From the Emperor, on this as on other occasions, I met with nothing but the kindliest of receptions.  Admiral von Tirpitz describes the luncheon party which preceded the conference in the Cabinet Room.  He speaks of a certain “spanning” or tension which prevailed during the luncheon which the Emperor and Empress gave to the Berlin Cabinet and myself, and of restraint in the conversation.  I can not say that I perceived any of these things, but then, of course, I was a foreigner.  What I do remember was the general kindly feeling and the evident satisfaction produced by the production of the famous red champagne and great cigars with which the Emperor regaled his guests.  For myself, special distinction was reserved.  For, before proceeding to business, the Emperor read to me Goethe’s poem, Ilmenau, of which he thought I might like to be reminded before we sat down to our task.  He then observed that, out of consideration for Tirpitz, we must confer in German, while on the other hand this would be the harder on me because the naval matters with which we had to deal were not in my department, as they were in that of the Admiral.  This was, of course, true.  And then, in compensation for disadvantages which, as he said, would otherwise be unfair, he smilingly remarked that he had a plan for adjusting the balance of power on this occasion.  He insisted on my occupying the Imperial chair, which stood at the head of the narrow Cabinet table, while His Majesty himself should sit on an ordinary chair on my left hand and the Admiral on another on my right.  I thought that these arrangements suggested the possibility of a tough controversy, and as far as the Admiral was concerned it proved to be so.  For the discussion lasted for two and three-quarter hours, and was fairly close.  I said throughout that, while I came here to explore the ground with the authority of my Sovereign and his Cabinet, I had come, not to make a treaty at that stage, but on a preliminary voyage of discovery with a view to taking back materials with which the Cabinet of St. James’s might be able to construct one, and that I had been delighted with the graciousness of my reception.  I mention this because the Admiral appears not to have quite understood my position.  I have no doubt that the Emperor understood it.

At the end of the conversation I felt for once a little tired, and was glad when the Emperor asked von Tirpitz to drive me back to the Hotel Bristol.  I thought the manner of the latter during the journey highly polite and correct, but not wholly sympathetic.  I can only say that on my part I had endeavored to put every card I had upon the table.