtl

THE COMPLETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1163 loan, while n o t charging the tax payers too much. The procedure will be the same for exploiti ng sources o f o i l and mines and also electric pow er.

The proposals for these other projects w i l l b e worked o u t i n

detail and estimated as soon as Y.I.M. commands. The matter of the matches can be settled right away, while the others w i l l need more time for study. A n d I take the liberty of adding that m y disinterested service for all these projects is a t the disposition of Y.ILM. even i f Your Majesty should n o t believe i t useful here and now to enter upon the plan for the Great Ottoman-Jewish Com-

pany for Asia Minor. Above everything I

must

prove that Y.I.M.

has in me a zealous and loyal servant. I work for Y.I.M., asking only the honor and happiness of Your Majesty's exalted trust, because I am convinced that the time will n o t b e long i n coming

when it will be realized that i t is to the interest of the Ottoman Empire to attract the economic resources of the Jews and t o protect

our unfortunate people. Besides, i t is i n the highest interest of the Jews to see Turkey strong and flourishing. I t is the idea of my life. The plan for the Ottoman-Jewish Company, as well as giving

asignal to the entire Jewish people, would have another advantage, namely, that taxable things—per sons and property— would in-

creasein all the provinces where the Company operated. The Company itself would pay more and more taxes w i t h the growth of its

business. Jewish capital would flow in from every quarter

to

estab-

lish itself there and t o remain i n the Empire . A t the same time this quiet work, which has been called ‘remov ing the lion’s thorn,” will 80 on without the knowledge of those who wish harm t o the

Empire.

There is only a word to b e added . I f Y . I . M . wishes the arrang e-

ment for the 1 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 pounds

to

be made by Octob er, there is n o

lime to lose. W e must n o t lose sight o f t h e fact t h a t busine ssmen

i )

nanciersrequire definite agreements t o pay over the necessary :

must count

on a t least three months before the capital

. ¢d over. I f Y.LLM. in your lofty wisdom decides that it is “Pportune t o enter upon these negotia tions i n order t o have the 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 pounds a t your disposal for the month of October, the

1164 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy concessions for the Grand Company ought

to

be fixed

at

th

beginning ofJuly. I f I receive the order t o come t o Constantinopl I shall come without delay. I n that case, i n m y humble opinion, would be desirable to summon a t the same t i m e m y exceller friend, Professor Vambéry, w h o is such a profoundly devoted ser

of Y.I.M. and who, with his knowledge of the general situatio of the country, could be very useful.

ant

I d o not know i f I a m permitted to mention one other thing,

do i t very reluctantly, wishing above all n o t t o displease Y.I.M. any way. Someone came looking for me t o tell me that i n Par there 1s a writer, M . Ahmed Riza, who has become known by h attacks upon the I m p . Govt. I was told that there 1s a way to s t these attacks. I simply took note o f the statement without cor

mitting myself in any way a t all, for i t is n o t m y business to g mixed u p in matters of this kind, so anxious am I t o serve Y.M august person on every occasion. I shall do nothing without: order; I shall n o t even see this man without authorization. But Y.I.M. believes i t useful, I w i l l take u p the matter, and i t 1s course understood that for putting an end t o the attacks I w accept n o recompense except Y.I.M.'s word of commendatic which is for me the greatest recompense. I have, Sire, the honor t o be Y . I . M . ’ s most h u m b l e a n d obedient servant.

J u n e 18, [London

Covering letter t o Ibrahim.*

Your Excellency: I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a letter which

dare t o hope, will please H . I . M . I m u s t remain i n London until June 25; I shall go from here Altaussee t o rest for several days with m y family. I f H . I . M . has any commands t o give me, until June 25 a telegr: ®

I n French i n the origina l.

THE COMPLETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1165 will reach me at the Hotel Cecil, London , and after J u n e go a t

Altaussee, Styria, Au str ia. This eveningI am t o have the pleasure of seeing your son. Please accept, Your Excelle ncy, m y highest regards and gratitude.

Y o u r ever devoted,

Th. H.

June 1 g

Hechler returned from the Bishop of Ripon w i t h the message that the latter would first have t o see m e before recommending that theKingreceive me. Since I am endeavoring t o organize a round-table conference* with the big Jews* and t o get t o the elusive Carnegie, I shall wait here for the Bishop t i l l Monday and then urge h i m t o take me t o Sandringham on Tuesday.

June 25, Tuesday Aboard the Folkestone-Boulogne ferry. I n London I was overtire d and irritable , b u t today there is fair weather again. A cal m sea. Yesterday wasn’t bad. I had a conversation of n o immedi ate benefit with Claude Monte fiore, the head o f our oppon ents, a t Gaster’s home. A t the mome nt Gaster is loyal t o m y empir e again. Claude is a stupid ass who affects Engli sh correctness. I needled him with chivalrous oppo sition . H e was afrai d of me and fled; b u t he Promised to examin e any propos als o f m i n e that m i g h t come before the I . CA wi tho ut pre jud ice . Then I drove t o see Dr. Boyd Carp enter , the Bisho p of Ripo n. *In English i n the or iginal.

1166 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R

H e and his intelligent wife were very nice indeed.* The bishg and I looked deeply into each other's eyes, and we liked each other. H e p u t himself completely a t m y disposal for interceding with the King. However, an audience couldn’t be arranged i n 24 hours. But wouldn't i t be worth a trip t o m e at some later date? I t certainly

would. I n the evening I went t o see the banker Seligmann who likewise

promised his bons offices [good offices] with the gros légumes [big. shots] Montagu etc. as soon as I had the Charter. T h i s promise

suffices me for the time being. N o w the Sultan m u s t give me an answer. Naturally I didn’t expect t o be given money o n the basis of my vague disclosures. I w e n t t o Paris and London t o make i t appear to the Sultan that I had been i n Paris and London. Everything I wrote

him from London I could have told him right there in Constant: nople.

J u l y 1 0 , Vienna

Letter to Councillor-of-State von Hauer, regarding the Vogel trial:

M y dear Sir:

Permit me most kindly t o trouble you privatim [in private] with the answer which I felt too embarrassed t o give you in public yesterday.

As i t was, I already had the disagreeable feeling of striking 2

braggart’s pose, although you do know that I had never volunteered to testify. You asked me, honorable Mr. State’s Attorney,

whether Taubin’s very first offer had

not

given me pause. It

did not! For I myself had made great financial sacrifices for the Zionist cause, considering m y circumstances, and so had a number of m y friends. A t bottom, Taubin intended t o give his money away

without any personal sacrifice, because he couldn't, after all, take ®

I n English i n the origina l.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1167

+ with him. Despite this I thought that I could a c t no differently, for the Zionist movem ent, which is and shall remain ethical, must not accept any money o f dubious purity. H e d i d n o t want to give it to his relatives; this is m y convictio n, although I don’t like the avaricious Vogel and have n o connecti on of any sort with h i m . I am not even a Fre ema son . Please don’t take this imposition amiss. I have such a high opinion of the office which you exercise earnestly and strictly that

I believe myself entitled to send you this contributi on t o the truth which you are seeking. With deep respect, I am Very sincerely yours, Th. H .

July 2 0 , Alt-Aussee A charming letter has come from the Grand Duke. (Encl. 1 i n the envelope of Summer, 1go1). Grand Duke Constantine se heurtait a u n refus d u Czar [met with a rebuff from the Czar]. On the other hand, Katzenelsohn, who came t o Vienna t o see me, reports that Ssipyagin regarded the scheme as n o t impossible. Ssipyagin referred h i m t o the Adjutant-General— von Hess, I believe—who declared h e was willing, b u t desired, through his brother-in-law, a reciprocation, about 1 0 , 0 0 0 rubles. Since we

haveno money, I asked that the m a t t e r be postponed u n t i l a u t u m n . Then I may also get to Edward VII, through Lord Suffield, w h o m Zangwill has got hold of. A t the moment, until I have a n answer from the Sultan, I don’t want any audiences. Vambéry consoles me, saying that things are always done that slowly down there. After

all, I shall still have time enough t o move the lower world. Crespi reports that Calice is intriguing against me, furious a t my Grand Cordon; further , that Consta ns wants to arrang e the finances with

1168 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L the aid of Rouvier, and of this I notified Vambéry i n usum Angliae

[for use i n England]. L e t t e r t o the Grand Duke:

July 22 Most Illustrious Grand Duke, Most Gracious Prince and Lord! Only today am I able t o reply t o Your Royal Highness’ kind holograph letter, with m y most respectful thanks, because I have been o u t o f town. Under the present circumstances, even H . M . the

Czar’s refusal does n o t discourage me, because I did n o t intend to request any definite aid, b u t only benevolent inactive interest, as I permitted myself t o state a t Karlsruhe.

I shall faithfully follow Your Royal Highness’ advice as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Requesting the continuance of this good will, which I c o u n t among the greatest rewards of my modest activity, I remain w i t h the deepest gratitude and my most heart-felt respect

Your Royal Highness’ ever-loyal servant, Dr. Th. H . T o Badenweiler Palace.

July 26, Alt-Aussee

O n the 15th Vambéry wrote me that even before my arrival Ambassador Constans had offered the Sultan four million francs (so little?); b u t this financial arrangement had been wrecked by intrigues, and he, Vimbéry, had heard i n authoritative circles mn

London that they were i n favor of our driving a Jewish wedge between the Franco-Russian machinations. H e intends to be with the

Sultan again i n September and t o give things a push. Wellisch reports that n o w the financial distress is very acute again.

H E R Z L 1169 THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O R ting Crespl T€pOTts that the Roth schil d repre senta tive is agita against us.

J u l y 28, Alt-Aussee

While in London I planted jalons [stakes] t o enable me t o m e e t with Cecil Rhodes, w h o may b e able t o get m e the money I need.

His South Africans could privately buy u p the bonds of the Turkish debt, and then I would tell the Sultan: here is the liberation from the debt in return for surrendering Palestine—and t o the

Jews I would say: here you have Palestine i n return for x plus y, x being the amount i t cost the South Africans t o buy u p the bonds, y the profit they stipulated. On instructions from me, Joe Cowen asked Mr. Stead t o intercede with Rhodes for a meeting. Today Joe sends me Stead’s reply from which I extract the following passage: * I'told him that Herzl would come and see h i m any day that was

convenient; that he wanted t o discuss with the one founder of States that modern times had produced . Rhodes said: “ I f he wants any tip from me, I have o n l y one word t o say, and that is: l e t h i m

put money i n his purse”— which was very characteristic of Rhodes.

Rhodes had furthe r expressed the opinio n that Asiati c Turke y

ought to be turned over t o Germany, since England could n o t rule

the Whole world and needed a buffe r area between herself and

a

Rhodes is also said t o be quite charmed with the German

iser.,

ThereuponI telegraphed Cowen: * * Tell him my excellent relations t o Wi llia m. " Original text. I n English i n the o rig

inal.

1170 T H E C O M P L E T E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERzL Augu st 6, Alt-Aussee

I am now studying Turkish together with Hans.

August6 Letter t o Crespi:* Dear Sir: T o m y great surprise you are not keeping m e informed about

what goes on. Every project and proposal interests me. What has happened about the Debt? What is being done? With kind regards, Herzl.

I n yesterday’s evening edition of the N . Fr. Pr. i t says that the Sultan has come

out

against the dette publique . Perhaps this is

already a manoeuvre to force the rates o f exchange down.

Aug ust 7, Alt-Aussee.

My good Vdmbéry bdcsi: The newspaper reports about Cohn are getting more and more curious. Particular ly the last one, what he has permitted himself to say about the debt, makes a strange impress ion. I t looks as if

there was some scoundrel near h i m who is base enough

to

steal

other people’s ideas, b u t too s t u p i d t o carry t h e m out, too. The

story about the two housewives w h o chew the fat o n their way home

from the market and one of whom has her beef stolen from her shopping basket. T h e culprit: a dog. She follows the kopek [mutt] with her eyes and consoles herself: H e could steal i t from me all right, b u t he'll never be able t o cook it. ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1171 But joking aside: the m a n is riding toward the abyss at full tilt.

I believe that as his friend and mine as well you should write him something like the follow ing: Cohn, you are i l l advised. Your attack on the dette will have the same result as that o n the mails; you w i l l have t o come down off your high horse and emerge from the conflict richer b y a humiliation, but poorer i n power and credit. A l l these things that you cannot accomplish i n this thoughtless way, which is gross and

faithless a t the same time, you could accomplish, or would have

accomplished, i f you had made use of the man whom I s e n t down t o see you last May. That man, who didn’t ask anything for himself —in contrast with the other creatures who offer you their services—that man would have represented your interests both financially and journalistically. M y sending such a completely disinterested and reliable helper your way was one of the greatest services I have rendered you during m y long and loyal career. But what do you do? The man starts working o n your behalf, takes trips, creates a favorable climate of opinion for you all over the world, begins to organize a campaign o f assistance for you, and gives you a

report. You don’t even give h i m an answer. Naturally the man is annoyed and almost hurt. H e complains t o me for having exposed him needlessly. H e doesn’t w a n t to b e made a laughing-stock, and

the sof [upshot] will be that you won’t be able t o have him any more when you seriously w a n t him. H e has offered t o bring you Support within three months, w i t h n o risk a t all t o you. You let the time pass, forefeiting a willingness which w o n ' t return so

advantageously, and after three months you w i l l have the same difficulties you have now, i f not greater ones. This is the opinion of your worried old friend and servant Reshid.” a

will know better than I

h o w to translate that i n t o Oriental

or : usum Cohni [for Cohn’s use]. You will concede t o me t h o s true and correct. But I believe that this should be done head e v e n

one day’s delay, for things down there are coming t o a

Prisingly fast.

1172 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz

Hoping for news from you soon, and with a cordial embrace Your devoted nephew b y choice,

Dor. P.S. Perhaps i t is advisable n o t t o write directly t o Cohn, but to

the Chief Eunuch, t o have i t shown around. As though you had wanted t o pour o u t your heart; and the Eunuch is said to be indiscreet.

August 1 1 , Alt-Aussee I f I weren't going into battle with a wooden sword, I could have given a different turn t o the Turkish-French conflict, i n which Constans was going to mobilize the French fleet to force his finan-

cial plan through. I wanted t o slip into the papers—the Paris ones through Alex Marmorek, the Berlin papers through Dr. Friede mann—a notice unmasking the ambassador as the agent d'affaires [business agent] that h e is. N e i t h e r m a n carried o u t my assign ment.

The upshot will be that Cohn will have t o

eat

humble pie

and grant the French robber financiers whatever they want.

August 1 1 , t o Vambery M y good Vdmbéry bdcsi: A t the m o m e n t I couldn’t even come t o Graz t o see you, because I a m u p to m y neck i n work and m u s t await visitors. B u t we can

communicate with each other by letter. The French conflict is ending the way i t was bound

to. I

could

have helped Cohn; h e would have saved himself humiliation and money. Y o u see, I c o u l d have got a torpedo destroyer for h i m ; tan!

pis pour l u i [so much the worse for him]. B u t I beg of you, rub 1t into him, or have somebody else do so. I n fact, i t is none too early for you t o have the groundwork laid

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1173

for your activities with Cohn. The ground m u s t be prepared when you come—that is, as a savior. Y o u know much better than I h o w

ou have t o do this. Permit me only

to

remind you that we shall

lace three hundred thousand guilders a t your disposal when you have obtained for us the Charter that we need to settle Palestine.

What people you c u t i n o n this i n order t o ensure our goal is naturally left to your judgment. B u t I think you ought t o make preparations now, so as t o achieve results this very autumn.

With cordial regards, Your devoted

Herzl.

August 2 2 , Alt-Aussee The promise of a commission has worked with Vambéry. He writes me one of the strangest letters. H e wants t o overthrow Izzet and take his place—or overthrow Abdul Hamid!

Iam writing him:

21, 1go1 August Mygood Vdmbéry bdcsi: I have read your youthfully courageous letter with great joy. Youare truly a divinely favored person. May God keep you! I am herewith returning to you Draft I , which m e t w i t h your approval, because I have a copy of i t . Translating i t i n t o French is pointless, because i t probably will n o t be practicable i n this form. I n particular, Cohn will not want to leave the administration of Palestine to an English company any more than he would to a

‘company of any other nationality. That would also create frightful diplomatic difficulties w i t h the other Powers. And, after all, we 4€

concerned with completing the project.

That is why we shall have t o look for another form. You see that Tam not a fantast or a fool; I myself made a proposal more agree-

1174 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7) able to Cohn i n m y London memorandum, which has remaipe,

unanswered. O n June 18 I things, from London :

wrote

h i m the following, among othe

Insertion [pp. 1 1 6 1 f F . ] By toutes les concessions nécessaires [all the necessary conce sions] I meant the Charter, o f course, w i t h o u t , however, goir into detail a t this first step. You will notice further that I treat tt

whole thing only as an initial step. 1 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 Turkish pounds won solve Cohn'’s problems, as I well know, and I am actually i n a po: tion t o obtain much more for h i m later, once he has given this fir

proof of his good intentions. B u t how is the plan t o be carried out? First of all he must gi the Charter, specifically, to the Jewish Colomial Trust for tl

formation of the Compagnie Ottomane-Juive pour I’Asie Minew la Palestine et la Syrie [Ottoman-Jewish Company for Asia M i n Palestine, a n d Syria). T o give the whole t h i n g a financially sow

character, the Jewish Colonial Trust could deposit a security« say, one million francs as soon as the Charter is delivered t o us, a this earnest would be forfeited t o the Turkish treasury i f the Co pany was not founded w i t h i n a certain period o f time. B u t ple: d o not talk about this proposal u n t i l a serious guarantee 1s

manded, because I think down there they like smallest securities.

to

grab event

B y what guarantees we, for our part, want t o have Cohn’s seric intentions backed is a matter still to b e discussed. Draft I would therefore have to serve only as a preamble, a

you will certainly know yourself the most appropriate manner which i t can be used. I f Cohn agrees t o it, I shall start reorganizing Cohn'’s gene situation a t the same time that the 5-million company is form I shall carry o u t this reorganization within three years. You tell h i m that, and you may add that never again will he finda

who will do this for him under such conditions. I t 1s my | foundest conviction that you are rendering him the greatest serv of your life, while a t the same time you are putting our peo

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1175

permanently in your debt. You see, i t isn’t true that in any business iansaction only one party can profit. T h i s would b e a salvation for

both parties. But why repeat what has been said so often? I await your good news, particul arly the announ cement o f your departu re.

May God help us! W i t h a hearty embrace,

Your devoted Donn.

Postscript.

August 2 2 Missed closing of mails yesterday. Today I read about the turn in the French conflict. Perhaps it is already too late and fate will takeits course? I have long seen i t coming.

August 28, Alt-Aussee On the 24th, the tramp Crespi was here, having come from

Ischl where he is staying with the Turkish “Consul-General.” He tried to pump me, but I remained impenetrable and didn’t ask any services from him either, although the scoundrel draws a monthly salary of

1,000

francs from us. %

J

%*

Via London Trust I received a proposal from a certain Bekir Sonhami i n Galata to come to the a i d o f the Sultan. T h e “Protovestiaire [Keeper o f the Robes] S. B e y ” was willing t o arrange

for me to be sent for, b u t wanted t o make something o n it. I discreetly sounded Crespi o u t about this Protovestiaire and learne d that he was the Sultan's foster brothe r. Thereu pon I s e n t Sonhami'’s letter to Vimbéry and sent the following wire w i t h o u t signature : * Bekir Sonhami, Galat

a.

*InFrench i n the or igi

na l.

1176 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

I have received your letter of August 16 via London. I can come t o aid, but w i l l come only i f he himself calls me.

August 28, Alt-Aussee Court Secretary Sonnenschein of the Ministry of Railroads was here for a n hour o n Sunday and made m e a n offer to start a paper

for the industrialists. I didn’t refuse, b u t was very reserved. He wants t o speak with Koerber first.

August go, Alt-Aussee Telegram t o Ibrahim:*

T o His Excellency Ibrahim Bey, Grand Master of Ceremonies. I beg Your Excellency t o place a t the foot of the throne my most respectful congratulations o n the occasion of H.I.M.’s birthday. 1 sincerely hope that the clouds of the present hour will soon be dis sipated, and I further beg Your Excellency t o recall t o H.I.M.s mind the story about the thorn which I told him. I t is still true and possible.

Very faithfully yours, Dr. Th. H .

September 2 , Alt-Aussee

Yesterday I received the following wire: * Doctor Theodor Herzl, Alt-Aussee.

Fr om Yildiz. I have conveyed your felicitations to H i s Imperial Majesty, and ®

I n French in the original.

R H E R Z L 1177 THE COM PLE TE DIA RIE S O F T H E O D O you his exal ted he has been pleased to instr uct me to express to gratification.

Ibra. *

LJ

*

Very importa nt; so the thread is not broken . I a m immed iately

writing so t o Vambery. At the same time, howeve r, I read i n the paper that this Ibra-

him's son, Said Ibrahim Bey, who had had dinner with me in London, died at Karlsba d two days ago, a t the age o f 29! He was a fine, handso me man.

September 2 , Alt-Aussee To Vimbéry: First, a copy of the exchange of telegrams o n the occasion of the birthday.

Then: Asyou see, the story about the thorn seems to be a magic formula. ButI feel that we ought t o go right on striking the iron. I t is a fact that Cohn doesn’t have a radish ready for the Ramadan yet. H e will need about £200,000; I already know that. A t the last moment they will run to the usurers again. I can get the money for him, b u t would have to get started well i n advance. I think, therefore, that on the very day you receive this letter—th at is, tomorrow —you should tell him the following in the west-eastern language of figures:

“My friend can bring you, O Cohn, the money that you need for the Ramadan, and—m ark m y words! —with out usurer s o r Pawn-brokers. Moreo ver, from then o n h e can contin ue t o take

care of your obligations that fall due accor ding t o a defin ite plan, o n tl se fait fort [will act vigorously] t o straighten out your entire

g e a l Situation withi n g years with the help of his friends. But

.

prefequisite 1s that you call h i m n o later than the latter half of ptember. For he does need some time for these arrangements.

1178 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ] B u t m y friend would want you to summon m e along with him, so

that I can conduct the negotiations between you and him.” I a m n o w asking myself whether the lack of a n answer to your let. ters i s n ’ t the consequence o f Cohn’s having shown your letters to his

Second Secretary. I wouldn’t put i t past him. And what should be done now?

September 1 0 , Alt-Aussee Vambéry advises me t o write t o Ibrahim. Letter to Ibrahim:*

Your Excellency: Together with your telegram in which you did me the honor to

express t o me H.I.M.’s exalted gratification

at

my congratula-

tions I have had the heart-rending news of the death of your fine son. I have permitted myself t o send you a telegram of condolence. I m e t this charming young man in London and we had a long discussion of ideas of the future; I saw i n h i m a hope for your beautiful country, and now—But I d o not want to revive your

paternal grief. May God comfort you and give you strength. I n grief of this cruel k i n d i t is good for a m a n to have ceaseless

occupation. That makes h i m forget. Also, after having pitied Your Excellency for having t o think of affairs of state during your personal torments, I told myself that work is a form of distraction that will do you good. The news from your country is truly n o t comforting t o your friends. And yet there would have been ways of taking you out of these financial difficulties which are also having political reper cussions. I don’t want to insist o n the services o f this nature that I can render t o H . I . M . Let t h e S u l t a n o n l y k n o w

that I

a m full of

gratitude for the kind sentiments which he has been pleased to express with regard to myself and the Jews i n general. Whenever H . I . M . w o u l d have recourse t o m y disinterested services, all h e has t o do is summon me. Since leaving Constantinople I have spoken * I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1179 with my friends in various countr ies, and I a m n o t saying too much i t | undertake t o settle the situat ion after some time. I a m always

Jumbfounded t o read what sacrifices the Imper ial government

has to make for relatively insignific ant sums. Onerous concessions are prolonged, usurious conditio ns are agreed to, etc. I t 1s as unbelievable asi t is fut ile.

Now I am advised that there will again be requirements for the

Ramadan.I should be happy if on this occasion I could show my devotion to H.I.M. by real services. The only requirement would be that I be called on several weeks before the Ramadan in order tobe able to make the arrangements i f there 1s an intention of using my humble capabilities. May I request Your Excellency to let H . I . M . know this.

With the expression of my high regard, I am Your Excellency’s devoted servant Dr. Th. H .

September 2 3 , Alt-Aussee, Yom Kippur

For weeks I have made all sorts of efforts t o put the wire

to

the

Sultan back in operation. ‘Throu gh Ibrahim , N u r i , Vimbé ry—in

umpteen ways. During the past few days I have been mullin g over a letter t o the

Sultan, but can never make u p m y mind to write one, for i t is a fact that he owes me a rep ly. _ TodayIsat by the lake, which was beautif ul. A n d I though t h o w

It would be if next Spring I could sit by the Lake of Gennesare t like this, and I decided t o write. The figures in my chess game now are Cecil Rhodes (with who m Lam to meet after his retur n from Scotl and); Roosevelt, the new

President (through Gottheil); the Kin g of England (thr oug h the

Bishop of Ripon); the Czar (throug h Genera l von Hesse), etc.

On top of this I am tormented by the chance of gett ing a news-

Paper i n Vienna, altho ugh Cour t Secretary Sonn ensch ein, who

80t me excited about i t , hasn’t let me hear from h i m i n almost 3

1180 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL weeks, so that i t was probably another dud. B u t with a big paper I could work wonders. The Bank's capacity for action, which is supposed to be com. pleted by October, is another thing that worries me. A t the lake i t occurred to m e h o w I could bring Gottheil into

play as a knight on the chessboard. I shall tell the Sultan that I know a method of getting a n ambassador as his permanent friend in the concert of Powers; he should request or accept Gottheil. Letter t o the Sultan: *

Sire:

I n again availing myself of the gracious permission t o address myself directly to Y . I . M . , I wish t o call t o Y.I.M.’s attention, in a few words, a rather serious situation.

The renowned Sovereign will judge the liberty I take t o have been dictated by my devotion. Sire, grave days are approaching for the Ottoman Empire. I have just learned some rather disagreeable facts. I t is not a formal coali-

tion that is being prepared, but a sort of agreement for non-interference. A t a given moment a certain power will g o ahead. Y . I M .

will get no help from where Y.I.M. expects i t . Moreover, help will seem to come from a much more formidable source Advanced as things are, there is yet a way t o remedy them.

I know a way in which discord could be caused between those

whose alliance would be disastrous. A man could be obtained who would perform decisive services for Y.I.M., and t o remove any false impression I hasten t o say that this would cost absolutely nothing and would arouse n o suspicion whatever. B u t the matter

is so delicate that I could confide it only orally t o Y.I.M. in person and alone. The first effect of this plan would be t o win time. Then sources o f income could b e created and the resistance of the Imperial govt.

strengthened. I f I dare t o speak thus, i t is because I believe that a devoted man

is never useless, especially if i t is well established that he asks ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1181

nothingand expects nothing for himself. I permit myself t o explain themotives which cause me to act. The greatness and power of the Ottoman Empire are the only hope of the Jewish nation, and it is as a faithful Jew that I wish to

earn,not for myself but for m y brethren, the good will of the great Caliph.

If Y.I.M. wishes t o hear me, i t would be easy for me t o come t o Constantinople for several days. I have, Sire, the hono r to be Y.I.M.’s most h u m b l e and obedient servant, Dr. Th. H .

Your Excellency: * I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a very important letter for the Sultan, which i t would b e to H . I . M . ’ s interest to take note of a t once.

This week I am ending my summer vacation t o return t o Vienna. To tell the truth, my vacation is only a change of desks, for my work never lets u p and I have to work here as I do i n the city, b u t at least here I have had mountain air, which has done m e a l o t o f

good.

I'am sincerely sorry t o learn that Turkey's affairs are n o t going well,

God protect you! Be assured, Your Excellency, o f m y highest consideration.

Th. H .

|

The m a n mentioned i n the l e t t e r t o t h e S u l t a n as t o b e obtained

Is Gotthe il.

* I n French i n the ori gin

al.

1182 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Octobe r 8, Vienna

I have been t o Pest t o see Vambéry, induced h i m t o write 5 storm-and-stress letter to the Sultan and then g o down there him. self. I a m writing to N u r i to make that scoundrel Izzet favorably disposed t o us: *

Your Excellency: Our concerns are n o t progressing, and neither are those of Turkey. I believe i t would be useful t o seek o u t Izzet Bey and bring him round t o a more active attitude. Izzet Bey’s remarkable intelligence would be very valuable t o us. And since he already knows from you that my gratitude can be relied upon, i t seems t o me that he will listen t o you again with pleasure. You will need certain sums before Ramadan, won’t you? I f you will permit me t o give you some advice: go t o see Izzet Bey as soon as possible, personally, and speak to h i m i n the way you

know so well. Anticipating the pleasure of hearing from you, I beg Your Excellency t o accept this expression of my friendship and high esteem. H. P.S. I have seen Professor V . recently. H e intends t o go t o Constantinople, having serious things i n the offing i n Europe t o communicate. The bearer of this letter knows nothing about 1ts contents.

October 8, 1 g o 1

October 23, Vienna N o t h i n g from Constant inople. Only a few financial agents are

approaching me with dubious loan offers. ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLE TE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1183 so The “Octo ber Conferences,”’ aimles s babbl e, are over. I was dolef ul disgusted that I made n o entrie s i n this book a t all. W i t h a

supoutcry the Bank was made ‘“‘capable of actio n,” b u t i t 1s not

posed to underta ke anythin g. Actual ly, i t is best this way, for w e

don’t have a single capable businessman.

With all these annoyances I a m turning back t o literatur e and

am now rewritin g my Solon in Lydien as a drama. *

¥%

¥

Yesterday I saw Koerber about permission t o accept my Mejidiye. We took the occasion t o chat for a brief hour. H e again beefed to me about being tired of office. H e has to t o i l away while others

are “drawing the big salaries, eating like pigs, drinking like fish, and despairing of the state. That's the best job: Despairer of the State—you really fatten u p o n i t . ” He also beefed about Austria's backwardness. All you have t o do to see it is t o take a train trip. “ I f I take the Orient Express, it’s packed in Germany. The minute you cross the border, life stops. Just look a t those station names! One of 'em’s called Grieskirchen. Then you come to one called Ried, and there's a dog sleepin’.”

In short, his beefing was amusing and typically Austrian. H e

invited me t o visit him often. 4 quot: bon? [What's the good of it]? He didn’t evince too much enthusiasm about giving permission to wear the Mejidiye order, but didn’t say anything definite. I t

was just curious that he already knew that I had been given the Grand

Cordon.

To think that he keeps that sort of thing in his head. ¥*

*

%*

November 1 , Vienna Letter to that dastard Crespi, to whom I a m tired of sending 1,000 francs each mont h: *

Dear Sir: Despite his incontes tably high intellige nce, 363 doesn’t realize his situation, which is as bad as can be. Other wise h e would have * I n French i n the orig inal .

1184 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL sent for me, because I a m the only one w h o can b e useful to hin. Under these circumstances it is truly not worthwhile to take any further steps, and I assure you that I have a good mind to break off all relations. All the same, and i n view o f the pleasant relations

I have had with you, I wish t o send you starting now

,00

francs

per month for your correspondence. However, I would ask you to

write me a t least once a week and t o bring t o my attention any-

thing that may be of interest t o me. I have written t o g45 t o speak with 1 2 5 . You and g45 have told me that 1 2 5 received a sum a t the time of m y visit down there, and I don’t understand why I haven’t had any response. Kindly remember m e to our fine mutual friend. I a m sure that he regrets not having been able to d o anything.

Very cordially yours, Herzl. Letter t o t h e S u l t a n : *

Sire: I have the honor t o remind Y.I.M. of my respectful letter of September 23, i n which I had predicted exactly the painful events which have just occurred during these last few days. This misfortune could have been avoided i f Y.I.M. had done me the honor of listening to m y loyal advice. Other misfortunes are coming, and the remedy for them lies only i n the straightenin g o u t of the financial situation. M a y I b e permitted to say that I a m still ready to devote myself to

that task.

When i t pleases Y.I.M. t o appeal t o m y humble capabilities shall make haste t o organize the necessary measures—be i t today, tomorrow, i n six months. Y . I . M . may always count o n m y devotion. I have, Sire, the honor t o be Y . I . M . ’ s most h u m b l e a n d obedient servant, Herzl. ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1185 Covering lett er to Ibr ah im :*

Your Excellency: I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a letter to

H.I.M. Unfortunately m y predictions, based o n reliable information, have been real ized .

And it is not over. There 1s only one way of escaping from these difficulties—I have indicated i t to H . I . M . Hoping that you are in good health, I offer Your Excellency my high esteem and devotion. Dr. Th.H .

November 8

Letter to the Grand D u k e o f Baden:

Most Illustrious Grand Duke,

Most Gracious Prince and Lord: When M. Constans was appointed ambassador t o Constantinople,I permitted myself t o write Your Royal Highness the following,under date of — —: [Insert] The events have proved me right. Unless I am mistaken, the Near Eastern question is now entering its final stage. T h e turn of the day, however, is evidently against Germany's interests; and yet

the German governmen t will n o t easily decide t o take a stronger stand, because a world conflagration might result. That French financier hasrather accurately calculated this. But the question is whether Germany would not nevertheless, under cover and without committing herself perceptibly, like t o Prevent a resuscitation of the dormant French protectorate over Syria and Palestine with all its political and economic conse-

quences, The Zionist m o v e m e n t exists and can be used for this purpose. When quite some time ago I was waved away after an entrée en * I n French i n the ori gin

al.

1186 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

matiére [beginning] which had aroused hopes i n me, I understood and d i d n o t make a sound. I t was a heavy blow for us, for the financiers whom our movement—alasl—needs withdraw when no tangible results are forthcoming. Their pledges were then and are n o w contingent o n the achievement o f certainties, such as the

German protectorate, for instance, would have been. Later I succeeded in approaching the Sultan directly. He received me well, as I had the honor t o report t o Your Royal Highness i n person a t Karlsruhe last May. However, he is timid and irresolute. H e needs counsel and a push. Someone would have t o tell h i m : “Give the Zionists what they need and they will raise the money for you with which you can get rid o f the French!”

The Jews, particularly the moneyed Jews, are a practical people. I have them when I have something reliable i n m y hands. I f German policy is willing t o help us with this, i t will acquire, together with our gratitude, a right for future times and will exclude the dangerous influence of a power that may become expansionist. O n the basis of past actions I may be permitted t o point o u t that I a m loyal and discreet and d o n o t disappoint confidence

placed i n me. I t is an old, steadfast thought of mine that, God willing, we shall reach our goal with the aid of the rising Protestant power. Today i t is practically forgotten that H . M . the German Kaiser for a time favored our movement with his most gracious interest. I f due caution were exercised, any harmful stir could b e avoided. Details could be discussed later—provided that the German government is minded t o look further into the m a t t e r which I am herewith respectfully submitting t o Your Royal Highness. Should

I be ordered t o go t o H . M . the Kaiser, I can so arrange i t that absolutely no one will find o u t about it. Respectfully commending myself t o the oft-proven, most gracious benevolence of Your Royal Highness, I remain, with deepest gratitud e and devotio n, Dr. Th. H.

THE COMPLETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1187 November g

The picture in the Orient has changed so completely since yeserday that I am not sending off the letter t o the Grand Duke.

France has received satisfaction all along the line and 1s withdr aw-

ing, something that she had previousl y pledged the Powers t o do.

Consequently neither Germany nor England is going t o do anything for us. Hence any démarche [interven tion] is superfluous. Mais je songe [But I am a dreamer]. Since action o n the part of France would have an effect favorable for us because of the répercussion i t would have, we should i n future work toward having French aspirations emerge i n Syria and Palestine.

A creuser [To be explored]! December 1g, Vienna I have written my Congress speech—more of an egg dance than ever before—and must n o w try t o parry i n advance the contrecoup

[counter-stroke] i t may elicit from Constantinople. I m u s t demand some concession from t h e S u l t a n , so t h a t , 1f worst comes t o worst,

he will not grant i t to me. Given h i s character, h e i s n ’ t l i k e l y t o

follow an amiable letter with a blunt refusal.

(Dated December 20th). Sire:

*

Ihave the honor to recall myself once more t o Y.I.M.’s gracious memory. Since I had the signal honor o f b e i n g received i n audience, I take the liberty o f observi ng respect fully that there

might be some use, from a financial as well as a political point of

making known t o the Jews of all countries the good and generous feelings that Y . I . M . cheris hes i n his father ly heart for the Yew, I n

prsecuted Jewish people. A n oppor tunity t o d o so is now offered. oward the end of this mont h the annu al Zioni st Cong ress meets

*In French in the origi nal.

1188 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL at

Basel t o deliberate on the fate, alas! so sad, of the Jews of the

whole world. I shall preside at the gathering, and I hope to take

advantage of this opportunity t o remark briefly upon the glorious reigning Caliph’s kindness t o the Jews. T h e effect can only be

favorable. But how much greater would be the general impression i f Y . I . M . deigned to have a telegram o f good wishes sent to me as a reply to the telegram of respectful, loyal homage that I shall have

the honor

to

send a t the opening of the Congress. This would be

the happiest preparation for that day when Y.I.LM. in your lofty wisdom shall see fit t o call upon the grateful services of the Jews of the whole world. Sire, I have the honor t o be Y . I . M . ’ s most h u m b l e a n d obedient servant,

Dr. T h . H .

Covering letter to Ibrahim: *

Your Excellency: I have the honor to send you, enclosed herewith, a letter for H . I . M . the Sultan. Permit me, a t the same time, t o ask your advice. I wish to make a small gift to H.I.M., a surprise that I hope will

please him, for I believe that i t doesn’t yet exist i n Turkey. I t isa typewriter with Turkish characters. I have ordered i t from America, and a professor of Oriental languages a t the University in New York is supervising the accuracy of the production of the type. The manufacture of i t is very complicated. They have already been working o n i t for some time. B u t according t o the latest word the job is approaching completion, and I expect the machine i n t w o OF three weeks. The first Oriental typewriter shall be tried out for the first time i n Europe at H i s Excellency Mahmud Nedim

Bey's. And after that? Should I send i t through the Embassy—o0f ®

I n French in the original.

THE COMPLETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1189 I am should I bring i t to Yildiz Kiosk mysel f? That 1s the advic e

asking for.

|

|

|

I beg Y.E. t o accept the assurance of m y high consideration and

sincere de vo tio n.

Th.H.

December 25, o n the train, approaching Buchs Telegram to Ibrahi m: *

ToHisExcellency, etc. At the opening moment of the Zionist Congress, which today

brings together in Basel representatives of the Jewish people from all countries, I beg Y.E. t o place a t the foot of the Imperial throne

this acknowledgment of deep devotion and of the gratitude which all Jews feel for the benevolence always shown them by H . I . M . the Sultan.

With high esteem,

Dr. Th. H . President of the Zionist Congress, Basel.

January 5, 1 9 0 2

On the train, past Venice, homeward bound for Vienna. The fifth Congress.

The change in the years and in my own self is shown by the fact that only today am I writing down my impressions of the Congress. From the evening of m y arriva l, o n Decem ber 25, to the mome nt

of my departure on New Year's Eve, I got into one discussion after

another. Sessions from

10

o'clo ck i n the mor ning until 4 o'clo ck

the next morning. I n the interi m, quarrels t o be made up, insults tobe smoothed ov er , etc .

On the morning of the first day I sent the wire t o the Sulta n, and

* InFrench i n the ori gin al.

1190 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL on the evening of the second the answer came. Until then I ha( been trembling. U p t o that time he could still have denied even the beginning of our relationship. Mais il donnait dedans en plein

[But in i t he put that right i n plain sight]. With this wire, issued by the Basel telegraph office, m y situation is certified and regular-

ized. Once again, rode across Lake Constance. *

From then on I was calm. Incidentally, m y Congress bunch did n o t rate the wire a t its full value. Ils n e comprennent rien [They understand nothing]. They overestimate small things and value b i g things lightly. B u t it’s enough that I know it. The official letter of welcome from the Basel city government was worth less politically, b u t of incomparably greater value morally.

This letter gave me the idea of trying t o have the National Fund set u p a corporate body i n Basel. I sent the good Basel A.C. member Joel Weil to Dr. David, the head of the city government, t o inquire

i f this would be unwelcome t o them. No, he had n o objections. The following day I called o n h i m i n order t o thank him. Dr. David, a fine, serious-minded man, was greatly interested i n everything, listened t o me for an hour, and said that Zionism was something exalted. H e was glad that this great, beautiful idea had found a home in Basel. I n contrast, how shameful and petty was the attitude of the Community Jews o f Basel. I t is true, this time they h a d permitted donations to the National F u n d , b u t when Wolffsohn, i n accord-

ance with a possibility regarding the Torah reading, wanted to have 3 0 people called up, Dreyfus, the head of the congregation, refused, saying:

“ N o special privileges!” Therefore only myself, Moser, Montefiore, and Wolffsohn were able t o make a donation. H o w the Fund fared i n the Congress is a matter o f record. From

time ®

to

time I was absent; then Tschlenow, egged o n by Boden-

See note on p . 1679.

THE COMP LETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1191 heimer, messed u p the whole thing. They accepted the draft “provisionally.” Then who would have made a donation? I came back, listened t o the nonsense, annulle d the decision , and put the draft

through the way we need it.

The most important thing was the organization pro futuro [for the future]. I particularly wanted t o break the iron rings which are

already forming in some countries. T h e first “leaders” monopolize the national committees, and from this there results a certain dis-

inclination t o belong. However, we m u s t keep positions of honor open.I believe the new organization w i l l do its duty and strengthen theInner A.C. The Russians Bernstein-Kohan, Ussishkin, etc. immediately

sensed what was going o n and put u p resistance. B u t they can’t make any objections i f I want the federation from below, “from thepeople,” as they always say. I also put a stop, once and for all, t o Bernstein-Kohan’s mail

headquarters. Difficulties were also made by the gentlemen of the Greater A.C. over the question of the baksheesh which I had always had paid o u t

by Wolffsohn, Kremenezky, Kokesch, e t c . against a proper receipt. Why, some of them acted as though I were inducing them to commit fraud. T h e Bank directors, too, weren't keen o n approving what we had spent o n behalf of the Bank for the sake of acquiring

the Charter (receipt t o Wolffsohn from N.) Of course, i f I had insisted they would have given their consent; b u t then i t would have been something “secret” and would naturally have been blabbed about promptly. I n the face of this cowardice and asininity I had n o other choice but t o throw the whole thing in the lap of the Congress. For this I used an opposition man, Farbstein, whose resolutionI used as the point of departure. See the protocol.

Naturally everything went through d’emblée [directly].

‘The members of

the Board of Directors and of the Council

didn’t understand any of what was going on and then breathed a sigh of relje f. I t made the stronge st impres sion o n Kokesc h, whose alarmin gly

1192 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]. empty A.C. treasury I replenished a t one stroke. H e raises his eye. brows when, e.g., I want to have a propaganda issue printed, and

presents me with an accounting of every subvention given to an agent. B u t n o w h e was impressed b y m y getting money for propa-

ganda again. Few details. Nordau made a speech that was brilliant, b u t imprudent in places—his best to date. The warning against early marriages and too much studying is something truly valuable and will bear fruit.

Zangwill spoke wittily; but while Nordau was translating his speech, the idea came t o me in a flash not t o have the Congress take avoteon the I.C.A. I believe this was a good thing. Otherwise people would have said the next day that Zionism is only a raid o n Hirsch’s millions. I n the same spirit I rejected a proposal made me b y the Russian

exaltados [extreme enthusiasts] Syrkin and Buchmil: t o put on mass demonstrations against the I.C.A. in the big cities. I had Oskar Marmorek and others take down a memorandum about my rejection. What else?

I was glad when the Congress was over, and escaped from the demonstrations as soon as possible. That sort of thing gives me less and less pleasure.

O h yes, another thing, something that distressed and vexed me a great deal.

When the Sultan’s answering telegram became known through the papers, I received wires from Geneva and Lausanne from meet-

ings of students of all nationalities, particularly Armenians, Bul garians, Macedoni ans, Russians, Poles, etc., expressin g their mepris [contempt] a n d i n d i g n a t i o n o n account o f m y telegram t o the s u l

tan rouge [blood-stained Sultan].

However, this will probably d o m e good with the Sultan.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1193

January g, Vienna For once that scoundrel Crespi sends m e some interesting information: T h e ambassador a t Berlin—my “friend” Ahmed Tewfik

—has sent the Sultan an accusing wire about m y Basel speech, as well as another telegram asking for authorization to disclaim m y

words officially. I hope that m y advance notice has done its work with Abdul Hamid and will cause h i m t o ignore the denunciation of his Berlin servant. The protest demonstration of the Armenian and other wild students may stand me in good stead too.

January 11, Vienna

Cowen informs that h e is again making efforts to get a meeting

with Cecil Rhodes for me. The robber raider Dr. Jameson is acting as the intermediary o n the Rhodes side. However, o n account of my bread-givers, w h o might become angry, I cannot n o w risk a

trip that promises nothing certain. Therefore I wired that I could come only i f Rhodes were seriously interested in the

matter.

In

order to initiate this, I am sending the following memorandum t o London, to be translated b y Zangwill and transmitted by Cowen:

Mr. Cecil Rho des: For some months mutual friends have been trying o n m y behalf to arrange a meeting between us. A t the moment, however, I a m so inordinately busy that i t would hardly b e possible for m e to come to London, unless I knew i n advance that you took a serious interest in the matter. This, to b e sure, would b e a sufficiently

strongreason t o travel, for I need you. I n fact, all things considered, you are the only m a n w h o can h e l p m e now. O f course, I a m not concealing from myself the fact that you are not likely to d o so. T h e probability is perhaps one i n a million, i f this can b e expressed i n

figures at all. B u t i t i s a big—some say, too big—thing. T o m e i t does not seem

1194 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL too b i g for Cecil Rhodes. T h i s sounds l i k e flattery; however, i t does not reside i n the words, b u t i n the offer. I f you participate,

then you are the man. I f you don’t, then I have simply made a mis-

take. You are being invited t o help make history. That cannot frighten you, nor will you laugh a t i t . I t 1s n o t i n your accustomed line; i t doesn’t involve Africa, b u t a piece of Asia Minor, n o t Eng. lishmen, but Jews. But had this been on your path, you would have done i t yourself by now. How, then, do I happen t o turn t o you, since this is an out-of-theway matter for you? H o w indeed? Because i t 1s something colonial, and because i t presupposes understanding of a development which will take twenty or thirty years. There are visionaries who look past greater spaces of time, but they lack a practical sense. Then again there are practical people, l i k e the trust magnates i n America, but they lack political imagination. B u t you, M r . Rhodes, are a visionary politician or a practical visionary. You have already demonstrated this. A n d what I want you to d o is n o t to give m e o r lend me a few guineas, b u t t o p u t the stamp o f your authority o n the Zionist plan and to make the following declaration t o a few people who swear by you: I , Rhodes, have examined this plan and found 1t correct and practicable. I t is a plan f u l l o f culture, excellent for the

group of people for whom it is directly designed, n o t detrimental t o the general progress of mankind, and quite good for England, for Greater Britain. I f you and your associates supply the requested financial aid for this, you will, i n addition t o these satisfactions, have the satisfaction o f making a good profit. For what 1s being

asked for is money. What is the plan? T o settle Palestine with the homecoming Jewish people.

When I started i t 6 years ago, I was brutally derided. I disdained the scoffers and w e n t ahead. I n these 6 years the Jews i n all parts of the world have been shaken up. A t five Congresses there has been effected an organization w i t h thousands of associations all over the world. T h e Zionists obey a m o t d’ordre [command] from

THE COMPLE TE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1195 Manchuria t o Argentin a, from Canada to the Cape and N e w Zealand. The greatest concent ration o f o u r adheren ts is i n Eastern Europe. Of the five million Jews i n Russia, surely four million swear

by our program. We have party organs i n all civilized languages. Every single day there are mass meetings of our people i n the most diverse places. Yet our demands are so formulate d that n o government has proceeded against them as yet, n o t even the Russian gov-

emnment. As early as 1898 I won the German Kaiser himself for the cause.He received me in a lengthy audience a t Yildiz Kiosk i n Con-

stantinople, in the presence of Biilow. Later he officially received meinJerusalem with four of my associates, as the representatives of Zionism. I have transmitted a detailed memorandum t o the Czar through another ruler, and thereupon the Czar bestowed his benevolent neutrality upon us. Last M a y I brought the matter before the Sultan in a long conference, and he granted me his grace. In England we have countless Christian friends, i n the Church as well as in the press, and i n the House of Commons there are g7 (?) members who have promised t o support Zionism. This cursory aper¢u [survey] of our political situation may suffice.

And this movement, which has had such an unprecedented development i n 6 years, vainly cries o u t for money. Why? Because the big Jewish financiers are against us. They are afraid, they have n o Imagination, they lend money only on dead pledges. January 2 0 , Vienna

This letter to Rhodes remain s i n the i n k bottle for the t i m e beIng, because Cowen reports that Zangwil l wants t o organize a |

financial group with the aid of Lord Suffield and is reque sting in-

structions. I am writ ing to Zan gwil l and Cow en:

Mydear friends Za ngw ill an d Joe : o y ask for a presentation of the financi al plan. Here it 1s. I . ven remind you again how pruden tly you m u s t scrutinize

€Tyone you talk t o . The greatest harm can be caused by indiscre-

1196 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL tions. I can’t give you a list of every fire that you should avoid. A} Isay t o you is: Don’t get burned!

And now t o the point. I t is a matter o f a financial operation which is often talked about i n the papers, l i k e the sea serpent. I t was last seen i n French waters.

T h e former Minister of Finance, Rouvier, is said to be hunting it, or t o have hunted i t . The operation is known by the name Unification de la Dette Ottomane [Consolidation of the Turkish Debt). You will find enclosed a tabulation of the dette as of March, 1go1. Since then there have been various changes i n the rate of exchange. We will go into this, as into all details, only when the

principle has been accepted. Cohn (in our earlier code, E) has the most ardent desire t o ge

this dette into his power. For the administration de la dette [ad ministration of the debt] is his greatest sorrow and his main mis fortune. The administrative expenses are insanely high, and yet he isn’t the master in his house. H e promised me anything I want 1 I liberate him from it. ‘The nominal amount of the dette is approximately 85 millior pounds sterling. Let us assume the exchange value as about 2 2 mil lion pounds sterling. These figures may serve as a basis for discu sion, although they actually change from day t o day. Please poin o u t from the start that the detailed calculations w i l l be supplied b a n expert (which, as you know, I a m not) as soon as m y plan ha been accepted in principle by the group which you are t o create 1

London. I shall name this expert only to you now, m y friends. I t is M Benno Reitlinger of Paris, who is himself worth a few millio

francs, 1s a good Zionist and completely devoted t o me. For the sake of clarity I will now divide the plan into three part 1) the acquisition of the dette, 2) the acquisition of the Charte 3) the renumerati on of the group.— 1) T h e Acquisitio n of the Dette. This requires the formation of a financially strong group who!

credit is good for

22-25

million pounds sterling, but which byr

THE COMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1197 means needs to put u p this amount. T h e poor two-bit investors

usually don’t understand the conditions of high finance. One lets only a small amount o f money r i n g o n the table—large

amounts one doesn’t pay a t all, one only remits them. O f course, one has to have i t , i.e., b e good for it. Now you w i l l understand the remarks I made i n m y earlier letters: that R . (C i n our code) can actually handle the matter

sans coup férir et sans bourse délier [without stirring a finger or paying a penny]. H e probably owns part of the dette already through the houses affiliated with h i m (and their clientele). The second part, which is i n the hands of an organized group (according to my reports, the Protestant Ottoman Bank group), he can obtain through an option. H e can have the third part bought u p

on the stock-exchanges rather inconspicuously. Cecil's people could d o it, too, although w i t h greater difficulty,

1.e.,more expensively, more conspicuously, and more slowly.

But the acquisition would be hardest of all for a group such as you plan t o organize. T h e difficulty would be, i n the first place, that the larger the group, i.e., the smaller the share o f a n individual,

the more cash would have t o be emphasized. Secondly, the trouble would be that with the number of participants, the danger of people being indiscreet and spoiling things would grow in geometrical progression. B u t i f n o other way were left t o us, we would simply

have to follow this one. According t o the estimate of my expert, I figure the group’s cash Investment a t a b o u t 1 0 % , t h a t i s , 2.2 t o 2.5 m i l l i o n pounds sterling.

Once this fund exists, purchases can be started. I won’t go into the stock-exchange part of this operation now, although I have had it

explained t o me i n detail. I will only mention briefly that it is

Possible to have the purchased items carried over until the end of the entire operation, so that t h e group has cash responsibility only

for the difference between the proceeds from interest and the con'ango.* Another important facilitation is the fact that Cohn would Support the operation of the group i n every way. I n fact, I believe 0

* Translators Note: Contango: a premium paid by a buyer of stock t o the seller postpone its deliv ery.

1198 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ].

that he himself would take a share. I t 1s common knowledge that he has a huge private fortune; and considering the good terms I am o n with h i m , I could probably induce h i m t o d o so, once things actually start rolling.

However, the operations of the group would take a t least a year, if not longer, because more rapid activity o n the stock-exchanges

would make rates rise enormously. This 1s the one reason why even a financial artist l i k e Rouvier cannot easily manage the matter. The

second reason follows later. Let us now span a period of time whose duration depends on the circumstances, the interest rate, the political and financial situation. Let us assume the operation has been carried through, i.e., the dette is i n the possession of the group, with the exception of a small remainder, quantité négligeable [a negligible amount]. What then? Then we shall e n t e r the second phase. 2) The Acquisition of the Charter. W e shall receive the Charter for the certified announcement that our group is i n possession of the dette. I n saying this I a m certainly not basing myself o n Cohn’s promise alone—I a m not that naive—

but on his vital interests. H e will have t o give us the Charter then i he does n o t want t o remain i n his present situation, i.e., going to ruin. T h e owners o f the d e t t e w i l l appoint its administrators. Cohn’s desire, which he spelled o u t for me, is t o make this administration

a n authority which w i l l obey h i m , function inexpensively, and take care of the administration of all of his resources. B u t i n that case i t must not

consist of enemies and foreigners, b u t of his people. We

shall hand the administration over to h i m (for a specified period)

i n return for his giving us the Charter. W e shall make use of the Charter, and the utilization of the Charter—as Cohn knows beforehand—uwill serve to liberate h i m from the dette completely, not

just for the specified period. How will the utilization of the Charter which is t o be granted to the Jewish Colonial Trust be accomplished? O n the basis of the

THE COMP LETE DIARI ES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1199 Charter, the Trust w i l l found a b i g Land Compa ny* w i t h a capital

of 5 million pounds sterling. I don’t want t o rely o n Seligmann’s pledge, who promised t o get together Montagu and others for the Land Company with 5 mill. pd. stg. as soon as I have the Charter, any more than I want to rely o n the pledge, which I have i n writing, from the I.C.A. president Leven who promised us all the resources of the I.C.A. as soon as we have the Charter. I expect the 5 mill. pd. stg. for the Land Company from a public campaign o n the basis of the acquir ed Chart er. The Land Company, for its part w i l l complete the operation of the group. The Land Company will take the dette over from the

group. 3) The Remuneration of the Group. You see, the group is n o t to buy u p the dette i n order t o keep it, butin order t o re-sell i t , and a t a profit. B u t this profit m u s t be fixed beforehand, in an option given t o the J.C.T. t o take over the bonds atsuch and such an amount i n excess o f the average purchase price.

Thus the group arranges for the buyer. And here is the second reason why Rouvier, who has quite different resources and assistants a t his disposal, cannot easily handle the operation. H e has n o buyer i n view. For, once he has the dette, who is to take i t off his hands? Sure, the T u r k i s h government . B u t

to enable i t t o buy anything, someone must go security for i t . A n d

noone will do so unless i t accepts the guardianship of the administration, as u p to now. B u t then the situation o f the Turks w i l l b e

the same as now. Therefore only a few people around Cohn are interested i n such

an arrangement; he himself isn’t. But now the question arises for the group whether the Land pany. which doesn’t exist yet, w i l l really relieve i t of the dette In.

Yes! You see, the Land Compan y will have t o have the dette.

twill need i t so badly that i t would have t o pay any price; and for this reason the group's profit shall b e fixed i n advance, even though larcement [generou sly), I n keeping w i t h the tremend ous service. :

I n English i n the orig ina l.

1200 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL T h e Land Company, with a capital o f 5 mill,

pd. stg., i n posses.

sion of the Charter (which will have t o include the Crown Lands), and as the entrepreneur of Palestine and Syria, which will rapidly rise i n value because of the mass settlement, w i l l be strong enough financially t o take over the dette from the group. I have worked out the financial plan for this, too, b u t don’t want t o p u t i t down here, because this might make the whole plan more complicated than it actually is. I t w i l l be evident to everyone that such a Company will b e strong enough t o take over the dette.

But what i f the Land Company doesn’t materialize i n the first place? What then? Then the Group can either liquidate itself, and with gradual selling the rates of exchange will again b e brought t o the present level if, as may b e expected, i t has risen i n the course o f the opera-

tion. I n this eventuality, too, the Group will n o t lose anything, because as a predominant power i t w i l l dictate the prices.

At

worst,

then, i t will be a successful big stock-exchange opera-

tion for the Group.

. . . Or! O r the Group can offer its entire bond holdings

to

a

Great Power for sale. I believe there would then b e four buyers: England, France, Germany, and Russia.

Therefore i t isn’t likely that even a penny* will be lost. Instead, the Group may make a big profit even in this case.— This, my friends, is the plan in general outline. I think that Zangwill should first of all give Lord Suffield the detailed plans and try with his aid t o win over R . Possibly Suffield—

or the Bishop of Ripon?—ought t o induce the King t o influence R. For it is undoubtedly in England's interest t o gain this important sphere of influence in this way, without a war or expense. R. ought as a Jew, b u t as an Englishman !* I f , incidentally, he understands the signs of the British Brothers League,* he must realize t o help n o t

that i t is high time to come to our aid. Every day lost will take 1ts toll. * I n English i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1201 I must leave i t t o your careful judgment to what extent it is appropriate t o exert an influence o n Cecil through James—not

through Maxim. Another related question is t o what extent Engineer Kessler, our Transvaal member o f the A.C., w h o is i n London now, should be brought into action. Kessler has offered to win over the big South Africans, together with Sir Francis Montefiore. In this case, as well as i n the creation o f a group including Lipton

and others, the very greatest caution is indicated. This plan is to be handled like a photographic plate. I t must b e worked o n only b y

redlight. The red light is the discretion of men of honor. Everyone who is in on the secret and later does not collaborate is a menace. For during the operation he can gamble against the Group o n the stock-exchange, or induce others t o d o so. Therefore, alas!, R . is the best,perhaps the only, key to the situation. I f you succeed i n persuading R . o r a Group, I shall come to Lon-

donimmediately after receiving word. For R . I won’t need a financial expert. For the Group I would bring Reitlinger along.

If you succeed with this project, my dear friends, you will have rendered a great service t o our immortal cause.

Your devoted

Benjamin.

Jan. 23, Vienna I n the Paris propaganda sheet Pro A r m e n i a Bernard Lazare has published a mean, malicious article against me, o n the occasion of the exchange of Congress telegrams with the Sultan.

This is probably far from unwelcome t o the I.C.A., whose director, Meyerson, is a n intim ate frien d o f his.

Quel intérét peut-il bien avoir en dehors d u beau geste de dé-

fendre les Arméniens [What interest can he possibly have, apart from the nice gesture, in defending the Armenians]? *

*

*

1202 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

Jan. 23

The weekly Die Zeit is t o become a daily in competition with the N . F r . Pr. Consternation at the N . Fr. Pr. 1 should like to use the occasion to get the N . Fr. Pr. i n t o m y hands. For several days n o w I have been

discussing the rising danger with Benedikt. However, he is or acts very optimistic. Because of this I can’t manage t o find an opportunity for a proposition. Every day I enter his office intending to say t o h i m : D o you want to sell m e your shares? H e 1s so plucky that I seem ridiculous to my-

self in this and am afraid of being curtly rejected. Yesterday Bacher came into my room. He, 1n contrast, is dejected. It's just the other way around: I thought that Bacher wouldn’t worry about the danger and that Benedikt would, a great deal. I haven’t made u p m y mind yet h o w t o present m y proposal—

like the bashful lover i n a comedy.

January 24, Vienna Zionism was the Sabbath of my life. %

%*

*

I believe m y effectiveness as a leader may b e attributed to the fact that I , w h o as a m a n and a writer have had so many faults, made so

many mistakes, and done so many foolish things, have been pure of heart and utterly selfless i n the Zionist cause. %

%*

*

Strange how far my thoughts wander when I sometimes wake up too early in the morning. Then I solve many questions of the day and have a presentiment of some eternal ones. This morning I reflected o n the human body about which we still know so little. The medical men have the professional blindness of hardened practitioners.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1208

What a wonderful machine the human body is! A chemical laboratory, a powerhouse. Every movement, voluntary as well as in-

stinctive, full of riddles and wonders. What gases and liquids are produced here, harmful and useful ones! This is why I believe in the serum theory. Just as i t produces toxins, the animal body evi-

dently also produces antidotes which will surely be discovered as time progresses.

January 25, Vienna

Yesterday I read the conclusion of Oppenheimer’s “Jiidische Siedlungen” [“Jewish Settlements] i n the Welt. T h e final appeal, the comparison of the experiment of a Rahaline with the electric

experimental railroad Berlin-Zossen struck me, and I immediately decided t o carry o u t Oppenheimer’s experiment. I wrote h i m so at once,but enjoined h i m to silence for the time being. First I have to prepare the ground—the A.C. and the Bank; then, too, the I.C.A. with its greater resources w o u l d beat m e to i t . For they would not

doit of their own accord, b u t they would do i t i n order t o crush me and eliminate me from competition. As the scene of action I designatedEgyptian Palestine t o Oppenheimer, o n the other side of the

“Brook of Egypt,” because there I shall be dealing with the English government and thus have n o difficulties. Part of the thema proban-

dum [proposition t o be tested] is the climate, and this Oppenheimer overlooks. I s t i l l haven’ t made u p m y m i n d whethe r I shall make the matter a national affair, i.e., use i t for Zionist propaganda

Purposes—which would have the disadvantage of creating settlers for display, and the advantage u t aliquid fecisse videamur [that we would appear to have done somethin g]—or whether I shall get i t Started i n al] secrecy.

January 28, Vienna

Yesterday I spoke with Benedikt—but did n o t reach my goal. I t

Was so hard to make the openin g i n the conversation. I found i t b y

1204 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

quoting Dr. Ehrlich’s words: The bad part of i t is t h a t no one tells him (Ben.) the truth.

“Tell i t tome!’ he said. “ B u t you are about t o leave, you're hungry and tired!” “Doesn’t matter!” And sure enough, the impatient one had the patience t o walk up and down with me i n the Schwarzenberg Gardens for t w o hours. A t home his soup was getting cold. We walked u p and down in the Cour d’honneur [grand courtyard] of the Schwarzenberg Palace. Inside the Palace, behind the windows, they must have made fun of

the t w o gesticulating Jews in the courtyard. He saw t o i t t h a t he was always walking a t my right, with the many about-faces. The boss, quoi [mind you]! But soon I didn’t swing around him—Dbecause of the presumed spectators—but turned about m y own axis, so that I took turns walking on the right. A n d I told him about the danger the N.Fr.Pr. was i n . However,

the whole attack was directed against him personally. Bacher was not as hated as he, Benedikt. H e listened t o this and other things.

A t one point he even asked: And how would it be i f I resigned? I answered: Then things would be better! Still, I was too cowardly t o draw the final conclusion and make h i m a proposal. I was afraid of ruining my whole pessimistic argumentation by suddenly standing there as Monsieur Josse, l o r fevre.*

‘Tomake up forit, I am now writing him:

Dear Friend: Our conversation yesterday occupied me for a long time afterwards. So you yourself realize the seriousness of the situation. I f I

compare this with some of your occasional remarks about your fatigue, I a m tempted to draw a conclusion. I a m doing so in writ-

ing, because I don’t want t o get a primesautiére [spontaneous] anSWer. ®

Translator’s Note: “Mr. Josse, the Goldsmith,” a character i n Moliére’s L'Amour

Médecin (Love as a Physician). T h e phrase has since been used t o designate an

egotist who pursues his own selfish interests while pretending t o give friendly advice to others.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1205 Do you want t o fight this battle, too, t o the finish, like the earlier ones? Since ] a m not M onsteur Josse, l'orfévre, I a m telling you sincerely that I believe i n your success i n this case, too. As I put i t yes-

terday: The Zeit isn’t going t o knock the N . Fr. Pr. over—at most i t will take off a piece of wall. T h e question is, do you feel like going through such years again? should a real need for a rest b e stirring w i t h i n you—Dr. Bacher had such a need a long time ago, as h e told m e then—all you have

am a few years younger and feel equal t o the task. As I told you on t w o previous occasions, I have friends who to do is tell me so. I

could make considerable funds available t o me. I realize, o f course,

that theN . Fr. Pr. isn’t to be had for a song. Last year I already had a

substantial sum a t my disposal for this purpose. You will remember my father’s visit last February. Is your point of view still t o refuse such an offer a limine [out of hand], or are you w i l l i n g t o discuss it? After a l l , I a m not a stranger, butsurelya part o f the N . Fr. Pr.

You are n o t expected t o give me an answer today or tomorrow. None whatever is needed i f you don’t even w a n t t o talk about it. After about a week I shall regard the matter as finished. With cordial regards,

Sincerely yours, Herzl.

I showed this letter t o m y parents, and when they thought it good, I'sent i t to Benedikt’s private residence after office hours.

January 3 0 , Vienna Yesterday I was, despite everything, a b i t excited when I got to

the office. Of course, this was n o longer the palpitation of m y strugBlesIn earlier years—when ever so often I felt fear i n the big read"Ng room before entering the office o f m y forbidding adversaries and employers.I n those days I had t o live i n constant fear that they

1206 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

would break me by way of punishment for my Zionist rebellion and make m e a has-been. For 1t was clear that I w o u l d n o longer

have found employmen t anywhere else. But one gets accustomed even t o fighting duels. Yesterday I laughed and only took a deep breath before stepping into Bacher’s room. Benedikt was with him. M y entrance jetait u n froid [cast a chill]. Bacher stared vacantly and, i t seemed to me, irritably i n my

direction. Benedikt gave me a searching look over the glasses he wears for near-sightedness.

Ils ne voulaient pas en avoir air [They wanted t o look as though nothing had happened]. We spoke a few words about today’s and tomorrow's feuilletons. There was a trace o f unsteadiness i n m y voice, and I t h i n k I was a

bit flushed t o o . They evidently drew conclusions from my slight embarrassment. I , however, trudged o u t w i t h o u t a good-bye imme-

diately after our business had been completed. A t any rate, I have sent u p m y trial balloon. What will come of it

I don’t know. My impression is that they don’t

want t o

sell the

N . Fr. Pr.ordon’t credit me with having the money.

This is the key t o these t w o men: they don’t easily believe that someone may raise money (in large amounts)—because they wor ship money. *

*

%

Afterwards, while I was in m y office catching u p on the feutlletor material that had come in, I had another attack of brain anemia. ] didn’t mention i t to anyone. M y parents would find o u t and get ex

cited about i t . I t wouldn't make m y wife any more loving either. Mais ¢ a m’emport era u n jour [ B u t that will finish me off som day]. I can picture death: a growing insufficiency of consciousness, tht painful part being the very awareness of this fading away. ‘This mornin g I though t t o myself: Life—in the most favorable eventuality one leaves mournen I f I die soon, I shall b e mourned most o f all b y m y parents, les

THE COMPLET E DIARIES O F THEODO R HERZL 1207 by my children, w h o w i l l b e more consoled b y their youth—as well asby the entire Jewish people . A beautiful cortége [funeral procession]: T h e tragic, the lovely,

and the exalted. Febru ary 5, Vienn a

Yesterday evening I received the following wire from Yildiz: Dr. Th. H., etc. Pour me fournir certaines explications sur vos affaires, je vous prie de venir immédiatement a Constantinople [Kindly come to Constantinople immediately i n order to provide m e with certain

explanations of your projects]. Ibrahim. I received the telegram just as my wife was taking t o bed with a high temperature. Inany event, immeédiatement [immediately] was o u t of the ques-

tion.I sent for Kremenezky, made sure of his readiness t o go along, and then telegraphed last night: *

HisExc.Ibrahim Bey, Grand Master etc., Yildiz. I am at your disposal with t h e greatest pleasure; b u t to settle most pressing business before my departure

will take three or four days. Therefore I could not leave before Saturday or Sunday.

Kindly telegraph whether this suits you. Herzl. ¥%

*

*

This mornin g I wired Wellisc h: Please inquire at Frankl ( I b r a h i m ) factory (Yildiz) immediately whether I shall b e dealing w i t h Leopold (Sultan) himself o r only

with representative. Expe cting clear wire d reply. *

3

*

At the same t i m e I telegraphed Cowen that I have been summoned by Cohn and would like t o take h i m along. This time * In French i n the orig ina l.

1208 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy].

Cowen would be a more appropriate companion than Kreme. nezky, because he acts with more assurance and also because as ap Englishman he enjoys tighter diplomatic protection.

The summons does not come at a time agreeable to me, 1) because of the N . Fr. Pr. where there will perhaps be a row i f ]

go away again after 4 weeks, 2) because my mind isn’t quite a t ease on account of the public discussion of the Charter, 3) because we have n o money as yet, 4) because my nerves are on edge,

5) because this isn'ta good time for traveling, 6) because right now I wouldn't know what t o do with the Charter.

B u t I must go.

Certainly the matter is serious. Perhaps pleasantly serious, per-

haps unpleasantly serious. The tone “me fournir des explications” doesn’t sound exactly amiable. On the other hand, surely they can’t be so imprudent as to summon me t o reproach me. Nor are they likely t o risk a bold stroke. Accordingly, a favorable interpretation would seem t o be ind cated.

February 5, Vienna I must write to Vimbér y:

February 4, at night

My good Vdmbéry bdcsi:

Upon returning home this evening I

found a n invitation from

Cohn’s Ibrahim to come down “pour me fournir certaines explict

THE COMPLET E DIARIES O F THEODOR HERZL 1209 tions sur vos affaires.” T h e word “ m e ” in the sentence refers t o Ibrahim, not to Cohn. All that such a vague prospect opens u p to m e is

a perspective of endless hours of waiting and empty talk, which I , as a matter of fact* man, a m not partial to. Nevertheless, I answered that I was at Ibrahim’s disposal with pleasure, b u t that I needed some time to put m y most pressing affairs in order. You see, before I leave I should l i k e to get some further details. For I don't want to go riding around to n o purpose whatever. Assoon as I hear further from Cohn, I shall let you know; and i f Igo, I'shall naturally stop off t o see m y bdcs:.

Be embraced by Your devoted Dori.

February8 With all these things o n m y mind, with m y wife sick, yesterday

I'had t o write a feuilleton about Japanese actors. I t reminds m e o f the time when I was writing The Jewish State i n Paris and o n top of that had to go to the Chamber and report on a

session which was justly forgotten the next day. And the feuilleton is even a pretty good one. 3%

*%

*

T o m y regret Cowen, w h o m I had invited b y telegram, has

begged off. I have t o go with Kremenezky, who is a fine man but an

inefficient one. *

*

*

Day before yesterday the following wire came from Wellisch (in code): * In English i n the original.

1210 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Ibrahim acted o n orders from Sultan, also transmitted i n my

presence your message directed t o him. *

*

¥*

Yesterday evening there came this wire from Yildiz: Veuille; effectuer votre départ [Kindly arrange your departure]. Ibrahim *

¥*

¥

I f m y wife is better, I shall leave o n the Orient Express tonight.

February 1 0 , Vienna A contretemps [mishap].

The rail connection t o Constantinople has been c u t near Philippopolis by a flood. Therefore I had t o telegraph Dr. Wellisch yesterday t o make my excuses t o Ibrahim for my non-appearance and tell h i m that I would leave as soon as the track was clear, o n Wednesday a t the latest, via Constantsa. This delay may also make i t possible for Cowen t o come along; he is quicker and more efficient than Kremenezky, in addition to being a British subject and having an ambassador t o protect him. Cowen’s answer, which I requested, has still n o t come. %*

*

¥*

Yesterday I had l u n c h w i t h Eulenburg, w h o was charming and

did make mention of my trip t o Constantinople, b u t didn’t ask me about it.

We spoke only about generalities and about my Solon i n Lydien, which he thinks fine. H e intends t o send it t o the Kaiser. Today I a m asking h i m b y letter whether i t w o u l d n o t be advis-

able for me t o read the play t o the Kaiser i n Berlin after my return. Who knows, maybe I would have something interesting t o tell him, too.

H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1211 If 1go,I shall squirm m y way o u t of i t again a t the N. Fr. Pr. sans crier gare [without warning ]. I shall merely write the publishers to 2 few words: I must leave sudden ly for Consta ntinopl e and hope be back again in a few days.

February 11, Vienna Today I had some pleasantly reassuring news which n o longer

makes me regard my trip as a risky undertaking. Vambéry writes he has been informed that the Hejaz Railroad is involved. Wel-

lisch writes Ibrahim has told him that the Imperial summons has been issued in the interest of our affairs as well as those of the government. Also, yesterday I received a wire saying that Ibrahim considered thedelay insignificant.

Tomorrow, then, I shall go via Constantsa. Hope i t won't be too black a sea voyage.* * Translator’s Note: Hoffentlich keine zu schwarze Meerfahrt—a humorous allusion to Constantsa’s location o n the Black Sea (Schwarzes Meer).

Book Ten

Febr uary 13, 1 9 0 2 , on the train, past Verciorova Fragrant morning landscape on the Danube. Opalescence on the water, a softly shimmering, d u l l mirror. Slept badly; nevertheless, now I am traveling toward the mysterious East i n an improved morning mood. Last night I was i n Pest with Schlesinger. I w e n t ahead on the noon train a n d gave m y folks instructions for Joe, w h o was sup-

posed t o come i n from Ostend a t 5:25 i n the afternoon.

I suppose Schlesinger wasn’t quite sure whether I would call on him now that I n o longer need him. I wanted t o show him that I can be relied upon i m p l i c i t l y . M y coming t o see h i m was worth the effort, too. H e gave m e some good h i n t s . T h e chief one: that Cohn

needs me badly now. H e also promised t o come immediately i f I should call him, 1.e.,

if we run onto a sandbank. Then I w e n t through m y nocturnal native city t o the station. My friend Joe arrived o n schedule, and after a cordial greeting the t w o of us continued our trip.

February 1 5 , Constantinople

My fourth time i n Constantinople since the days of Newlinski. I t is the same old city: colors, colors, and the barking of dogs— et tout le reste [and all the rest]. I drove to the Palace straight from the boat, i n company with

Dr. Wellisch. Unfortuna tely o u r R u m a n i a n steamer had lost time during the night because o f heavy seas, so that we didn’t land at Top-Hane

until almost three o'clock yesterday, Friday, afternoon. I had already changed my clothes on board, t o be sure; but by the time we got t o the Palace i t was half-past three.

I was taken t o Ibrah im’s office, by now familiar t o me. The t w o Assistant Masters of Ceremonies, Ghalib and Memduh Bey, kept

me company, amiably and silently. The half-hour until the arrival 1215

1216 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]

of Ibrahim, who had immediately been notified of my arrival passed rather slowly. Then Ibrahim came, and from the Sultan, w h o sent me word that the selamlik had made h i m too tired t o receive m e immedi.

ately. I was t o come t o the Palace tomorrow morning (i.e., today). We arranged that I was t o be there a t 1 1 o'clock. Ibrahim remarked that H . M . had “quelques iradés impériaux et peut-étre des propositions a communiquer [some Imperial decrees and maybe some propositions to communicate] to me. I bowed silently. Thereupon Ibrahim further informed me that the Sultan asked me t o regard myself as his guest during m y entire stay here. Again I bowed silently. Then we talked about some trifling things. I mentioned that I had brought some fruit for H . M . Ibrahim and Ghalib raised their eyebrows. N o comestibles [foodstuffs] may be brought as presents. However, Ibrahim immediately said amiably that as a stranger I need n o t be acquainted with their customs. Whereupon I asked the gentlemen t o be kind enough t o accept the fruit from me; we would consume i t together. I left and frittered away the rest of the day in idleness with Joe. Then we m e t Crespi o n the Grande Rue de Péra, and he accompanied me t o the hotel. I told h i m those things in confidence which I wanted h i m t o divulge.

Then, for the first time in days, I slept rather well. Febr uary 1 5 , afternoon T h e first round is over. Result unfavo rable. I got to the Palace at 1 1 o'clock. I rode w i t h Wellisch, and i n the second carriage was Joe w i t h the boxes o f fruit and the container with the warmi ng-pa n. A sensation a t the Yildiz entrance. W e and our conspicuous

pieces of luggage were sniffed a t . But we were still able t o pass easily.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1217

At Ibrahim’s office we had t o wait a little while for h i m . Finally the smiler appeared. I introduce d h i m t o Joe, w h o then withdrew to the ante- cham ber w i t h Well isch.

Ibrahim informed the Sultan b y letter of m y presence. Then he nonchalantly started a conversation which I immediately guessed as bein g pre-arranged. He asked me about the aims of the Zionist Congress. I explained to him the purely nationalist Judaism of the Zionists which resists absorption by other nations such as is desired by our Jewish op-

ponents. Ibrahim said a distorted report had come i n according t o which

I had announced that the Sultan had permitted the immigration of the Jews into Palestine for the purpose of establishing a Jewish kingdom, and this had been denied through the Embassy. (Such a denial was completely unknown t o me).

I now gave him the exact wording of m y speech. I only said what the Sultan had i n May expressly authorized me to say; and even that only after I had informed the Sultan by letter that I was about todo so. Ibrahim smiled as always. “Weknew that Dr. Herzl couldn’t have said anything improper.

If that weren't so, the Sultan wouldn’t have invited you t o be his guest.” Then we talked about all sorts of things, including m y presents.

Ibrahim had them brought in. I explained the warming-pan whose appearance a t first seemed t o inspire him with some concern. The fruit required n o explana tion. T h e firm name o f the foremos t

Viennese gourmet-food shop made a good impression. After that the other Masters of Ceremonies came i n , and I think

the head cook as well. The warming-pan caused the m o s t pleasant

stir, after its non-explosive character had been established.

Then we went to lunch and ate Turkish dishes w h i c h had been

warm once. A: the meal Tahsin Bey came i n person, had a confiden tial

with Ibrahim, and didn’t even shake hands with me. After we had eaten Ibrah im told me t o go t o see Izzet Bey. I was

1218 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERz| already outside when h e called m e back again a n d whispered to me that I should accede t o Izzet’s wishes who would inform me of his personal interests.

“Cela va sans dire [That goes without saying],” I said, no amazed a t the fact that Ibrahim himself was telling me this. I was m e t by Izzet i n the grand courtyard i n front of the wing where the Sultan had received me i n May. W e exchanged a cordia greeting and w e n t back t o Ibrahim’s office. T h e three of us sat down i n the same armchairs that we had oc

cupied respectivement [respectively] last May, and the conversa. tion was continued from the same point. Presently Izzet began w i t h rudesse [brusquely]:* “What was the purpose of your visit last May?” “ B u t I told you a t the time. T'o come t o the aid of Turkey if she i n turn wants to aid us. W e Jews need a strong Turkey, etc., as|

have indicated several times i n m y memoranda t o His Imperial Majesty.” “Yes,” said Izzet, “ i t has been understood that there would be moral and material aid o n your part, as you people are very influ-

ential, both i n journalism and i n finance. B u t nothing of the sort has materialized. All you did was t o make declarations i n London and i n Basel.” “ I t was quite necessary,” I replied, “since i t was a question of creating a favorable climate of opinion for H i s Imperial Majesty among the Jews all over the world. A n d I believe I have succeeded in this, because there has been a great manifestation of sympathy.” “All right, let us establish o n both sides what is involved here,”

said Izzet. “ I shall give i t

to

you straight. His Imperial Majesty Is

prepared t o open his Empire t o Jewish refugees from all countries, o n condition that they agree to become O t t o m a n subjects with all the duties that this imposes, under o u r laws a n d o u r military serv1ce.”

“Exac tly!” I replie d. H e continued: “Before e n t e r i n g o u r country they must formally resign their previo us nation ality a n d becom e O t t o m a n subjects. On ®

Translator’s N o t e : T h i s conversation was recorded i n French.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1219 this condition they m a y establish themselves i n any of o u r prov-

inces except—at first—Palestine.” didn’t bat a n eyelash, also understood at once that this was only the first offer and that they would be open to bargaining. “ I n return,” Izzet went o n , “ H i s Imperial Majesty asks you to form a syndicate for the consolidation o f the public debt, which is currently under discussion, and to assume the concession for the exploitation of a l l the mines i n the Empire, those already discovered and those yet t o b e discover ed.” “What mines?” I asked.

“All the mines 1n existence here, gold mines and silver mines, coal mines and oil wells. Knowing that you are interested in having a strong Turkey we aren’t afraid that you will exploit us and are willing to entrust the exploitation t o you. “However, this w i l l have to b e a n Ottoman company whose

administrative council w i l l be composed entirely of Jews and Moslems.” “ I should l i k e permission t o t h i n k this over,” I said. “ I ask you only to be kind enough t o t e l l H i s Imperial Majesty from m e that

one thing is certain i n any case—that he can count on my sincere and determined devotion. This is the principle we are going t o put first. As for the details, we shall make every effort t o discuss

them and t o reach an understanding about them.” He then asked me

to

work u p a mémoire [memorandum] in

reply by tomor row. Then 1 gave h i m h i s snuff-box w h i c h greatly pleased h i m . H e

saidhe was crazy about snuff-boxes. Before he left he whispered something

to

Ibrahim. The latter

told i t to me afterwards. I b r a h i m was going to send his homme de Confiance [confidential agent] to see m e at m y hotel, about “his Personal inte res ts.”

“Agreed,” I said, and added: “ I can do a lot for Turkey—more than people t h i n k — b u t i n r e t u r n I must be given something

tangible for m y Jews.”

That made sense t o Ibra him .

1220 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7] Then I sent someone t o Tahsin t o ask whether I could see hin

No, he replied; he was too busy.

February 16, in bed, before sunrise I woke u p with the reply which I have t o give the Sultan. I t is as follows: *

Sire: The communications which Y.I.M. did me the honor of having sent to m e yesterday b y His Excellency Izzet Bey showed me a lofty

benevolence t o which I reply with sincere gratitude and complete devotion. I t is this same devotion which prompts m e to present most respectfully the following observations. The communications of H.E. Izzet Bey fall logically into two different parts:

1) anindustrial part, 2) a politico-financial part.

1) Y.I.M. in his lofty wisdom offers t o entrust me with the mission of establishing an Ottoman company t o exploit all the mines, both those already discovered and those to be discovered, in

your Empire. I can only accept this proposition in principle, for i t gives me the opportunity t o serve Y.I.M.’s interests, and t o serve them

loyally. ‘The details naturally remain still t o be decided. 2) I n Y.I.M.’s generosity, so often demonstrated

to

the Jews of

the Empire, Y.I.M. is willing t o extend paternal protection t o the persecuted Jews of the whole world and t o receive them as Turkish

subjects i n Y.I.M.’s states, b u t o n condition that they do not

¢-

tablish themselves in large numbers in a predetermined place. And i n return Y . I . M . would desire to see a Jewish syndicate formed for

the consolidation of the Debt. ®

I n French i n the origin al.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1221 I n this form the proposal seems t o be difficult of realization. T o carTy i t out sufficient publicity is needed; and i n this publicity it would have a bad effect, at least a dubious one, i f restrictions were added to the generously intended welcome. B u t beyond this gen-

eral consideration, there are still practical reasons. I t is n o t the poor colonists who will supply the capital for the great financial operations. I t is a matter, then, o f finding a l i n k between Jewish colonization and the execution o f the consolidation of the Debt.

This link, in my very humble opinion, can be found only i n a general concession for the formation of a great Ottoman-]Jewish company for colonization. I have, Sire, the honor, etc.

February 17. Tout est rompu [Everything is ruined] here. The day had a good beginning and a bad end. I had completed m y letter o f reply t o the Sultan; then, a bit late,

I drove to Yildiz. I handed my letter t o Ibrahim who then translated i t into Turk-

ish for the Sultan with the aid of the Deputy Master of Ceremonies, Ghalib Bey. H e had instructions t o make a literal translation. After this had been done with fussy delays we chatted about a number of things, particularly Zionism. I b r a h i m revealed himself as 2a warm Zionist and declared himself to be p o u r une alliance offensive et défensive entre les Turcs et les Juifs [ i n favor of a n offensive and defensive alliance between the Turks and the Jews].

From this I concluded—since Ibrahim toujours abonde dans le sens de son maitre [always echoes his master’s opinions]—that

the wind has changed in our favor. Ibrahim also informed me that I had repeatedly been denounced to the Sultan as dangerous and that my Congress speech had been brought to his attention i n distorted form. However, the Sultan In his lofty wisd om had seen throu gh the intrig ues and only in-

1222 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

structed his ambassadors t o deny that he had made a promise t o me, Then we went to l u n c h , which was a b i t better this time.

T o help our digestion—a rather tempestuous digestion—Izzet Bey showed u p again. H e read through m y reply and with his usual penetration demanded an explanation of the Cie. Ott.-Juive p o u r la c o l o n i s a t i o n [ O t t o m a n - J e w i s h C o l o n i z a t i o n C o . ] Was i t to

have a choice of places for settlement, that is, be able t o buy areas anywhere a t all, and gather the Jews under it? “Yes!” I replied. “That 1s indispensable. After all, we are not concerned with protection individuelle [individual protection]— which we have 1n all civilized countries even now—, but with protection nationale [national protection].” What did I mean by that, Their Excellencies asked. I explained: a great public gesture i n our favor, such as an invitation t o immigrate without any restriction. Thereupon Izzet took m y letter t o the Sultan. While we were waiting, Ibrahim and Ghalib raved about the

happy conditions t o come: how i t would be when the Jews came. They dreamed aloud of the improvement of agriculture and 1ndustry, of banks which would n o t serve foreign interests, etc. But then Izzet returned with the Sultan’s decision, and i t was unfavorable. The Sultan is w i l l i n g t o open his Empire t o all Jews w h o become Turkish subjects, b u t the regions t o b e settled are to

be decided each time by the government, and Palestine is t o be excluded. The Comp. Ott.-Juive is t o be allowed t o colonize In Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, anywhere a t a l l , w i t h the sole ex-

ception of Palestine! A Charter without Palestine! I refused a t once. Ibrahim remarked: * “The t w o offers are very far apart!”

Izzet said: “What do you expect? Life is like that. First you are a thousand miles apart, and i n the end you reach a n understanding.” I said: “ I ’ m afraid not. I shall sleep o n i t again and t h i n k i t over u n t i l tomorrow. B u t I a m very much afraid I w o n ' t find a solution.” ®

Translato r’s N o t e : This conversa tion i n French.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1223 Izzet said piously: “Inshallah [May Allah grant i t ] ! Let us hope that you will find one.” |

I : “Alas, i t seems u n l i k e l y t o me. A n d i f I d o n ’ t find a solution

by tomorrow, I shall ask H i s Imperial Majesty for permission t o leave.” This was immediately taken as a threat to break off negotiations:

Izzet and Ibrahim exchanged glances, and Izzet said frostily: “Sans doute [To be sure ]!” Then, in accordance w i t h the Sultan's orders, a w r i t t e n record

was made of this conversation and signed by Izzet and Ibrahim. I got ready to leave. I asked Ibrahim softly when Izzet’s con-

fidential agent Caporal would come t o see me. Ibrahim spoke with Izzet and brought me his answer: 1t was superfluous now. By this I recognized how seriously the negotiations had miscarried. So I whispered in Ibrahim’s ear: an idea would be t o make a double contract—that 1s, a public one which protects the Sultan from op-

position, and a secret one for me and my friends. Ibrahim said I should immediately inform Izzet of this expedient. I did. But Izzet said, w i t h a pronounced wink and grimace: “That isn’t possible. T h e ministers wouldn't be willing. There are some of them whom you could convince. But there are also

others who cannot be convinced—at any price.” Now I left pour de bon [ i n earnest]. *

He

3

Islept on the matter, which I regard as lost for the moment. Now

lam writing the following letter t o the Sultan: * Sire: I t i s with sincere and profound regret at not b e i n g able to be of U s to Y.I.M. under

mylea ve ,

the existing conditions that I prepare t o take

I must respectfully bow t o the judgment that Y.I.M., i n his lofty Wisdom, has expressed.

After reflection I have found only one thing that might perhaps ‘mooth the difficulties. I most hum bly subm it i t t o Y.I.M .’s judg* In French i n the or igi na l.

1224 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

ment. I f colonization without restriction were accorded us, I would persuade my friends t o found a great Turkish bank with its centra] office a t Constantinople and branches in all the important cities of the Empire. This bank, whose governing board would be com. posed exclusively of Moslems and Jews, would be charged with the

modern organization of credit in the Ottoman countries. Thus it would be proved t o all that the coming of the Jews would be an advantage, a piece of luck for the interests of the entire country. I f Y.I.M. does n o t believe i t necessary t o go into this proposal, I

should like t o ask permission t o leave tomorrow morning, for my many activities make a long absence extremely difficult for me. I should be most happy i f I were t o have the signal honor of being received again today a t a farewell audience i n order that I may

express m y profound gratitude for the delighful reception that has

been accorded me. I f Y.I.M. does n o t have time for me, I beg Your Majesty to do me the favor of accepting t w o small gifts. One is one of my books which will be delivered the day after tomorrow. I t is a collection of philosophic tales. The other is a typewriter with Turkish-Arabic type which I have had made in America for Y.I.M. This typewriter will be a t Constantinople in about t w o weeks.

I f today I have n o t been fortunate enough t o find the solution the question to be solved, perhaps the day w i l l come later. May Y.I.M. only remember his ever completely devoted servant. I shall to

continue t o foster i n the great Jewish organization that I represent

sentiments of respect and love for the august person of the Caliph, the only great friend we have o n earth. I remain , Sire, Y.I.M.’smost humble . . .

Feb rua ry 19, o n the trai n, i n Rum ania , between Pitestiand?

I had finished the preceding letter so late the day before yester day that I could no longer accept Ibrahim’s luncheon invitation.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1225 Therefore I sent Wellisch to Yildiz Kiosk with the letter, had lunch with Joe at the Péra Palace instead, afterwards tried to take 2 brief nap, and then drove out.

I brought along one jewel-studded gold pencil each for Ibrahim and the Second Master of Ceremonies, Ghalib. I was unable to deliver the snuff-box for Tahsin, so n o w I a m

bringing i t back again among our valuables. Ibrahim was sitting lazily over the translation of m y letter, and then finished it, moaning and groaning, in my presence. Then he called the Third Master of Ceremonies, Memduh Bey, who had to calligraph the fair copy for the Sultan. While Memduh was writing, Turkish style, on his knees, his left hand flat under the sheet of paper, Ibrahim began talking about his deceased son, the poor, charming Said Bey, whom I had met in London i n June and who had soon after that died of an unsuccessful operation a t Karlsbad. Ibrahim wept, and this brought h i m very close to m e as a human

being. Memduh’s handiwork was then sent t o the Sultan, and after

awhile I was called t o Izzet, who is now my intimate friend. He laughed and winked a t me as i f I were just as much of a crook as heis. He repeated the Sultan’s propositions to me, and I rejected them

just as flatly. I said I could use immigration only without any restriction, or no t a t all. The Sultan s e n t me the message that he could n o t grant me unlimited immigration under the administra tion of m y Land Company even i f he wanted to. For he had reason t o fear that h e would n o t only not w i n the sup|

port of the majority of his people for it, but

not

even of the

minority,

To this Izzet remarked with a grin that i t was an error t o believe that an absolute monarch could do whatever he wanted. Izzet now changed over to a confidential tone and gave me the

Advice of a friend: *

' T Tanslator’s , Note : This . conv

ersa tion i n Fren ch.

1226 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7L “Enter this country as financiers, make friends, and later you wil]

do whatever you

want

to.” (This was accompanied by a strong

w i n k , unmistakably intended to say: w e d o know what you want, a n d inwardly w e have n o objections t o i t , n e i t h e r t h e Sultan nor w e businessmen i n h i s confidence w h o j u s t w a n t t o make some money a r o u n d h i m . B u t w e ' v e got t o b e c a r e f u l , otherwise we'll

be sent packing.) H e continued: “Take our finances i n hand and you will be the boss. First attend t o the mining business, which 1s superb. There are hundreds, thousands of requests for concessions t o which we don’t even reply. You are being offered the exploitation of a l l mines i n existence i n the Empire, and you d o n ’ t want to take 1t? “After that, attend t o the b a n k i n g business. Y o u will b e given all the necessary concessions. I t w i l l be done in such a way that the Ottoman Bank w i l l suspect nothing, because those gentlemen would be furious and would go t o any lengths against you. And finally, we would see what could be done for your colonization request. “ I f you w a n t t o take m y heart-to-heart advice, this is what you

must d o : Leave tomorrow, talk t o your friends, create that syndicate w e need, earmark, through a b a n k w h i c h w i l l k e e p 1t at your

disposal, a s u m o f

t o b e deposited as security w h e n the firman

[decree] of the concessions is promulgated. And then we shall be able t o make a contract w i t h you. For example, for the firman covering the mines you will deposit a security o f a million francs,

and so on.” This idea I immediately thought brilliant, because i t will give m e an opportunity to flash money i n front o f the eyes of the greedy and yet involves n o outlay o n o u r part. Yet I said very reservedly:

“ I see that you speak as a friend, and I shall also do all I can to get m y friends to accept your advice. B u t I have t o expect what

they will tell me: you are offerin g us business that we are not looking for and d o n ’ t b r i n g us what we want, namely, the Colonrzation Company. All the same, I shall strive t o b e agreeable t o His Imperial Majesty and to acquire friends here a t all levels. I under

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1227 stand perfectly what you are trying t o say: One has t o create interests around one i f one wants t o succeed. A n d t o this same end I believe that i t would be better to issue three different firmans: one for themines, one for the bank, and one for the Colonization Co. That will make i t easier for m e to interest different groups. There will be some who w i l l benefit b y the first firman, others by the second, and still others b y the third. A n d there will be friends who will be inon all three. (As I said this I gave h i m a penetrating and inviting look). Do you understand me?” He replied with winning simplicity: “ I understand you. That's n o t bad.” Then I said: “Ibrahim Bey told me that you would like t o send your business agent Mr. Caporal to see me. W h y so? Since we are friends, there is noneed t o have a third party between us. Let us understand each other directly; that 1s always better.” He looked a t me almost w i t h eyes of love—this is how well he liked my frankness—, and said: “You are right.” Then he did get back t o h i s master’s interests: “ T h e government* needs a million pounds now (aha! the Hejaz Railroad, I thought t o myself); can you get i t for us?” “Yes!” I said quickly: “Give me unrestricted colonization and you will have the m i l l i o n i n very short order. This I can offer you atonce, because that’s what I have come for. I w i l l have to discuss the other projects w i t h m y friends first. ”

“That isn’t possible a t the moment ,” he replied. “While we have been talking, a n idea has occurred t o m e , ”

I'said. “ I

cannot

agree t o immigration with a restriction. But i f

You must not fix the n u m b e r o f immigrants, we can d o it. T h e Ottoman. Jewish Co. coul d assume the respo nsibi lity t o the govtmment for not admitting more t h a n a certain number of colonists,”

How many, for ins tan ce ” Co

'T

iation of wordslator's Note: Herzl notes at this point, regardin g Izzet’s pronunc nt. yuvernme even s sometime ent, giivernm gouvernement: “ H e kept saying

1228 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL “ I haven't given this enough thought. ‘The idea simply popped into my mind. What do you think of 1t?” “ I t may n o t be bad,” he said. “ W e would see about that later, B u t first of all, attend t o our finances!” A n d this is how things were t o remain. T w o palace officials or guests come 1n, sat down amid many salaams, drank coffee, and smoked cigarettes. W e weren't able to continue, but didn’t have any more t o say t o each other anyway. H e saw m e o u t t o the c o u l o i r [corridor], and asked me i n the

Sultan’s name t o come t o the Palace again the n e x t morning since I probably wished t o say good-bye. T h e Sultan also wanted t o show me une amabilité d’adieux [a farewell kindness]. I drove back t o the hotel. I n the evening the correspondent of the Havas News Agency, a French Swiss named Sandoz, came to see m e w i t h a n introduction from Crespi.

Sandoz is a charmingly chattering, rosy old gentleman qui semble avoir eu des revers de fortune [who seems t o have had hard luck]. H e immediately wanted to secure m y services for the found

ing of a big international newspaper, L’Europe, t o be published ir Switzerland. Naturally I wasn’t taken in by this, et pour cause [anc with good reason]. Anyone could have such plans for a newspape and would have very good use for a man who would lend him the money for it.

But then we chatted agréablement en confréres [pleasantly, like colleagues], and I endeavored t o make an agreeable impression of him because I might have use for h i m later. *

*

*

Yesterday morning I got u p very early i n order t o drive t o t h Palace, for the boat was leaving a t

10

o'clock. O u r trunks had beer

packed the evening before. I asked Joe to pay the bill—for despit the invitation to regard myself as the guest o f the Sultan n o o n had come from the Palace to advise the hotel. T h e presumptiol was more than justified that the orders had been c u t off somewher

and that the money had been stolen.

THE COMPLETE D I A R I E S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1229 I further asked Joe to go to the boat with all the luggage, b u t qot to embark until I came. I thought i t possible—expected it, i n fact—that the Sultan would n o t l e t m e depart. However, things

happened differently. With h i m everything always happens differently from the way one expects i t . Some day I shall probably get the Charter, too, at a q u i t e unforeseen moment—if at all. That

is,provided we don’t get i t until after Turkey is divided, from the Powers.

Ibrahim and Izzet had had t o rise early o n my a c c o u n t . Their Excellencies actually appeared right after my arrival, and Izzet had instructions t o make a record, i n Turkish and French, of our negotiation. Therefore I made a memorandum which was t o be translated into Turkish afterwards: *

Today, February 18, 1 9 0 2

Their Excellencies Ibrahim and Izzet Bey have done me the honor of communicating the following propositions t o me on behalf of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan:

1) His Imperial Majesty will permit the immigration of Jews into his provinces of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, on condition that the immigrants obtain from their respective governments authorization t o become Ottoman subjects. The immigrants must submit to the Ottoman laws i n force and participate i n military Service. Immigration must n o t take place o n a mass basis, nor must there be mass settlement, b u t i n accordance w i t h the decisions made by the Imperial government i n the areas that will b e 1n-

dicated to them. 2) In return His Imperial Majesty desires the formation of a Jewish financial syndicate i n order t o render assistance to the ImPerial government in the followin g matters:

2) The formation of a mining company for the general exploitation of mines i n the Empire, whose administrative council will * In French in the or

iginal.

1230 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

be composed half of Moslem Ottoman subjects, half of Ottoma Jews. b ) T h e facilitation of the process o f consolidating the Ottoman

Public Debt, under moderate and advantageous conditions. c) T h e loan to the Ottoman government o f the sums necessary t o carry o u t its public-works projects, under moderate and ad.

vantageous conditions. ¥*

*

*

Having respectfully taken cognizance of these Imperial com. munications, I have been obliged t o declare, t o m y great regret,

that the aforementioned conditions seem unacceptable t o me. However, I remain a t H i s Imperial Majesty’s disposal for further negotiations. Dr. Th. H.

B u t when Izzet began t o dictate passages that were n o t t o my l i k i n g , I said: * “ I f you want m e t o write all that, you will p e r m i t m e to add at

the end that I have declined the proposals that were made to me. “Exactly!” said His crafty Excellency. While I was writing somebody came from the Sultan, bring: I n g me, o n his instructions,

200

pounds as reimbursement for my

travel expenses. I shrugged my shoulders, with due respect, and smilingly asked the gentle men: “ B u t would I be permitted t o offer this sum t o charitable proj: ects?” “Accept i t and sign for i t first,” said Izzet w i t h a wily smile, “then you can do what you like w i t h i t . ” So I w r o t e o u t a recei pt: Received from the Imperial treasury the sum of t w o hundred pounds for t r a v e l i n g expense s. D r . T h . H . * Transla tor’s N o t e : This convers ation i n French.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1231 While I was making a clean copy o f m y memorandum, I reflected on whether 1 ought to leave these £ 2 0 0 w i t h the two Excellencies for distribution among the poor, 1.e., make thema gift of i t , which they certainly w o u l d n ’ t have refused—or whether to keep i f for our poor A.C. treasury. I decided o n the latter, mainly for the

reason that while my acknowledgment of the receipt of [200 would then be preserved i n the files of the civil administration, there would be no proof that I had immediately given the money away again.

The idea of keeping these 5 , 0 0 0 francs, which by rights are my personal property, inasmuch as they are an honorarium for m y efforts, never occurred t o m e even for a moment. Isaid good-bye and farewell t o the t w o Excellencies. “I'leave loaded w i t h gold,” I said to them w i t h superior humor,

and they bowed low before m y nonchalance i n the face of such a sum. “Gentlemen and Your Excellencies,” I said, “although ofhcially

we haven't reached a result, let me express the hope that we shall meet again! I shall follow your advice, I shall try t o find what 1s good both for your country and for my Jews and that could satisfy the whole worl d.” “May God hear you,” said Izzet piously. “ W e are your partisans

[on your side].” O r did h e say participants? Ibrahim repeated, with a happy smile and a low bow:

“Yes, we t w o are your partisans!” And since I was just holding Izzet’s h a n d w i t h m y right hand,

I gave Ibrahim my left hand. A n d we presented a pretty picture,

abaksheeshRiit li* meeting, as i t were! Many hands with palms turned upwards were stretched out t o mebefore I reached the Yildiz gate. Since we are i n Wonderland, ** 3 s| keep explaining t o m y good Joe, I also have t o shower down

Bold pieces wherever I

go, like a n Oriental prince.

I believe my reputation for generosity is increased by these : Cf. Note, p. 787.

I n English i n the ori gin

al.

1232 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HER7]

small baksheeshes in the overheated fairy-tale atmosphere of Wonderland.* A sort of gold fever m u s t sweep Yildiz a t my appear. ance. For this rain of gold is seen b y many eyes, and most of these eyes belong to spies. Therefore, i f I give so much even t o the doormen, how much

must the Excellencies be getting with whom I have such long, secret conferences.

All Yildiz probably thinks that, and soon the Porte, the city, the country will too.

These gold pieces which I lose a t the gate are among my most fruitful investments. *

*

*

I had the horses o f m y hotel carriage race t o the harbor as fast as they could run, and sure enough, I got t o the boat five minutes

before i t sailed.

Aboard in a hurry.* I told Joe:

“But now you will hear the funniest thing from Wonderland. We leave richer than we came.” A n d I handed him the unopened

bag which had been weighting down my back coat-pocket. I asked him t o leave the little bag the way i t was and only put it down o n the A.C. table a t the conclusion of our report. The way I know m y gentlemen, they will listen t o our report about this

incomprehensible and useless trip with raised eyebrows. Then their eyes will pop in their pettiness. Incidentally, I intend t o give the amount we are bringing back i n excess of what we took to the National Fund under m y initials

and t o have the rest, too, entered as my donation for Zionist purposes, 1) because the money from the Sultan was n o t given t 0 Zionism but to me, 2) because i n the face of m y signed receipt which has remained i n Yildiz there must b e some document to cover me.

®

I n English i n the origina l.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1233 We had a bad trip o n the wretched Rumanian boat. T h e sea was rough, and i n the afternoon a thick fog settled. At such times one gets a l l sorts o f ideas. E.g., i f we collided with

another boat and went down—then a t some future time the re-

ceipt for the £200 would be found i n Yildiz—perhaps when the Russians or Bulgarians conquer the country? A n d then I would appear to be a hireling o f the blood-stained Sultan, a sort of Newlinski. Of course, Joe Cowen, w h o would also have gone down, could then not testify i n m y defense either that I had immediately given the gift away.

Joe told me on the train today that he, too, had thought of shipwreck and the moneybag today. H e was determined, first thing as he was going down, t o throw the heavy bag away because i t could drag him down. Incidentally, we lay in our cabins almost the whole time. I d i d not feel well enough t o write, b u t I did d o a l o t of thinking.

The plans for the whole immediate future were worked o u t in my head. First of all I shall call a meeting of the Board for March 1 0 t h in London. I shall try the mine scheme through Reitlinger. I f he fails, through the London South African s. The Board must allot the security for the Bank and the Land Company.

Vambéry must bring the pouting Tahsin round. Sonnenschein must get permission for m e to wear m y decoration

oe

Koerber. For withholding i t makes a bad impression in

ildiz.

Finally, Izzet had requested me i n the name of the Sultan t o ask the management of the N . Fr. Pr. what its good will and secretly becoming an unofficial Turkish organ would cost. A n amusing assignment which I shall discharge when I have a chance.

Perhaps this will make a Zionist of Benedikt.

1234 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL A thought i n the cabin o n the Black Sea:

Ladiplomatie, c'est art de traiter avec des brigands [Diplomacy is the art of dealing with robbers].

Letter to Vambéry:

M y good Vambéry bdcst: I a m writing you these lines o n the O r i e n t Express o n m y return journey. You see, I d i d n ’ t l e t Cohn detain m e and left after four

days, although he declared me his guest and had me treated very cordially. I didn’t see h i m i n person. I only spoke with his representatives. B u t precisely the chief one, y o u r friend, didn’t come near me—in fact, h e wasn’t even a t home t o me, although I had him

informed of my presence a number of times. H o w am I t o understand this? W i l l you have the kindness t o clear this up, bdcstkam [my little uncle]? H e was downright hostile! I couldn’t even hand h i m the present that I had brought along for h i m . T o the point: Cohn offers far too l i t t l e and demands too much. I am n o t enough of an Oriental tradesman t o fritter away my time over countless cups of coffee. That is why I preferred t o leave,

even though on the best of terms and keeping myself a t his disposal i f he should make more reasonable proposals. O n e thing, however, I thought I could sense. Those people don’t seem to be quite sure whether I can deposit a financial security for a possible signing o f a contract. This can b e remedied, i f that’s a l l i t is. O n March 10th I shall g o t o London, and o n the 15th I shall have a certificate o f security sent t o C o h n b y two or

three banks. H e wants financial aid. I a m prepared to get i t for h i m , b u t do t t

des [I give so that you will give]. A m I right? Since I have n o more t o tell, I w o n ' t bother you w i t h a visit

tonight or even trouble you t o come t o the station.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1235 [didn’t hand over your letter of introduction, because I was told Cohn might resent m y associating w i t h others. The idea of calling you seemed hopeless from the start, since everything went through your opponent. B u t perhaps this very

thing is advantageous for the future, because now you will be Jble to work unnoticed o n the other side, which seems t o be the hostile side at pres ent.

Please gratify me soon with your judgment on all this. As soon as I have time, I shall come t o you for a few hours o f consultation.

Be embraced by Y o u r devoted Dori.

February 1 9 , o n the train Letter to Bennore it:

Dear Friend: I'am writing you these lines o n the Orient Express on the way back from Cohn, upon whose invitation and as whose guest I have

just spent a few days i n Constantinople. Once again the most extraordinary things have happened, all strictly co nfi de nti al.

via Paris. Despite this Iam asking you t o come t o Vienna even before that, because i t may I n about two weeks I shall g o t o L o n d o n

be a question of a few useful days. I cannot p u t this matter i n

Writing, and would have t o make quite different arrangements i f Jou don’t help out. You can imagine that I wouldn't dare t o rush you t o Vienna i f 'L weren't a question of quite extraordinary matters, since I can |

‘€

you a week o r two later i n Paris anyway. B u t you would have to

ave this very time in order possibly t o bring in some people. This lime, you see, Cohn wants t o p u t something positive and tremen-

1236 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL, dously beneficial i n m y hands. I t is something that a great number

of people will probably go along with. Therefore I ask you t o wire me immediately upon receipt of this letter (address: Haizingergasse 29, Wiahring, Vienna) whether or n o t you will arrive here in Vienna on Monday. B u t whether you come o r not, consider yourself honor-bound not to t e l l a soul o f this letter and its contents.

With the kindest regards,

Yours sincerely, Doral.

February 2 1 , Vienna A t the Staatsbahnhof I was m e t by Kremenezky, Kokesch, and

Kahn. I gave thema brief report. They would have been satisfied even with the colonization of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia which the Sultan had offered.

When that evening I surprised them with the Sultan’s £200, they laughed delightedly a t first. But then Kokesch stated that this sum was a t the disposal of the A.C., because i t had given me the traveling expenses. I n essence i t is a matter o f indifference, since I

hadn’t thought for a second of keeping the gift for myself. But what 1s typical is the guardianship which the committee want to exert over me. For the rest, we agreed that the money should n o t be donated for Zionist purposes, but, i n accordance w i t h m y first inspiration, to

Turkish charity.

I a m inquiring o f Vambéry what cause h e recommends. The Hejaz Railroad, maybe? %*

¥*

%

A sensation at the N . Fr. Pr. at m y return. Bacher stared at me

with curiosity. Benedikt was self-conscious, b u t didn’t ask any questions. The editors chuckled a t the publishers’ embarrassment.

THE coMPL ETE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1237 is daw ning Benedikt's slaves and eunuchs n o long er laug h at me. I t

ter ma n. on them that I am the gr ea *

*

*%

In the evening a wire came from Greenb erg: the London papers re publishing articles t o the effect that I have already conclude d the Charter. Worried, I drove to Ambassado r M a h m u d N e d i m Bey i n order

s e n adcode telegram through h i m t o Yildiz asking them either to lisregard the false rumors or let m e deny them. I f they issued another denial, it could render m y further work impossible. Mahmud Nedim was i n bed and had h i s servant tell m e that I

should write o u t the desired telegram, whereupon he would send it in code. [ wrote i t down, but when I had finished I remembered that these wires go t o Tahsin, who 1s now against me. SoI preferred not t o leave the telegram there and w e n t away.

Iimmediately telephoned the correspondents of the Daily Mail and the Daily News and asked them t o deny the rumors in my name, so that this denial may appear i n London this morning.

Iwired Wellisch t o tell Ibrahim immediately that I had already isued a denial. For i f the denial comes from Yildiz Kiosk, i t will have 2 much more unfavora ble repercussion. W e shall see i f they

Willcross me up again. %*

*

%*

When I think of Izzet, he is probabl y the merriest and most monstrous rascal I have ever me t. For example, when he first made m e the m i n e proposa l, h e hid hIs face in his hand, and, bendi ng down over his knees, so that

l #ould not see his rogu ish

laug hter, h e said: * r e e cause we know that you want something else that we

And

ng this exploitation t o you—you won't exploit us. € meant g y

Ouud [in his heart]: b u t we will exploit you.

‘ Translator $ Note: Quoted i n French; wording not identical with the earlier

conversation,

1288 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL O f course, h e ' l l have t o get u p earlier for that, n o matter hoy

big a crook he 1s. A n d t o this rogue I have t o write this charming letter: * Your Excellency: I have given deep thought

to

your advice which, I should say,

was dictated n o t only b y a zealous servant o f the Sultan but also by a t r u e friend o f t h e Jews, a n d I have decided t o follow it.

Therefore a deposit of three million francs w i l l be made for the three firmans we spoke about (one million per firman) i n several banks and t o m y account, ultimately t o be paid t o the Ottoman government as security as soon as the firmans are made public and I give the order t o make the payment. Perhaps i t w i l l be necessary t o proceed b y stages. What H.I.M. has been kind enough t o offer me for the colonization is not sufficient, i t i s true, because there i s a r e s t r i c t i o n , a sort o f distrust

which our good will surely does n o t deserve. B u t let us get t o know one other, l e t us make a start, and l e t us hope that w i t h the services which we are determined to render confidence w i l l grow and we

shall reach complete agreement. I n two o r three weeks the above-mentioned deposit of three

million francs will be made. You can be as certain of i t as if it were already done. O n the 15th of March a t the latest you will

know in what banks this money has been deposited; and I shall produce the vouchers when they are requested. A t the same time as this confidential letter I am sending an official one, addressed as always t o H i s Excellency I b r a h i m Bey. T h e bearer o f this letter knows n o t h i n g o f i t s contents, and consequently h e cannot b e entrusted w i t h a n open reply. I t would

be very helpful t o let me have an address for the telegrams which I m i g h t have t o address confidentially a n d w i t h o u t a n intermediary to

Y.E. What I send from here t o Yildiz Kiosk b y wire is, of course,

read before i t goes off and before you receive it. And the same goes for what is sent to m e from Yildiz. Therefore I ask Y.E. t0 sign w i t h a code name—for example, Bachrach. * I n French i n the original .

H E COMPLE TE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1239 Begging Your Excellency t o believe i n m y devotion t o your country and my unshakable friend ship for you, I am Ever yours,

Th. H .

Letter to the S u l t a n :

*

Sire: I have the honor t o submit t o Y.I.M.’s judgment the following most respectful considerations.

If the entire program of immigration concessions on the part of Y.I.M. and of financial services to be rendered o n our side is not realizable all at once—perhaps there would b e a way o f at least making a start toward its realization.

After mature deliberation I believe I have found an expedient.

According t o the official report drawn up

at

Yildiz Kiosk on

February 18th between Their Excellencies Ibrahim Bey and Izzet Bey and myself, Y.I.M. wishes to permit the immigration of Jews Into his provinces of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, n o t on a mass basis, but i n small groups. I m u s t say i n all sincerity that I do n o t

believe this concession—magnanimous though i t may be— suficient for the creation of that great movement i n the entire Israelite world which is necessary t o take care of all the financial needs of the Empire. B u t one could always try and see what the results would be. However, i n order n o t t o emphasize too much the restriction which would b e contained i n this permission, the

firman would contain the clause that the immigrants must be presented by the committees which I have instituted i n the various countries, In this way i t w i l l n o t be necessary t o announce publicly that the immigration is l i m i t e d . Besides, a system can b e set u p . T h e Imperial government w o u l d assign t h e abandoned areas t o me, a n d the Immigration could be carried o u t i n good order and i n the

Numbers confidentially determined by the Imp. govt. " I n French in the original.

1240 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL I n return I would form financial syndicates i n accordance with

Y.I.M.’s wishes. 1) for the exploitation of the mines, :

2) for the establishment o f a bank for the Ottoman countries. I n order to demonstrate that these propositions d o not lack a

serious foundation and that i t 1s possible t o proceed with the set. tling of details, I shall have deposits made i n several banks by the 15th of March, with directions that they be paid o u t to the Ottoman govt. upon orders from me. I intend t o deposit two or three

million francs. These sums would constitute the security for the concluded arrangements. The deposits will remain for this purpose u n t i l M a y 15th, and I shall produce the bank vouchers. I have the honor, Sire, t o remain Y . I . M . ’ s most h u m b l e a n d obedient servant, Dr. Th. H.

Covering letter to Ibrahim: *

Your Excellency: I have the honor of transmitting herewith a very important letter for H . I . M . Hoping t o be with you again soon a t Yildiz Kiosk t o accomplish useful work for Turkey and the Jews, I beg Your Excellency to accept this assurance of my high regard and devoted friendship. Dr . Th . H.

February 2 2 , 1 9 0 2

February 23

For a change on the Orient Express again, o n m y way home from M u n i c h where I went yesterday evening to meet Reitlinger from

Paris. ®

I n French i n the original.

DO R HE RZ L 124] THE COMPLETE DIA RIE S O F TH EO

wemet o n schedule i n Munich a t 10:15. I

entered his compart-

ment, he traveled o n with m e as far as Salzburg, a n d e n deux temps

trois mouvements [in t w o shakes of a lamb’s tail] I had explained thematter to h i m . For in case the Board and the Council of the Jewish Colonial

Trust regard the Sultan’s mine proposal as outside their statutory domain or should find the necessary baksheeshes which, according toa remark of Izzet’s (that Fuad Pasha had received £100,000 for

asinglemine) as well as indications from Ibrahim, I at

between 1 0 0 and

120,000

must

estimate

pounds—in case, then, that my

Board should find this too high, I wanted t o keep Reitlinger, who together with his brothers has got rich o n mines, i n readiness

eventualiter [just in case]. Isoon found out that R . considered the matter too costly, risky,

and unsafe. Actually, he recommended having i t handled through our Bank, and thought that i f i t became known that we possessed this general mining concession the shares would greatly rise i n

value and that we would dispose of the still unsold ones a t high rates, while previously w e might not have been able to get rid of

them at face value.

I thought this idea really first-rate; the only questionable feature about it is that then the Turkish government would face the Jewish Colonial Trust as a contracting party and would be able

to

fleece it. I f we stand for i t , they will soon take everything we have away from us. I f w e resist and defend ourselves, there'll be a mess,

andinstead of friendship we shall have enmity which under certain circumstances could ruin our whole movem ent.

In my introductory remarks I had explained t o Reitlinger that I'would have t o receive half of the proceeds, because I wanted t o Use it

tor the settlers i n Mesopotamia (farm produce cooperative

Societies).

Lalso told him that the main reason I had brought him in was that I knew him as a good Zionist who, I expected, would let the poor people profit from such a gain. Otherwi se 1 could easily have

of who m are antig I t with my wife’s relatives, nea rly all Nlonists,

1242 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

But I soon found o u t que la chose ne lui souriait pas [that the matter did not appeal to h i m ] . C’est peut-étre u n e de mes nom.

breuses bévues [This may be one of my numerous blunders].

The day after tomorrow I shall write him the following letter: T o Reitlinger:

Strictly confidential!

February 25, 1 9 0 2 Dear Friend: Many thanks again for your trouble which I value highly as a token of the t r u s t you place i n me. You also gave me such good and candid advice that I now almost reproach myself for having dealt with you too politically in the beginning. The interests I represent m u s t justify this. But now I too want to give you a proof o f m y confidence b y absolute frankness, b y giving you a detailed explanation o f m y action. T h e pro-

posal I made you comes second. I tell you this a t the risk of depreciating i t , for psychology teaches us that one is n o longer keen on a thing that has already been refused by others. B u t bear i n mind that i f the Board of the Jewish Colonial Trust refuses t o carry out

my plan, i t may be guided by special considerations which have

nothing t o do with the real value of the concession that I have in prospect. I n the first place, you see, I w i l l and must try t o l e t the Colonial

Trust do the business. Right after m y return from Constantinople I convened my Vienna committee and reported t o i t , as well as calling a meeting of the Bank's Board of Directors for the middle of March. I t can’t be done any faster, because by-laws and periods in accordance with standing orders m u s t be observed. All this makes the machinery, cumbersome as i t is, even more unwieldy. Therefore I should like t o have the possible agreement with you ready, except for the signature, even before then, so as not to lose

even more time. This will explain t o you why I had t o get you into action so quickl y.

"HE COMPLETE DIAR IES O F T H E O D O R HER ZL 1243 My Vienna committe e believes that I shall n o t get the support of the 24 to 20 gentlemen o f the united councils w h o are t o b e

onsulted for my plans. They are very fine people, b u t hard t o bring under one hat. I n this case there 1s the additional fact that isa matter of investin g more than half of the availabl e compan y funds, even though this investment promises a big profit. For me, of course, i t would be the f u l l gratificat ion o f a décharge [relief]; I

would be covered in every respect and wouldn't have t o take care of the secret expeditures myself, b u t could have i t done, i n the manner customary with us, b y persons appointed for the purpose. You yourself have supplied m e w i t h a good argument for the im-

plementation of the plan through our Colonial T r u s t : from the moment we intend t o serve only Cohn’s interests, we need not fear that the present embrassade [embrace] will later turn into a quarrel and that our organization w i l l become hated. After all, I have acquired some authority w i t h my friends and canpush through a good many things.

However, I must also reckon with the possibility that they will not obey me. This is how m a t t e r s stand. And now, my most honored friend, declare yourself. My condition that you must n o t talk about i t with anyone outside of your family is unal terab le. With cordial regards, Yours sincerely,

Dori. February 25, 1902

To Alex Ma rm ore k:

February 25, Vienna Mygood Alex: o n t first calmer moment after m y r e t u r n . These lines are strictly

tntial, only for you and friend Nordau.

1244 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERy]. I left Cohn without an agreement, but with an excellent relatjop. ship for negotiations. H e summoned m e b y telegram, made me proposals 1n Yildiz (through his official representatives), we pe.

gotiated “from Power t o Power,” as they say, and I rejected his proposals i n a final memorandum, although I added that I re.

mained a t his disposal pour d'autres négociations [for further ne. gotiations]. He offered: the colonization (on gratis territory) in Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, with the exception of Palestine. H e demanded: the founding of financial syndicates which are to take care of all sorts o f business for h i m (bank, loans, mines,

etc.) I had t o refuse, because I can make an agreement only on the basis of our program, as long as the Greater A.C. does n o t authorize me t o make such impromptu policy. However, afterwards I was notified semi-officially that I should have possible security for the various concessions deposited in banks anyway. I f they saw this earnest, negotiations would get

going again and better. Therefore we have called the Board and the Council t o Vienna for the 14th of March. M y local colleagues believe that our Bank people will not be willing. Barbasch and associates are for transactions i n Russia, but n o t i n Turkey. Naturally I shall lower the boom o n them, for we've got to make a start (of course, with the greatest securities imaginable)—first, to get firm ground under our feet, second, because 1 believe that the possession o f concessions can change the value of

the Bank shares from a sentimental to a real value, perhaps even a very great one. Unfortunately our good Barbasches d o n ’ t always understand

me. I was going t o call the board meeting i n London, in order ( 0 negotiate with other financiers o n the side and bring their possible readiness t o bear on our slow-pokes. Unfortunately 1 can't get away now. The colossal pity is that I a m a serf of the N . FT. P r and mustn't risk m y livelihood. Therefore, only i f the Board is ab

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1245 solutely unwilling shall I try t o get a leave of absence later and approach the Lond on finan ciers . I f i t works out, this w i l l b e a thorny affair. You see, i n default of the Bank I would have t o make the transactions i n N y own name, and even though i t were known t o the inner circle that I a m not making the deals for myself, i.e., that I turn over a l l the financial benefits falling to m y share t o the colonization and the party treas-

ury in advance, on the outside I would still be a G’schaftelhuber* and would be quite painfully nailed to the cross for i t . C'est u n

engrenage—quand on y a mis le doigt [It’s a cog-wheel—once

you'veputina finger] . . . Perhaps we shall find another way o u t ; maybe one of our faithful, of whom we are absolutely sure, can be p u t i n as a straw-man

concessionaire—Wolftsohn, Kremenezky, or someone like that—

although the question there is whether Cohn will accept anyone but me. For Cohn has confidence i n me! His proposals are directed to me personally. The coming weeks must mature this. You and Nordau should write me your views. You, dear Alex, need n o t come t o Vienna for the Council meeting. Send your proxy t o Oskar and stay at your

work. What my violence can’t fix, you wouldn't accomplish either. With cordial regards, Your careworn

Benjam in.

March 4, Vienna Crespi reports that Babington Smith, as Chairman of the Comconsolia s ton de la Dette Publ ique has protested against any

dation that may be attempted without first asking the Commission for official permission. LJ

w T ‘

[J

lator’s Note: Austrian slang term; the approximate American equivalent ’

1246 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Tellement on me prend au sérieux [This is how seriously I am being taken]! I.e., unless Crespi is lying.

T o Reitlinger: Strictly confidential.

Dear Friend:

Thanks for your good letter of February 28. However, I don't fully share your views. 1) There can’t be any question of compensation, because we have n o claim as yet and h e need not “pay off” either the movement o r myself. 2) I a m of the opinion that we have to consider Cohn'’s pro-

posals, although I officially rejected them a t first. We must go into them, because this much was confidentially indicated t o me and because i t would be an enormous mistake t o reject the confidence that he places i n me. I t is true, today i t is a only a personal success which I and not the movement have achieved, b u t I must n o t reject this success,

for I am accepting i t for the future of the cause. The only difficulty is how t o effect this transfer. I am sure of my own self. N o t so much of the others, i.e., of their political and financial acumen. ( O f course, this, l i k e everything else, will remain

strictly between ourselves!)

After more

mature

deliberation I have

not

summoned my

various committees t o London, b u t here for March 17%, because here I have the support of my Vienna colleagues who have been of one mind w i t h m e from the beginning, namely, that the J.C.T. ought to accept the concessions that have been offered to me.

I f we don’t manage this, then I shall be faced w i t h the thornier

task of carrying the matter

out

myself, i.e., i n my name. I have no

doubt that I shall succeed with this i n London, for the head of 2 foremost house* with whom I was a t variance politically for 2 ®

(Pro futuro) Sir Samuel Montagu, according to a letter from Colonel Goldsmid.

[Herzl's Note.)

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1247

rime, has swung our way since I spoke with you and declared his

financial readiness as soon as we have something positive in our hands. I t is not Alt ma nn!

Should the matter take this form, I would probably first be sharply attacked b y the press, because outsiders might believe that ]

was making business deals on my own account. But I mustn't be

sensitive. Incidentally, I may be able, w i t h the

consent

of my

Actions Committee, t o consign the role that Cohn intended for

me to one of our faithful and reliable people—provided he accepts

another man in my place. This other man would, of course, have t o make the same secret

commitments as I would: that any profits he might make would go to the settlement and

the treasury of our m o v e m e n t . What do you

say to this?* This is how the matter stands a t the moment. I assume that I am not wrong i f I presuppose o n your part a continuing interest and readiness t o work for the cause to the extent of your ability. For

this reason I shall inform you of developments that may interest you or in which you can help. B u t please don’t do anything now. With cordial regards,

Your trusting and devoted Dori. March 5, 1902

March 5, Vienn a

Went t o see M a h m u d

N e d i m yesterday, w h o thought t h a t the

£200 would be accepted for the Hejaz Railroad. So I asked him t o Write Tahsin that i f this was n o t regarded as an inconvénient [inconvenience] I was donating the £200 t o the Hejaz Railroad, otherWise to the Asile des pauvres [Poor-House]. ®

“ . . . Reitlinger will think that I mean him. I n this way I make sure of his silence ' case he is no t honest. [He rzl’s Note.) qe

1248 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Mahmud Nedim discussed politics i n his fashion, 1.e., l i k e a smal]

child. The Spanish ambassador had been with him before I was. Na. turally he associates with all guiders of states, and he seems t o hold his own, h e doesn’t cut too bad a figure! What a circle!

March 6 T o Izzet:

*

Your Excellency: I have the honor of enclosing herewith t w o newspaper clippings which were s e n t t o me from London. O n March 15th three m i l l i o n francs w i l l b e deposited to m y account i n various banks, i n accordance w i t h m y letter of Feb-

ruary 2 2 . I have given instructions t o keep these sums a t m y disposal in banks i n Paris, Berlin, and London. They will probably be the Crédit Lyonnais (Paris), the Dresdener Bank (Berlin), and Lloyds Bank (London), one million francs i n each. I shall permit myself to give you definite information i n a week. Begging Your Excellency to accept the assurance o f m y high regard,

Very devotedly yours, Th. Herzl.

March?

A touching letter from Nordau which releases me from many a feeling against him. H e writes: The limitless knavery of our opponents increases my admiration for your sacrifices. You are stronger and better than I a m .. . . * I n French in the original.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1249 March g, o n the train between Pest and Vienna

I have been t o see Vambéry. A completely pointless visit, as I knew 1n advance—since I had just as l i t t l e news for h i m as h e had for me.

But I had to take the trouble t o see h i m ; otherwise h e would

have believed that I have turned disloyal and ungrateful. A quite useless sacrifice. U t aliquid fecisse videamur [So that we might appear t o have done something] i t was decided that he should first write t o Tahsin and not u n t i l April—if I haven't re-

ceived a fresh invitation b y then—to the Sultan. Incidentally, Vambéry n o w thinks that I shall reach m y goal!

Last May he said the opposite. I believe him now. But when?

March 1 1 , Vienna

From Wellisch I received this absolutely mysterious telegram today, dated yesterday: “Wait for letter first.” I take i t to be a senseless act o f self-importance o n the part of a faiseur de zéle [one w h o puts o n a show o f zeal], since there is

absolutely nothing else on hand from Constantinople. The only explanation would be that Izzet said something t o him when he transmitted my letter of the 6th.

My idea of the shape of things to come is as follows: First of all the Sultan and h i s entourage [circle] w i l l make capital of my security vouchers at the Ottoman B a n k and other in-

Sututions, perhaps even governments. I1 se prévaudra de ma puis-

since financiére [He will boast with my financial strength]. This wil] help him on a few occasions, t o o . The financiers who have v e d him up t o now will be afraid of my competition and will No

him money. I n each case i t w i l l be a matter of £150 t o

fine 0. After some time this ¢ r u c [trick] w i l l b e worn o u t and the

ficters will no longer be taken i n by the fabulous Dr. Herzl,

1250 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL, whom they don’t rate too highly anyway, as a dreamer and a man

backed* by too small funds. B u t I shall be backed more and more.* After being rushed to Constantinople i n v a i n two o r three times,

I shall pretend t o lose my patience and say that I won't take another step u n t i l I am given the Charter. A t that moment I shall perhaps get it. *

*

¥*

Vambéry told me o n Saturday how the Sultan got rid of a Minister once. I forget the name of this Minister; I believe it was a Minister of Education. H e and the Grand Vizier came t o the Sultan for an audience. First the Grand Vizier made a report. Then i t was t o be the Minister's t u r n . H e stepped forward and reached

into his breast pocket t o pull o u t some document. A t that m o m e n t the Sultan loudly screamed for help: “ H e w a n t s t o murder me, he 1s pulling a gun.” From all sides people hurled themselves o n the astounded man and found a gun i n his breast pocket where there had been none before.

Naturally the man was quickly executed. — This is the man I am negotiating with. Incidentally, this just goes t o show m y intuition: last May I didn’t p u t the notes I had prepared for h i m i n m y breast o r vest

pocket, but into my glove. Because I thought that he might mistake my reaching into my breast pocket for reaching for a gun. *

*

*

For the meeting of the Board and the Council which will take place here o n the 17th inst. I a m this t i m e preparing a n introductory explanation which I want to keep free o f distortions and omissions for the future . I shall read the follow ing declar ation:

Gentlemen of the Council and Board of Directors of the Jewish Colo nial Trust: This t i m e we have important, crucial matters to present as the ®

I n Engl ish i n the origi nal.

THE cOMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1251

esult of my last trip t o Constantinople which I undertook i n company with Mr. Cowen , a govern or.

N

[ was invited b y a telegram from t h e S u l t a n t o v i s i t h i m . I t

seems that he has gained confidence i n me, and he had certain propositions made to me. However, at this important moment, and much as I regret it,

I cannot conceal from you the fact that I have achieved only a personal and not a mater ial success. The Sultan is not w i l l i n g t o make us any concessions i n Palestine for the time being. Instead, h e has offered to grant m e colonization i n his other provinces o f Asia Minor, particularly i n Meso-

potamia, on gratis territory. I n return he demands various financial

services: procuring loans, consolidation of the national debt, and industrial-technical arrangements for raising the general welfare in his Empire. I have rejected these proposals w i t h due courtesy, because above all they lacked the one foundation o n which I can stand i n the spirit of our Basel program. I made m y refusal in a final memorandum

which became part of the permanent files of Yildiz Kiosk. To be sure, I would have had t o decline the proposals for another reason as well—because, according t o a surely incontro-

vertible remark made i n Constantinople by my colleague Cowen, our financial strength is n o t equal t o i t , and I would therefore have lo turn to financiers outsid e our circle first.

However, after this official conclusion of these negotiations it Was indicated

to me semi-officia lly that I should not regard the

relations as broken off after all. Rather, I should accept the finanCial concessions offered t o me, because that way I would be able, Inthe course of events, t o convince the Sultan of m y good will and also acquire useful friendships i n the country and in the government. I f I decided t o d o so, I was t o manife st this readine ss b y

lurnishing proof of security of

2

or

§

million francs. Then fresh

¢gotiations wo uld pro bab ly sta rt.

Isaid that I hadn't come as a businessman and couldn't take on

r o a most profitable concessions without consulting m y friends that I departed.

1252 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Although I did reject the Sultan's offers a t first, I a m of the opinion that they should b e accepted. M y colleagues o f the Committee o f Five of the Council also subscribe t o m y view. W e must get firm ground under our feet and must try t o achieve a lasting

relationship with the Turkish government. The concessions which the Sultan offers me probably have some financial value—perhaps even very great value. This will be seen when we go into the details. Although the concessions were offered to m e personally and not to our Bank o r t o the Zionist movement,

I shall turn them over to our financial organization, the J.C. Trust, as soon as possible; therefore I am inclined t o demand the firmans for myself and m y assigns.

Afterwards our Bank will take over the rights I have acquired— and we shall have gained a firm footing in Turkey. Gentlemen, I cannot urge you earnestly enough t o accept my proposals. A t the first m o m e n t i t might seem as i f we were deviating from our goal. B u t actually we shall approach i t i n this way, though i t is a roundabout way. W e Zionists didn’t create the J.C. Trust t o make money somewhere, t o have an ordinary bank for

credit transactions with the Jewish public i n Russia and elsewhere. T h e Bank is only the instrument of our movement.

I t 1s my hope—and my local colleagues join me in this hope— that we shall in the course of our deliberations convince you of the expediency of our propositions. Otherwise I should have n o other

choice but t o take the concessions anyway and carry them through with ordinary business people. That would n o t be good for our movement, for many reasons. I won’t even bother t o mention the fear that m y efforts could

then be misinterpreted by the public—although this,

too,

1s 2

rather serious scruple.

I t might be possible t o circumvent this difficulty by having one of our reliable people figure nominally as the concessionaire—that

1s, provided the Sultan would be willing t o give the concessions to a person other than myself, i n w h o m h e has placed his trust. A t the

I don’t know this, for, since I was rejecting everything, I wasn’t able t o go into such a detail.

moment

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 125% But there are still greater difficulties. I f w e leave the exploitation of the concessions t o ordinary businessmen, they may have differencesof opinion with the Turkish government, and then our move-

ment would suffer from the adverse reaction. Finally, however, the businessmen w o u l d of course demand a

share of the profits, and a t least one-half. Even though I o r the nominal concessionaire would donate my or his half t o the colonization project, that is, t o the party treasury o r to the National Fund, it would still be a pity t o give u p the other half. Perhaps major

amounts will be involved. These would then substantially increase the value of our shares i f our Bank owned the concessions. Perhaps on the basis of such prospective profits a syndicate might be organized or found which would take at a higher rate all o r some

of the shares that are still unsold. For these reasons, which are s t i l l t o b e elaborated o n i n the d i s

cussion, I urgently recommend to you, gentlemen, t o make the resources of our Bank available in a n appropriate manner and t o

. will take over and carry through the condecide that the J . CT. cessions to be acquired by me.

March 13, Vienna

Badnews from Constantinople. Wellisch’s wire has been explained. H e writes under the date of the gth that after he had delivered my letter t o Izzet he was called by messenger to Ibrahim, who had instructed h i m t o write me “de ne rien entreprendre jusqu’a nouvel avis [to do nothing until further notice].” This means: Wa ved off !

Je m’y connais [1 knew i t wou ld happen].

There is a variety of explana tions. I a m i n a fog again.

- Russia or some other Power wish that nothing be done with me Did competing finan ciers appear? What counter-intrigues o r deals have prevailed?

1254 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL, Before m y court council-of-war assembles o n the 14th the battle will be lost. *

*

*

I a m writing to Wellisch for information, and the following to

Crespi: * Dear Sir: Kindly send me accurate information o n all the affairs that are currently occupying 6 3 and his group. From Paris I am informed of things I cannot believe—that is how ridiculous and fantastic they seem to me. Cordially yours, Herzl.

March 1g, Vienna T o Nordau:

Dear Friend: Under the date of the gth you write me nothing that isn’t already contained i n m y letter t o you and Alex. (Then I explain t o him my hope that the Board and the Council, meeting here where I myself, my 4 Viennese, Wolffsohn, Katzenelsohn, are supporting my project of having the Bank acquire the concessions, w i l l decide i n accordance with m y wishes.) Continuing: Therefore I hope that the worst eventuality—my having to take

o n the concessions myself—won’t even arise. But i f i t does, then I and you, m y closest friends, must have elephant hides. I t should not be overlooked

1) that I would de plein droit [with every right] be the owner of these concessions which have been offered t o me and

to

me

alone, n o t t o the B a n k o r the movement. Naturally, I have m y ®

I n French i n the original.

H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1255 owncode of behavior and act i n accordance with i t . B u t neither the

Banknor the movement has any legal o r moral claim. Cohn regards me as the man t o whom he can entrust his interests, n o t the Congress, not the Bank's Board of Directors, etc. However, I don’t differentiate my character as a public figure from my character as a private individual. That 1s simply m y special code o f behavior; g) that from the outset I am giving our inner circle explanations

thatbind me. Our unwieldy, deficient, desperately badly functioning apparatus at least offers m e the advantage of being covered b y it i f I cannot make everything public. What do I then care about

beingsuspected and abused? I n an extremity there finally will be a public gesture which will save my honor. Therefore I need n o t b e so worried as t o become inactive. T h e n , too, I have already spun initial threads t o

Paris and London. T o be

sure, these are quite difficult matters in which one must keep a cool head. So don’t put my head in a whirl, my dear friends. I mustn’t start being afraid. (Then I tell h i m how i t had occurred to m e i n the fog o n the

Black Sea that if we went down, some day when Constantinople was taken by storm my receipt for £200 would be found i n Yildiz and

noone would know that I had given the money t o Cowen.) But this is n o t how things are i n the business transactions which

I'shall outline in advance in official memoranda of the Council, the Board of Dire ctors , etc.

March 1 3 Now Iam tormented by the thought that Reitlinger might, bona ormala fide [in good o r i n bad faith], have committed an indiscre-

ion which has led t o

now,

other groups competing for the concessions %

%

*

Perhaps the current waving off is a confirmation of my entry of Wo days ago o n p . 1249f. T h e Sultan i s n o w using m y proposals to get money from othe rs.

1256 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL O r he is giving the concessions t o Rouvier, who is said to be there now, i n return for “ h i m ” * carrying o u t the consolidation of the dette for him.

Marc h 14, Vienn a

The wind has shifted. We are deep in the fog again. Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem [Remember

** keep a level head in adverse circumstances].

to

Yesterday evening's edition of the N . Fr. Pr. contained t w o news items qu: me disent long [which speak volumes to me]. 1) The day before yesterday the Sultan gave a dinner i n honor

of Constans and received him in special audience afterwards. Once a scoundrel, *** always a scoundrel. *** T h e same Constans who caused h i m the Mytilene affair on account of the measly Lorando-Tubini debt.

2) The Sultan approved the Rouvier project for the consolidation of the dette.

The

two

items appear t o be connected and

to

have something

t o do with m y coming and going.

Evidently the Sultan has made capital of m y presence. I was the Jew who was sent for i n order to make the other competitors more

pliable. I t has been acomplished. The pity was and is that because of m y editorial post—that 1s, m y livelihood—I wasn’t able t o stay d o w n there for a few weeks. O n aurait trouvé [They would have found out]!

This also explains the waving off. T o u t est rompu [Everything

has gone t o smash]. T h e only satisfaction I have is that the Turks will get the trimming of their lives from the French crooks. ®

Translator’s Note: . . . “gegen dem”—humorously ungrammatical. Translator’s Note: Quotation from Horace, Odes, 11, 8.

®®

©¢¢

I n English in the original.

tHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1257

March 1 4 Wrote to Eulenburg today to put i n a good word for the performance of my Solon a t the Konigliches Schauspielhaus [Royal

Theatre] (among the repertory plays some time). AndI added: I have been to Constantinople. That is always a Wonderland.

At the moment the French are riding high. A n d how! A n d what Frenchmen!

March 15, Vienna

Yesterday, on Karntnerstrasse, I ran into Ambassador Mahmud

Nedim and told him that I would call on him on Monday or Tuesday morning. I intend t o show h i m the letters of credit for

three million which Levontin has provided in the meantime. *%

*

%

Ishall present the following document t o the Board of Directors:

Gentlemen:

Asa supplement t o the announcements read i n the joint session of the Council and the Board I give you the following additional

information: Even though the Sultan has offered the concessions to me, at

the same time I was given t o understand b y intermediaries that there are certain private interests which must be met o n this oc@sion. I n all, an amount of 1 1 0 , 0 0 0 pounds is involved . _ This amount would have t o b e raised by the Board;

and since

{twould not do to use such a sum from the present assets of the Bank, we would have t o try t o pay i t from the profits of the dicate. I f the syndicate that is t o b e formed took over one-half

of the still unsold shares a t 3 pounds, this would provide an

adequate fund, In this connection I state expressly that I would under no con-

1258 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL dition handle the d i s t r i b u t i o n o f this s u m myself, b u t that other agents would have to be appointed b y the Board for this purpose. For i n the interest o f our movement, i n the future as i n the past

n o monies must go through m y hands. Read i n closed executive session o f the Board, o n

co-signed by 3%

*

¥%*

Letter t o the Sultan, t o b e sent off o n March 1 8 t h : *

Sire: I have the honor t o give Y.I.M. an accounting of the steps I have taken since m y most respectful letter of February 23, 1902. Having got my friends together for consultation, I informed them of Y.I.M.’s generous disposition toward the Jews. They were deeply touched by this. However, they believe as I do that a restriction o n the permission t o settle our unfortunates i n Turkey

would produce a disagreeable effect on public opinion. But from our deliberations there has emerged a different conclusion from the one expressed i n my aforementioned letter. T h e conclusion is this: we demand nothing! Since i t 1s a matter

above all of convincing Y.I.LM. and the Ottoman people of our sincere good-will, we wish t o take the first step o n the road t o con-

fidence which must become mutual. For the moment, then, we d o not demand any concession of general colonization—and we offer our financial services just the

same. That is t o say, we believe that once Y.I.M. has got t o know Us through the services we render, he will later grant us of his own

accord what seems t o present difficulties today.

Mar ch 16, Vien na

Yesterday coal-Gutmann inquired of me whether I would accept an invitation t o the meeting of the Allianz. ®

I n French i n the original.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1259 [immediately went over to see h i m and told h i m i n the slovenly tone which 1s indicat ed with such uneduc ated people :

«The discussion is nothi ng b u t hogwash. “You want t o forestall the new Rumanian emigration? (But per-

haps you're just afraid of the campaign of Dr. Elias of Mulhouse against the entir e A llian z).”

Inshort, I acted as though I believed h i m . “ I see only two ways,” Isaid. “Either you get the local Rothschild and two o r three other people like that for a secret conference a t which I shall explain everything. “Or you get the I.C.A. directors together for a discussion with

me. The latter course was decided o n after a lengthy conversation

in which he told me some pretty details about the Hirsch money. Eg, that in Galicia the major part of the funds was embezzled by the officials of the Foundation. Further, that Narcisse Leven is

himself only an official —with 5 0 , 0 0 0 francs per annum. A n d that for Galicianizing the Hirsch Foundation (appointment of four Gentile trustees, etc.) D r . Rappoport, w h o once made a fortune a t

the Linderbank, was—raised to the nobility!

And the misery i n Galicia remains the way i t was. We agreed that I was to compose the letters o f invitation t o the LCA. directors for him.

This is the draft that I am sending h i m today: Dear Sir: Again we have bad reports from Rumania. T h e legal and administrative chicanery give rise to fears of an even much worse ‘Migration this coming Spring than the one of t w o years ago.

In the face of this very serious situation the Vienna Israelitische Allianz plans to organize a quite confidential conference o n Easter Sunday, I t is to take place a t Frankfurt a.M., and the invited

Participants are to be only the presidents of the Alliances, the directors of the I.C.A, , and D r . Herzl . , he terrible state of distress i n Rumania would probably be ough of an appeal t o induce you t o attend. B u t you will surely

1260 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL not hesitate when I tell you that the possibility seems t o be opening

up of finding a lasting remedy for all these calamities. For me the trip is truly difficult enough, since there is illness and worry i n m y family. Therefore, the fact that I have decided to make

the trip and have asked Dr. Herzl

to

go along will speak more

loudly than all words. I most urgently request you n o t

to

be absent

from Frankfurt o n Easter Sunday.

With respectful regards, D . v o n Gutmann.

March 18, Vienna

I n the meantime Gutmann had begged off. H e said he didn’t

invite the I.C.A. people because they wouldn't come. Despite this I went t o yesterday's meeting of the Isr. Allianz at Gutmann’s place of business. want t o

E n deux temps trois mouvements [In two shakes o f a lamb’s tail]

I explained t o the assembled cour de miracles [court of miracles]

the only possible plan for an aid campaign for Rumania: First, convening a conference of the Alliances and the I1.C.A. at Frankfurt. There, establishment of the will and the readiness to help. To what extent?

When this headquarters has been established and is ready, I will inform it of my achievements, show i t where the emigration 1s to be led. Then I shall at one stroke organize 2-3oo local committees

needed i n Rumania. These committees w i l l nominate the emrgrants. T h e others will b e told: Stay! Hold o u t for another six

months or a year. Your turn will come, too. T h e emigrants w i l l b e settled i n farm-produce cooperatives. BY

combining mortgage and personal credit there will be a possibility of giving the settlers n o t the hitherto existing shnorr help, but work help.

THE cOMPLE TE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL 1261 | made an impression—and I

think they all thought as one: we'll

geal this plan from him. with this I left them sittin g there and went out. *

%

LJ

In the Board and the Counc il yesterday I pushed throug h everythingI wanted. Naturally a number o f them d i d n ’ t understand me. Ussishkin got angry and said h e would have nothing more t o d o with any-

thing.I had t o fight to channel into the Bank the possible emoluments that would otherwise fall t o m y share.

Curiousbank of Jews! Today I am taking the g letters of credit %*

¥%

to

Mahmud Nedim.

*

To Izzet, March 18, 1go2:*

Your Excellency:

Yesterday I showed His Excellency Mahmud Nedim the letters of credit for the sum of three million francs which, following your

advice,I have had deposited in three banks (in Berlin, Paris, and London).I have asked H.E. t o report my step t o H.I.M. From Easter on I shall be a t your disposal i f you need me. Begging Your Excellency t o accept the assurance of m y high regard,

Yours devotedly, Th.H .

Letter to Ib ra hi m :

*

Your Excellency:

Yesterday I paid a call on His Excellency Mahmud Nedim Bey ®d showed h i m the letters of credit for three million francs in *InFrench i n the

or ig in al .

1262 T H E COMPLET E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL banks a t Paris, London, and Berlin, i n accordance with my letter of February 23. These letters of credit are valid u n t i l May 15th, and starting at Easter I shall keep myself a t the disposal of H . I . M . i n case he wishes to summon m e again t o agree upon arrangements. Until then

beg Y.E. t o be good enough t o transmit m y Philosophical Tales to H.I.M.; maybe they will give h i m some pleasure. Wishing t o send 2 0 0 Turkish pounds t o one of your good causes, I have directed this sum t o the Committee for the Hejaz Railroad. With the expression of m y high regard and devotion,

Th. H .

March 24, Vienna This letter to I b r a h i m wasn’t sent off, because a t the same time

I received word that the long-sought typewriter is now here. I t was the fault of an inefficient shipping department with a wrong address. Now I intend t o send i t down by the factory representative in Vienna. When I telephoned the Embassy yesterday and the day

before about the necessary transport papers, Mahmud Nedim was not a t home to me. Was that supposed t o be a sign that he was warned off associating

with me? One good thing about despotisms is that one can immediately sense from the lowest doorkeeper whether one is i n favor or dis favor. Every blow spreads electrically.

The Mainz Israelit and the Jewish Chronicle have published an identical slander—evidently b y that ragamuffin W i l l y Bambus of Berlin—against our Bank. This is m y Purim joy. T h e libel 1s sO palpable that I can haul them into the Mainz and London courts

THE coMPLE TE DIARIE S O F T H E O D O R H E R Z L 1263

nd demonstrate the perfec tly honora ble way in which our Bank i§run. *

*

*

For two days I have been haunted by an idea which may be a splendidone: [ want to try t o come t o a n understandi ng with Rouvier. H e

hall make the consolidation for us. T h e go-between I plan t o use

for this is Crespi. Today I am writing Wellisch to suggest to Crespi as his (W.’s) idea that he offer me to mediate between Rouvier a n d myself.

March 24 Letter to Ibrahim: *

Your Excellency:

Permit me to inform you of the arrival of that typewriter with Arabic type, the first of its kind, the modest present which H.I.M. has done me the honor of accepting. lam sending i t by a n employ ee o f the compa ny by which I had thismachine made. I n order to avoid any mistake , I permit myself 0add that the bearer is not entitle d t o any compe nsation . T h e machine has natural ly been paid for i n Americ a, a n d the m a n w h o

Is bringing i t in order t o expla in its use has had his travel ing “Xpenses etc. paid by myself. May I ask Y.E. also t o transmit t o H . I . M . m y book, which will

Perhaps give him some pleasure. A week ago I took t o H.E. Mahm ud Nedi m Bey my letters of

credit for 3 mill. francs, valid unti l M a y 15th (at bank s i n Paris,

e o n and Berlin), in conformance with my letter of February

Wishing tosend 2 0 0 Turkis h pound s t o one of your good causes, ave directed this sum to the Com mitte e for the Heja z Railr oad. * In French in th

e origina

l.

1264 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL Begging Y.E. to accept the expression o f m y high regard and devot ion,

Th . H . March 26, Vienna

Last night Mahmud Nedim sent his servant

to

me: he

must

definitely speak with me today. This morning I went t o see h i m . H e had received a surprising

telegram from Tahsin Bey i n reply t o m y showing of the three million letters of credit. I n the wire Tahsin asked—who I was, what m y occupation was,

and for what purpose I had made the deposits. Mahmud Nedim himself apologized for this behavior. “Entre nous je dois confesser que chez nous ordre laisse a désirer [Between ourselves, I m u s t confess that the order i n our country leaves something to be desired],” h e said.

I immediately understood the meaning of Tahsin’s inquiry. I t could mean only t w o things: Either he knew nothing about the agreements I had made i n Yildiz a n d wanted t o find o u t from

Mahmud Nedim for his own benefit. O r i t was an inquiry on instructions from the Sultan. A combination of the two possibilities was conceivable, too. The Sultan, w h o doesn’t show his hand to his secretaries, has kept from

Tahsin what he is doing through Izzet. Then, when Tahsin came with Mahmud Nedim’s report about the three million, the Sultan acted in front of Tahsin as though the information came unexpectedly, and said: Find o u t who the m a n is. I n any case, I did well n o t t o trust anyone in this den of lies and to test Izzet’s counsels for their genuineness via Mahmud Nedim-

Tahsin. T o be sure, it wasn’t conceivable that Ibrahim’s invitation and the entire negotiations in February should have happened without the Sultan’s orders. B u t i t was conceivable that Ibrahim had did have suppressed m y subse quent letter s. More over, since the two

THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1265 orders from the Sultan, they could have conducted the negotiations with me in such a way that I h a d t o refuse—if, that is, they were acting in the service o r interest o f the Constans-Rouvi er syndicate. [ had started a check o n the delivery o f m y letters through [brahim by having the ambass ador write t o Tahsin.

NowI advised him t o wire Tahsin as follows: since I was invited by Ibrahim upon orders from the Sultan and negotiated about the proposals i n Yildiz, I was given to understand that I must not inform anyone o f the substance o f the negotiations. The whole story was contained i n m y letter o f February 22, and

would turn over this letter to the ambassador i f I were instructed todo so. I left i t to his discretion to give any information about me per-

sonally that he thought proper. Then he showed me what he intended t o wire this very day: that I was a respected man i n Vienna, a writer b y profession, with a

certain influence in Jewish financial circles, so that I could effect financial operations. If he really sends this off, i t ' l l be fine. I believe Tahsin wanted an unfavorable report from Mahmud. T h e latter fears, however, that I may have secret good relations w i t h the Sultan and do h i m harm. Therefore, he will give a colorless b u t not unfavorable Teport.

March 27, Vienna Cecil Rhodes is dead. For a t i m e I had h i m i n m i n d as a fund

raiser. I didn’t manage to get together with h i m . M y helpers i n England prove d a failur e i n this instan ce.

Mar ch go, Vienna

Last night a disagreeable letter came from Wellisch in Con-

Stantinople. O n the same day o n which M a h m u d N e d i m evidently

Was forced to come to Vienna (on the 25th inst.), Wellisch was Summoned to the Palace.

(Wellisch’s letter:)

1266 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZL

Cons tanti nopl e, Marc h 26, 1 9 0 2 M y Dear Doctor Herzl: A t 6 o'clock this morning a messenger came to t e l l me to come to

the factory (Yildiz) a t noon t o see Frankl (Ibrahim). I was there at the appointed time and m e t Frankl who told me

the following: Cohn (Sultan) has been informed through the branch (Embassy) i n your city that you, doctor, have made bank deposits for a certain matter.

Cohn questioned him about this, whereupon he answered that h e knew nothing whatever o f the matter. H e had received a letter containing a n enclosure for Cohn, and h e had delivered it, but

there had been n o answer t o i t . A t the same time, Pollak (Izzet) had also received a letter in which Doctor Herzl had written about the matter. A t Pollak’s request he (Frankl) had s e n t word t o the doctor (my most humble message of the gth) n o t t o do anything

until nouvel avis [further notice]. Frankl spoke with visible excitement, repeating a number of points. Finally he said more calmly that he requested Doctor Herzl t o d o nothing of the sort. After which he asked me t o go t o see Pollak and t o come back after I had

spoken with him. Pollak was leaning o u t the window o n the ground-floor of the wing where his office is located, stopped me as I passed by, and after I had told h i m that I had seen Frankl, he told me the following: “Write the doctor t o withdraw the money; when the time comes

we shall let h i m know how t o proceed.” Then I w e n t back t o Frankl, and t o his questioning I replied what Pollak had said; after that he instructed me t o convey his most amicable regards t o you.

With the expression o f m y deep respect, I am, m y dear doctor Herzl,

Very faith fully yours, Weber .

THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 1267

March go At the first moment this letter produced an unpleasant effect on me. Having slept o n i t , I don’t find i t so bad. Accordin gly Izzet seems to be on m y side, b u t Tahs in again st me.

I plan to call Vimbér y to accoun t for this.

(Letter from Crespi pasted i n : ) *

Péra, March go, 1 9 0 2 Dear Sir:

I should like

to

direct your special attention t o the following

circumstance:

The day before yesterday, while I was calling upon 48 [Tahsin], after talking about indifferent matters, h e called upon me, i n the most bantering way, t o

tell him the truth about what you did with

125 [Izzet] and the Grand Master o f Ceremonies. I answered that you had not discussed the subject with m e and that I was com-

pletely ignorant of what you had done with them, but that in any case,1f anything was brewing i t could never be without h i m , 48. He broke into a smile that spoke volumes. I believed I could infer that he was satisfied that the other t w o had n o t succeeded and that he was perhaps n o t wholly innocent of their defeat. Perhaps

lam wrong, but is i t still necessary for you

to

indicate

to

me how

Tought to behave toward h i m the next time I see h i m . I attach a n interest to this that should, n o doubt, n o t escape you; and i f h e has an unpleasant impression, I m u s t exercise m y wits t o overcome it. These are secretive personalities w h o cherish spite over t h e

least thing.

303 is furious with Rouvier. I have the information from the German Embassy. 364 had M . Rouet, First Dragoman of the French Embassy, summoned t o ask h i m what M . Rouvier meant

by 'Mposingnew conditions, such as the exclusion of Priority loans, Customs, and Fisheries from the consolid ation and unificati on * I n French i n the or

ig in al .

1268 T H E COMPLETE DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]. project. 363 expressed the desire t o receive M . Constans, who had

been received in audience yesterday. I haven't had time t o collect the least information. I f I lear

anything whatever, I shall hasten to inform you of it.

With my sincere greetings, Crespi.

April 1 , Vienna M y good Vambéry bécsi: I have learned from several sources and absolutely reliably that Cohn'’s 1st Secretary 1s working against me. I am telling you this, because 1t will certainly interest you t o know how your man is

behaving. I believe i t would be indicated t o open his eyes t o the fact that I urgently desire his friendship. With cordial regards, Your devoted

Dori.

April g

Yesterday evening this pneumatic-tube letter came from the Turkish ambassador:

Dear Doctor Herzl: I have just received the expected answer. Yours truly,

Mah mud Ned im I presume that Tahsin has instructed h i m t o worm things out o f me. Since he trembles before Tahsin, h e will d o anything, and

I will help the man, because that way I shall be excused with Izzet if, misled b y the ambassador, I have let Tahsin in o n i t as well.

H E COMPLETE DIARIE S O F THEOD OR HERZL 1269 Un peu le jeu de bascule [ A b i t of a see-saw game]. Perhaps this willmake Izzet angry in his turn? *

#*

%*

Yesterday Benedikt asked me to request the Grand Duke of Baden to send us a few chapters from h i s memoirs which are to

appear on the occasion of the soth anniversary of his reign. I am writing:

April § , 1 9 0 2 Most Illustrious Grand Duke,

Most Gracious Prince and Lord:

On the anniversary of Your Royal Highness’s accession I should like to offer today my most respectful congratulations which come from a grateful heart. Once the defilé [procession] of potentates and peoples starts, such a modest well-wisher will not be noticed.

And yet I feel impelled t o express in a few words what a favor of fate have considered i t that i t has been granted t o me t o receive o n

the hardroad of the idea of my life occasional support and instruction from the kindest and wisest prince of m y time. The jubilee w i l l b e celebrated i n Austria, too, for Grand D u k e Friedrich of Baden has erected himself a realm that transcends boundaries, i n people’s hearts. O n this occasion I should very much like to publish a chapter from Y . R . H . ’ s memoirs i n the

N.Fr,Pr., of whose literary section I a m i n charge. I f this idea does notstrike Y.R.H. as too distaste ful, I would request that a secretary

or the publisher be instructed t o send me the galley-proofs soon. With the most heart-felt respect and the most profound gratitude, I r e m a i n

Your Royal Highness'’s very obedient servant, Dr. T h . H .

1270 T H E C O M P L E T E DIARIES O F T H E O D O R HERZ]. Ap ril 4, Vienna

Yesterday Mahmud Nedim showed me and translated for me 3 letter from Tahsin Bey: my deposit of § millions was based on 3 malentendu [misundersta nding]. Je le savais b i e n , parbleu [Well,

I knew that], I just wanted t o show them the color of some money—

so they shouldn’t forget me.—Thus closes this book of my political novel.