The public opinion of the nation was strong for the Western Powers; they feared the influence of Russia on the internal affairs of Germany; they had not forgotten or forgiven the part which the Czar had taken in 1849; the choice seemed to lie between Russia and England, between liberty and despotism, between civilisation and barbarism.  On this side also were those who wished to maintain the alliance with Austria.  Russia had few friends except at the Court and in the army, but the party of the Kreuz Zeitung, the Court Camarilla, the princes and nobles who commanded the Garde Corps, wished for nothing better than a close alliance with the great Emperor who had saved Europe from the Revolution.  “Let us draw our sword openly in defence of Russia,” they said, “then we may bring Austria with us; the old alliance of the three monarchies will be restored, and then will be the time for a new crusade against France, the natural enemy of Germany, and the upstart Emperor.”

The conflict of parties was keenest in the precincts of the Court; society in Berlin was divided between the Russian and the English; the Queen was hot for Russia, but the English party rallied round the Prince of Prussia and met in the salons of his wife.  Between the two the King wavered; he was, as always, more influenced by feeling than by calculation, but his feelings were divided.  How could he decide between Austria and Russia, the two ancient allies of his house?  He loved and reverenced the Czar; he feared and distrusted Napoleon; alliance with infidels against Christians was to him a horrible thought, but he knew how violent were the actions and lawless the desires of Nicholas.  He could not ignore the opinions of Western Europe and he wished to stand well with England.  The men by whose advice he was guided stood on opposite sides:  Bunsen was for England, Gerlach for Russia; the Ministry also was divided.  No efforts were spared to influence him; the Czar and Napoleon each sent special envoys to his Court; the Queen of England and her husband warned him not to forget his duty to Europe and humanity; if he would join the allies there would be no war.  Still he wavered; “he goes to bed an Englishman and gets up a Russian,” said the Czar, who despised his brother-in-law as much as he was honoured by him.

While the struggle was at its height, Bismarck was summoned to Berlin, that his opinion might also be heard.  At Berlin and at Letzlingen he had frequent interviews with the King.  In later years he described the situation he found there: 

  “It was nothing strange, according to the custom of those days,
  that half a dozen ambassadors should be living in hotels
  intriguing against the policy of the Minister.”