Herzl Diary v.2

The Complete Diaries of
THEODOR HERZL
Edited by
Raphael Patai
Translated by
HARRY ZOI1N
VOLUME II
New York
HERZL PRESS
AND
THOMAS YOSELOFK
London
i960 by The Theodor Henl Foundation. Inc.
Library ol Congress Catalog Card Number: 60-8594
Thomas Yoseloff. Publisher
11 East 36th Street
New York 16. N. Y.
Thomas Yoselof! Ltd.
113 New Bond Street
London W. 1, England
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Volume II
Book Four
Page
July **, 1896-June 10, 1897
433
Bo )k Five
June 11, 1897-October 5, 1898
Book Six
October 5, 1898- April 11, 1899
681
Book Four
Begun on July 21, 1896
On the way to Carlsbad
July 22, Carlsbad

Newlinski was waiting for me with the following information:
i) The Prince of Bulgaria will receive me here,
t) The Turkish ambassador in Vienna categorically denies
the news about Jewish colonists being persecuted in Palestine.
3) Jewish circles are intriguing against me in Yildiz Kiosk.
I. for my part, told him about my trip. I said I seemed to myself like an officer who goes into battle with raw recruits and has
to stand behind them with a gun to keep them from running
away.
I called the attitude of Edmond Rothschild in particular disturbing, because the entire combination now depended on him.
However, I said, it was by no means a foregone conclusion that
in the end he would not go along with us after all.
Newlinski said that this news discouraged him for the first
time in this matter. He had not know'n that my troops were that
bad.
July 22, Carlsbad
I am telegraphing to Edmond Rothschild:*
The Turkish ambassador at Vienna writes:
You can deny categorically the false news item, evidently
fabricated with malicious intent, that the Turkish authorities
have expelled existing Jewish colonists or refused to admit new
ones." However. I have learned that someone has tried to intrigue against me at Yildiz Kiosk. If it was one of your overiealous underlings, he has made you seriously responsible. I hope
this is not so; we must understand each other.
Theodor Hen I
Hotel Enhenog Karl
In French in (he original.
455
436 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
July 2 st
This morning I had breakfast with Newlinski in the Posthof
garden. Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria and his party occupied! I
table not far from ours. I noticed that 1 was being {jointed out
to him. Then he sent over Fiirth who had previously said that it
was doubtful whether the Prince would receive me today at all.
Fiirth told me the Prince would talk to me in the arbor-walk
later.
We now watched for his rising. When he left, Newlinski,
Fiirth, and I hurried after him.
He was waiting behind some shrubbery. Ten steps away from
him I took off my hat, and he advanced two pates toward me.
There actually was no introduction. He gave me his hand, and
I immediately began to present the Jewish cause. We walked up
and down as 1 talked. His retinue kept at a respectful distance.
Occasionally, visitors to the spa would gape at us. At one point
the Prince impatiently stamped his foot when two people had
stopped nearby and were listening, and he made a motion %uth
his umbrella as if to strike, saying, "It is scandalous the way one

is bothered here. And the Christians arc even worse than the
Jews."
(Those two weTe obviously Jews.)
I expounded my project for him with laconic brevity. He wai
quickly gripped. "It is a magnificent idea. he said; "no one has
ever talked to me about the Jewish Question this way. But I
have often thought about what you say. Actually, I **
raised by Jews. I spent my youth with Baron Hirvh. So I know
the whole background; people often reproach me for being half
a Jew. Your idea has my full sympathy but what can I do h*
it?"
"I should like to ask Your Royal Highness to prepare the
Czar for my plan and. if possible, to obtain an audience for roe.
"That is very difficult, he said doubtfully; "it i a matier
which involves religion. As it is, I dont stand in well with the
orthodox. There arc delicate matters in that area in which I
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 437
often have to subordinate my convictions to political necessity."
As he said this, he drew himself up and looked down at me in
a truly grand manner with his head thrown back. But most of
the time he stood in front of me, leaning on his umbrella and
bending slightly forward. When I took one step back so as to
stand more respectfully, he immediately moved forward, even
stepped on my foot, and said: "Pardon me!"
This way I always saw his fine, slightly obese face with the
pointed beard, the long nose, and the intelligent, bright eyes
close before me.
He stated repeatedly that he was a friend of the Jews, and was
pleased when I told him that the Sultan and the Grand Duke
of Baden were, loo.
"The Grand Duke," I exclaimed, "is the Good Old King out
of a fairy-tale. He is only afraid that his participation in my plan
could be considered anti-Semitic. It will therefore be my task to
explain to the world, particularly to the Jews, that it is not a
question of expulsion, but an act of kindness on the pan of the
potentates.
He nodded his satisfaction and promised me his full suppon,
on condition that this be kept secret. In Russia, he said, at most.
Grand Duke Wladimir might be interested in the matter. All
others speak of the Jews as though they were not human. I
should send him, the Prince, my book in German. Russian, and
English.
He said he would disseminate it. He also gave me permission
to report to him from time to time how the project was going.
He dismissed me veTy benevolently; and later Newlinski told
me that he had expressly promised his participation in our project and that I could certainly count on him.
July *t
Went walking with Newlinski in the afternoon. We discussed
our next move. Bismarck's cooperation could not be counted on
for the time being Bismarck had told Sidney Whitman he al438 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR h ER2l
ready knew ray book; Chrysander, his secretary, had told bin
the contents. Bismarck regards my draft as melancholy Untan
Later Whitman went to Herbert Bismarck and asked him to iiv
fluent c the old Prince. Herbert promised to do so.
(Newlinski also read me the letter which Bmnarck addressed
to the Sultan about the Cretan, Armenian, and Syrian incident!
Very interesting. Bismarck advises him not to be afraid of Eng.

land, whose power is dissipated all over the world, and to *ori
with Russia. All the latter wanted was the passage of warships
through the Bosporus. Bismarck considers the Sultans preient
situation as not dangerous, and speaks in a very scornful toot
about the Cretans.)
Since we cannot count on Bismarck now, we must have the
invitation to the Jews suggested to the Sultan from some other
quarter.
To counter the Jewish intrigues it is incredible in Yildh
Kiosk, we decided on the following: Newlinski is going to vnte
to Izzet that the Jews who have been agitating against me mar
have no personal interests although this, too. would be cooceivable but do have two kinds of disinterested misgivings. In
the first place, they are afraid that anti-Semitism would be intensified in their present places of residence if the call to migrate
were issued to the Jews. In the second place, they are worried tint
we would have an unmanageable mass influx of penniless Jew
on our hands in Palestine. For these reasons, the Jewish originators of these intrigues may want to thwart our project fro
the stan. However, Izzet should not let them rob him of hu confidence in me.
Newlinski feels that right now it would still be possible, ev
easily possible, to ruin the whole thing at Yildiz Kiosk. If T
opponents knew how matters stand at present, they could do
with ease. This makes me reflect that it is evidence of Newlinski*
decency and his confidence in me if he does not go over to Bf
wealthy opponents.
July 24, Cmunden
In my rude telegram to Edmond Rothschild there was a grammatical error: si ce serait [if it were]" instead of si c'Stait [if
it was.]
From Rothschild's negative attitude I must salvage everything

possible. In particular, his No must aid me to get a Yes from the
German Kaiser.
Sent Newlinski 500 francs for Sidney Whitman's unsuccessful
trip.
The thought keeps recurring how little gratitude the Jews will
show me for the giant service 1 am performing them. If today I
simply dropped the project, it would surely remain undone and
would not materialize for decades and even then only through
the utilization of my ideas.
Letter to Zadoc Kahn, Aussee, July 26, 1896:
Reverend Sir:
1 have regretted very, very much that you had left Paris before
I arrived. It is our cause which may have suffered the greatest
harm from this, for it was an important moment. Through serious, good counsel you might have been able to bring about a
different turn.
I am writing you in German, which you do understand, because I write French too slowly and poorly. As it is, the Jewish
cause is making gTeat claim on my energies, what with the growing extent of the movement.
Here, in brief and in the strictest confidence, are the facts. I
have been to Constantinople and there have obtained results
which actually surprised even myself. The Sultan took cognizance
of my plan "Palestine for the Jews!; and even though he resists
the idea of a simple sale, he did treat me with distinction in various ways and gave me to understand that the deal could be made
440 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR7 L

if a suitable formula is found. II sagit de sauver In apparrnc f
is a matter of saving face]. From the Sultan's circ le the follow
proposition was advanced: The Sultan could ceremoniously'^
vite the Jews to return to their historic homeland, to establidi
themselves there autonomously as vassals of the Turkish Empire
and in return pay him a tribute (on the basis of which he
could then raise a loan).
With this result I went to [.ondon, where Sir S. Montagu and
others promised me their adherence on three conditions: i) the
consent of the Great Powers, t) the accession of the Hirsch Fund
3) the accession of Edmond Rothschild.
The first condition I hope to be able to meet because two
reigning princes have already held out the prospect of their aid
to me. So I went to Paris and spoke with Edmond Rothschild.
I told him as well as the other gentlemen clearly what it was all
about. I requested that he join the cause conditionally, it., he
should participate in it only when it was signed, sealed, and d tlivered. I told him that he need not appear, that I would arrange
everything with the Sultan and the other governments. But at
soon as the plan was to be put into effect, he as well as Montagu
and the others should take over from me. So that not even the
shadow of a doubt could rest upon me that I want to unite all
our forces only in order to snatch the leadership for myself. I
pledged myself to withdraw completely as soon as this committee
for action has been formed. In return for these gentlemen's word
of honor to make my goal their goal I wanted to give my word of
honor henceforth not to interfere in anything. Then they could
direct the movement to the best of their knowledge and conscience, since I had confidence in thcse who have been friends of
Zion up to now. They could, above all, work in secret, and at ant
given time make public only as much as would be necessary u*
short, they could organize and channel the great movement sensibly.
I believe that this was an honest proposal which attested to nit
good intentions and my absolute selflessness, and that I did not
thereby make any immoderate demand.
Unfortunately, Edmond R. would not or could not understand
me. He replied that even if all diplomatic premises were correct
and if we obtained Palestine, he considered the matter impracticable, because the masses of the poor Jews would swarm into
Palestine in an unmanageable fashion, and it would be impossible
to give them employment or sustenance there.
You have read my pamphlet about the Jewish State. You know
in what great even superfluous detail I described the organization of the masses which is to precede the migration. It is possible to reject my detailed proposals; but in any case, the principle that the emigrants must be organized when they depart and
not just when they arrive is a workable one. No one will be enrolled without the proper papers passport, etc. These are simple problems of administration and pose no greater problem
than other tasks of a state.
If, then, this is a disinterested reservation on Edmond Rothschilds part, it ought to be possible to get at it with rational arguments, and 1 beg you I may fairly say in the name of our
unhappy brethren to place all your talents and your recognized
authority at the service of this cause.
At the same time I am undertaking to demonstrate practically
that our masses can be organized by recommending to my friends
in all countries to form the cadres for a possible migration. I believe that in just a few months, possibly by spring, the nationalist
Jews in all countries will be tightly organized.
The movement will be continued, and it will grow dramatically let no one deceive himself on that score. Despite the bitter
pills I am given to swallow and the obstacles that are placed in

my path. I am conducting this movement as a prudent man who
is at all times conscious of his tremendous responsibility. I am
certainly not inciting the masses; but can I present tumultuous
misunderstandings if it can happen that whole chapters of my
exposition are overlooked?
By this refusal Edmond Rothschild is bringing on the very
calamity that he seeks to avert. Added to this is the incalculable
factor of how the nations among whom we are dispersed will re442 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR IIF.R2L
act to this movement if we are obliged to conduct it through
public agitation instead of directing it from the top with all
quiet and order.
I have demonstrated my good intentions; I have spared no
pains or personal sacrifice. My convience is at ease. People
should understand what storms of indignation will be aroused
among the penniless Jews and among all non-Jews if it becomes
known some day that in my campaign of rescue 1 was left in the
lurch by those who had the power and the duty to help me. 1
am an opponent of the House of Rothschild, because 1 regard it
as a national misfortune of the Jews. As for the only one who has
aroused sympathy through his past behavior, Edmond Rothschild
a man whom I regarded, and still regard, as a decent, good
Jew should he refuse to contribute to our national salvation?
And it is not any sort of material sacrifice that is being asked of
him. He is not called upon to part with a penny, lift a hand, or
appear at all. All he has to do is accept the completed project;
until diplomatic arrangements are made he can remain entirely
under cover. If he does not agree to this he, upon whom depends the joining of the Londoners and of the Hirtch Fund,
which means: everything then a cry of anger will sweep the
world. It may seem unfair to him that his philanthropic experiments in Palestine should now have confronted him with such
an eventuality. Well, it simply was no game, no pastime, but a
terribly serious matter upon which he embarked with his Palestine colonization.
Explain this to him, I beg of you. I may have been too clumsy
or too impatient. But the cause must not suffer for my blunders.
Your office and your love for the cause make it your duty to
participate to the best of your ability. Make it your special cooccm to prevent Edmond Rothsc hild from forming a wrong conception of my intentions. Convince him that I desire what is
good and right.
We now have an official statement that the Turkish authorities neither expelled the resident Jewish colonists nor turned
back the new arrivals. The Turkish ambassador at Vienna writes
Vous pouvez dimentir catfgoriqucmcnt cette nouvelle inventie
dans un but &vident de malveillance [You can categorically
deny this item which was invented with an obviously malevolent
intent]."
I wired Edmond Rothschild this. At the same time I learned
something absolutely monstrous from the palace at Constantinople where I have devoted friends namely, that there are
intrigues against me on the part of Jews. It sounds so wild that I
can scarcely believe it. Perhaps the people in Yildiz Kiosk took
too seriously the malicious remark dropped by some Jew who
does not have as much respect for me as is my due in the opinion
of the l urks. But by such actions whether they be committed
out of thoughtlessness or with malice aforethought a man can
incur an extremely serious responsibility. And it is getting time
for us to sort out and fix responsibilities clearly.
The Jewish national movement is as serious as nay, much
more serious than anti-Semitism. People should understand this
in good time.
Up to now the destitute Jews have been the anvil, and the
anti-Semites the hammer. Woe to those who get caught between
the hammer and the anvil!
If you reply to me immediately, your letter will still reach me
here. Beginning August * I shall be in Vienna again, c/o Seue
Freie Prrsse.
With sincere respect.
Yours
Th. Herzl.
Mailed on July *7.
Letters sent on Julv *7:

Herbst 1
Bierer \ S 6 * (organizing, in view of E.R.'s objection)
B. Lazare, Paris (to take care of a French edition; I waive my
claims to the expenses I incurred on the translation).
444 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF I HI ODOR III R/L
I de Haas. London (organizing, with Rabbi now id, Ish-Kishor).
Schnirer, Vienna (invitation to Kokcsrh. Mintz to discuss organizing).
All the above with mention of E.R.s refusal.
Hechler, Vienna (announcing my visit).
Klatschko, Vienna (pamphlet in Russian).
July jo, Aussee
Hechler telegraphs from Tegemsec:
Am at Tegernsee. Villa Fischer, made speeches in the castle
and at homes of important people. Everybody enthusiastic.
"Can you come immediately to lend dignity? I want to leave
here about Saturday if possible.
Hechler.
I am answering him that I could hardly get away bee ausc I
have to go to Vienna within the next few days. At any rate. I
would first like to know to whom he made speeches and who
wished to see me.
If it is Empress Elizabeth. Ill go.
Letter to the Grand Duke of Baden:

Aussee, August i, 1896
Your Royal Highness:
I did not want to write from France, because the post offices
there are suspected of prying, and a letter to a German sovereign
would surely have attracted attention. Then, too, I was traveling
about restlessly for some time. That is why I can only now comply with your kind invitation to give you my report on the Jewish cause in writing.
I have been to Constantinople and explored the ground there.

H.M. the Sultan took cognizance of my proposal, and even
though he spoke out in no uncertain terms against the cession
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER7.L 445
of Palestine to the Jews as an independent state, he still did not
discourage me completely. In fact, he even treated me with distinction in various ways, and it was indicated to me indirectly
that the transaction could perhaps be made if the proper formula
were found. Then the idea was proposed from the Sultans circle
to permit the Jews to establish a vassal state in Palestine. Their
immigration was to be favored by the granting of autonomy, and
they would have to pay an annual tribute to the suzerain.
When I had the honor to present the matter at Karlsruhe,
Your Royal Highness likewise expressed yourself in favor of a
gradual immigration into Palestine.
With the results attained in Constantinople I went to London.
Our financ iers there are prepared to go through with this way of
establishing a state for the Jews; but they are making conditions
first of all, the obvious one that the Powers approve of the
whole thing.
Then, that Edmond Rothschild of Paris join in.
I have spoken with this Edmond Rothschild. He is afraid. He
thinks that we would not be able to organize, employ, or feed
the poor people who are to migrate there. But these are all administrative problems, no harder and no easier than other tasks
of a state.
I do not wish to repeat here all the things that I explained to
him. Suffice it to say that he does not understand. Now, it would
really be a crying shame if the development of this serious, gTeat,
philanthropic plan were to be thwarted by the opposition of a
single person of insufficient intelligence. Can this be the will of
God?
This is the way matters stand at the moment. One way out of
the present difficulties would lie to make the course of events
public and to break the will of this recalcitrant man through
agitation. But I would not want to carry on the movement
demagogically.
The gradual exodus of the Jews in good order, the way I intend it, can only be directed from the top. Thai is why I cling
to the hope that the truly high-minded sovereigns of Europe will
446 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER 7 .L
bestow their gracious protection on the cause. 1 hen we could
easily pass over the refusal of individual wealthy Jews.
It would be of inestimable value to our future course if His
Majesty the German Kaiser allowed me to present the plan to
him.
Some steps have already been taken with a view to my reception by His Majesty the Emperor of Russia.
Your Royal Highness has been the first ruler who generously
took an interest in this movement, and I shall never forget the
royally unpretentious words with which this interest was expressed. I venture to make reference to the favor of that audience
if I now ask Your Royal Highness point-blank to induce His
Majesty the German Kaiser to give me a hearing.
Today this solution of the ancient Jewish Question exists in
embryonic form. Many people, Gentiles as well as Jews, would
breathe a sigh of relief. A social difficulty of a serious nature
could be eliminated. It would be a blessed and glorious deed
which would be bound to affect far-distant times.
But if we find no help, the seed may perish.
I remain Your Royal Highness' respectful and grateful servant

Dr. Theodor Hen I
(Address: Thalhof, Reichenau bei Payerbach, Lower Austria.)
August i, Aussee
Hechler telegraphs from Tegcmsee: "Today fifth and last
presentation. Leaving today or tomorrow morning. Hechler."
This means, then, that the important people mentioned in his
first wire are not issuing a direct invitation to me.
Or did he merely want me to come on a chance? In any case,
I did well not to start off right away.
August i
The effectiveness of my movement shows up first in beggingletters.
August i
At the beginning of July a letter came from Wolffsohn of
Cologne which I only received here. At the Berlin Zionist Convention there was violent opposition to me. Wolffsohn was the
only one to stick by me, and he had trouble preventing the Zionists from taking a public stand against me. Nevertheless, Hildesheimer and Bambus were willing to meet with me in Cologne,
but I missed this opportunity.
I am answering Wolffsohn that hostile acts on the part of the
Zionists could well cause me to drop the whole matter. I am
informing him of Edmond Rothschild's refusal and telling him
that the need for an organization in which he, too, would have
a function, is developing. Furthermore, I am willing to get together with the Berlin Zionists. We would shortly hold a conference in Vienna at which the convening of a general Zionist
assembly is to be discussed.
August i
A good letter from Zadoc Kahn at Weggis. He proposes a
secret conference of representatives of the largest Jewish communities, since no individual has the authority to get a matter
of such immeasurable importance rolling all by himself. Therefore, there ought to be a debate with all the pros and cons. For
the rest, right after his return to Paris (between the toth and
the 15th of August) he wants to have a serious talk "avec qui de
droit (with the proper person]" with Edmond Rothschild, then?
but he does not seem to expect much from it.
I accept the proposal for a secret conference, because I believe
by that time I shall have achieved further diplomatic success,
and then I shall manage to rouse this debating assembly to some
action.
August t, Aussee
Letter to Zadoc Kahn:
Reverend Sir:
I accept your proposal to convene a confidential gathering of
representatives of all large Jewish communities, provided you
are the organizer and it has a practical character from the beginning. I will no longer have anything to do with purely aca-
demic discussions. This does not mean that I reject refinements

of my idea, advice, limitations, etc. If I am willing to attend this
conference, it is actually because 1 wish to prove for the umpteenth time that I am not a fanatical agitator, but would like
to proceed prudently and in cooperation with our calmest and
best men. My consent, which I am giving you in principle today,
will be definitive as soon as I am acquainted with the agenda of
the conference and the names of its participants.
Naturally I shall not interrupt my activities while awaiting this
conference. As you have already observed, I move rapidly; and
if you postpone the deliberation for long, it may come after the
action. Therefore you can already take the necessary first steps
from VVeggis.
Thanking you for the appealing tone of your letter, I remain
With sincere respect,
Th. Herzl.
August t, Aussee
Wrote to Nordau to take care of the French edition, because
I urgently need it for the Russian court and for Rome.
What I dont do myself doesnt get done.
S. Whitman writes from Constantinople that he will be coming
to Vienna in three weeks and afterwards will go to see Bismarck
again.
August 3 , on the train to Vienna
I have just now read a communication from the Arabian explorer Dr. Glaser which arrived during my trip to England. It
is a memorandum from the year 1890 , directed to Baron Hirsch.
It is written in an obsequiously enthusiastic tone and culminates
in the exclamation: Long live the King of Israel! and after the
preceding sentence there is no doubt that Moritz Freiherr
[Baron] von Hirsch is thought of as the King of Israel.
But the contents of the memorandum shows excellent thinking. This Glaser is a man to remember. In any event, he possesses
considerable knowledge of the Orient, and he may even have a
talent for military organization. Since it is possible that 1 shall
need a replacement for the unreliable Goldsmid, Glaser is to be
cultivated.
To be sure, he makes the absurd proposal to select Southern
Arabia as the territory for the Jewish State; but the way in which
he motivates this idea for colonization is excellent.
I am going to write him from Vienna today or tomorrow that
I am welcoming him to our ranks as a promising co-worker.
Dr. L. Ernst, the author of a book about secret remedies for

venereal diseases, has written a cute answer to my pamphlet,
with the title No Jewish Stale!
Breitenstein the publisher asked me whether I had any objection to his publishing this droll booklet, too, under his imprint. I had absolutely no objection.
(At the same time Breitenstein gave me a financial statement
on my |>amphlet. / owe him a few guilders. And he is already on
the fourth printing!)
I read Ernst's pamphlet on the train, in the galley-proofs. Simple-minded pontifiration, ignorant e, narrow-mindedness on every
page
No answer.
August 3 , Vienna
At the office again.
A brief, vigorous clash with Bather. He asked whether I wasn't
going to write a feuilleton about Constantinople.
No," I said. "At Constantinople I had only historical experiences, not feuilletonistic ones."
He laughed foolishly.
You dont believe me? I said.
"No, I dont believe that, he countered.
I added, gruffly: "Youll believe, all right!
Then we parted, rather irritated.
In the afternoon at Newlinski's.

At Carlsbad he also spoke with King Milan about my project.
Milan thinks that I am overlooking the difficulties that France f
would make. France wants to have her Syrian protectorate and
an Arabian Empire. (Funny that this should coincide with
Glaser's information.)
Newlinski claims that Milan had already received my book in
Paris from Dr. Milicevic and discussed it in detail with French
politicians.
Newlinski also spoke once more in Carlsbad with Prince Fer- I
dinand who is supposed to have declared himself a champion of
my idea. Ferdinand like Bismarck believes that the matter
ought to be patronized from Rome.
Newlinski was quick to tie interesting fancies onto this. A
trip to Rome in October, fifteen cardinals the entire Conclave
to be won over. The Pope would receive me, possibly issue an
encyclical about my plan. The Catholic church ought to take
the matter under its worldwide protection. The Sultan would
accept advice from the Pope more readily than from the Czar.
It is my opinion, too, that we must work from Rome. Howeven though I am very favorably disposed toward Newlinski, I did not want him to notice how very well this suits me.
For he is clerical-minded and in any event more devoted to the
Pope than he is to me.
I must look back and see whether I have noted down this habit:
on the train bound for Stambul and in the bedroom at the Hotel
Royal, Newlinski always crossed himself before he went to sleep.
And, I believe, he is sincerely working for the Jews.

Evidence that my proposal is truly the redeeming reconciliation between Christians and Jews.
Gave Newlinski 184 guilders for Whitman's expenses.
August 5, Vienna
Spoke with Schnirer about the accomplishments of my trips
and the need for an organization. He explains Edmond Rothschild's attitude to himself by the fact that any number of people want a split between E. R. and me. Schnirer knows that for
every house that is built in Palestine, two thousand francs are
allegedly paid out in baksheesh.
I told him about the presumed intrigue of the Rothschild
director Scheid against me in Yildiz Kiosk, and asked him what
Scheid deserved if it was true. Schnirer said indignantly: He
would deserve to be strung up.
The present organization of the Zionist associations leaves
everything to be desired. The Zionist Federation is an unserviceable instrument and must be reorganized. The associations, above
all, have no money. I cannot advance any more for propaganda
since my capacity is already exhausted.
We agreed that the Zionist administration in Vienna should
send a regular Information Bulletin to its members, who are
to make some payment for it, so that the Zionist Federation could
at least pay for the printing of stationery.
This is how poor the financial condition of the Zionists is at
the present time the Zionists, whom I shall probably raise high,
and soon, and who will then presumably forget what I have
brought about.
August 7
Newlinski writes from Hungary that he has just received a
letter from Whitman in Constantinople with an interesting item.
Whitman had breakfast at Therapia with the former Prussian
Minister of War, Verdy du Vernois. The latter, an expert on the
Orient, had expressed himself very favorably on my Palestine
project and thought it was a blessing for I urkey, about which
he is crazy.
"Vernois thinks the idea is conceived on such a grand scale
that it must materialize, and he believes in you! . . . He is really
somebody; I wanted to tell you this in order to compensate you
for the contumely and the disappointments that you get from
others. Dont let them get you down, and remember my words:
Precisely among your co-religionists will you encounter the
basest intrigues, stupidity, lack of principles, and ingratitude. But
God will help youl ... So will I!
With cordial regards.
Yours,
Newlinski
I am including Ncwlinskis charming letter here as a souvenir.

What Sonnenschein (Court Secretary in the Ministry of Railroads) had just told me is like an illustration of it, namely, that
the London Chief Rabbi Adler told David Gutmann: Dr. Herzl
had a fiasco in London."
And David Gutmann cheerfully spread this around.
I am writing this to de Haas in Ixindon. My people in the
East End shall answer the Chief Rabbi.
August 10
De Haas sends me clippings, among them one from the
Daily Chronicle, in which my trip to Iondon is connected with

a conversion of the Turkish loan. I am not even issuing a denial
of this. At the same time de Haas tells me the rumor is going
around in London that a banking house (Barclay, Bcvan 8c Co.)
has placed two million pounds sterling at my disposal for my
undertaking. I am not protesting against this nonsense either.
because fairy-tales, jokes, caricatures arc vehicles for disseminating an idea.
Newlinski today sounded me out by inquiring whether in

case of a Non possumus [We cannot]!" from Turkey we wouldnt
want to content ourselves with a lesser firman [imperial order]
from the Sultan in which the Jews would merely be invited
to establish colonies.
In this I smelled his desire to work with Edmond Rothschild
and the Zionist associations, which he deemed financially solvent,
and told him: "If it should really turn out to be impossible to
obtain the basis for a state, I shall personally put you in touch
with the Zionists and Edmond Rothschild (lest he try to do that
himself), but I draw your attention to the following: in the first
place, in the case of such colonization, the go-betweens get little
baksheesh ; in the second place. I am fundamentally opposed to
this form and would fight it vigorously afterwards. Just keep
your confidence in the cause. Dans cette chose il faut avoir de
restomac, comme disent les joueurs [in this project one has to
have a stomac h, as the gamblers say]."
Thereupon, visibly reinvigorated, he asked me if he should
write to Cardinal Rampoila in Rome to initiate action with the
Pope.
Naturally I fully agree to this.
At Reichenau yesterday I spoke with Horn, the former editorin-chief of the Journal de St. Ptlersbourg. He is a brother of
the late Hungarian State Secretary Eduard Horn, whom I knew
in my boyhood. For thirty years he was a semi-official journalist
in Russia and naturally is well acquainted with the situation
there. He does not think that Russia would let the Jews have
Palestine. He said there was a "Society of the Holy Sepulchre
under the chairmanship of Grand Duke Sergius. He also feels
that the serviceable Jews would not be allowed to leave. Anti454 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
Scmitism in Russia, he says, is due to the fact that the city dwellers there number at most eight million; and if these include five
million Jews who, in addition, rush into the learned professions, on account of certain military advantages this is an unbearable situation. As for the peasant areas, the Jews cannot be
integrated there, because in Russian village communities there
is common pasture-land, and the Jews cannot participate in it.
But he has not been to Russia in six years and no longer knows
how the wind is blowing.
About Ignatiew he tells me that when the latter was Minister
of the Interior he had virtually encouraged persecution of the
Jews.
Pobedonostsev he called a fanatic who defied even the Emperor
and who would hardly have any dealings with me.
August it, Vienna
Haas reports from London that a Tent of the Hovevci Zion
had offered to revolt" in my favor; another one had attacked me.
The Daily Chronicle report that I had been on a financial miv
sion for the Sultan was souring people on me.
I am telegraphing Haas:
"Pay no attention to false newspaper reports. Tell Prag I want
collaboration with Hovevei.
Herd."
In the Allgemeine Israrlitische Wochemchrift of July 17 one

Dr. Singer-Coblenz makes a venomous attack on me.
August 13, Vienna
Today called on the Turkish ambassador, Mahmud Nedim.
He spoke uninterruptedly for one hour, without saying one single
thing not out of rouerie [craftiness], however, but out of unspeakable naivetl.
Some ambassador! A haberdashery clerk on Rartncrstrasse
displays more acumen.
He was very amiable without understanding. Or is he infinitely discreet???
Interesting that Izzet should have written me about him.
Mahmud Nedim gave me the desired explanation which he
had first addressed to Newlinski: that the Turkish authorities are
not expelling the Jewish colonists. He asked me. however, not
to make his letter of today public. I should say only: Comme
nous apprenons de source certaine [As we learn from a reliable
source] or ** Vambassadeur turc ma dit [the Turkish ambassador has told me]" or " nous sommes en mesure d'affirmer [we
arc in a position to affirm]" in short, he enumerated all the
cliches of the Havas News Agency.
Which once again is confirmation of my definition of diplomats: "People who put together notes out of our notices.
August 18, Aussee
Dc Haas sends me bad news from London. The opponents
in the Hovevei Zion, etc., arc gaining the upper hand.
Meyerson has reported from Paris that 1 met with failure
there. Also, my reception by the Russian Jewish students is supposed to have been an unfavorable one. On the other hand, Mr.
Prag is said to have adopted a friendly attitude toward me lately.
I am writing de Haas a few compliments for Mr. Prag, and
am authorizing him at the same lime to publish the Turkish ambassador's denial in the press only the substance, not the wording.
August 18, Aussee
Newlinski telegraphs from Vasvar:
"Have good news Rome."
(From Cardinal Rampolla, then.)

August 23, Baden
Had a long talk with the electrical engineer Kremenezky.
He is a good Zionist, with modern ideas. On the shores of the
highly saliferous Dead Sea great chemical industries could be
established.
The streams of fresh water which now flow into it would have
to be diverted and used as drinking water. The tributaries would
be replaced by a canal from the Mediterranean which on account of the mountains would have to pass through a tunnel
for part of the way (an internationally famous sight). The difference in level of the two seas (waterfall) could be used to run
machines. Many thousands of horsepower.
Elsewhere in Palestine, too, there is plenty of water power
that can be converted into electricity.
We must found a National Arbor Society for the afforestation
of the land. Every Jew donates one or more trees. Ten million
trees!
During the talk I had an idea concerning organization.
The young professional men want to found a Zionist society
for university graduates. I think it will be even better to establish
specialized Zionist societies for here and for over there: associations of Jewish lasvyers, physicians, engineers, electricians, building contractors, civil servants, merchants (chambers of commerce). These professional people have mutual interests even
here. Practical problems and plans can be placed before them, for
appraisal, discussion, etc. If the plan is carried out, we shall have
in them p/pinitres [hothouses] for the men we shall need.
These professional societies are to become integrated into the
Zionist Federation, which will thereby be shaken out of its universally deplored slumber.
August *5, Vienna
Yesterday I had Colbert buy 50 SteyrermUhl shares for me at
the Stock Exchange. It was the first business deal of my life.
I was forced into it by the mean, ignominious conduct of the
Viennese press which is passing my idea over in silence. I must
endeavor to gain influence over a newspaper. I can have such influence only as an owner of shares. Any other attempt to gain
journalistic power would be wrecked on the local newspaper situation, and I would bleed to death on it.
Therefore I chose the Stryrer Tagblatt as a locus minoris
resistenliae [place of least resistance], and I intend to gain control of it through gradual purchases of stock. Or, rather, the
Steyrermuhl Company is to produce a new paper which I shall
edit.
I am staking my property as well as that of my parents on it.
Dessauer promises me lombardization of my shares on a large
scale.
I own 150 Steyrermuhl shares.
August 25, Vienna
Newlinski is back from Hungary and today gave me the following information:
The Turks have a knife at their throats, financially speaking.
Izzet Bey wrote him that he would be willing to submit the
modified plan to the Sultan if we were quite in earnest. Because it could cost him his head if afterwards nothing came of it.
Therefore Newlinski calls on me to give a final formulation of
the proposal.
1 am doing this in the following manner, which still leaves
Izzet (and myself) the possibility of pulling our heads out of

the noose. I make a few vague conditions, during the discussion
of which even "serious proposals can come to naught. While
negotiations with the Sultan are going on, I shall tame the London and Paris Jews as well. For the rest, my proposals are based
completely on the admittedly vague agreements with Montagu,
Landau, etc. Outline which Newlinski intends to submit to the
Sultan in revised form:
Our group wishes to place at His Majesty's disp<sal a gradu*
458 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR 71
ated loan of *0 million pounds sterling. This loan is t 0 ^
funded on the annual tribute which the autonomous Jcwi*
settlers in Palestine have to pay to His Majesty. The tribute
guaranteed by our group will amount to one hundred thousai*
pounds sterling in the first year and increase up to one miUin
pounds sterling annually. The gradual rise in the tribute will be
correlated with the gradual immigration of the Jews into Palt*
tine, and the detailed procedure is to be worked out in the pa
sonal conferences which arc to be held in Constantinople.
In return. His Majesty should graciously make the follows
concessions:
The immigration of the Jews into Palestine, which is not onh
to be completely unrestricted but is to be encouraged in even
way by the imperial Turkish government. The immigrant Jon
are to be given autonomy, guaranteed under international la.
in the constitution, government, and administration of justice is
the temtory assigned to them. (Palestine as a vassal state.)
In the Constantinople negotiations it will have to be determined in detail in what form the sovereign protection of Hu
Majesty the Sultan will be exercised in Jewish Palestine and ho.
t e preservation of law and order is to be managed by the Jem
themselves through security forces of their own.
The agreement could take the following form: His Majesn
issua a most gracious invitation to the Jews to return to the land
their fathers; this invitation will have the force of law and
will be made known to the Powers in advance.
Naturally, thi, invitation .hall bo made only aflrr all thr
parate etai s have been arranged in a preliminary agreement.
Letter to Montagu:
My dear Sir Samuel:
staminnn] 1 ^ f p V C( \ V rnc cnsat inal and decisive news from C
with usimmi^H 0 ^ ? 1 *** incI,ncd to cnlCT *nto negotiati
With us immediately on the basis which I have already mrnt.o,
to you in London. In return for a graduated loan of twenty million pounds sterling, which would be distributed over a number
of years, the Sultan would, with previous notification of the
Powers, invite the Jews all over the world to return to the land
of their fathers where they are to have autonomy and pay him
an annual tribute. It is on this tribute that the loan would be
based.
Turkeys financial distress has reached a climax. It is now or
never that we shall obtain Palestine. I am asking you, Sir Samuel,
if you arc willing to go to Constantinople with me in ordeT to
carry on the negotiations. I know it would be a great sacrifice
for you to decide to make this trip. But if you make this sacrifice.
Sir Samuel Montagu will be spoken of with gratitude as long
as there are Jews alive.
If you decide on it, I shall give you details about the time
later. It will, in any case, not be before the end of September,
when the heat in Constantinople is no longer so bad.
Edmond Rothschild gave me an evasive answer in Paris
neither Yes nor No. He will undoubtedly join in with us, just
as all Jews will enthusiastically join in as soon as we have achieved
success.
Consider well. Sir Samuel, in what a historically memorable
situation you now find yourself! I'ndcrstand the full greatness of
the task which is confronting you! Be the man we need!
Sincerely yours.
Herd.
letter to Zadoc Khan:

Reverend Sir:
(Hrictly confidential!)
From Constantinople I have received the sensational and
decisive news that they are ready at any time for further negotia460 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
tions. The financial distress there has become acute. It U no*
or never that we shall obtain Palestine.
What steps have you taken since we last corresponded?
Events press. I beg you for a speedy reply.
With sincere respect.
Herzl.
August tg
Terrible news has come from Constantinople. The building
of the Ottoman Bank was stormed by Armenians. Murder, killings, bombs, street- fights. Order appears to have been restored,
but the impression on the world is deplorable. At any rate, fa
the moment I am abstaining from sending off the above letten
which I drafted yesterday. The Englishmen Montagu etc. proh
ably wont have anything to do with the Sultan now. On the
other hand, of course, the moment would be very propitious fa
negotiating with the Sultan, because at present he isnt likely to
get money from anyone.
August sg, afternoon
I am mailing the letter to Zadoc Kahn after all.
September 5 , Breslau
I was prevented by some hectic newspaper work from record
ing the events of the last few days.
Zadoc Kahn sent a reply to the effect that he cannot do anything at the moment, because he had received "dilatory, that a
to say, evasive replies from the people to whom he turned.
His own answer, too, is dilatory, that is to say, evasive. Nobody
helps.
On Tuesday, September 1 , Bather asked me if I would like to
go to Breslau and report on the Kaisers visit there. Naturally
I said Yes.

That same evening I was in the Cafd Louvre on Wipplinger*
strasse where the Viennese Zionists get together every I uesday
and for months have been debating the question of how to acquire some club rooms. If 1 should succeed in winning something
greater for the Zionists and obtaining more for them than club
rooms for an annual rent of 800 guilders, many are sure to attack
me. I recognize a few of this ilk even now: they "feel crowded
out by me, etc. They will have to be reminded of how impotent
they have shown themselves to be and how they have done nothing but indulge in idle talk.
Incidentally, this time they made me a formal offer to become
head of the party's Executive Committee. I accepted.
Among those present was the Christian Zionist" Baron Manteuffel, who pays to have agricultural training given to penniless
Jewish boys.
I telegraphed Hechler, who has gone to Horitz for the peasant

passion plays, that I was going to Breslau.
Thereupon he asked me whether I wanted him to come; he
had written at once to the Grand Duke at Baden.
I immediately asked HechleT by telegram to come to Gorlitz.
Today he informs me that he will arrive there tomorrow. I am
going to send him to Prince Heinrich of Prussia; perhaps we
shall manage to obtain that audience with the Kaiser.
September 9 . Gorlitz
Arrived here the day before yesterday. I am staying at a cosy
private residence, the house of Music Director Stiehler. I found
Hechler's card waiting for me; he had tracked me down although
I had not been able to give him my address. He himself is staying
at the "Evangelical Clubhouse. which gave me the impression
of a Christian-Socialist consumers' cooperative. Bare, spotless
walls with Bible verses. A big bar parlor where, to be sure, drinks
are served and perhaps even a small profit is made, but the peo462 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
pie are evidently kept well in hand. The whole establishment
gives the impression of a cleverly disguised political institution.
Hcchler was sitting in a cheerful room which was adorned
with Biblical maxims. Evangelical style. This is most decided!?
Stocker territory, and one of the most curious places I have
visited so far in the course of my movement.
Hechler had already oriented himself a bit. On the trip from
Horitz he composed a letter to the Kaiser, written in English on
the stationery of the Vienna embassy, about the return of tht
Jews * The British official stamp gave the whole thing a vaguelj
official character.
Unfortunately, Prince Heinrich of Prussia, whom Hechlei
was counting on, has left for Kiel in order to receive the Czar
there. "By the way, says Hechler, "who knows if this isnt an
advantage. I am told that in recent times Prince Heinrich has
made only mocking remarks about religion. And one shouldn't
cast pearls before swine, as the Bible says.
However, Gunther of Schleswig-Holstein, a brother of the
Empress, is here. He is kindly disposed toward Hechler and is
interested in social problems. He has been to England in order to
study the condition of the working class. His rank is that of a
Major on the general staff, I believe. Hechler also told me on
this occasion that Prince Gunther recently was suspected of being
involved in that affair of the anonymous court letters which led
to the duel between Schrader and Kotze: gossip which I wasn't

interested in before and which I now like to hear, because it
shows me the small side of the big people. And this is necessary if
one is not to be confused by the outward glamor of the tinsel
surrounding them and is to associate with them without selfconsciousness.
I hat is why I paid such close attention to the infirmity of the
German Kaiser during the past week when I saw him so frequently. Isnt it strange that people really dont know that he,
one of the most "highly regarded" men in the world, has only
one arm.-' Such men truly dwell in a cloud. Here is a figure
" In English in the original.
known from a hundred thousand pictures; and when you
see him, you notice that his most significant characteristic is
hidden from the crowd. Yes, throngs see him daily and are hardly
aware of it. The most sharp-sighted say: he has a stiff arm. Actually, it is a childs arm that hangs down from his left shoulder.
The arm is said to have been stunted by rickets. According to the
version which Hcchler gives me evidently the court version
Wilhelm was dropped as an infant by his wet-nurse, and the consequences were not discovered until it was too late.
In any case, this abnormality is important for his image. To
me it brings him closer as a human being. It shows that, in
reality, under his many uniforms of the regiments he commands,
he is only a helpless human being after all. When I was watching
the manifestations of his power, the glamor of his court, die
martial magnificence of his legions on the parade field, I kept
my eyes on his crippled arm, in order not to let my mind be
dazed should I ever speak with him face to face.
His being a cripple also explains his whole character, I believe. This Supreme Warlord would be rejected by the medical
board if he were an ordinary man called up for military service.
His pathological predilection for all things military may stem
from this. Nor can he adopt any natural pose, because he must
always have to think of how to conceal his defect. As a matter of
fact, he does deceive many people by the way in which, when on
horseback, he holds the reins with his short left arm. This bridlearm enables him to get by on horseback. He also loves dazzling,
shiny uniforms and gleaming helmets which attract, distract the
eye.
However, he is, it seems to me, a likeable man: to put it even
better and more briefly: a man!
He wants to make a big impression on the crowd, to be sure,
and he plays the emperor with might and main. Rut he wishes
to charm those who meet him by amiability. He has an engaging
way of shaking hands, like a party leader. He looks everyone with
whom he speaks full in the eye by stepping up close to him. He
was at his most charming at Breslau at the gala performance of
a little military comedy by Moser. He laughed aloud at the in.
nocent soldiers jokes; he fairly shook with laughter. In fact,
there was a trace of exaggeration in this unconstraint, which he
knew was being observed by so many eyes. He is inclined to
overdo things.
There is no doubt that he is a man of great and varied talents
who, however, wants to tackle too many things with his one arm
and always has his hands full because he wishes to hide the fact
that he has only one hand.
If I understand him aright, I am going to win him for our
cause, provided that I manage to get close enough to him.
Hechler went to see Prince Gunther yesterday afternoon when
the latter returned from the parade ground. Unfortunately one

minute too late. The Prince was already taking a bath, or at
least he sent word by a servant that he was already in the bath;
Hechler was asked to return in the evening before the court
dinner.
Hechler did so; but a high general was with the Prince. As
Gunther left he spoke only a few words with Hechler, asking
him to come back this evening at half past six.
This just about finishes the prospect of getting to the Kaiser
here. Because for three full days starting tomorrow morning
the Kaiser will be at the manoeuvres. And I have to leave tomorrow.
September it, Vienna
The afternoon before yesterday Hechler came and reported
t at Prince Gunther had spoken about the matter like someone
who was acquainted with it. The Kaiser seems to have discussed
it with him even before this. But they evidently dont want to
touch the matter; princes shrink from the whole question. It
ts so strange,* said Prince Giinther to Hechler. But the latter
In EnglUh in the original.
may be received by the Kaiser after all, although Gunther
wouldnt take Hechler's letter to transmit to the Kaiser.
I realized that I wouldnt accomplish anything in Gbrlitz now,
and immediately decided to depart. Hechler took me to the station. There I impressed it upon him that he should try to do
what he could, and in any case tell the Prince, and possibly the
Kaiser, that I had had to leave hastily, but would be willing to
appear at any time and in any place to present and explain the
matter.
Poor Hechler had tough luck. He left Horitz without giving

a forwarding address. The day before yesterday the Embassy
was looking for him because an Englishman had died here and
Hechler was supposed to conduct the funeral service. I telegraphed him this, but of course too late.
Hechlers cook, with whom I had checked at his request,
mournfully told me of this incident and said; "What a pity!
It was a wealthy funeral.
During my absence a letter from Zadoc Kahn arrived, containing fresh laments and accusations by the Rothschild director
Scheid. Whos lying? Scheid or the Turks who formally denied
the expulsion of Jewish colonists? This must be cleared up now.
I am writing Newlinski about it.
From I.ondon comes the news that the Powers are giving some
thought to deposing Abdul Hamid. If this comes about, the Zionist idea will be dead for a long time to come. For a new Sultan
will find money and won't need this combination.
Hechler wires from Gbrlitz:
Very friendly letter (presumably from Gunther), only not
enough time.
September 16, Vienna

Yesterday, endless debate of the Zionist Federation at the
Cafd Louvre, later at Robicseks Restaurant.
A representative of the Lvov Zionists was present, and he
demanded quick action. In one year, 400-600,000 signatures
could be raised in Galicia for a petition to the Powers. He said
there was great distress and the desire to emigrate was immeasurable. Dr. Gabel is the name of this delegate.
I took him at his word; let him get those signatures. They
would be proof of the strength of our movement and a backbone
for our action, which, however, must not be expected to be ready
tomorrow.
Everybody wanted action, and in the end it turned out that
Schnirer had not even sent out my circular letter about the need
for organization, which I had given him weeks ago.
They argued about the wording of the first paragraph in the
party program drafted by Schnirer.
September 16
Reverend Sir:
Having just returned from a trip, I hasten to answer your
kind letter of September 7.
I had already been informed that Mr. Scheid is working against
me. From your letter I sec that this is true. I am asking myself
what might motivate this gentleman to proceed in this way.
The movement that I started may not have the approbation of
all Jews; but for the present it is incomprehensible to me that
people who have to do with colonization should be fighting itFollowing your first complaint in July, which was transmitted
to me by Dr. Nordau, I immediately took steps at Constantinople
and received an official denial from the Turkish ambassador in
Vienna. This denial I telegraphed to Baron E. Rothschild who
has not acknowledged it to this day.
In August I had the ambassador reiterate this denial for me,
because his first letter contained other things which I did not
want to show around. You will find enclosed the letter, which
you will kindly show to Baron Rothschild and Mr. Leven and
then return to me as soon as possible.
Now Mr. Scheid comes with specific accusations. 1 am sending
these to the proper authorities for investigation. I shall ask for
a statement as to 1) whether the facts are correct, 2) whether difficulties of this son did not arise before I came on the scene, 3)
whether the alleged disciplinary measures have any connection
with my efforts.
Since it is part of the Jewish misfortune that a gTeat deal depends on M. de Rothschilds decisions, this incident has to be
given some attention.
Let anyone who comes close to our project realize iu full seriousness.
Until now I have conducted the movement considerately and
as a calm man; this is common knowledge. It is known as well
that to me Zionism is neither a sport nor a business. 1 am not
living on it, but for it. I am making sacrifices of all kinds, which
in profiortion to my means are surely no smaller than those of
M. de Rothschild. Therefore I demand that, even if people do
not work with roe, they do not work against me.
I believe that we are at a great turning point in our history.

You are acquainted with the events in Turkey. Never has the
general situation been more favorable to us. I am not going into
details of this now, because 1 regretfully conclude from your
letter that your mind has been changed again, after you had
written me from Weggis that you were going to convene a confidential world congress.
I continue to go my way, imperturbably, unihakably.
Strangely enough, quite a few people dont know yet that 1
can write and can be bought just as little as the disagreeable Mr.
468 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl

Drumont. I shall not write pamphlets, to be sure, but a simple
report on what I have tried to do and what I perhaps have been
prevented from doing. The book will be called "The Return of
the Jews, and everyone will have his place in it. Tant pis, si C eU
fournira encore de la copie a Monsieur Drumont [Too bad if
this will furnish M. Drumont with more material].
With a respectful greeting.
Your Reverend's devoted
Herzl.
September 16 , Vienna
An enthusiastic and touching resolution came from Jerusalem.
The sender, Wilhelm Gross, writes me that the signers art
among the most respected men of Jerusalem.
He denies what a strange coincidence that my efforts hast
harmed the Jews there.
I am answering him that he should form an investigating committee of the most respected men. It should consist neither of
friends nor of foes of Scheid, and it should ascertain the thrtt
points of information about which I wrote Zadoc Kahn.
At the same time I am asking him for confidential information about Scheid, because I don't know him and would like to
know whether it is sincere conviction that prompts him to work
against me, or whether there are other motives at work.
September 14
I received a letter from Zadoc Kahn, with an enclosure from
Scheid in which he says that I have too much confidence in tht
Turks. If I was really able to achieve anything, I ought to secuit
entry permits for 100 families to the Jaulan. At the same time.
Zadoc informs me that in October there will be a meeting of
e Hirsch Fund people in Paris and that he intends to present
my plan etc. to them.
I immediately went to see Newlinski and told him the m

ment had come to frapper un grand coup [strike a big blow]. The
Sultan should give me authorization for the immigration of three
to five hundred families or some other great concession, and
then the Hirsch people etc. would make him an offer.
Newlinski wrote to Izzet and spoke with the local ambassador,

Mahmud Nedim. The latter used the occasion to tell him that
the N. Fr. Pr. reporter who covers the diplomatic corps spoke of
me as a madman.
In the meantime the following happened: Glogau came to me

with the news that the government wanu a rival paper to needle
the N. Fr. Pr., because the N. Fr. Pr. has been getting bothersome
to Badeni's administration since he made his peace with Lueger.
The paper is to be liberal-conservative-anti-Scmitic in short, an
impossibility, but typographically (swipe-ographically)* produced exactly like the N. Fr. Pr., which, to be sure, originated
in a similar manner from the old Presse.
I dropped the remark in front of Newlinski that this competition was a stupid thing. If they intended to weaken the N. Fr. Pr.,
they couldn't do it this way. However, because the word pledged
to me a year ago has not been kept and the Jewish State, the
Jewish cause, has not only not been supported but almost maliciously suppressed, I would found a great paper.
Newlinski immediately told this to his friend Kozmian on
Monday , and when I was at the Burgtheater on Tuesday,
Kozmian came up to me and said that Graf Badrni, who was
also present, wished to speak with me about my paper. I replied that we hadn't got that far yet; only the beginning had
been made, etc.
But the next day, after consulting with Badeni again. Kozmian
called me to his suite in the Hotel Imperial where Newlinski
was also present. Badeni wanted to know through him what I
wanted "for your support.
1 answered: "Above all, no money! I wish to be independent;
Traniblor't Note: Hml'i pun U "typognphiuh (dubogr*p*ueh)
the mutual relationship must reside more in the attitude. Should
I in any way need help or favor for my idea, then let the government help me; in return for this I shall not give it any displeat
ure.
Thats little enough, said Kozmian, who was in his shin
sleeves and had only put on an overcoat.
Which means: pleasure!" I declared; "but Count Badeni will
have to support Zionism.
Kozmian thought he could promise this. Badeni would encourage Jewish colonization ( par bleu ! Luegers desire, too). And
now suddenly the moment has come of which I had a foreboding
in my letter to Badeni that time when my pamphlet was coming
out.
Kozmian also said Badeni would receive me as soon as I wanted
it and then he left for Galicia from where he will return at the
beginning of October.
As I went out, Newlinski saw me to the door and said: "II
faudra crier aussi a Kozmian une situation dans ce journal (We
will have to create a job on this paper for Kozmian too].
I said: " Ce n'est pas possible, mais je tdcherai de Ilntiresser j
autrement [ That isn't possible, but I shall try to take care of him
some other way].
At this Newlinski said pithily: "II en a besom [He needs it]." I
I am now doing the spade work for the founding of the paper
Tough financial problem. Dessauer is advising me.

September 15
Reverend Sir:
I gratefully acknowledge receipt of your kind letter with eoc osures. Yesterday I had the 1 urkish ambassador here addre* f
an inquiry to Constantinople, and a few days before that I had
already taken the necessary direct steps there. In Turkey peopk |
ve many great worries now; and it will not be surprising if j
they do not give me an immediate answer, although I have wellfounded reason to believe that they arc very favorably disposed
toward me.
I beg you to give me the exact date on which the Hirsch people will meet, so that I may send you the proclamation which I
requested from Constantinople for you to submit to the gentlemen, or bring it to Paris myself. You see, I asked for a confirmation of the verbal declarations made to me, one that will exclude
all doubt. If I receive such a confirmation, I believe it will be
substantial material for the Paris conference which you announced.
I am active in various other respects, too. I have met with cooperation in particular from a very high place here in Austria.
As for the other things favorable to us in Rome and in Berlin
I cannot write you about them. 1 am (kindly pardon my frankness!) not wholly convinced that you will go along through thick
and thin, the way the cause may require it.
However, this does not preclude the fact that I am sincerely
grateful to you for your efforts and beg you to continue to help
to the extent that you can help.
Herzl.
Could not Edmond Rothschild try to approach the Czar in
Paris now and bespeak his kind interest in the colonization? Our
endeavors do converge, even if we diverge on details.
September 15
Newlinski tells me he has news from Cardinal Agliardi that
Cardinal Rampolla intends to submit my idea to the Pope.
Hechler has been here a few times already to ask whether I

have written to Prince Gunther. I have been too feeble and
distracted in the last few days.
Yesterday Schnirer and Kokesch came to see me. They torn,
plained that little Dr. Kohn "wanted to break loose. They said
he was agitating on his own in Moravia etc. and there ought to
be "inner-political action. Both called Kohn a careerist who
was interested only in getting hold of a position for himself.
Schnirer spoke of withdrawing. Kokesch wanted to bring Kohn
back into the fold through concessions. I told these two, who art
among the finest of the local Zionists:
"Neither one nor the other, but work!
"If you finally start the much-talked-of work of organization
you will cut the ground from under these separatists.
Schnirer said he had called upon Kohn to let us, i.e., the
Zionist Federation, have the results of his agitation. Kohn refused, saying that he had not done this for us.
However, I hear from Moravia that the young people are agitating in my name and yet not for us"?
At length Schnirer, Kokesch, and 1 decided to set up commissions which would have to report to the leadership, i.e., to us.
One commission for the associations, another for the press, a
finance commission and a study commission.
The only trouble is that Schnirer and Kokesch will soon let the
matter go to sleep again.
Today Rabbi Dr. Leopold Goldschmied of Mieslitz came to see

me and asked me for my support, because he would like to become rabbi at Floridsdorf. He is a Zionist. He told me on this
occasion that the young people in Moravia are writing the rabbis
to raise share certificates at 50 guilders each for the founding of a Jewish newspaper.
This is evidently Kohns idea.
October 5, Vienna
Since the last entry, hard, chaotic days with much sorrow and
disgust. I had dealings with practical people from the busine*
and political worlds, and often regretted that I had to step out
of the literary world into this hustle and bustle.
A few days were filled with attempts to found the newspaper.
Dessauer the bank director had told me for months that he, or
rather, his bank, would participate in the founding of the newspaper (which, of course, was conceived as a respectable venture,
independent of financial deals) with part of the share capital.
But when I came to see him with Colbert and Steiner of the
Wiener Mode publishing house he declared: "You mustnt
take me at my word like that.
It was a humiliating situation.
Then a different combination was started, in which a few
relatives and I are supposed to procure half of the necessary
money. But we shall have a hard time raising the other half.
Meanwhile, however, I informed Count Badeni through Newlinski and Kozraian that I intended to start a big newspaper to
represent my idea. The inner-political situation is such that this
is also in Badeni's interest. He sent me word through Kozmian
that he would receive me as soon as 1 wished to talk with him.
1 purposely didnt go while I still had not completed raising the
money for the paper. I still haven't completed it. And because
Dessauer broke his word, I am now disgraced before Newlinski,
Kozmian, and Badeni. As it is, Badeni had declared at the outset that he didnt think I would make it. He said I was a weak
man. Kozmian had asked me what I wanted in return for supporting the government. I answered him that I couldn't accept
a financial subvention of any kind, but wished to perform services for the Badeni Cabinet in return for the advancement of my
Zionist policies. Kozmian didnt quite seem to understand how
anyone could do something like that gratis.
When I had to inform Newlinski that my newspaj>er attempts
had as good as failed, he flew into a gTeat rage (I had held out
to him the prospect of a good position on the paper as a special
correspondent). He said he was disappointed in me. that I was
obviously not the man to carry the idea out. I was too much of
an idealist. I ought to ask money from Montagu, E. Rothschild,
etc., to create a great organ. In reply to this I said that I would

never bring myself to ask anyone for money that would look as
though it were given to me.
Thereupon he said it was best to drop the whole matter.
I then accompanied him to the Turkish embassy. He joked:
*'If we two were conspirators, and it were a question of stealing
dynamite, and you refused to steal, I would draw my gun and
shoot you down.
I truly believe that energy of this kind would be needed to
see things through. I don't have it. 1 shrink bat k from asking for
money for agitation, let alone raising it in an ungenteel manner.
When the Steyrermiihl combination was in progress, 1 was
bothered by the stock-exchange atmosphere about it, and it was
with relief that I had the shares sold again when the combination
turned out to be unworkable.
Incidentally, Newlinski now has an opportunity figuratively
to draw a gun, by passing on the information given him in confidence to Bacher and Benedikt.
Then 1 would suddenly be sitting on the floor, between two
chairs.
Today I met Benedikt on the street before I went to the office,
and he walked along with me through the city for an hour. I
asked him whether he had by now been brought closer to Zionism by all that had happened in Austria within a year I. urges
with the Emperor, Badeni's reconciliation with the anti-Semites,
etc.
He insisted that the X. Fr. Pr. had to keep to the GermanLiberal standpoint. I he Jewish-nationalist movement was a misfortune, etc. Moravia in particular was thereby being lost to
Liberalism. Despite this, his opposition seemed weaker to me
today than it was half a year ago.
This half a year has been rather meaningful for me. The
Viennese Jews seem to have become more pliable. There was
something peculiar about that. I was indifferent to the advances
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF I HEODOR HERZL 475
of anti-Semitism, I hardly noticed them. On the other hand,
vexation was forcing Benedikt and Company more over to my
side every day.
On how many points have I already proved to be right!
Oppenheim, who a year ago declared my pamphlet a bad joke,
said today that I could quite well write a few factual articles
about Zionism for the X. Fr. Pr.
That would be a solution.
In any case, difficult days are ahead for me again, like a year
ago, when I was supposed to leave the X. Fr. Pr. and had so
many palpitations during the negotiations that my heart has
been ailing ever since.
Again there are suspenseful instalments in the novel of my
life. Perhaps the movement will now propel me out of my secure
position with the X. Fr. Pr. and into adventures which 1 face
not without worry on account of my family.
Newlinski tells me a remark of Bachers. One evening they
ran into each other in the Prater. Bacher asked d brUlr pourpoint [point-blank]: What are you doing with Herzl?"
Newlinski replied: I am helping him with the Turkish government in matters of Jewish colonization."
Whereupon Bacher said: "Herzl is such a prig! *
October 6
Of all the people who have been drawn to me by the "movement. the Rev. Hechler is the finest and most fanciful. But I
believe he wants to convert me.
He frequently writes me postcards, for no particular reason,
telling me that he hasn't been able to sleep the previous night
because Jerusalem came into his mind.
9 Tnmb(0r'i Note: Bar her cillrd Hml a %fhmotk a word of Slovene origin
meaning M fnol - It waa populariard by the Carman writer Gustav FmLag who
*ucd It ai the name of an unprincipled Jewish newspaperman in hb coord? Th*
Jaurnalntm Schmock it used in colloquial German to designate a porn pout,
oohbnh. tell tat lifted, pretentious perton
476 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2 L
October 10
Again several days of ups and downs in the newspaper project I
A number of times everything seemed all set, then again: tom
est rompu, mon gendre [everythings gone to smash, my son-io13 WJ.
These reversals are uninteresting and deserve to be forgotten,
unless they are written down immediately.
But last night there was a substantial development at the of.
fice. Bacher called me to his room.
I .houghl he warned .o speat abou. my plan for a new, papa
and inwardly made ready for a batlle. Was .he break gome To
come this early? 6
Bacher asked: What arrangements have you made for the I
Neue Presse in Constantinople?"
' ^".Mounded. "Arrangement,? None whatever."
He. You were down there with Newlinski?"
I: "Yes. That is common knowledge.
He: He took you around to the Ministers?
I: "Yes indeed.
He: "Today we were informed for the Kcond time that yo.
** ecn lo Cmuttmmople in order to ask the Turkish gov
Fr o' "!' r . a , " bvcmion ol ,hrec thousand pounds for the ,V
aLan. ,t P 7 c mmonly saymg in Comtan.inople that yo.
bvrn"ve W confidentially notifad
Austrian 77 U / t . l ^ n an d Adler, the president of the J
.. r Fa d c a * Constantinople, wrote us the via* I
net', y wlrIh C ' tar C n,cicnce allo "cd me to take this powerful
news with the utmost calm. 1
you know me? l | <il | <l ,bi * ,or a tingle moment? Don't J
C ,hOUld ,hmk yOU d * * ~ for a gentle
Bacher immediately backed down.
poille d'halie, ' A * <nC fr m Ac * 1 ol Ublchr * pLay Vn rhifxtu k I
We believed nothing more than that Newlinski played a
dirty trick while your back and ours were turned. He must have
used your presence to take money from the Turks.
I declared categorically: I shall get to the bottom of this. In

Constantinople I always drew a clear line between my capacity
as an editor of the N. Fr. Pr. and my capacity as a representative
of the Jewish cause. It was no secret to the Turkish authorities
that I came there only for the sake of the Jewish cause. My first
audience with the Grand Virier was devoted exclusively to the
Jewish cause. Only the second one was an interview in which,
incidentally, I wasn't any more officious than, for example,
Schiitz was in Russia recently in his talks with the Russian statesmen."
Bacher pursued the matter clumsily: "Tell me everything!
With whom did you speak?
I began: "With the Grand Vizier . . . but quickly caught
myself and stopped: "I am not going to tell you this. You are an
opponent of my movement. Open the columns of the S f . Fr. Pr.
to me and I shall tell everything in public!
He shouted: "That I shall never permit. I cannot take your
point of view. There is no such thing as a Jewish problem, there
is only a human problem.
I: "I pledge myself to explain the matter to our readers without compromising your point of view. What objection will you
make to Jewish colonization?
He: "I dont want the Jews to emigrate at all. Incidentally,
the colonists perish. All the Russian Jews come back.
I: Yes, from Argentina, because Hirsch tackled the matter
badly.
He: And the Palestine ones are shnorrert [beggars], all of
them "
I: Not true! The Palestine colonies are thriving. Just as you
don t know this, your readers don't know it. Iêt me explain it
to them.
He wavered a bit, but didnt give in.
Then I went to Benedikt, who spoke with more sugar-coating.
478 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HfcRz L
even declared that neither he nor Bather nor D6czy had had am
suspicion against me. I had simply been incautious; I would ctr
tainly know what and whom (Newlinski) he meant. I he con*,
quence of this incident was that today the N. Ft. Ft. would puk
lish a furious editorial against I urkey. This was the only
that gossip could be knocked on the head.
I closed in on him, too, with the Jewish cause, saying that k
should let me write a scries of articles. He said that could notbt
done. They could not give up the Austrian point of view. I tok
him: "You are a good Jew, aren't you? Why shouldnt I be able
to get through to you? An awful lot depends on you. Go aloi|
with me and thousands will follow. Let me first explain even
thing that has happened in the past year. Then you will beliew
me.
He said: "We can certainly talk. You know that I enjoy havm|
a heart-to-heart talk with you."
In short, the conversation closed on a peaceful note.
Still, I dont trust this peace. I had the impression that the
are afraid of me and have got wind of my newspaper plans.
Perhaps that slanderous story is only a war ruse against at
so as to foster the suspicion, in the event that 1 leave, that I w
dismissed because of some dirty financial matter. Or do the
want to separate me from Newlinski, i.e., from Ko/mian as

Badeni? Or make it impossible for me to leave the S. Ft. ft I
The next days will bring the answer.
October n
Last night a serious altercation with Bacher.
At noon I had told him that I intended to challenge D6ay*
a duel because of his remark. Earlier still I had spoken with a 1
colleague Vincenti and asked him if he wanted to be my secoai
Vincenti pretended a trip, but let me tell him the story "in ct *|
fidence. Bacher explained to me that D6czy had only circulate
some confidential information as a friend (with a "breach of
ficial sccTecy). Ddczys statement had been friendly in charact
toward me as well. And if I challenged DAczy, I would have
challenge him Bacher as well. I said: "Certainly I would challenge you if you said something defamatory about me.
However, I dropped the whole thing after Bacher made this
friendly declaration.
Meanwhile, Vincenti had blabbed in the "foreign room. All
the "foreign boys were talking about the matter. In the evening
Bacher sent for me and took me to task furiously:
"Mister, what have you got in your head? You have committed
an act of disloyalty by spreading the story about. D6czy could
lose his job, etc.
It did not suit me to have a bad quarrel recorded as the cause
of my resignation from the N. Ft. Pt. Therefore I answered resolutely but calmly: "I most firmly reject the charge of disloyalty.
If Vincenti blabbed in spite of his promise of secrecy, that is not
my fault. Incidentally, I saw Newlinski this afternoon and didnt
mention Dticzy to him. I am convinced that Newlinski, too, had
absolutely no part in this subvention story. But you will understand that I could not simply let the matter pass. In your editorial
of today you demanded the partitioning of Turkey. This puts
you in the clear, but Im still in the woods.
Thereupon he calmed down and declared that I had not been
compromised at all. Vincenti came in. was embarrassed because
his blabbing had caused the fuss, but finally the big row did have
a peaceful ending. Bacher gave me his hand with his grumpy,
false good-nature, more than ever bourru malfaisant [a churlish
trouble-maker].
However, I have the impression that they will soon forcibly
squeeze me out of the paper. That would be a catastrophe, because the financial combinations for the founding of my paper
have miscarried.
October 1 1
From Zadoc Kahn I received the information that the Hindi
people of the Jewish Colonisation Association are going to meet
In Engluh in iht origins!.
on the 14th in Paris, but their power is said to be limited by an
act of Parliament to which the Hirsch Foundation is subject
I am answering him:
Reverend Sir:
At present it is not possible for me to come to Paris. Unfoitu-
nately I must also doubt that the gentlemen who are going to
convene there will want to hear what I have to say.
You will surely recall from my letters how our cause standi,
since I informed you of some of the main points. This information, coupled with your eloquent presentation, will be enough
to give the gentlemen a picture of the situation.
I shall compress the result of my endeavors up to now into a
few words: All strata of our people are receiving the idea of a
Jewish State with enthusiasm. In Turkey there is disposition to
permit colonization on a large scale if a lot is paid for it.
In the highest government circles of certain countries my plao
is receiving serious and benevolent consideration.
If the gentlemen assembled in Paris care to go into the matter
just as earnestly, I am at their disposal for further information.
In addition, I make the following positive proposal. Let the
gentlemen found or buy one large daily paper in London and
one in Paris. There are papers that yield a good profit and
on which the Fund would not lose anything. The politics of the
Jews should be conducted through these papers, for or again*
Turkey, depending on circumstances, etc. On the outside, t ht
papers need not be recognizable as Jewish sheets. As editor-inchief for London I recommend Lucien Wolf, for Paris, Bernard
Lazare.
I consider this one of the next essential tasks. If the gentle
men understand what is now going on in Turkey, they will realize the historical greatness of the moment.
Herzl.
October 13
Today I got a phone call at the office from the Turkish embassy, saying that they wanted to talk with me in the afternoon.
I immediately wrote to Mahmud Nedim Pasha, expressing my
regrets at being unable to call on him. But I would be home all
afternoon.
The ambassador replied he had only wanted to deliver a document to me and have a cigarette with me.
The document apparently is the certificate of decoration and
senes as a pretext to speak with me about the slander affair.
Probably the anti-Turkish editorial in the N. Fr. Pr. has
caused consternation in Constantinople, too.
Once again I become involved in high politics unexpectedly
and without my doing anything toward it.
According to a newspaper despatch from Constantinople of
today's date, the Foreign Minister, Tewfik Pasha, has said that
Turkey wishes to run a railroad through Palestine and construct
a passage to India.
That was my proposal.
October 13
I must frankly admit it to myself: I am demoralized.
From no side help, from all sides attacks. Nordau write* me
from Paris that nobody stirs there any longer. The M area beans
in London are more and more Pickwickian, if I may believe the
reports of my faithful de Haas. In Germany I have only opponents. The Russians look on sympathetically while I wear myself
out, but none of them lends a hand.
In Austria, particularly Vienna, I have a few adherents. Of

dx**. the disinterested one* are completely inactive; the others,
ffie active ones, want to advance their careen through an editor
of the N. Fr. Pr.
Added to this is the slander campaign, whose leader appean
to be the worthy Scheid.
All the Jews who arc well off
are my opponents.
482 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZJ,
So that I am beginning to have the right to be the biggest of
all anti-Semites.
I often think of Levysohns words: "Those whom you want to
help will start by nailing you rather painfully to the cross."
October 14
Today I went to see Mahmud Nedim Pasha, the Turkish Am.
bassador. He received me amiably with the decree of appoint
ment to the Mejidiye order and said he hojK*d to be able toon
to hand me the star for my chest as well.
I acted as though I felt greatly honored.
We then chatted. Mahmud Nedim again had his funny w*
of expressing himself: " 1 maginez-vous que vous n'ites pas us
homme politique et pas un Autrichien, el imaginez que je nt
suis pas ambassadeur. Lous tes un Chilien et moi du Perou tt
maintenant parlous de la Turquie [Let's pretend that you art
not a political man and not an Austrian, and that I am not an
ambassador. You are a Chilean and I am from Peru and no*
lets talk about Turkey]."
What he meant to say was: let us talk freely.
So I gave him my opinion freely. I said there was only oot
salvation for Turkey: an agreement with the Jews regarding
Palestine. In this way the finances could be straightened out
reforms carried out, and after a restoration of orderly condition
any foreign intervention could be permanently forbidden. All
financial arrangements that are being proposed are short-tens
expedients and only serve to fill the pockets of a few stock market
speculators.
Mahmud Nedim nodded uneasily to this and openly spoke
about the desperate condition of the state finances. The Turkish
people were utterly impoverished and no more taxes could be
levied. Where there arc no resources, the Sultan has lost bit
rights.* He, Mahmud Nedim himself, completely shared nit
point of view; he also thought that it would be possible to re
Translator'* Note: An amusing play on the German proverb Wo nithu ist. *
dev Kaiser das Rechi verloren.
habilitate Turkey with the aid of the Jews. But he said he had
no influence in Constantinople. He thinks the immigration of
Jews into Palestine could, in any case, take place only if these
Jews were willing to become Turkish subjects.
On the whole, he doesn't really seem to understand what I
mean. I contented myself with inflaming his imagination by
sketching with a few strokes a picture of Turkey's resurrection
with the aid of the Jews. Turkeys heirvapparent, who are rejoicing even now, would be done out of the expected partition.
La Turquie ichapperait a ses heritiers [Turkey would fool its
heirs] 1
Mahmud Nedim had also spoken with me quite openly. He
said. "For two weeks I have heard nothing from Constantinople.

That is a good sign. If no turn for the worse is reported of a
sick man. one may hope again."
He was quite resigned, the poor ambassador.
Mahmud Nedim also spoke in a funny way of our religions.
'The Moslems," he said, "are closer to the Jews than to the
Christians. Among us anyone who makes an insulting remark
about Moses or Abraham has his head cut off. Also, we are circumcized, like yourselves. You could pass for a Mohammedan, I,
for a Jew. Christ we don't recognize as the son of God, at least
not any more than anyone else. To us. all these are prophets."
October 16
Today there again is a murder and-hre-alarm article on "Conditions on the Bosporus" in the Neue Freie Presse.
October 1 9
Young de Haas in Ixindon seems to be doing an effective job,
to judge from his letters.
He has a hundred stalwarts ,* who call themselves Bnai Zion
and do plenty of agitating. He wants to win over the llovevei
Zion (3000 members), and march on from there. The English
In tiigltsh in the origiiul.
provinces and America, he writes, are attaching themselves to
his movement.
I am writing him that I am now trying to obtain an audience
with the Emperor of Russia. Also, that I have spoken with
Mahmud Nedim about the Turkish finances and their rehabilitation through Jewish money. I am asking de Haas whether be
thinks that Montagu and Goldsmid would accept an invitatioo
from the Sultan to make proposals in Constantinople.
Yesterday I sent Hechler the Russian translation of my pai&

phlet, which is finished at last, for the Czar. At the same time I
sketched for him in a few lines what he should write to Duke
Gunther and Prince Heinrich of Prussia about the financial rehabilitation of Turkey and the preservation of the status quo
with the aid of the Jewish migration.
An item from the Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung of October 18,

1896:
A Hundred and Fifty Millions
For Zionist Purposes
In the Dziennik Polski we found the following item: One of
the most outstanding Zionist leaders in Lvov has received a letter from the well-known author of the pamphlet The Jewish
State, Dr. Theodor Herzl, with the information that an English
millionaire has the intention of sacrificing 150 million guilders
for the restoration of the Palestinian state. However, the millionaire first wants to have proof that the Polish Jews are realh
prepared to emigrate. Dr. Herzl is now asking the Lvov Zionists
to convene popular assemblies all over the country and collect
as great a number of signatures as possible to serve him as proof
and at the same time as a mandate for further negotiations with
the above-mentioned millionaire. Dr. Herzls letter has given
rise to tense scenes at a session of the Zionist Executive Committee. Some of the members expressed doubts regarding Dr. HerzIs
love of truth and demanded that he should first send them the
original letter from that English Croesus and also prove that he
really had an audience with the Sultan and received assurances
that the latter would give the matteT of the founding of a Jewish
State in Palestine his favorable attention. It was allegedly for
these reasons that Dr. Herzl was not granted the desired mandate.
The suspicion remains not unjustified that the Zionists were
limply aware of the fact that they would not succeed in raising
the requisite number of signatures.
October is
Letter to Mahmud Nedim Bey:*
Your Excellency:
Permit me to express to you my gratitude for the decoration
which His Majesty has done me the honor of conferring upon me.
Respectfully yours.
Dr. Theodor Herzl.
Enclosed letter to the Sultan:*
Sire:
His Excellency Mahmud Nedim Bey has been kind enough to
deliver to me the patent of decoration which Your Majesty has
done me the honor of conferring upon me.
In expressing my profound appreciation for that token of favor, I beg Your Majesty to continue to bestow your eminent
benevolence upon the Jews. On the day when it will please Your
Majesty to accept the services of the Jews, they will joyfully
place their forces at the disposal of such a magnanimous monarch.
I am with the deepest respect. Sire. Your Majestys most humble and obedient servant
Dr. Theodor Herzl.
* In French In the original
486 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZi
(The flowery complimentary close at the end,* which may bt
a bit extreme, I copied from the Usages du Monde (World
Usage], Section on "lettres a des personnages [letters to impor
tant people]," by Baroness de Staffe.)
In the French original: Jt suis avtc le plus prolond respect,
Sire,
De Voire MajesM
Le tris humble el obtissant senntcur "
W i* i+Jtk i
** rr * Ikum uuxit, ri>- rrfc.

<**++* ;
Facsimile of part of a letter by Herd to Professor Richard Gottheil, Sn

York, dated March / 5, 790^. /n it Herd thanks Gottheil for his inwtationts
come to America and states that Zionum ts only his "secondary occupation
and that he cannot give up his job on the Neue Freie Preue, because th
secondary occupation must not yield him any income .
SAub- Wr ojuU~*^
SUJ+ttvm mmJ AJmUrsIt * **
. Wfe.
/X, Tu'k.mtfrux, f.
"W.
^.
ev^-u. -Vu.
*-*
Facsimile of a letter written by Herd to Professor Richard Gottheil dated

August so, /90J. /n it Herd invites Gottheil to Alt Aussee . TAr letter is con*
tmued on page 488.
October 22
Yesterday afternoon Kozmian paid me a long visit and on
orders from Badeni. Badeni very much wants me to sun a big
newspaper and regards this as a considerable service for which
he wants to be very grateful to me.
I wanted to ulk diplomatically, but Kozmian asked with a
certain rudeness:
What do you want for it? Come right out with it. What do
you want for yourself, and what for the Jews?
He spoke in French, but I changed over to Ciennan, pour faire
sentir davantage Us nuances [to bring out the shades of meaning
better].
He said:* The government undersunds that you will be rendering it an invaluable service. You need a politico-social position which is to be created. What are your demands? Seeing that
it isn't money? Would you like an office, a title, some distinction?"
I said: It can't be a question of an office if I have to sun a
paper. Newlinski suggested a decoration for me, the Iron Crown,
for example."
"What class?" he asked.
I said, Third!/ but should have said "Second." "But that
isn't the main thing. It is a question of giving something to the
Jews. For example, a word from the Emperor. Having conferred
this distinction upon me, he would receive me and give me good
news for the Jews, with authorization to make it public. What?

We would agree on that then and there.
"That's hard!" said Kozmian. One cant make the Emperor
enter the discussion just like that. The Emperor hasn't anything against the Jews; he just doesn't like the stock-market gamblen. Badeni is likewise rather a philo-Semite. There certainly
won t be any more persecutions of the Jews.
. 'J 1 ** following con venation tirtwvrn llenl and XounUn it repotted in French
original
489
490 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzl
I interrupted him: Im not afraid of persecution*, that do
longer exists.
He: Of course, I cant tell you anything definite as far as the
Emperor personally is concerned. Ill talk to Badeni. Ill tell him
what youve told me. He has a very practical mind. 1 le wants the
paper before the elections. He will hold the elections in Febnr
ary or March if he gets the budget passed now'. And if they refuse, he will hold them right away. Therefore he needs immcdi
ately a great independent paper which wont be hostile to him
but will treat him objectively.
I finally said that I would consult with my friends on what
ought to demand.
He said that it was difficult to gTant me anything in adsantt
I could have the promise of the Iron Crown, and Count Radon
would surely keep this promise even if he had to resign.
I invited Kozmian to dinner for next Monday. By then I shall
have spoken with several friends.
Especially with Dr. Griinfeld, the President of the Israelitudv
Union, who recently asked me to give a lecture. This time I accepted, and so I shall make my first speech in Vienna. Who
Griinfeld visited me, I took the opportunity of telling him some
thing about the pending negotiations with Badeni and how w
now had the chance to found a Jewish party with the aid of the
government.
But wed have to have a paper, a paper, and for that one
needs money, money. I have family funds in the amount of 400,000 guilders at my disposal. But a full million is needed.
Last night I attended a gala party of the Kadiinah. A series of

ovations. My name was mentioned ahead of the other guests of
honor; I sat to the right of the chairman and was elected a
honorary brother. All the speakers referred to me. On nr perk
que de moi Id dedans [ I hey talk about nothing but me in there
I am only afraid that the intoxication of popularity will be
followed by a hangover.
For the moment it is still very nice.
October 22
Today's N. Fr. Fr. contains a very poisonous editorial against
Yildiz Kiosk, Izzet Bey, and Lufti Aga. The article will do a lot
of harm to me in Constantinople and indirectly perhaps to Jewish colonist* in Palestine as well.
The situation has really become untenable. La situation nest
pas jranche [The situation is confused]. If only 1 had the money
for the paper, we would be on top at one bound.
October 24
Yesterday Sidney Whitman, a friend of Prince Bismarck, Lenbach the painter, the Sultan, and Gordon Bennet, as well as the
London representative of the New York Herald, came to see me.
An original person. Appearance: a slouchy Englishman, lanky,
stooped, and. I think, a bit of a sot. A head with character a
grandly conceived nose which suddenly stops before it has arrived at its planned end. A curious beard, full under the chin,
square, greying. He speaks an excellent German, in the bigmouthed tone of a fault-finder. With a correspondents braggadocio he tells about his adventures in Constantinople where he
was at the time of the Armenian massacres. When he wrote, he
always had a cocked gun lying on his table, for fear of an^ Armenian attack, since he was fighting the Sultan s battles. The
Sultan gave him decorations and handshakes. It was Sidney Whitman who sent the word speeding to Europ>e that the I urks would
murder all the Christians they could get hold of if the Powers
intervened.
This "news" was evidently responsible for the preservation of
the peace.

Whitman is now going to Friedrichsruh to see Bismarck, and
he will endeavor to interest him in my plan.
Later Dr. Griinfeld brought Dr. Gustav Kohn, an attorney

and District School Inspector, to see me. Dr. Kohn wants to act
up the syndicate of financial guarantors for the newspaper which
is to be founded. The first man he had mentioned was Baron
Albert Rothschild, whom I rejected outright. The plan is this:
the Jews found a paper which supports Count Badeni independently, and in return for this Badeni adopts an attitude more
friendly to the Jews.
October t 6
Today Kozmian was here for dinner. I was not able to give
him a definite commitment for Badeni as yet. The latter wano
the paper very urgently, because of the N. Fr. Pr. which is trooblesome to him and whose virtual monopoly in Vienna he would
like to break, and on account of the Reichsrat elections.
November 4
Part of my mood at this time is a feeling of enervation which
increases from day to day. Dr. Gustav Kohn is supposed to organize the newspaper consortium. Those who decline will perhaps not keep silent about it, and so far no one has promised hu
adherence. Thus I am at the mercy of the dubious discretion of
unknowns, and every day, when I enter the "Chiefs Room, 1
am prepared for a declaration of war.
Kozmian-Newlinski, too, could let something slip. Already tb*
rumor has circulated around the office that I have bought tbt
Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung.
November S
Yesterday I made my first public speech in Vienna, in th
Israelitischc Union.
Kuhners hall was frighteningly full. Because of the oppressive heat and my deficient preparation for the speech, I not
in good form, and I did have the feeling of gaps in my thinking
to the end. Despite this, the success was tempestuous.
Professor Singer, whom I had annoyed by a reference to the

social politicians who have now emerged I referred to the
Marranos of Spain as religious politicians immediately announced a speech in rebuttal, whereupon I requested that a
discussion of the latter be scheduled.
The president of the Union, Dr. Griinfeld, thanked me in his
speech for explaining what had hitherto been considered a
Utopia.
I spoke particularly in opposition to the projected RussoFrench adjustment of Turkey's finances, because this would cut
off the road to Palestine for us. I am sending this part of my
speech to de Haas in London today. The main sentence goes as
follows:
'The Jewish big bankers who would participate in this, without consideration for the sufferings of the penniless Jews and
without using this opportunity to contribute to the solution of
the Jewish Question, would incur a grave responsibility."
At the same time I am calling on Haas to agitate against it
in England and America. He should, together with Rev. G aster,
Rabbinowicz, Ish Kishor, call a mass protest meeting in the East
End.
At the same time 1 am suggesting the raising of a National
Fund which is to make us independent of the big bankers.
November 8
Letter to Adolf Stand in Lvov who has announced himself to
me as head of the Executive Committee. (In the introduction I express the desire for unification of all Austrian Zionist
associations in the Zionist Federation of Vienna. Then, literally:)
Zionism is now threatened by an enormous danger. Y<*
know that a Russo-French adjustment of the Turkish finanta
is being planned. If this comes about, the Sultan will be mtdiatized, incapable of action, and all hope of obtaining Palesunt
for ourselves will be buried.
Therefore the Jewish big bankers must not help to bring tha
about!
Yesterday I spoke against it in the local Union. My speeds
will appear in Bloch's IVochenschrift. I gave instructions to on
Committee in England to initiate a big agitation against this
loan.
All that you in Galicia can do is to inform the masses of wha
is going on.
However, I beg you to proceed sensibly and cautiously, as
that no more such perfidious and ridiculous stories may arise a
the one in the Dziennik Polski.
You are now getting your first opportunity to demonstntt
your effectiveness as the head of a country's Executive Commit
tee.
"Seek contact with the most influential Orthodox rabbis.
"In my yesterdays speech, whose dissemination is desirable, 1
also made a suggestion that is important for the future:
' In all places where Jews reside, a National Fund should br
started through collections, donations, etc. The Fund will every
where remain under the management of those who raised it ,
conditionally subscribed to it. Only statements of account art
to be given to the central office. This way the latter will kno
what assets can be counted on the moment our plan is camel
out. And we shall no longer be dependent on the good grace* d

the big bankers.
Think over well and carefully whatever you do in carryiH
out this assignment.
With Zion's greeting,
Yours,
Th. Herzl/
the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 495
November 10
A man from Jerusalem named Back came to see me. He is
traveling around in Europe in order to found an agrarian bank
for Palestine a vest-pocket Jewish Company evidently his vest^He claims to be under the patronage of the Galician WonderRabbi Friedmann.
Dr. Gustav Kohn informs me that his fund raising efforts have
failed.
So nothing comes of the great paper; the hopes which were attached to it are extinguished.
From this solid centre I could have achieved tremendous
things. All this has now come to naught.
Levin -Epstein, the administrator of the Rehovoth colony in

Palestine, came to see me.
He told me about Scheid, that he was trying to keep the colonies in economic dependence, and at all costs.
In Rishon le-Zion. he said, theTe is an official's family for almost every colonists family. Therefore, prosperity is out of the
question.
In L. Epstein's view, Scheid probably spread those false rumors in order to offer the Baron an excuse for the failure of the
baAjAeej/i'bought settlement in the Hauran.
The Armenian Devleth is said to have acted as baksheeshgiver in Constantinople.
November 1 4
Today I walked Benedikt home from the office and worked on
him again. If he would take up the matter, I said, it would be
accomplished.
On the way we ran into old coal-Gutmann who said, pounding
* In Englith In th* original
496 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERy,
his paunch pretentiously, that today he had been offered tht
Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung for purchase. He said that he had
already invested a lot of money in newspapers, to be sure, but
might buy it anyway, because 70 people could lose their livelihood. So he is even performing an act of mercy by buying this
paper in which his dirty interests are then to be defended. A
compounded disgrace.
After we had got rid of this bore, we continued our talk. I
expounded to Benedikt my plan for a graduated loan."
He said: Things are beginning to clear up. You no longer go

as far as you used to. Colonization on a large scale without
Zionism is something that can be discussed. Well come back to
it later."
In the afternoon, Wolffsohn from Cologne called on me, 1
stalwart, likeable man who had already made a good impressioo
on me when he had come to sec me the first time some months
ago.
1 told him everything. He marveled at my accomplishments in
Constantinople, London, here, and particularly in Karlsruhe,
because from Cologne he looks up to the Grand Duke of Baden
as though to a peak.
I told him about Scheids intrigues, some of which he knew
a Through Dr. Holtzmann he wants to produce material
on Scheid s mismanagement.
I told him about the attitudes of Edmond Rothschild and
iadoc Kahn. The latter, after all, informed me in his last letter
a * * * Hirsch people took a more than cool attitude toward
my undertaking and that it would be best if I dropped the matter hencefonh.
U thc Wolffsohn was downright horrified when I demi* sou ,m ^ ro * ten< ^ ow n negotiations with BadeniKotmiiir a . t .J niScr ^ * n l ^ e f act I cannot raise the lousy
Dr g " dm rc ^ uircd to ûnd the gTeat paper and thus to
C * e su PP rt f Badeni, the entire Austrian government.
One single million guilders! Because of the fact that it is not
available for the purpose now, the historical moment in which
the solution of the Jewish Question is possible may be mivsed.
Badeni needs me now. Even if he still remains m office after
the Reichsrat elections, he will then no longer need me
and consequently not push me in Russia as well as in I ur * tc y*
El la chance est bien manquZe [And the opportunity will really
be lost].
Utter to Grande Duke Vladimir who is staying in Berlin at
present:
Your Imperial Highness:*
His Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria told me in
July at Carlsbad. "The only man in Russia who could help you
is Grand Duke Vladimir!"
What is it all about?
It is about the solution of a question as old as Christianity, a
great and beautiful cause, designed to delight the noblest hearts.
It is the return of the Jews to Palestine!
I have developed the plan in a pamphlet which has been translated into ten languages. I have the honor of presenting to Your
Imperial Highness a copy of the Russian edition. Since this publication I have taken some steps at Constantinople, where
I have seen the Grand Vizier, and elsewhere.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden has done me
the honor of receiving me at Karlsruhe and has been kind enough
to take an interest in the cause.
I respectfully put myself at the disposal of Your Imperial Highness to explain the idea in its entirety, without the restrictions
necessary in a book. It it easy to get information about me I am
an editor of the \eue Freie Preise of Vienna and to find out if
I am embarrassing, if there it any reason to fear the slightest indiscretion on my part.

His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden can tell you.
In French in the origin*] .

If Your Imperial Highness is kind enough to accord me the fa.
vor of receiving me, I shall come to Berlin, to St. Petersburg, it
does not matter where.
The solution of the Jewish Question is a superb project.
The Jews can come to the aid of the broken-down finances o(
Turkey. This would facilitate the reforms that are indispensable
for the relief of the unfortunate Christians in the Ottoman Empire. For countries where people would like to see the Jews move
out, it would be a relief no less beneficial.
The masses of penniless Jews accept the idea with enthusiasm;
I have many proofs of this.
Nearly the whole world would be satisfied; so it is the solution!
I am with the deepest respect
Your Imperial Highness humble and obedient servant,
Dr. Theodor HenI
November 15, 1896
(Complimentary close, compare p. 486.)*
To His Imperial Highness,
Grand Duke Vladimir,
Berlin.
November 17
In the Jewish World an extract from my Union speech appean
under the heading The Jewish State. Dr. Herzl Throws Light
on His Scheme.
I am sending this clipping to the Grand Duke of Baden, together with the following letter:
Although I have not had the distinction of receiving a reply
to my respectful letter which I sent you a few months ago, I p^ mit myself to revert to the Jewish Question once more.
The enclosed clipping from a London newspaper will g* vf
Your Royal Highness in brief the present state of the matter.
There is truly something miraculous about the development
translator* Notr See miry of October it
of the movement for the return of the Jews. Received with enthusiasm by the penniless and young Jews, this idea has already
spread around the world, as is evidenced by countless manifestations of support. And at the same time the idea can also serve
to resolve the present Turkish difficulties.
It is to the greatest interest of those Powers who desire the
maintenance of the status quo and at the same time the < leaning
up of conditions in Turkey that the projected RussoTrench
financial adjustment not come about. For in actuality that would
be a Russian annexation of Turkey, similar to the protectorate

which Russia managed to secure over China through financial
intervention after the Japanese war.
This supposed adjustment would amount to a fresh stockexchange speculation from which France (in evacuated Egypt)
and Russia would gain all the political advantages and a few
stock-market jobbers the financial ones, while in Turkey everything would remain the way it has been.
In contrast, the national Jewish arrangement means quite
apart from the worldwide and promised fulfillment that it embodies a genuine restoration of Turkey. The return of the
Jews is the protection of the Christians in the Orient.
Royal Highness! I have only poor words at my dispersal to
influence the will of the mighty of this earth. Perhaps today
I have hit upon the tone that convinces. If the German Kaisers
good, wise counsellor recommends to him that he listen to me.
His Majesty will summon me to Berlin for a secret conference.
Infinitely much would Ire gained by this.
When I was in Karlsruhe. Your Royal Highness graciously
permitted me to report from time to time about my work on
the Jewish cause. For fear of being burdensome in the future,
with todays letter I shall terminate the use which I have been
making of this permission if I do not receive any sign of encouragement.
In deepest respect for Your Royal Highness I remain
Gratefully yours.
Dr. Theodor Hervl.
December i
Dr. Rothfeld of Pest tells me about a rumor which circulated
there. People said that for the publication of The Jewish State
I had received a large honorarium from an English land company
that wants to do some business in Palestine.
This is how incredible it appears to our Jews that someone
could do something out of conviction.
December i
Letter to Hechler for Lord Salisbury:
Dear Friend:
Your view that I ought to expound the Jewish plan to Lord
Salisbury seems to me to be right. However, I don't want to
approach him directly. If you think it proper, you will bring the
contents of this letter to his attention.
For you, my dear friend, the Jewish cause is a theological matter. But it is also a political one, and a very timely one. You
know that religious feelings, and, most recently, anti-Semitism
which is emerging everywhere, have aroused a strong yearning
for Palestine among the broad masses of the Jews of all countries.
As you know, hundreds of thousands are ready for immediate
migration and it may be surmised that hundreds of thousands
more would follow them later.
This is a factor a new one, to be sure which English policy
in the Orient could and should reckon with. Ixird Salisbury
could execute a masterly stroke with it. With the present situation of the world, one dominated by the Russo-French entente,
a partition of Turkey would put England at a serious disadvanlage. For England such a partition would be a loss now; therefore she must desire the status quo. It can be preserved only if
Turkey s finances are straightened out. This is why Russia has
just frustrated the proposed financial arrangement. Russia wants
the decay and sel dissolution of Turkey.
Now, there is a method of straightening out the Turkish

finances and thus preserving the status quo for a while longer,
and at the same time of creating a new route to India, the shortTHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 501
est one for England. And all this without Englands having to
lay out a penny or committing herself visibly anywhere.
This method is the creation of an autonomous Jewish vassal
state in Palestine, similar to Egypt, under the suzerainty of the
Sultan. As you know, I laid the groundwork for this last summer
when I was in Constantinople. The matter is possible if we have
the backing and I repeat expressly, the invisible backing of
a Great Power. Since the Sultan is still the undisputed sovereign,
no power can prevent him from inviting the Jews to immigrate
into Palestine. In return for this we would obtain for him a big
loan on the tribute which is to be paid by the Jews and will have
been secured in advance.
England's advantage would be that a railroad would immediately be built across Palestine from the Mediterranean to the
Persian Gulf, or connecting with the railroad, soon made necessary by communication needs, through Persia and Baluchistan
(possibly Afghanistan) to India.
England would have these benefits sans bourse dtlier [without
expense] and without the world's learning of her participation.
While, in the North, Russia is preparing a railway line to .Asia,
in the South, England would have a neutral reserve route to
India, in case difficulties arose at the Suez Canal.
Should Lord Salisbury wish to examine this idea more closely,
I am at the disposal of his ambassador or of himself in london
if he tends for me.
If he considers the matter too fantastic, I can only regret it.
But the movement really exists, and a skillful, great statesman
will know how to utilize it.
Yours faithfully,
Theodor Here).
December 1 1
On my way to the office today at noon I ran into Newlinski.
Since the failure of the project to found a paper he now always
has a good-natured, roguish grin on his face when he sees me
This means: Youve put one over on me! 1 fell for it, but I
don't hold it against you, because you were so clever about it,
Je lui remets toujours du coeur au ventre [I always put hean
into him]. I tell him: "Its a bad period in our work. Just be
patient. We shall weather it. One recognizes ones friends by
the fact that they dont begin to waver in difficult times.
He always winds up by assuring me that he is holding fast
and then he adds ironically: I am your sole adherent.
He told me that Izzet Bey has fallen fToiu the Sultan s grace.
He has not been received in ten days. Tahsim Bey now seemi
to be on top. Newlinski wrote to the latter that he should repeat
the Jewish proposal to the Sultan. '1 here is talk of Rhagib Bej
as Izzets probable successor.
The Danish literary light Georg Brandes acknowledges re

ceipt of The Jewish State in an evasively polite letter. He tells
me the old anecdote about the banker who would like to become
the Jewish ambassador at Berlin.
I am sending him an ironical reply: I had expected a difierent

reaction from him to the beautiful idea of a Jewish renaissance
I did not believe the idea would be realized the way 1 had outlined it in my pamphlet. But I did believe that a Jewish State
will come into being, with a partial continuation of the Diaspora,
because all peoples now live in such a diaspora.
December is
Hechler came to see me and brought me a newspaper clipping
to the effect that the German Kaiser will go to Palestine new
autumn.
We agreed that I shall write him, Hechler, a letter intended
to be submitted to the Kaiser. The moment, to be sure, is not
propitious. The scandal trial which followed in the wake of the
falsification of the Breslau Czar toast has probably put the Kai*t
in a bad mood and made him suspicious of journalists.
December 15
1 read in the morning paper that the former Prussian Minister
of War Verdy du Vemois has arrived here.
I am writing him as follows:
Your Excellency: . . v
In August I learned from a gentleman who had met ôur
Excellency in Therapia that you are interested in my outline
for Jewish migration to Palestine.
I have just read in the paper about your presence in \ lenna.
If the first-mentioned information was correct, I request the
honor of being received by Your Excellency. From my pamphlet
The Jewish State the present status of this great cause cannot
be apprehended. A great deal has happened in the meantime, and
a lot has malgri moi (despite myself] been neglected, too.
This movement, which people underestimate, circles the globe
today. The blessing it contains, and not only for the Jews, is as
yet not being appreciated.
If I were granted the opportunity of having a thorough talk
with your Excellency on the subject, I could give you certain
information which is not suitable for publication: and, above
all, I am hoping for advice from such an expert on the Orient
as yourself.
I do not have to tell you that no journalistic indiscretion needs
to be feared from me in a matter so sacred to me. I am at your
disposal whenever and wherever you please. I can be reached
through the telephone number it 187 at my private residence,
Vienna IX. Berggasse 6 . Your hotel clerk can call me up there.
In any case, I shall be at home this afternoon until four o'clock.
Once again I make the proviso of the first report mentioned above; if it was incorrect, kindly excuse me and regard
this letter as non avenu [not arrived).
With the expression of my high esteem,
I am. Your Excellency,
Respectfully yours.
Dr. Theodor Herzl.
The messenger brought this letter back from the Hotel Bristol
the general had already departed. Non avenu, then. Into the
waste-basket.
December 14
Hechler has received a mild reprimand from Lord Salisbury
for sending him my letter: Lord S. cannot grant Dr. Herd to
interview him." *
The only interesting thing about this refusal is the English
business-like way in which the "return of the Jews" is mentioned.
December to
1 feel myself getting tired. More frequently than ever I now
believe that my movement is at an end. I am fully convinced
of its feasibility, but cannot overcome the initial difficulties.
Only one million guilders would be needed to put the move
ment squarely on its feet. This bagatelle (considering the greatness of the cause) is wanting and that is why we shall have to
sleep although it is daylight.
Decern tier 1 1
Ran into Giidemann, who has been evading me for months,
on Herrengasse. He passed so close to me that we had to stop.
He acted piqued because I no longer called on him; after all.
he said, he had followed my call to Munich, had introduced me
to Adler in London, etc.
I told him gruffly and point-blank: "Youve turned tepid
and vapid so Ive simply given you the cold shoulder.
He would like to have a "heart-to-heart talk with me again.
I shall confront him with a dilemma: for or against!
In English in the original.
January 6, 1897
So we have moved on into the year 1897 one of tire critical
years of my friend Hechler.
I have become lax in keeping this diary. Many a day brings
something worth recording, but the general torpor of the
movement is gradually getting into my bones too. Besides.
I write numerous letters, for I reply to everyone; and answering
these letters blunts my slight desire to write.
I receive visitors from all over the world. The road from
Palestine to Paris is beginning to pass through my room. Among
the more interesting people who passed through in the last few
weeks were: Schoub from Palestine, a tall, full-bearded man
with the eyes of a visionary; Dr. Hol/mann from Berlin, who
brought along some of Berlin Jewry's pettiness in his dress;
Landau from Przemysl, an intelligent semi-Hassid with peyes
[ear-locks] brushed behind his ears; and Dr. Sail from Tarnow,
who resembles Newlinski with his pale reddish moustache which
droops in Polish fashion, his bright eyes, and his big bald pate.
To each of these four I gave assignments. Schoub is to speak
with the Sultans Jewish personal physician, whose name is
Eliahu Pasha, if I still remember correctly.
Dr. Holzmann is to write to the B'nai Moshe in Jaffa, with
whom he is affiliated, and tell them how matters stand and that
without means for agitation in the press our cause will bog down
completely.
Landau bom Przemysl offered to negotiate with the WonderRabbi Friedmann of Czortkow. I gave him a letter in which I
invite Friedmann to send me his son.
To Dr. Salz I outlined the present state of our affairs, which
could beroroe great the moment we had a million for purposes

of publicity.
And this is how things really are. With that million a gTeat
newspaper could be created. With such a gTeat paper governments negotiate as one Power with another.
I fear the best moment has passed. That came in the months
that have gone by since my stay in Constantinople, when Izzct
Bey was still the Sultans favorite and I was still able to negotiate
with the pashas on the basis of my initial prestige.
The financial arrangement through French bankers hangs over
Zionism like a threatening cloud. Our only chance lies in the
repugnance of the Porte to the interference of foreign ftnancien
who are backed by the Great Powers, and in the policy of Russia
which would like to see Turkey rot alive like a leper.
Meanwhile, unless I am mistaken, Zionism is gradually managing to gain the respect of the general public in all sons of countries. Little by little people are beginning to take us more seriously.
The well-to-do Jews, it is true, behave miserably now as be
fore. And as my loyal de Haas writes from London, "everybody
is waiting to see how the cat will jump." *
I frequently talk about the cause with Benedikt. Before Christmas, when he asked me if I didn't know a good subject for a
holiday anicle for him, I said: "Oh yes, write about the solution
of the Jewish Question through the colonization of Palestine,
which would also be a settlement of the Oriental problem
through a restoration of Turkish finances.'*
He remarked: "1 hat would be a fine article, to be sure, and
a success, too. But today I can no longer write such an anicle.
because your pamphlet is available in which you speak about
the Jewish nation.
I replied: All right, so you dont write the article this year
perhaps you will write it at Christmas time next year. We can
wait.
I *as with Gudemann the evening before last. Again the old
rigmarole. He still acted as though he were offended. But when
I filled him with enthusiasm again in the course of my reasoning he said: 1 am all yours!"
All right, I said, "then preach about it in the synagogue!
I beg your pardon," he cried quite horrified, "that can
In F.nglUh in the original.
be done. Ive kept my cars open; people dont want to have anything to do with it. .
"Are you the shepherd of your flock?" I asked him. I permit
you to be as discreet as you please. For all I care, you can speak
out against Zionism, but dont keep silent about it. One can bring
something to people's attention by combating it clumsily, and
in many other ways. This is the art of oratory.
But the unctuous creature, whom I know quite well by now,
merely wrung his hands and wailed that it was impossible.
So 1 said to him. "Stay well! and left him, probably for the
last time.
A new figure has emerged in my combinations: the painter

Koppay, whom 1 have known for twenty years. He has done
several portraits of the Empress of Russia as well as of other
crowned heads. 1 should like to make him an agent of my idea
and pay him with publicity. It will be the first time that I have
made propaganda for someone; the cause is worth it. I am
going to Kop|>ay today.
January 7
The Koppay idea is taking a funny development. I went to
ire him yesterday. An up to-date 9 artist's studio, a bit fixed up
for glitter. The master has faded physically, that is since I
first knew him. But he is a capable artist and, I think, a decent
fellow, too.
He did not paint the Empress of Russia recently, but when
she was the Princess of Hesse. It is a quite ordinary art dealers!
trick that presents him as the painter of the Empress's portrait.
The pictures of the Empress are elaborations of sketches which
he once made at Darmstadt.
Nevertheless, I want to use Koppay, and all the more now.
The Princess had smiled when he had mentioned the rumor
1 loglkh in the original.
508 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.RZI
to her that she was going to become Empress of Russia. He had
said jokingly: If Your Highness becomes Empress, you mu
make me court painter!" And she had smilingly agreed.
Now I want to beat the big drum for him to become coun
painter; and when he is. he will have to serve the Jewish a*
at the Russian court.
I must manufacture my own instruments with which I shall
then do the work.
Will he not forget his moral obligation after I have made hiaf
I shall risk ingratitude anyway.
January to
Newlinski joined me for breakfast today.
He informed me that the Sublime Pone was angry" at tat
because I was not coming through with the press support whid
I had promised in Constantinople that time. In fact, it u.noe
believed that the attacks of the European press on the Tint*
government were emanating from me. out of revenge for their tw
wanting to sell Palestine to us.
This erroneous assumption of the Turks would not displt*
me, because it would be proof that I am regarded as a poe
there. I believe, however, that Newlinski, who gave me this a
formation with diplomatically lowered eyes, would only lib
to extort small journalistic favors which he will then probabfl
have booked to his own credit.
I told him that the promise of press support was. of count
only a conditional one. If Turkey entered into negotiations
us, we would defend her in the newspapers. Dormant, donam
[Give and take]. We dont want to be the dupes of the I urbi
policy of promises without real performance.
Newlinski said: "If Turkey is attacked in the papers, it
probably turn anti-Semitic."
I am not afraid of that. If the Porte becomes anti-Semiikwill provoke all stock-exchanges against itself and will ne*
again get any money. Then all the big bankers will li** *
behind me, too.

January 18
Litat juif [The Jewish State] has appeared in Madame Ratlaais Souvelle Revue Internationale of January , 1897.
After it had been impossible to place the tract at all in France
for a year, it now seems to be making a great stir.
Today three Paris friends sent me the Libre Far ole of January
16 in which Drumont gets off a highly flattering editorial about
me and promises more.
It was a good idea that I prevailed upon old Madame Rattazzi, to publish the pamphlet when she was here and got me
to see her about some advertising.
Now Alphonse Rothschild, too, the most faithful reader of
the Libre Parole, will take cognizance of the matter. After all,
the haute finance [high finance] reads nothing but this whiplash
paper
January s6
This morning the N. Fr. /V. received the new* that the financial arrangement with Turkey undeT the guarantee of all
Powers" has been completed.
At hrst I didn't believe it and telephoned to Newlinski who
only affirmed: "C'est mauvais pour nous [Its bad for us]."
Then F. Sthtitz came to see me. He also doubts the story,
because he has news from Russia according to which the Russian
government declined to respect the wishes of the French hnanden (who desire this arrangement). In fact. Schiitz added that
the new Minister Muraviev was going to Paris on an inaugural
visit only in order to strengthen the Mdline administration.
And after such a visit the stock -exchange could not dare to make
anti-Russian demonstrations.
Meanwhile, in the evening funher despatches arrived from all
over saying that the arrangement had been completed. To begin
nth, the Turks are to be given four million pounds. In any case,
*bey are "above water." Still, there is something good in this bad
turn of affairs. The arrangement meant a funher increase in the
power of that dette publique [public debt], which, as it U, ^
already a thorn in the Sultan's flesh as well as that of all pasha
This will make the dette publique even more hated, and the
money that the Turks are getting has long been earmarked am
way. Therefore it wont last too long, and the dtche [beggary
will be there again.
Mr. Char-riant, the secretary of Madame Rattazzi, who arriwi
here from Constantinople today and wanted to see me, called
me. 1 have a cold and therefore cannot go to sec Mine. Raiuai.
Charriant told me Izzet Bey still was in the Sultans favor, ash
learned six days ago from the French ambassador Cambon.
Later Sidney Whitman and Newlinski came to see me. Sidnn
wants to push my Jewish State, which he read only recently
through the New York Herald. (Jallais le lui demander f I va
going to ask him to].)
Newlinski spoke about the financial arrangement with biufl
verve.
The pashas, he said, will take it as a real insult. For the mono
will go to its real destination. They will consider it an outraged*
loan which has not been made for Djavid Bey and Izzet Bey, at
Danusso and Take Margueritte will fall from gTacel It is
heard-of.
So he joked with magnificent cynicism.
He also said that before Ramadan everything could be

with a tenth part of the money. Thats when they needed moor
for the officials, the soldiers, and the feasts. Then 100,000 pound)
were as much as a million at other times.
Newlinski went on to tell some amusing details about ti*
mismanagement at the Porte. Hassan Pasha, the Minister of tk
Navy, pockets everything. He sells the copper boilers from tb
ships and has the medicinal wines of the hospitals stored in b 3
own cellars. The toll from the bridge between Stambul ^
Calata is remitted to the Navy Ministry i.e., *5 million frant*
The civil list is based on the toll revenue; however, in the b*
20 years it has declined from three million pounds to one mill**
Newlinski tells such things in a peculiarly grand lone. He is
no ordinary person.
January 17
The Turkish loan is being denied by some papers. The
S. Fr. Pr. is upholding the news, which incidentally, did not
come from Paris, but the local Foreign Office. The fact of the
matter is that the ambassadors at Constantinople have agTecd on
the loan. From that to the completion of the agreement is still a
big step.
1 hope that the Sultan will not stand for this and that the
pashas, who did not receive any baksheesh, will remind him of
his threatened Caliphs dignity.
The only true thing seems to be that the Banque Ottomane
has given an advance of 300.000 pounds. With this the T urks
will hold their Ramadan and sing the praises of Allah.
The boys at the Ottoman Bank, for their part, will play around
at the stock exchange for a few months with this news of a loan.
Now the loan is going to come about, now it is going to fall
through. This is going to supply the desired boom and slump.
In this way they will amply compensate themselves for the
gamble of the fresh advance of 300,000 pounds at least the
house" will.
The gogos [sucker investon] will lie fleeced one way or the
other. The yellow press will accompany this game by thumping
the tom toms.
January 8
Sidney Whitman pays me a call every day and sits with me
by the hour. He wants to promote the Jewish cause in the New
York Herald.
The strange thing is that he seems only now to be getting
acquainted with the matter. I had thought last July that he was
"wking for me.
In the N. Fr. Pr. we had a feuilleton by Flammarion: Is Man
Inhabited? At the office they were discussing Mars. Bacher uj
to me in a superior tone: "Maybe you can set up your Jewuh
State on Mars."
Laughter among the smart boys.
January is
Today Dr. Bloch called on me in order to ask me "as the pam
boss for support of his candidacy for the Reichsrat froa
Sereth-Suczawa (I think).
I had predicted this supplicating visit of his some time ago.
January 19
Blochs appearance gave me the idea of sending a Zionist dele
gate to Parliament.
I sent for Schnirer and Kokesch to discuss Bloch's rcques.
Berkowicz happened to come along too. All three agreed tfaa
Bloch must not be supported. They said he was unreliable and
had always behaved badly toward us.
My proposal to seek a seat for a Zionist was received with ap
proval. I named Prof. Leon Kellner who had recently madei
speech before "Zion at my request. However, they wanted me to
be the candidate, saying that my election was assured in Galka
and would cost much less than that of Kellner or anyone eht
I declined outright and categorically.
Thereupon they accepted Kellner as a candidate. I had Dr
Salz of Tamow and Stand of Lvov invited to Vienna for an elettion conference on Tuesday. We shall look for a constituent*
and send our young people there as campaigners. The proble*
remains of how to obtain election funds.

"The Palestine Pilgrimage.
To the Editor of the Jewish World.
cjj.^The "Message of Dr. Herzl to an East End meeting,
paling with this scheme, is so charged with that intense zeal
and enthusiasm which marks all the utterances and proceedings
of this remarkable man. that it seems almost a pity to have to
repudiate some of the ideas which he has gathered I know not
where about the movement.
It is due, however, to those who are taking part in the Pilgrimage to say, that they have no such far-reaching scheme on foot as
Dt. Herzls fervid imagination would attribute to them, and
that they have neither political objects to serve, nor even scientific
researches to make, in connection with their visit.
The Pilgrimage is what its name denotes, and not an "Expedition" nor an "Investigation Commission," as Dr. Herzl suggesu; and it will have served its purpose, if it enlarges the interest
of Western Jews in the land with which their history and traditions are so intimately bound up, and if it operates as an encouragement to similar pilgrimages in future years, so that the
reproach that Palestine is less visited by Jews than by any other
denomination may be removed from our people.
I hope you will permit me to take the opportunity to say that
the success of the Pilgrimage is now assured by the adhesion
of the necessary numbers; and it is hoped that our party will be
completed up to its maximum limit (50) within the next few
weeks. 1 am, Sir, yours faithfully
Herbert Bentwich.
The Holm, Avenue Road, N. W.
*7th January, 1897.
February 4
Fresh unrest on Crete. This news gives me a peculiar presentiment: that it may be the beginning of the liquidation of Tur Tlw following u in F.ngliah in the original
514 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OP THEODOR HERZL
key. With these Cretan disturbances, which evidently have again
been arranged diplomatically, I connect the last extraordinary
Berlin journey of our Minister Goluchowski who is taken far

an English go-between, as well as the trips to Paris and Berlin
of the Russian Minister Muraviev. 1 have a presentiment. I
dont know why.
February \
I am writing to de Haas in London that he should try to hau
the South African goldmine billionaire Bamaio won over to our
cause through the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Gaster.
February 5
In our election conferences we have reached the conclusion
that Kellner would have less chance of being elected than Dt
Salz. I was importuned from all sides to run and told that nn
election was certain. However, I declined. 1 think that if I had
relented, the same people who tried to persuade me would haw
inwardly despised me.
We finally decided to nominate Kellner and Salr Kellnn
in the Drohobycz city district, Salz in the fifth (general) legisli
tive-assembly district of Kolomea.
Jewish Chronicle, February 5

Correspondence *
"The Palestine Pilgrimage.
Sir: The correction by Mr. Herbert Bentwich, who wishes*
lead a pilgrimage to Palestine on a much narrower program*
than I believed his intention to be, compels me also to say a fa*
words. Mr. Bentwich envelops the thorn in a rose-leaf, t*L
feel it. He means that in my letteT to the East End meeting I P*
the matter upon an impossible plane. How has that come about?
1 was requested, from London, to write a letter on Mr. Bent*
wichs expedition. This letter was to be read in public, in order
to make the Pilgrimage and its objects widely known. I wrote
the wished-for letter on hints which I had received from I>ondon.
In it 1 said nothing either impossible or fantastic. On the contrary, I recommended the greatest possible sobriety. Apart from
this, 1 requested the recipient of my letter, for greater precaution, to communicate my letter to Mr. Bentwich. before giving it
publicity. In this way I thought to prevent any possible misunderstanding. It, however, appears that my precautionary measures were not closely followed.
I feel bound to make this communication, as he who, as I am,
is accused in any case of too lively an imagination in my scheme,
can really not be sufficiently careful.
As for the rest, there is a difference of a few degrees of warmth
between Mr. lien t wichs scheme and that sketched out by me.
It is enough for me that he is not at freezing-point, and I can
assure him that my blood does not boil.
Yours obediently,
Th. Herd.
Vienna. February 1st, 1897.
Jewish World, February 5

"An ex-premier on Dr. Herd's Scheme."
His Excellency Prince Demeter Stourdza, who, to within two
months ago, was the Minister-President of Rumania, has been
interviewed by the Sperial Vienna Correspondent of the Paris
edition of the New York Herald. After a talk on Continental
politics, the interviewer says: "Our conversation finally look a

*um towards the affairs of Austria proper, the coming elections,
die growth of anti-Semitism, and the proposal put forward in
connection therewith by a Dr. Theodor Herd, a doctor -of-law in
In Engliah In iht original.
Vienna, which has already the sympathetic approval of Zionist*
in all countries, for founding a Jewish State in Palestine. His
Excellency expressed himself as follows: I consider this an excellent idea: in fact I may say the one and valuable way of
solving the Jewish Question. (It must be borne in mind that
Rumania has an enormous Jewish population.) The Jews are the
one people who, living in foreign countries, do not assimilate
with the inhabitants as others do. The causes of this are neither
here nor there, but the very fact of the Jews at last forming a
State of their own would completely alter the present anomalous
condition of things, even if a large number were to remain be
hind in Europe.
February so
Again a period during which 1 was not in the mood to enter
anything in this diary.
Yet every day brings something.
In the last few weeks I have repeatedly been urged to run for
the Reichsrat. In Galicia I am offered three seats as certain:
Kolomea, Drohobycz, Stanislau. 1 stick to my refusal.
Among the visitors of recent days Prince Friedrich Wrcde
is notable, a young dabbler in literature who would like to tet
himself in print in the literary section of the N. Fr. Pt. Smcr
I would like to have my project discussed in high aristocratic
circles, I took the trouble to tell him everything.
He said: *'\Ve need the Jews, because there must always be
discontentment. If people did not rail against the Jews,
would have a revolution.
This confession was downright charming in its naivetl.
Yesterday Dr. D'Arbela from Jerusalem came to see me. Hr

is the director of the Rothschild hospitals. An interesting per**
who looks like a cavalry colonel tall, bold nose, moustache,
energetic chin. He told me wonderful things about Palestine*
which is to be a magnificent country, and about our Jews
from Asia.
Kurdish, Persian, Indian Jews come to his office. Strange:
there are Jewish Negroes who come from India. They are the
descendants of slaves who were in the service of the expelled Jews
and adopted the faith of their masters.
In Palestine one sees not only Jewish agricultural workers
and day laborers of all kinds, but Mountain Jews and Jews from
the steppes who have a bellicose air.
We are popular among the Arabs and Kurds. Quarreling Arabs
occasionally go to a Jew rather than to a Turkish judge to have
their disputes settled.
All Palestine talks about our nationalist plan. After all, we are
the hereditary lords of the land. The Turkish occupation forces
of Jerusalem are weak at present about Goo men.
Even now the Jews constitute the majority of Jerusalem's
inhabitants, if I understood D'Arbela aright. We spoke so
quickly and about so many things that I did not even go more
closely into this point.
The climate is excellent, the soil not barren, only the humus
layer has been washed into gorges from mountains where once
theTc were terraces of fruitfulness.
Now oranges are blooming in Palestine.
Everything can be done in that country.
We shall make a note of this splendid man for future assignments.
I told him that at the Zionist Convention in Zurich at the
end of August I shall also put the question of the Haluka on
the agenda. The Haluka shall be changed to assistance par U
travail [public works]. D'Arbela will work up a report about
conditions up to the present, make proposals, and get together
a committee in Palestine for the reorganization of the Haluka.
February > i
Yesterday I ran into Newlinski at the theater.
He considers the situation which Greece has created on Crete
518 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER7.L
actually, the fait accompli of breaking away very serious, the beginning of the end of Turkey. The prospects for the
Jews will then be bad. Russia is against us.
He told me I dont know whether I should believe it that
he had spoken with the local ambassador Mahmud Nedim about
having my friends procure for the Sultan, who is now in the
greatest financial embarrassment, a loan of 2-300,000 pounds
sterling. Mahmud Nedim telegraphed this to Yildiz Kiosk and
received the reply that he must not have any dealings with me,
because I had made the demand for an independent Palestine.
Newlinski also told me that 250 families had just been denied
settlement in Palestine. The poor people had to turn to the
shores of the Red Sea.
Prince Wrede sent me his play, which shows great talent

I did him an injustice when I took him for only a dilettante.
I am all the more pleased at his writing me that he intends to
include my whole Jewish plan in his novel Israel.
March 9
A few days ago Prince Wrede sent me from Salzburg an article
about The Zionists" which I was supposed to send to the
Munchener Allgemcine Zeitung or the Kolnische Zeitung. The
article will presumably cause a stir because of the name of its
author. I had it offered to the Kolnische Zeitung through Sidney
Whitman. Results still pending.
March 10
If nothing happens, I am too ill-humored to enter anything
tn this notebook. If something happens. I have no time for iL
n this way many moods and events are lost which could be
o interest to myself and to others at some future time.
On Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of March a few ZionTHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 519
ists from Berlin were heTc, as well as Dr. Salz from Tamow and
Dr. Ehrenpreis from Diakovar.
The Berliners came to discuss a proposal to found a big publishing house, for which I was to raise 300,000 guilders among ray
acquaintances, provided they raised 700,000 for the purpose.
Those who came were Willy Barubus of Berlin, Dr. Thon,
Dr. Bimbaum of Berlin, Moses of Katowice, Turow of Breslau.
Turow is a shy and confused scoffer, and. incidentally, under
the pseudonym Paul Dnuidow, the author of a pamphlet, Wo
hmaus [What Way Out\}
Bimbaum was more self-assured and inwardly more hostile
toward me than ever. He wanted my financial and moral support
for his candidacy in the election district of Srreih-SuczawaRadautz, a candidacy tliat had been offered to me as well, which
I refused and he undertook at the last moment. Considering the
late date there is only one week to the election I denied him
my support, because an unsuccessful attempt could compromise
the mystical prestige of our movement in Galicia. He will never
forgive me for tlm No. Incidentally, just for the sake of being
elected he wanted to make personal compromises with social
politicians. Social Democrats, and others, and run as a representative of a Jewish Peoples Party (which does not even exist).
Dr. Thon seems to be a gifted, but still not fully matured
young modern theologian.
Moses is an easy-going old fellow.
The most outstanding of them all u Willy Barnbus, a quiet,
dear-thinking organizer, who, however, would like to be a leader.
With Barnbus 1 discussed important points and I learned interesting things from him.
I he Jewish Colonisation Association is currently negotiating
with a Creek family (Soursouk is the name. 1 think) for the
purchase of 9 7 villages in Palestine. These Greeks live in Paris,
have gambled away their money, and wish to sell their real estate
( 3 % of the entire area of Palestine, according to Barnbus) for
7 million francs.
* III lafltth In the original.
520 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER7.1

The I. C. A. has turned away from Argentina and now malt,
investments only in Palestine.
Bambus told me something interesting about the most recent
session of the I. C. A. Zadoc Kahn, whom I seem to have done
an injustice in this regard, really presented my proposal to buy
one newspaper each in London and Paris for the Jewish cauit
This took place in the unofficial session. At that point Claude
Montefiore, Lousada, and Alfred Cohen, the English members,
declared they would leave the meeting if such a proposal
made in the official conference, and Alfred Cohen even threatened to make a complaint to the British government because of
an infringement of the statutes. Zadoc Kahn thereupon withdrew, hurt.
With Willy Bambus I established good rapport if he is sincere, this can have the best of effects.
On Sunday at the Zionist Association we held a conference
on the General Zionist Congress which I planned to convenes
Zurich.
It was decided, however, to go to Munich, because the location
of that city is more convenient for the Eastern Jews, because the
Russians would not dare to come to Switzerland, which is sus
pectcd of nihilism, and because there are kosher restaurants is
Munich.
Therefore we shall meet at Jochsbergers where in Augu*.
'%> I started my discussions with GUdemann and Meyer-Coha
How big the movement has grown since thenl

After lengthy, idle talk an organization committee was ap
pointed and I was charged with convening the Congress. It
will have both public and closed sessions.
One thing is already clear: Bambus and I are going to do all
the work. The others are going to watch.
March 10
Yesterday s elections in the new fifth legislative assembly di*
met brought the victory of the anti-Semites all along the li*
in Vienna and Lower Austria. In its editorial yesterday, the
N. Ft. Pr- recommended the election of the Socialists. This is
the policy I had recommended from Paris four and a half years
ago. Now it is too late.
Incidentally, I reminded Bacher and Benedikt of the advice
I had given then.
When I read my Jewish plan to him a year and a half ago,
Bacher said to me: "We shall keep silent about it. We have
kept silent about Social Democracy too, for 15 years.
And yesterday they went to the polls arm in arm with this suppressed S. D.
Is it expecting too much to think that the ,V. Ft. Pt. will go
arm in arm with Zionism as well although maybe also too late?
Last week, incidentally, Bacher said a funny thing.

I told him that the wife of our colleague Steinbach was in the
habit of going to the Zionist Association on Tuesdays.
The last time Dr. Ehrlich's wife wanted to accompany her.
"We shall toon have the distaff side of the N. Ft. Pt. on our
side/' I said.
Bacher laughed. "Youll get the men, too, as soon as you have
success. We bow to success.
March 10
The Jews of Vienna are depressed today.
Dr. Grunfeld invited me to take part in today's officers' meeting of the Israel itische Union.
They want to have a big rally (of Lamentation?).
March 10
mcct n ff wa * depressing. A few old Philistines who
1 ** nna idennify themselves as Jews and who are endur*ng die kicks.
522 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERM
March u
De Haas sends on to me a letter from Colonel Coldsinid
Biarritz, intended for me. Goldsmid avers that he did not mait
a speech against me in Cambridge, as the Jewish Chronicle said,
but only defended his historic flag, on which the twelve tribes are
symbolized, against my seven-star one.
So we already have a flag problem.

For the rest, Colonel Goldsmid's rapprochement is welcoott
in view of the Munich Congress.
March 14
A lettercard from Hechler. He writes that upon his muni
from Mcrano he found waiting for him an invitation from the
local German ambassador Eulenburg, who is greatly interested
in our cause. Has Hechler dreamed this? It could be true. At a
literary dilettante Count Eulenburg in any case knows my name
He is a confidant of the German Kaiser. If I win him over,
he can bring me to the Kaiser at last.
The Jews turning to the Social Democrats in the Viennor
elections of March 9 probably made some impression on those m
power everywhere.
We shall see.
March 14
Newlinski had breakfast with me today. He again had all torn
of stories about the I urks. I he drollest thing was a story about
the war treasure. After the Russo-Turkish War the Minister of
Finance started a secret war chest, which, strangely enough, w
not stolen. I he present Finance Minister was privy to the secret,
and when the Cretan crisis broke out, he informed the Sulu
that i 4 million francs were on hand. The Sultan bestowed d*
order on the incomprehensible man and now the
treasure is stolen. Arrears are paid. Some is embezzled, the am
bMsadors get to see money again, and Newlinski got some. too.
However, Newlinski thinks that in the immediate future they
will need money again. Why didnt the Jews make a loan? I told
him that a loan could not be raised for no good reason. However,
(here Bambus* story about the land purchase occurred to me)
if the Sultan wanted to sell landed property in Palestine, together with permission for 2000 families to settle there, something could perhaps be done. We agTccd that I should write to
Berlin. Paris, and London, in order to elicit an unofficial offer
of purchase. If the managers of the Jewish Colonisation Association offer so much per hectare. Newlinski will telegraph this to
the Sultan and get a reply as to whether the proposal might be
made officially.
I immediately wrote almost identical letters to Bambus. Zadoc
Kahn (for communication to Leven), and Dr. G aster (for Montcfiore, Lousada, Alfred Cohen). I said that such a land purchase
ran counter to my views on infiltration, to be sure, but that I
considered it a stepping-stone to our larger goal. I said I had also
broached to my informant the question of a police of their own
for these settlen and that he thought it possible that we would
be permitted to recruit Mohammedans as policemen.
1 keep raising the question of a security police, which after
DArbeLas information about the valor of the Jews in Palestine
is really pointless, in order to let the negotiations be wrecked on
it if need be, if those with the money leave me in the lurch.
In my letter to Zadoc Kahn I indicated that this transaction
could be performed without the suspect baksheesh, which, after
all. probably doesn't always get into the right hands.
In the letter to G aster I admonished the English I C.A.
gentlemen not to treat the distress of the penniless Jews in too
refined a fashion.
In both letters I emphasized the point that the settlers ought
to be recruited from those registered with the various Zionist
**otiaiions, who want to go to Palestine at their own expense or
*uh nominal financial assistance.

March 15
I wrote to de Haas in London to stoke matters a hit through
a brief item in the Jewish World. Montcfiore and Company
should be given a sledgehammer hint that if necessary we shall
line up the masses against them.
March 17
Yesterday the first public Zionist meeting took place here. I
stayed away on purpose, in order to see how the Vienna Zionim
would get along without me. It was a great success. The Reisource Hall, which holds 400 people, was overcrowded. 800 to
1000 are said to have been present, and they stood packed like
sardines. Many had to be turned away because the hall was too
full.
Professor Kellner presided and did an excellent job, I am told.
Credit for convening the assembly, organizing it, etc., belongs
to Dr. Landau and Rosenbaum.
A few Socialists spoke in opposition to Zionism, using old
arguments.
The Zionist resolution was carried with only 50 voting against
it. Then the Socialists intoned the "Lied der Arbeit [Hymn of
Labor], whereupon our people responded with the "Bundeshed
[Song of the Covenant], which deeply moved everyone.
March 17
Today I spoke with Bacher about Zion. He said in a mellow
tone: "II ne faut jurer de rien [You never can tell]/'
I accompanied him to his home and told him the latest de
ve opments. He finally said: I shall probably not live to see it"
I said: You won t be around to see the King of Palestine, and
neither will I. But we can both live to see the beginnings.
e urther said that he would really like to take a trip to
a lest me with me some day (similar to what Benedikt said),
n parting I cried: I 11 convert you yet. Vous serez Us pU**
noble de mes conquetes [You will be the noblest of my conquests]!
Whereupon he squeezed my hand, touched. And it didn't
occur to me till later that I had said something funny to him,
reminiscent of the saying: la plus noble conqutte de ihomme,
(Jest le chei al [mans noblest conquest is the horse]."
I consider it possible that the N. Fr. Pr. will ukc up my idea
after all. For didnt Commercial Councillor Zucker today offer
me the presidency of the Jewish bourgeois association Union?
I declined; but the offer is indicative. A year ago the Unionists
were mocking and opposing me.
Bambus replies that he immediately transmitted my land purchase proposal to Paris and London.
March t8
Ran into Gtidemann on the street. He accompanied me to the
door of my house and opened up with gestures and in tones of
despair: "Explain Zionism to me. I dont understand it."
I said: "No, I won't explain anything to you any more. Every

word is wasted.
He had some grotesque ideas: he would rather let himself be
killed outside the Seitenstettengasse synagogue than yield to the
anti-Semites. He "will not lake flight," and all the other old
chestnuts. He also spoke about the "mission of Jewry," which
consists in being dispersed throughout the world. This mission
is talked about by all those who are doing well in their present
places of residence but they are the only ones.
March tq
Another talk with Bacher. Now we always leave the office
together. He would like to take a trip to Palestine with me; and
*hen I showed him the prospectus of the tour which Cook has

arranged for the Maccabean C.lub, he told tnc an old Prague
legend which he had heard in his youth.
A Jewish woman was once sitting in her room and looking
out the window. She noticed on the opposite roof a black cat
in labor. She went over, took the cat. and helped her to give
birth. Then she made a bed of straw on top of the coal bin for
the cat and her kittens. A few days later the cat, which had recovered, disappeared. But the lumps of coal on top of which she
had lain were turned into pure gold. The woman showed them
to her husband, and he said that the cat was sent by God. So
he used the gold to build a synagogue, the Altneuschul. This
is how that famous edifice came into being. But the man was
left with one wish: as a pious Jew he would have liked to die in
Jerusalem. He also wished he could see the cat again, for be
wanted to thank her for their prosperity. And one day the woman
was again looking out the window and saw the cat in its old place.
She quickly called her husband, saying: Look, there sits our
cat againl The man ran out to get the cat, but it jumped away
and disappeared into the Altneuschul. The man hurried after
it and suddenly saw it vanish through the floor. There was an
opening there, as though to a cellar. Without a moments hesitation the man climbed down and found himself in a long passage.
The cat enticed him on and on, until finally he saw daylight
ahead again. But when he emerged, he was in a strange place,
and the people told him he was in Jerusalem. On hearing this
he died of joy.
This story, said Bacher, shows how national consciousne*
has been preserved within the Jews in all places and at all tiroes.
Actually, he said, it lies beneath the level of consciousness and
flickers through in him too. And he said he had told me the story
because he, too, had discovered within himself a desire to go to
Palestine.
What a transformation in one year!
I believe it is only a matter of months before the N. Fr. Pr
turns Zionist.
March 2 1
I am sending The Jewish State to Herbert Spencer with a
request for his opinion. I am closing my letter with the following
words:
We are guests upon the earth at the same time. In the natural
course of events you may depart sooner than I, the 37 -year-old.
Therefore, since I am even today convinced that the Jewish
State will materialize in one form or another, though beyond
the limit of my life, I should like to know and determine how
the beginning of this undertaking was reflected in the great mind
of Herbert Spencer.

Th. H.
March 24
The Egyptian emissary, Mustafa Kamil, who has visited me
once before, called on me again. He is on another tour to create
favorable feeling for the cause of the Egyptian people, who want
to rid themselves of British domination. This young Oriental
makes an excellent impression; he is cultivated, elegant, intelligent, eloquent. I note him down, because he will some day probably play a role in the politics of the Orient where possibly we
shall meet again.
This descendant of our erstwhile oppressors in MizTaim is
now himself sighing ovct the sufferings of bondage, and his road
leads him past me. the jew, whose journalistic aid he seeks. Since
at present I ran do nothing more for him, I assured him of my
good wishes.
Although I did not tell him so, I feel that it would be good
for our cause if the F.nglish were forced to leave Egypt. For then
they would have to seek another road to India in place of the
Suez Canal, which w*ould be lost to them or at least rendered in*
* fcurc - At that point a modem Jewish Palestine would be an
expedient for them the railroad from jaffa to the Persian Gulf.
March *4
Dined yesterday with the Turkish ambassador at Newlinski'i
Mahmud Nedim was sulky with me at first, apparently because
of the anti-Turkish attitude of the N. Fr. Pr. 1 utilized a turn in
the conversation to drop the remark that newspapers could never
pursue a foreign policy different from that of the government
of their country. Then I praised the vitality of Turkey, a country
that would yet see great days if it chose to favor Jewish immigration.
The poor ambassador said quite candidly: "It cant get any
worse than the situation we are in now."
The milieu in which I found myself there was curious. It
is the diplomatic demi-monde. Next to the ambassador sat Director Hahn of the IJinderbank financial demi-monde. On the
other side of the hostess sat Fiirth, currently the secretary of the
Prince of Bulgaria. After Fiirth had left his job with II inch in
Paris, he was on the point of becoming a remisier [outside
broker] at the stock-exchange I remember his telling me in
the carriage on the way back from the Bois that he was just then
acting as the agent of aristocrats for stock exchange transactions
in gold-mine shares when he received the position with Prince
Ferdinand, through the good offices of the Jesuits, I believe, as
a reward for his conversion.
Newlinski is a great figure himself I dont know whether I
have already sketched him in my notes. In Constantinople my
diary entries were restricted by the possibility that during our intimate trip he could some day get his hands on my diary. He is a
grand seigneur dichu [fallen aristocrat]. One day he lost the outward support of his native surroundings and got into a lower
Stratum, whose virtues and vices he docs not have, where he is
misunderstood and slighted.
are tur *ous perceptions in him. He possesses the technique of diplomacy, all the finest and deepest requisites for a
rccr l ^ 1csc ar f absolutely out of place in bourgeois life
Thu makes his a half-ruined life and produces a suspicious impression. r
With it all he has that great Slavic charm, and now as before
I am under the spell of his great intellectual qualities.

But despite this I sec clearly that it is diplomatic demi-monde
from the pitiful ambassador of the ailing Emperor of Turkey
on down. But even this poor ambassador and his poor master are
genuinely likeable figures to me.
March 24
Walked home from the office with Benedikt today. Again, as
always, steered the conversation to the Jewish cause. I now employ the strategy of alarming him, because I have noticed that
he is susceptible to being frightened. Naturally, I can only make
veiled threats.
However, by now I really am apprehensive that the Jews in
Vienna will be too late in going along with my plan. They will
no longer have the political elbow-room, nor perhaps the freedom of movement of persons as well as of property to be able
to look or go to Zion.
I told Benedikt: "The most immediate consequence of antiSemitism, even before the legal and administrative chicanery,
will be a war of the Jews against the Jews. The strata of Jews
that are already oppressed and threatened will turn against the
big Jews who are buying themselves off from governments and
baiters with money and services."
He understood this and said: "If only this does not turn into
a fight against the rich in general.
I replied: "Once the fight has started, it cant be confined
any more. Those who have failed to read the signs and have
turned a deaf ear to the cries of distress will have nobody to
blame but themselves."
And then I told him something that had just occurred to me,
because I had had the lists for the invitations to the Congress
picked up from Schnirer namely, that at a Zionist rally we had
collected the names and addresses of university graduates who
irt ur adherents. (This is the mailing list that was prepared for
me on the occasion of the publication of The Jewish Stale).
At that point I saw an expression of fright on his face.
I had dealt a blow to his imagination. I guessed what suddenly
came into his mind in his fright: these arc the addresses of the
subscribers to the rival paper of the X. Fr. Pr.
The day before yesterday, Monday, following the election in

the Leopoldstadt, when the anti-Semitic candidate was defeated
by the Liberal,' there was a disturbance in this Jewish district.
Some gangs of hoodlums roamed about, smashed windows of
coffee houses, plundered a few small shops. Also, Jews weTe
abused and beaten on the street. When people read about this
in the morning papers, I believe it gave the Jews a shock which,
however, was quickly overcome. Things must get worse, they will
get worse. Of course, the millionaires will easily escape the mishaps; and the Viennese Jews are, like most of our people, ghetto
types who are glad if they get off with only a black eye.
March >6
Received a charming letter today from Alphonse Daudct. He
still remembers our talks. If he is still around when the Jewish
State comes into being, he wants to come to us to give lectum
March 19
Paul Lindau visited me at the office and, among other things,

told me the following. The Duke of Meiningen had shown him
a map of Berlin on which |cwish-owncd land was marked in red.
Christian-owned land in blue, and doubtful property in white.
The entire Tiergarten district, said Lindau, "was as though
dipped in blood."
Curiously enough, a similar propaganda map is to be produced
by the People s Party in Hungary, at I heard recently.
The local "Union invited me to a preliminary discussion of
the proposal to call a big meeting in which the situation of the
Jews in Austria is to be discussed.
I managed to get a decision in favor of the meeting. A committee was appointed to prepare it and this committee decided
to adjourn.
I lost two times three hours with arguments which would have
softened stones.
In the first discussion on Tuesday I said that Count Badeni
would soon give way to a more clerical Prime Minister. An attorney named Dr. Elias gave a superior smile: "Badeni will dissolve the Reichsrat if he has no majority."
The day before yesterday, Friday, there was the committee
meeting which I had successfully fought for on Tuesday. And
Friday at noon Count Badeni had handed in his resignation
to everyones surprise.
From Schaulen, Russia, came two letters from a colonist in

Rishon-le-Zion. Her name is Helene PapiermcisteT. and she
paints a glaring picture of the mismanagement and embezzlement of the Rothschild director Scheid. I am sending the accusations to Bentwich for him to investigate, if possible, during his
Palestine Pilgrimage.*
To Mrs. Papiermeister I am writing that she should bring the
complaints against Scheid before the Munich Congress in affidavit form.
This Congress will be made into a forum for the poor victims
of our "benefactors and their offic ials.
A dispirited letter from de Haas in London. Col. (kddsmid.

hr writes, sent for him and implored him to stay away from the
Congress. so that there might be no "split in the ranks of the
* In FjigUih In (he origin*)
Hovcvei Zion. Instead, I should attend the delegates conference
of all Zionists in Paris next autumn.
I am writing Haas to start marching with his followers, without delay and undaunted.
A split tant pis [too bad]!
Ive had enough of all these Pickwick Clubs and "headquarters. *
1 also received a letter from Col. Goldsmid who writes me the
same things he told Haas, implores me to unite my forces with
theirs, and assures me of his sincere friendship.
I am answering him:
My dear Colonel:
Thanks for the cordial tone of your letter. I, too, am sincerely
devoted to you and only regret that you fail to understand me.
The Munich Congress is a settled affair from which 1 can no
longer withdraw. But it is a necessity as well. Ask Rev. Caster to
show you the letter in which I recommend to the I.C.A. making
a land-purchase with immigration rights, which is possible now.
My proposal, as Zadoc Kahn has written me, was placed ad acta
[on file]. These gentlemen want to do and will do nothing.
I have waited long enough. In August it will be two yean
since I took the first practical steps in the Jewish cause. I wanted
to act without stirring up the masses, through direction from
above, in cooperation with the men who had already played
a prominent part in Zionism. I have met with no understanding,
no support. I have had to go on alone. At the Munich Congre*
I shall call upon the masses to resort to self-help, since no one
else wants to help them.
As for your proposal to make the participation of the Hovevci
Zion contingent upon the Paris Central Committee, I consider it
pointless. 1 know the Paris derision in advance. It will be a refusal. Someone is at work behind the scenes whom I shall engage
In Englith in the original.
neither in a competition nor in a dispute. You will learn his
identity from the enclosed letter. 1 am entrusting this letter to
your discretion as a gentleman. Send it back to me.
This man has been intriguing against me for a good long time.
At first I thought he was worried about losing his job, and therefore 1 felt only pity for him. But for some time such complaints
have been coming to me from the most various sources. Now I
understand everything.
In any case, he will exert every effort to frustrate the Congress.
He will invent the most high-minded arguments to keep the
Pans Committee away hum Munich. As a man who knows the
Orient he will arouse apprehensions, etc., etc. He will say that
publicity is detrimental to our endeavors. All untrue. The Sultan and his counsellors know the Jewish plan. I have spoken
quite openly with the Turkish statesmen, and they did not take
offense. They will not give us Palestine as an independent state
at any price; as a vassal state (perhaps like Egypt) we could obtain the land of our fathers in a very shun time. We would have
it today, if the proposals I made in lundon and Paris had been
taken up last July. Can you understand my anger and my impatience?
You, Colonel, ought to enter the Turkish service as a general,
like Woods, Kamphdvener, v. d. Golu, and other foreign officers,
and in that capacity you would be in command in Palestine under the suzerainty of the Sultan. Lpon the break-up of Turkey,
Palestine would then fall to us or to our sons as an independent
country. Was the plan so senseless? The financial arrangement
was even simpler, if the money magnates had joined with us the
way I had proposed it. Montagu gave his approval to my loan
project.
Since it didn't work out that way, it must work another way.
I believe you arc mistaken if you expect no financial strength
hom the masses. Each man has only to make a small sacrifice and
die amount raised will be enormous. That will be the job of the
world wide propaganda which it to have the Munich CongTest as
lUstaning P* m - This bring a financial matter, it will not be roy
concern. In Munich there will also be financial experts who will
take care of this part of the task.

After a long time a Jewish National Assembly will again be
held in Munich!
Isnt this something so great that every Jewish heart must beat
higher at the thought of it? Today still in a foreign land, leshonoh
haboh [next year] perhaps in our ancient home?
As for you, Colonel Goldsmid, who moved me so deeply that
evening in Cardiff when you told me the story of your life and
began with the words, '7 am Daniel Deronda dont tell me
that you are unwilling to take part in this Jewish National Assembly. I could understand it if you had to have regard for your
personal position as an officer. But from a Zionist point of vim
you cannot possibly have any objections.
That I have no selfish aims you must believe. Just now, at
the parliamentary elections, three seats were offered me in districts where the Jews have a majority. I declined. I have no personal ambition whatever in the Jewish cause.
Put me to the test. Once again I make the following proposal:
join forces with Edm. Rothschild, Montagu, and anyone else you
please. Give me your word of honor that you will carry out what
I initiated in Constantinople and I shall pledge my honor to
withdraw permanently from the direction of the Jewish cause.
If you find this impossible, then combine your strength with
me. Iêt us work together!
However, if it should come to a split between the big moneyJews and ourselves, it is not we who shall be badly off. but they.
On the other side will stand a few money-bags with their shturt
re r s [beggars] and lackeys on this side, we with all the noble,
courageous, intelligent, and cultivated forces of our people.
With Zions greetings,
Your sincere friend,
Th. Herr!.
Enclosure: letter from Mrs. Papicrmeistcr. Schaulen.
In Englith In ihe original.
April 5
The Emperor did not accept Badenis resignation. The Minjjtry "will govern only with the cooperation of the landed proprietors loyal to the Constitution.
The Jews of Austria will once again consider everything as
saved. But the anti-Semites are furious. Badeni, who has no majority, will have to show them more favors than a clerical government would have.
The Jews will soon be groaning again.
April if
Baron Manteuffel, a Christian Zion enthusiast who has young
Jews trained to be wine growers at San Michele all Adige, writes
me that he wants to go to Palestine in order to study conditions
there.
I am charging him with a confidential investigation of Scheids
mismanagement which Mrs. Papiermcister has pointed out to
me.
Unfortunately it is a fact that the statements of an Aryan Baron
influence the upper Jews more strongly than anything our own
kind could say.
Haas reports from London that he and his comrades are ready
to march.
They will split Goldsmids Tents if he does not come along
to Munich.
At the same time Haas sends me a letteT from the Prague Rabbi
Kaminka opposing the Munich Congress. This Kaminka will
have to be remembered as the model of a weather-vane. Now he
is for, now against us.
His chief worry, however, is whether distinguished Lc*
^ people will be there.
Thu cleric deserves to be memorialized in my diary.
* In E-ngluh in the original

An hour after 1 had made the above entry there came a letter
from Kaminka, in which he offers me congratulations on your
initiative.
So, after having been unable to wreck the thing through vilifi.
cation, he offers congratulations on it. A typel
He even asks to make a report on the Hebrew language, for
he definitely wants to attend the Congress.
The 62nd birthday of my dear father.
April 14
For the Congress:
The rich Jews need to contribute only as much each year as
they normally budget for charity. In return we take the poor to
Palestine.
Notice to publishers who want to issue the stenographic proceedings of the Congress. Offers to be directed to Zion, \ lenna.
1 shall invite all the big papers to the Congress. But those who
want to have places reserved will have to register in advance.
This way I may force all of them to write about the Congress
for fear of competition.
Including the N. Fr. Pr.
April 17
Dr. Giidemann has published a malicious counter-pamphlet
entitled National judentum [Jewish Nationalism]. Evidently H
the behest of the local upper Jews. 9 He confines himself to vague,
cowardly generalities, but with the obvious intention of p ro
viding ammunition for bolder warriors.
* In English in the original.
I shall answer him and, following the Machiavellian precept,

it will be devastating.
The publisher Breitenstein, who naturally accepts anything

and has only his business in view, tells me that as soon as Giidcmanns tract appeared, Rothschild sent for thirty copies.
April 21
The Greco-Turkish war, which in the last few days has changed
from a cold to a hot war, will in its further course probably affect our cause as well. How?
If a peace congress for the settlement of the Greco-Turkish
differences comes about, we shall present our request to the congress of the Powers.
If Turkey is victorious, which is probable, and if she receives
reparations in cash from Greece, which is even now financially
unsettled something improbable, to be sure the Turks will
have less need of Jewish aid.
April 23
Bodenheimer -Cologne had a splendid idea: to make a collection for the wounded Turkish soldiers, so as to show the Sultan
the sympathy of the Jews.
I immediately look up this idea and launched it among the
local Jews, including non-Zionists.
11 hi me Kaaimah came and asked me in

HIVC ... m .
recommendation to the Turkish ambassador He wants to leave
w the theatre of war with several medical students, as volunteer
docton.
I wrote Mahmud Nedim a letter informing him of the volun
eer doctors and the collection for the wounded soldiers.
April *4
Perfidy on the part of Bainbus.
Today he informs me that he has sent a correction of my Co*
gress announcement to several Jewish papers.
His purpose is clear: he wants to make me appear as an hablau
[braggart], to undermine the Congress, perhaps on Scheids
den.
Rambus gives as a pretext that the Munich Jews are beside
themselves and are protesting against the holding of the Congra
in Munich.
To what extent this is true, whether the intrigues of Scheid,
who feels himself threatened, arent behind this as well, we shall
yet find out.
Perhaps it is only plain envy on the part of the Berlinen who
are afraid that I shall get all the leadership in my hands.
1 am writing to Bambus immediately, demanding that be retract his correction, otherwise I will break with him.
At the same lime I am writing to Bodenheimer -Cologne, informing him of the intrigue and asking him for an assurance of
his constancy. If needs be, Cologne will become the capital of
German Zionism.
If they give us trouble in Munich, I shall take the CongTe*u>

Zurich.
April *5
The first great literary form of neo-Jcwish culture will pro^
ably be the comedy no matter in what language. After all, La biches plays, too, are translated into all languages.
This thought occurred to me yesterday when I had quire *
gixxl time. It was the first enjoyable day that I have Zionism to
thank for otherwise, all it has got me so far is palpitations, t%citement, shocks. Even the demonstrations of support don t (P w
me any pleasure, because behind the masses who are appl* l, d ,n *
The COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 539
me I already see the ingratitude, the future envy, and the possible
vacillation of the next day.
But yesterday there was pure delight. Since I am managing the
Mllections for the Turkish wounded. I called some gentlemen
to my home.
At first only the assistant rabbi Gelbhaus and Dr. Bloch came.
Subject of our conversation: my article against Gtidemann in
the last number of Blochs IVochtnschrijt. The article is said to
have caused quite a stir. Bloch told me that he went to the Concordia Club in order to hear the views of the journal ists. A financial-news gatherer in the employ of bank director Taussig declared that "such an article should not be published." The others
were in favor of it, and they only regTetted that I had attacked
Rothschild. Bloch denied that I had meant Rothschild by "men
behind the scenes. Whereupon Julius Bauer said: "Am I God
for you to try to hoodwink me?
Gelbhaus, for his part, told us about the sensation which the
article had created among the Jews at the synagogue. They
formed raydlikh, i.e., gmups, in the counyard, and all they
talked about was the demolition of the Chief Rabbi. Before and
after the sermon they came to Gelbhaus to tell him that Gudemann was "morally dead; he had been convicted of being a
muddle head, in fact, of no longer standing on the soil of Judaism
at all. Gelbhaus, however, spoke about Giidemann's execution
without perceptible grief.
Bloch abondait dam It mSmt stru [was of the same opinion]
and explained to me the meaning of the defense of Gudrmanns
wand through quotes from the Hungarian Chief Rabbi Chorin.
which was contained in the same issue of his weekly. Chorin is
dually regarded as a goy by the pious.
And Gelbhaus said cheerfully:
Youve killed him with your opposition, but the proof of his
greement with Chorin has buried him."
Now that he was alive to the humorous aspects of the matter,
Bloch told us that by reviewing Gttdemann't pamphlet in the
I Vochensehrift he had only intended to goad me into a reply.
That is why he had Feilbogen, to whom he had assigned the review, emphasize that "the fourth section ought to be entitled;
Dr. Giidcmann contra Dr. Herzl.
Of course, I don't believe that. I am more inclined to beliete
that Feilbogen wanted to trip me up, and that Bloch, consideriiw

the turn in my favor which the matter seems to be taking, wuha
to be on the side of the stronger.
Should I be defeated in an encounter in the near future, he
will desert me.
He also casually mentioned the reason for his hatred of Glidemann. The latter had treacherously deserted him on the seminary
question. And now he talked at gTeat length about the uninteresting seminary question which agitates these gentlemen about
as much as the Jewish Question agitates me. Thu is bo*
through passion even the smallest matter can drive people to
hate or to love.
When I asked them about Giidemanns reaction to my article,
both gentlemen confessed naively that they had not been able to
find out, although they had sent their wives to Gudrmann to
congratulate him on the Franz Josef Order which he was given
three days ago.
Then came little old smart Sigmund Mayer, and we fixed the
composition of the committee for the collection. This was the
high point of our conversation. In the process I got to know
some personalities. For in the case of each name misgivings were
voiced and the men again showed with an involuntary naivet*
what a low opinion they have of the "notables."
1 he name of a millionaire was mentioned. Mayer thought that
not everyone would want to sit in his company. I asked why, be
cause I didn't know him. None wanted to come out with it.
Gradually they made hesitant remarks which sounded like excuses for the man. I hey said that he had given some building
credits, to be sure, but that one couldn't really say that he had
practised usury. And bit by bit there emerged the portrait of a
usurer, so that I laughed and said: "Now I know who the man
And this is how it went with others. As the committee list was
put together, I learned a lot of details about a lot of people.
P A veritable scene out of a comedy. For after they had been
n down, they were finally co-opted into the committee after
all, a committee that is supposed to create illusions for the public,
and itself has no illusions.
April *7
Yesterday, at my place, the constituting session of the committee for the Turkish collection. Representatives of the TurkishIsraelite community were on hand. too. After a lot of talk it was
decided that the Turkish Jews who live here shall place themselves at the head of the action and co-opt the others into it.
April >8
Letter to Mahmud Nedim Pasha;
Confidrnlial
Your Excellency:
I beg to congratulate Your Excellency on (he splendid victories
of Turkish arms.
The desire of several Jewish students to attach themselves voluntarily to the armed forces of His Majesty the Sultan is a small
token of the friendship and gTatitude which we Jews feel for
Turkey.
Here and in several other places I have organized committees
to initiate collections of money for wounded Turkish soldiers.
The yield of the collections will be handed over to the ambasndon of H. M. the Sultan in various countries.
Here in Vienna, the Turkish- Israelite community will at my
tuggrttion head the action and co-opt various other persons. In

ibis way the aspersions on the part of the anti-Semites that we
Mf not making the collections out of hutnanitarianism. but in
opposition to the Christians, shall Ik deprived of any pretext.
Nevertheless, the collection is delicate in nature, and many
Jews will b( afraid of taking this particular opportunity of ex*
pressing their sincere sympathies for Turkey.

In the western countries this is virtually impossible at this
time, because the Jews must not make any demonstrationi
against their fellow citizens. Therefore, nothing may in this par
ticular case be expected from the English and the Freni h Jc*t
who are of the greatest importance financially.
Yet we Jews are gladly using this opportunity to show the
Turks our devotion. Under more favorable circumstances, when
there are no external political hindrances, the sympathies of the
Jews would be on a far grander scale to the blessing of Turkey
as well as of the Jews.
If this realization gains ground in Yildiz Kiosk, where, it seem*.
I have been slandered I shall feel great satisfaction.
Enclosed are samples of the appeals which we have circulated.
Appeal Number 3 I drew up for the public committee. The latter will meet again on Saturday, May 1 st, and transmit an official
notification to Your Excellency. The present letter is confidential
information.
e RK' n f? Your Excellency to accept these expressions of my
deepest respect, I am
Yours sincerely.
Dr. Th. Henl.
I have been to Briinn. They gave me a gala party in th

Deutsches Haus which was announced on street-comer poster
I made an impromptu speech of almost an hour, and they tol
me it was good. In it I addressed myself to manufacturers an
matrons.
On my return home 1 found a letter from Bambus who pul

in his horns a bit.
The collection for the 'I urkish wounded has been taken i
an by the local Sephardic community. The leaders impre
bi ;r NO C: Hml 1 mUUkr hcrf '*97 h.. J7'h. "OC *
me as being covetous of decorations, partic ularly President Russo.
Its all right with me if they are decorated, as long as they don't
denature the project and turn it to the account of their community.
Mahmud Nedim didnt answer my letter. However, I wrote

the whole story to Sidney Whitman who is in Constantinople
now and goes to Yildiz every day.
May 9
The Berliners dissociate themselves from the Congress." I

suspect that a Scheidian intrigue is behind this.
Bambus and Hildeshcimer disavow my Congress announcement in the Berlin Jewish papers.
Germany.
Berlin, May 5 . A few weeks ago Dr. Theodor Herzl published
a preliminary announcement in Vienna, to the effect that a
Zionist Congress" is to take place on August 15 of this year in a
city in Southern Germany. Among the speakers who were listed
as making reports there figured also the publisher of this paper
who was scheduled to speak about the subject The Tasks of
Jewish Philanthropy in Palestine." A local Jewish paper reprinted this announcement, but in its next number published
the following communication from Mr. W. Rambus, himself a
member of the committee entrusted with the preparation of the
planned Congms:
Deliberations are actually taking place on the convening of
the big Congress which will have to occupy itself with general
Jewish problems, such as the emigration of the Russian Jews,
etc. Whether it will be a Zionist Congress, according to the sug(potions put forward by Dr. Herzl. or, following proposals made
by others, a conference of the Palestine associations, or whether

it will take a still different form, cannot be determined as y n
for the entire affair is definitely in the stage of preliminary div
cussion. This invalidates all inferences based on Dr. Herzls plan.
Since Dr. Herzl despite this continues to send out his prelim],
nary announcement, the publisher of this paper is obliged to
make the declaration that of course he has never had any intention of attending a Zionist Congress, but has held out the pro*,
pect of his presence and his participation only and solely in the
event that the planned assembly would be devoted to a discussion of the manifold tasks of the Palestine aid project, panicularly colonization. Apart from our point of view which is basically
different, we feel we must all the more emphatically decline to
participate in an assembly discussing Zionist theories and
future plans, because we are convinced that it threatens to produce grave harm rather than the hoped-for benefits, as well as
to compromise and seriously damage more obvious and realizable
endeavors. The hope may still be harbored that better judgment
will prevail and that the expenditure of energy and resources
will be placed in the service of those tasks which are regarded
as the most immediate by ourselves and even by men who basically share Dr. Herd's point of view. Only in this event tan the
assembly, which has undoubtedly been planned with the best of
intentions, truly bring blessings.
At the same time Landau informs me of a letter in which
Hildesheimer writes him in confidence that he has to disavow
me in order not to lose his prestige with his circle of donors.
My answer to Hildesheimers knavery is in the copy book, p.

i6f.
May si
Today there comes news from the w r ar area which leads one to
expect an armistice and a peace between Turkey and Greece
within the next few days. This sends our collection for the
nded soldiers down the drain. However. 1 will try to salvage
Z (an be salvaged, and I am writing to Sidney Whitman at
Constantinople to tell them in Yildiz that we had started our
^Yesterday the vacillating Prague Rabbi Kaminka joined the

Congress committee. First I gave him a good drctsingîown and
administered a son of loyalty oath to him before the assembled
members of the Actions Committee.
Yesterday in the closed committee meeting at the "Zion Dr.
Schnirer suddenly moved the appointment of an Executive Committee. I believe that he had discussed this proposal in advance
with Prof. Kellner and Dr. kokesch in order to relieve me of
"one-man rule. However. 1 was delighted, because they are only
going to lighten my work load, provided that this is more than
committremanship. Schnirer, Kellner, Kokesch, Steiner, Kremenakv. Seidener are fnends of mine on whom I gladly lean. If 1
had anything against them up to now, it was the fact that they did
not help me out more. Their volunteering for work now is welcome to me. Incidentally, at the same time they recognized me
as president of the party.
Later on I asked whether I should take steps to get an official

delegate or an observer of the Sultan sent to the Congress. They
all beamed and gladly agTeed.
May it
Several circumstances Hildesheimers attack; the acquisition
f jf a local Monday sheet by the Zionists Kohn and Rappaport,
who that same instant broke with us; finally, the humiliation of
dependent for every little notice or correction on Blochs
Sd graces make the founding of our own organ a necessity
diat can be deferred no longer.
I asked Dr. Landau what his estimate of the editorial com*
would be. He made a tabulation in which he figures with 50
guilders a month. Then I got Heinrich Steiner to make an estimate of the production costs for me. Steiner calculates them at
1 1,000 guilders a year. After that I also asked my father whether
he agreed, and when he replied in the affirmative. I decided to
create the paper which has been talked about so often in the
past year-and-a-half and for which the funds could never be
raised.
I saw everything clearly right away except for the name.
May 13
Informed Prof. Kellner and Dr. Kokesch of my decision last
night. They were surprised. Kellner said: You astound people
by the speed of your march a veritable Moltke."
The gentlemen wanted to begin by calling a committee meeting. I proposed to Kellner that he join the paper as publisher or
responsible manager. He declined the risk in view of his positioo.
Kokesch said he was willing to act as publisher.
Overnight the name for the paper occurred to me: Die Well,
with a Mogen Dovid [Star of David], inside which a globe should
be drawn, with Palestine as the central point.
Landau came and suddenly raised his demands when he saw
that the papier for which he had begged me for a year-and-a-half
was about to come into being. He said he had to "charge for lt
time, loss of other income, etc. Thereupon I invited him to
formulate his demands in writing. In the afternoon he brought
a document in which, in addition to fixed salary of 50 guilders
which, after all, would be modest he demanded to% of the
net profits. Steiner, whom I had offered a share in the net profits, had declined and also advised me to refuse Landau's request,
since, after all, it is my intention to use any profits for the expansion of publicity.
In the afternoon Kellner, Steiner. Schnirer, Kokesch. and

Landau got together at my home. Steiner brought along a charmthE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 547
ing sketch for a masthead: Die Q Welt [The World], which won
general approval. , .
Incidentally, strangely enough, a current of opposition to the
paper seemed to be stirring among the gentlemen. At first it was
^t expressed; I merely sensed it. Kellner spoke against starting
the paper, calling it premature.
Schnirer recommended that we go ahead.
Steiner thought it should perhaps be preceded by a tour of
the synagogues and by enlisting subscribers in the various
countries.
I pointed out that months ago 1 had suggested that we go
ahead and get subscribers, thus making sure of having a basis
for the organ of the movement which everyone desired so urgently. This had not been done any more than other things I had
recommended, unless I had done them myself. Therefore I decided simply to create the papeT myself, with my money and my
labor.
Thereupon the gentlemen, who a moment before had still expected too little, changed oveT to excessive expectations at one
bound. Kellner chewed over the idea a bit that I, as the entrepreneur, could very well put my labor into the paper gratis,
whereas others would have to put themselves on a (said basis.
After that I begged the gentlemen to enter into a relation of
coownerxhip with the paper by investing in it either money or
labor. None of them wanted to give money; but Kellner promised to contribute his work in return for a share in the profits,
and with this I was quite content.
May 15
Kellner has begged off. He must shortly go to F.ngland for ten
*b. Accordingly, to my regTet. his co-ediurrthip is now out of
the question. The whole burden will rest on me.
Law night we drew up the format of the paper. I sketched the
Tnt, column by column; Kellner. Landau, and Steiner listened to me. I believe, with astonishment. Kellner and landau

suggested this and that. Following Kellner's advice it would I*
come a somewhat scholarly paper of Anglo- Jewish-German complexion. Following Landau's advice, Die IVcIt would be a
lemical paper with a predominantly Galician outlook. I believe
it ought to be a dignified paper with appeal to universal Jewry
I suggested that Kellner write a series of literary profiles of
representative exponents of the Zionist idea: Disraeli, G. Eliot,
Moses Hess, etc.
He took up the idea enthusiastically and will begin with
Disraeli in the first issue. I promised him to have the entire
scfic* which he would probably have been unable to place
anywhere else in view of present-day conditions in the newspaper
world issued later in book form by the Welt publishing house.
I shall pay for his articles at the same rate as the N. Fr. Pt. For
Zionists must be the last people from whom the paper accepts
free gifts. If it prospers, people will tell all sorts of stories about
me anyway especially those who couldn't make up their minds
to make any sacrifice.
Landau immediately asked for a raise* to 75 guilders 1
month. Granted.
May 16
The preliminary work on the paper. Correspondence, organization, everything to be done from scratch.
May 18
Also, that atmosphere of conflict at the office again, something
that doesnt make my heart any stronger.
May 19
An excellent letter from Sidney Whitman at Constantinople,
e can make both head and tail of it now and wants to submit
te matter to the Sultan himself. He has the Sultan s seal; letter*
ed with it arc immediately handed to the Sultan.
S Whitman expects us to safeguard his future in return for
Us services. He deserves that, and I am promising it to him in a
Utter which the grateful Jews will honor some day. I can no
gioie promise a sum of money to him than I can to Newlinski.
But both will get thanks from the Jews in as magnificent a manner as the work is magnificent.
May 10
Another letter from Sidney Whitman. He has interested
Ahmed Midhat Efendi, the Sultans favorite, in the matter.
Ahmed Midhat thinks we should proceed yaiush [slowly] and not
ask for too much, lest the Sultan say No immediately. In particular we must not use the word autonomy, because it has already
involved Turkey in many wars. I should write my letter in
French, so that it could be submitted to the Sultan.
Accordingly, today I am writing Whitman a letter promising
him a reward (in German, in the copy book), and the following
French one for showing around:
My dear Friend:*
I am writing you today on the stationery of a new paper, a
weekly, but of high quality, which we are starting for the needs
of the cause. Dir Writ will appear on June 4, 1897. In this Journal we mean to give Turkey, so to speak, an earnest of our profound sympathies. You may tell Ahmed Midhat F.ffendi that we
dull publish in it, with pleasure and, of course, absolutely imperially, communications and news which may be useful to the
Sultan's government.
This is a step on the road toward setting in motion the influence of the Jewish press for the benefit of Turkey. We shall continue, provided our efforts are encouraged by sympathy accorded
o the Jewish cause.
An effort which I made in accordance with your suggestion to
Con * * the aid of the wounded soldiers came too late I dont
want to say unfortunately. For the victories of the Turkish
* I* Firadi in the ortftuL
550 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER2L
arms have rather quickly made this subscription pointless. Since
the political situation in England and in France did not permit
the Jews of those countries to express their sympathies which
really exist to the Turks in this situation, we have had to confine ourselves to establishing committees in Germany, Austria,
and Hungary, and asking our friends in other countries to give
their aid in whatever way was possible.
Besides, this was only an incident of lesser importance in the

Jewish project which I am pursuing. I very much fear that people in Yildiz Kiosk are incorrectly informed about the nature
and the scope of the Jewish plan. Enemies, intriguers, have perhaps changed the appearance of things.
What we want to do is conceived. I admit, in the interest ol
the Jewish people, but it will serve superlatively for the prolongation, the restoration, of the vital forces of the Ottoman Empire.
First of all, my book on the Jewish State should not be taken
as the definitive form of the project; I am the first to admit that
there is a lot of ideology in it. A simple writer, I launched the
idea without knowing how it would be received by the Jewish
people. The best proof of this is that I suggested we settle either
in Argentina or in Palestine.
But since that publication the neo-Jewish movement has taken
on an entirely different complexion, and it has become practical
and practicable. We take circumstances into consideration, wf
want to conduct ourselves well politically, sincerely and eftciently.
Here is the situation in a few words:
If H. M. the Sultan grants us the conditions indispensable
for the settlement of our people in Palestine, we will gradually
introduce order and prosperity into the finances of the Empire.
Once this principle is accepted, both sides will gladly li*re
to the details.
Those who desire the weakening and the dissolution of the
Ottoman Empire are the more or less avowed enemies of our
plan; that is easy to understand.
THF. COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 551
Those who wish to bleed Turkey white by means of usurious
loans are equally the enemies of our project. For the government
of H M would regain control of the countrys resources; and
that country would be a resurgent one.
These are not empty words, and H. M. the Sultan will have
an opportunity to be convinced of that if he will do us the honor
of sending a delegate to the Zionist Congress which will take
place in Munich on August *5, *6, and *7, 1897.
H. M.s delegate could attend all of our deliberations, and
by this alone we would be willing to give him a striking proof
of compliance.
But and this point must be stressed we do not wish to have
our people immigrate into Palestine without first completing
the arrangement with the Turkish government.
It is true that our people are miserable in various countries,
but just the same we do not wish to exchange the present condition of unhappincs for uncertainty.
The situation must be free and clear.
And now 1 come to your questions:
The immigrant Jews in Palestine would become subjects of
H. M. the Sultan on condition of an absolutely guaranteed sellprotection *
The necessary land purchases would Ik* made entirely without
constraint. It cannot be a question of "dispossessing" anyone at
all. Ownership is a private right and cannot Ik* violated. The
Sultan's private domains could be paid for in (ash according to
their value, if he desires to sell.
As regards the question of "people's rights" in the arrangement, the equivalent produced by the Jews would be an annual
tribute paid to His Majesty.
We would start with a tribute of a hundred thousand pounds,

lor instance, which would increase proportionally to the immigration up to one million pounds annually.
On this tribute we could immediately procure a loan adjusted
10 the annuity. The tribute would be guaranteed by the great
In in ^ ortgio.1

funds in existence about which 1 have spoken to you on several
occasions.
I do not want to repeat again what I have already told you so
often, my dear friend namely, that the solution of the Jewish
Question also involves the consolidation of Turkey. The energy
and importance of the Jews in commerce and in finance are well
known. It is a river of gold, of progress, of vitality which the
Sultan will admit into his Empire with the Jews, who since the
Middle Ages have always been the grateful friends of the Turin
And with the straightening out of the finances, no more intervention of the Powers under false pretenses, no more "public
debt, no more "leeches.
Will the scope, the usefulness, of our project be understood
in Constantinople? Let us hope so.
For the time being I ask nothing better than to prove to H. M.
the Sultan that all this is motivated by the best of intentions.
It is unnecessary to remind you of the confidential nature of
this letter. You, who are such a devoted friend of the Turks, will
understand how important it is not to give warning to false
friends who would like to thwart a project beneficial to Turkey.
Sincerely yours,
Th. Herzl.
May *j
The movement is beginning in America.
Michael Singer, editor of a new weekly, Toleranz, sends tne
reports about meetings in New York, etc.
A conference of rabbis, with Dr. Gottheil at its head, has come
out in favor of our movement.
On May 10 the New York Sun published articles about Zionism.
When I showed the Sun column to Renedikt yesterday, Ik
said benevolently: You are driving the whole world crazy. A
real Pied Piper of Hamelin.
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 55 S
I replied I shall have my revenge on you when you arc
obliged to get the report about the Munich Congress from the
tolnische Zeitung, after you have had the opportunity for a
year-and a half of being the best informed of all."
To which he rejoined:
No. On August s6 our paper will simply carry a dispatch
from Munich."
And these casual words, which he is more likely to stick to
than his promises because he has to, because the paper must
not 'fall behind this brief declaration already betokens, un-
less I am mistaken, my victory over the N. Ft. Pr. The victory

may be wTested from me repeatedly between now and August
yesterday I held it in my hands.
May *s
Today "Pater Paulus" Tischmann came to see me. Curious
figure from the outposts of religion. An unkempt-looking little
Jew with a heavy Polish-Jewish accent, until a short time ago
a Catholic clergyman. He told me how at the age of 15 he was
Kited, baptized, and later ordained, how he could not stand it
in the long run and uttered blasphemy from the pulpit in
Transylvania. He was arraigned and, after he had returned to the
Jewish faith, acquitted. A character out of a novel. Now he is
again auditing rabbinical sermons. I think he is doing a little
iknomng [begging], too. I gave him a trifle. Curious that he
probably gets no thanks from the Jews for his "return. Formerly,
under the crosier, he did all right.
Nevertheless, he says with shining eyes: * But 1 have the inner
utisfaction."
This is the most expensive of all pleasures, as I well know.
Haas writes that people in America want me to make a "lecture tour" on the other side.
554 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZI
May t6
I am working on the new paper to the point of exhaustion, of
breakdown.
Two subscribers have turned up. To the many hundreds of j n

nouncements of the Welt which have been distributed, onlt
three written replies in all have come in so far.
My close party friends believe it will be a failure.
Constantinople, May *j, 1897

Private.
Dear Friend:
As is my custom, I am acknowledging by return mail receipt
of your kind letter of the soth of this month.
I shall immediately read the contents to Ahmed Midhat and
invite him to write something for the Welt.
Incidentally, the indications increase that I shall see the Sultan himself and be able to speak to him about the matter. I find
your presentation very clear and convincing. More later.
In haste.
Yours,
Sidney Whitman.
P.S. Since writing the above I have been to see Midhat; I read
im your letter and shall make a copy for him. He is very favorably disposed toward the matter and wants to devote himself
to it body and soul , with the express stipulation that he will never
acccp t a P enn y his services. The two of us drew up a plan of
action, and it is possible that I shall make the first communia
tions to the Sultan even before my departure. The rest will de-
w T , *hall be sent to the Munich CongTess, or

Midhats influence as well as mine is zero
S. W.
XHF COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 555
Entre nous. Rothschilds in Vienna have contributed 500
-widen for the wounded soldiers.
|am going to tell the Sultan about the Welt in person.
Some time ago there was talk that the Sultan intended to name
A. Midhat as Grand Vizier!
May *7
Received a check from Zadoc Kahn in the amount of 1000
fnmes for the Turkish wounded. I am sending the check to
Ambassador Mahmud Nedim, and Zadoc's letter to Sidney Whitman in Constantinople. At the same time I am writing Sidney
to tell the Sultan that I am ready to come to Constantinople
after Pentecost.
May 30
In the last few days I balanced two difficulties against each
other, which is, I believe, the best conceivable policy provided
it works out.
The case in itself was insignificant; but still, my prestige with
the Turks was at stake.
The young medical students, who under Schalifs leadership
had offered to leave for the theater of war as volunteer physicians,
received permission in a letter from Mahmud Nedim. the local
ambassador Then it turned out that they had promised too
much, for they were unable to go. They had no money.
On the other hand, the Turkish-lsraelite collection committee
lor the wounded soldiers had raised only a ridiculously small
urn 800 guilders which they were ashamed of turning in.
Then I had the idea of giving the Hoo guilders to the doctors:
*The committee is sending off a medical expedition at its exThat looks like something.
To my surprise the committee people understood the proposal
556 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.Rz l
Ma T Ji
Tremendous labor over the paper. Dr. Landau has been call^
up for his military training; Schalit, whom I had drilled *
assistant, is going to Elasona. So from the outset the whole
stands on my two legs.
Kellner, Schnirer, and Kokesch address a joint letter to me ir
which they request the omission from the first issue of an nea
objectionable to the coal-Gutmanns (concerning their appo.
against the Jewish Community Tax). They give no further r
sons for this request. I am going to accede to it but of corn*
I shall not be able to put up with this editing by committed
June t
Day before yesterday and yesterday I constructed Die V Weii
Nothing at all existed. Today there is a paper with a Hiainn
physiognomy.
Read all the proofs, even the "advertisements; I made up ill
the columns. That is to say, there weren't any advertisements
At the last moment 1 telephoned Kremenezky and asked him fat
an unpaid advertisement. He wasn't able to insen it, because ht
is negotiating with the municipality of Vienna.
In the evening, at the "Zion, an advertisement was brought
tn rom a Mariahilf clothing merchant.
I have enjoyed toiling to set up the paper.
At six oclock last evening the first copy of the Welt earned
e press. I am dedicating it to my dear parents.
June 6. at night
w out - 1 am utterly exhausted. I am going tote
* .. i 1 U * >cniccost of 1897. In addition to work on the
N Ftp o dU< * thc mood for a Whitsuntide feuilleton for the
n top of that, the excitement in the office that a tn
moment now there has to be a row and a break with Bcnedikt on
account of the Welt
A number of times I was on the point of informing him of the
fait accompli at least. He now frequently ukes me home from
the office in his carriage. This would provide the best opportune* to talk about everything. But I finally decided on simply
flying a paid advertisement to thc N. Fr. Ft. The advertisement
was run by our business office.
June 8
This is where I fell asleep from fatigue the night before last.
The business office of the N. Fr. Ft. accepted thc advertisement "reluctantly,** as my business office was informed by telephone. The insertion of an item in thc text part of the N. Fr. Fr.
was refused for "political reasons.
I didn't really care about getting the item into the paper. I
just wanted to send Bcnedikt a faire part [announcement] of the
appearance of the Welt, one to which he could not respond with
a veto. That is why I chose the financial course. A half-page in
the advertising section of the N. Fr. Fr. costs 75 guilders. There
was some probability that Bcnedikt would not refuse this
amount.
And thus the Welt was advertised in the pages of the S. Fr. Fr.
On the Saturday before Pentecost, June 5, Bcnedikt looked
at me with mighty curious eyes. We associated with each other at
the office as usual, but there already were two business offices between us. 1 believe he would have liked to have a real showdown
wuh me, but at that moment he was dependent on me: 1 had not
yet handed in my Pentecost feuilleton, and he urgently needed
it for the Pentecost issue.
On Whit-Sunday, the day before yesterday, there appeared in

the iemi -official Reichswehr a ferocious second editorial in oppo*ition to the Welt under the title "Benedirtus I, King of Zion.**
In it Benedikt is treated as a Zionist. I think he is going to bit
the ceiling with rage.
When I go to the office today, I must again, perhaps for the
last time, get ready to do battle. I he showdown is due today
I dont know how it will end. Shall I perhaps be dismissed from
the N. Fr. Pr. within the next twenty-four hours, before I hast
filled the pages of this notebook?
1 face this possibility with composure. My heart is pounding,

to be sure, but this is only a weakness of the muscle, not of my
will.
Should the N. Fr. Pr. drive me out, I shall have lost my position, which I acquired through twenty years of hard work, in a
manner of which I need not be ashamed either.
The English Headquarters of the Hovevei Zion have ofr

cially dissociated themselves from the Munich CongTeis and
announced this in a dry, malicious notice. The Jewish Chromclt
carried this announcement on June 4 .
"The Proposed Zionist Conference at Munich.
A meeting of Headquarters Tent of the Hovevei Zion As
sociation was held on Monday last, the Chief, Colonel Goldsmid.
presiding. It was resolved that the Association should take no
part in, nor send any delegates to, the Congress convened bj
Dr. Herzl, which is to meet at Munich in August next.
At the same time Hildcsheimer belittles the American move

ment. Probably only a small number of inconsequential group*
from America will participate in the Congress.
June 8
First round of the duel with Benedikt.
Today he asked me d brtlle pourpoint [point-blank], when I
* Original lat.
amc into the reading room somewhat uneasily in order to discuss the daily feuilleton and while he was washing his face as
always after completion of the evening edition:
Did you talk with Bat her about the Welit
No, I said, ready to fight.
He answered: "That is very unwelcome to us.
On account of the article in the Reichswehr ?" I asked.
No, I only read the article today: it didn't bother me. But I
was furious when I saw the advertisement in our Pentecost number. It shouldnt even have got into the paper. It is the list of our
contributors."
I shrugged my shoulders and walked up and down the room.
He wiped his face. You put us in an embarrassing position.
I said in a loud voice: "The article in the Reichswehr is full
of the dirtiest lies.
At that point Coldbaum came into the room I think he had
been eavesdropping and the conversation was broken off. We
talked about commonplace things.
|une 9
Second round. Today at noon Benedikt started in again:
"We have to speak some more about the Welt. Up to now it has
been the custom in our house that anyone who wishes to panic ipate in some enterprise notifies the editors of it.
I said: I've also written for the Zeit

He said: "We were on good terms with the Zeit. But even then
1 discussed the permissibility of your action with Bacher. Now
you have taken our entire list of contributors into the preliminary announcement of the Welt.
I changed the subject: "Do you know what an intelligent per*n said about the anicle in the Reichswehr ?
The author of the anicle knew very well that Benedikt is an
opponent of Zionism. He only wanted to sow dissension between
Benedikt and Herzl.* *
He replied: 1 think so too. They wanted to bring about dis560 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
sension within the N. Ft. Pt. AH I ask of you, if our friendly
relationship is to be maintained, is not to jeopardize us any further. In particular you must not publish that list of contributon
any more."
I promised to do all I could in this regard and wc parted
friends. He took me home in his carriage.
June 10 , 7 th birthday of my Hans*
At this point I close this fourth book of my history of the
Jewish State.
I will now deposit the books in a safe place.
This moment marks a chapter anyway; this book won't take
much more, and I shall make a red-letter date of the birthday of
my good Hans who, I pray, may grow up healthy and happy, a
strong man, and continue my work.
Editor'! Note: Mistaken entry. June 10. 1897 was the n'sf/i birthday of
Herzlt ion Hans.
Book l ive
Begun
on June 11,
1897
Vienna, June 11, 1897

Benedikt is more amiable Coward me now than ever before.
Is he overcome, or is he preparing something?
Sidney Whitman is back from Constantinople. He didn't see

the Sultan, and I think he didnt accomplish anything else for
us either. He only seems to have established contact between
Midhat Efendi and me. He thinks I ought to write Midhat
directly.
While passing through Bucharest, S. W. spoke with Prime
Minister Stourdza about Zionism. The interview is going to
appear in the Sew York Herald. Stourdza again expressed himself favorably about our idea.
June 15
I am writing to Ahmed Midhat Efendi:*

Your Excel Ient7:
My friend, Mr. Sidney Whitman, who is passing through
Vienna, has told me to address Your Excellency directly on a
matter with which you are already acquainted.
I am so busy that this first contact which I have the honor of
making with you must be quite brief. Whitman has told me
10 much about the loftiness of your political views that it will
strike me as a gTeat good fortune for the cause to which I am
devoted if I have a chance of establishing and maintaining contact with you.
I am deeply convinced that the Jewish action will contribute
to Turkeys health, to her financial liberation, to the regaining
of all her vital forces.
I am taking the liberty of sending you the journal Die Welt
m which we wish to be of service to you.
* In frenth in ihc anginal
S6S

I am placing this organ at your disposal, naturally in a wholly
disinterested fashion. And I should very much like H. M t y lt
Sultan to know this.
All that you may send in will be published immediately. SIn(f
this will never be in conflict with the loyalty we have to our
country Austria and our sovereign, Emperor Fran/ |oscf.
With assurances of my high esteem, I remain
Your Excellency's devoted
Th. H.
June 16
The Munich Jewish Community protests against the meeting
of the Congress.
The first letter from their Executive crossed mine; the second
came afterwards.
The discussion of them and the letters themselves will appear
in the Welt, so I am not recording them here. I believe that this
incident will gTeatly benefit the Congress. A general discustioo
will flare up, and we shall shift the assembly from Munich,
which is not suitable, to Zurich, which is.
June 16
In today s morning edition of Schbnerers Ostdeutsche Rundschau theTc is a hard attack on the Xeue Freie Presse on account
of the Welt. In the reading room at the office there was a copy
of the Ostdeutsche Rundschau slashed with blue marks. A
few colleagues greeted me frostily, like a favorite fallen from
favor.
Benedikt sent the Ostdeutsche Rundschau to ray room by a
messenger.
A quarter of an hour afterwards I went to see him, again
ready for battle, even though quite nervous.
Benedikt was very calm.
1 told him: Ive read the article. It is very displeasing

u e - "The Welt is a great embarrassment to us. The best thing
would be if it ceased publication.
I said: "That cant be done.
He: Well talk about iL You sec that I am dealing with it
quite calmly and objectively.
i. 'ven before the appearance of the Welt, the anti-Semites
poured buckets of manure over the N. Ft. Pr. As far as I am
concerned, I certainly dont want to cause embarrassment to the
JV\ Fr. Pt. I am devoted to the paper. After all, 1 have put part
of my life and health into the N. Ft. Pt.
1 spoke firmly and calmly. He saw that 1 was prepared for a
break. We were interrupted by a telephone call. I left the room.
When I returned half an hour later, he did not resume our conversation. He gave me an article by Sir Charles Dilke about
Queen Victoria to translate. He said he didnt want to give it to
Mrs. Wirth for translation, because he had no confidence in her;
ihe might divulge it prematurely.
He has confidence in me, then? Is this attitude of Benedikts
a weakness, or does he have something up his sleeve?
If he is weak, he would have to hide it better.
Had he kept silent, not mentioned the Ostdeutsche Rundschau
at all, but treated me icily, I would probably have been badly
shaken.
Men dont reproach, they demolish.
June 17
Since the Munich Jewish Community is protesting against
holding the Congress, we decided in the Actions Committee
today to transfer the Congress to Basel, possibly to Zurich. First
I am to inquire of the Bavarian government through Wredc
whether it has any objection to the Congress. I am sending the
following letter to Wrede to be forwarded to Minister Crailsheim:
Your Excellency:
As chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the Zionist Congress which has been called for August <5 at Munich I
566 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERzi
beg to inquire most respectfully whether the Royal Bavarian
government is willing to accord the CongTess its friendly to| n .
ation. I have expressed myself on the purpose of the Congroi
in an editorial in Die Well which 1 take the liberty of enclosing
herewith for your information. Only those persons will be able
to attend the Congress who have registered by August 15 and
have received a ticket of admission to the closed meeting.
Zionism aims at solving the Jewish Question in a peaceful
manner namely, through the settling of Palestine with Jews,
with the consent of the Powers, after an understanding has been
reached with the Imperial Turkish Government.
Zionism is, of course, an entirely lawful movement, and it
wishes to pursue its humanitarian goals only under the benevolent supervision of the governments. The committee which is
working on the arrangements includes a number of German
citizens.
With the expression of my profound respect, I remain. Your
Excellency,
Dr. Th. H.
June 18
I oday another round in my duel with Benedikt. He had a
second, Schiitz. I had been noticing for several days that Schiitz
was treating me as a fallen favorite. Today, when I entered
Benedikts room, I saw by the break in the conversation that they
had been discussing me.
After a few remarks on editorial matters, Benedikt opened
fire. He said he had spoken to Schiitz about the Welt, and
Schiitz shares my opinion." Schiitz confirmed this, even though
evidently less vigorously than he had done in my absence.
Benedikt summed it up this way: The Welt must fold, or I
must dissociate myself from it. He himself wanted to help me find
a way in which my prestige would not suffer. (He reminded roe
of his offer in the case of The Jewish State to help me make the
book less objectionable during his vacation.)
He begged me urgently, most urgently (and the threat looked
out of his eyes) to give up the Welt. He said he was not speaking
an editor to a co-worker, but as one friend to another. NaturII hc wa5 concerned that the N. Fr. Pr. should sufler no harm,
but for the moment he wished to speak only in my own interest.
It was a pity about me. I was ruining myself.
Schiitz seconded him: he had heard that agitation against me
was about to start.
I said: I'm not afraid."
Benedikt sought, as a friend, to talk me out of my "obstinacy.
Then a threat: 1 could not go on my vacation until 1 had given
him a final answer, that is to say. stopped the publication of the
Welt. Then a promise: he guaranteed 1 would not regret it if
I acceded to his wish. (I know all that by now: his requests, his
threats, his promises.) Hc also said that I must not play a prominent pan at the CongTess. I must not come to the fore. And
after these sharp attacks, after he had tried to work on me with
all the pressure of his superior position, he added so naively that
the greatest mockery could not have made it any worse: "I certainly dont want to exert pressure on your conscience only,
you mustnt do anything to the extent that it can be injurious
to the N. Fr. Pr "
And these people wax indignant in editorials w henever a minister restricts the freedom of opinion of his officials.
Of course I remained inflexible. When I was leaving. Benedikt
asked Schiitz (who told it to me later) behind my back and
anxiously whether he had not been too gruff with me.
June 19
Schiitz, the man of the born offices [good offices), came to see
me. We walked to the office together. I complained bitterly about
Benedikt who, I said, was exerting pressure upon my conscience.
I could stand this only up to a certain point: and. after all, Bencdikts friends would rejoice if I left the N. Fr. Pr.
Schiitz must immediately have passed this on to Benedikt.
The effect: an enchanting smile from Benedikt when I tame
into his room. He was amiability personified, insisted that I have
dinner with him, and didnt say another word about the Welt
Still, Im on my guard.
I think Benedikt only used the attacks of the anti-Semites

as a pretext, because he is afraid of the independence which I
am to gain through the Welt.
June to
Had supper yesterday with Sz6rhnyi Pasha and his wife.
She, a Levantine, is on intimate terms with the Sultans sister.
I won him and her over to my cause, let it peep out that
Szchnyi could make some money on it. He liked the idea of
it, and said I should send him a memorandum of the matter
which he would submit to the Sultan.
June zi
Yesterday a day of great worry. The students had called a rally
to take a stand on the Munich Congress.*
This rally was prohibited by the police. I had to exert every
effort to get the prohibition lifted. It would demoralize our
people. In other ways, too, it could have a very bad effect. Our
movement would get the false appearance of being dangerous to
the state.
Today I shall send Dr. Landau to the office of the president
of the Cabinet Council. There he is to ask whether they intend
to force the Welt, too, into becoming an organ for exposes and
fighting, like the Zeit.
Fight your battles with a hatchet manl
June tj
Yisterday another big row with Benedikt. He came into my
room, first talked about general and editorial matters, then
closed the door and came to speak about the Welt.
He was more urgent than previously. The Well must fold.
1 am to turn it into a news agency or discontinue it, and the
party should issue it in another city, at some other time.
I listened quietly, made no answer.
He begged me: Be a bon garfon [good boy]! Don't be stubborn. Soyez bon prince [Be a good prince] I What are you getting
out of the Welt f You are harming yourself! I feel sorry for you.
In the N. Ft. Pr. you can really go places. Do I need to spell it
out for you? You sec the perspective as well as I do. You can go
to the top with us. This way. however, you are causing us the
greatest embarrassment. We cant stand there as a Jewish sheet.
Especially now, when for the first time in six years there is a
rapprochement again between the German- Nationals and ourlelves (fight over the language ordinances), you start that stuff.
I am (still!) speaking with you not as the editor, but as a pcTtonal friend. Give it up. and it wont be to your disadvantage. '
1 only kept silent. He looked at me with the greatest excitement. He begged, promised, threatened.
Finally I said to him: "You are not well informed about the
mood of the public.
"Your readers wouldnt object if you wrote about Zionism.
Youve become too much of a newspaper baron, you have too
many people who want favors from you; people tell you what
you want to hear, and you dont hear the truth any more.
I finally asked for time to think it over, and we left the office
together.
It is clear to me that the break with the N. Ft. Pt. is imminent

in the next few days.
In the evening I informed the Actions Committee of my difficulties with the N. Ft. Pr. on account of the Welt.
June t 4
On the train. En route to Ischl.
At the station in I inz 1 just saw Bacher, who evidently is coming from Carlsbad and also going to Ischl. Since I have had
wough excitement with Benedikt in Vienna in recent days, I
avoided Bather, pretended not to have seen him. and quickly
570 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR/l
entered my compartment again. Perhaps he did not notice me
In Ischl we shall probably run into each other anyway and probably have an argument. The state of my nerves, to be sure, makes
me wish not to have any exciting discussions now.
Yesterday was an interesting day. I had decided to ask Benedikt for leave, in order to put a stop to this daily strain on mv
heart in those excited conversations with him.
Riding my bicycle to the office yesterday, I said to myself:
this is probably the last time I am going to the Nrur Freie Preue
which has been the object of such ardent efforts on my pan over
so many years. These serious differences must finally lead to my
withdrawal, because I can't possibly accede to Bcnedikts demand,
namely, to discontinue the I Veit.
And, strangely enough, at the thought of leaving this muchenvied position on the N. Ft. Pt., the recognized top literary
post in Vienna, I felt a son of graduates relief. I had a similar
feeling when I left sc bool.
I further thought to myself: this is what death must lie like.
The only painful thing more painful psychically than physically is probably the agony. Death itself may really be a relief
to the dying man.
Then I quite cheerfully packed my feuilleton files, put things
in order, just as a good housewife hangs up her bunch of keys
before she lies down, feeling death coming. Nevertheless, I realize dearly now as before that with my departure from the
N. Fr. Pr., overnight I could become a has-been
The last conversation with Benedikt took a calmer course
than I had thought. I told him:
With your consent I want to go on leave now. I am now
acquainted with your point of view in the matter of the Writ.
and I shall write you my answer by the first of July."
c quickly answered: Dont write to me! I am convinced
t lat you will obey me. I am speaking as your true friend of
course in my interest as well, but not without considering yours.
You do yourself harm when you come forward as a Jew."
I said: Harm? One can harm oneself only by < committing some
mcality
He cried: Certainly the two of us dont need to talk about
character. No one is going to say or believe anything like that
about you."
I concluded: So I am going on leave now. 1 shall send you

feuillrtons. I havent been able to do any work here. These conversations with you have excited me too much."
He replied: Me, too! So you are heeding my friendly advice.
You'll promise me that youll give up the Welt, wont you?"
However, I didnt promise him anything, but only shook my
head mutely.
Nevertheless, we parted as friends."
In the afternoon Bloch telephoned Steiner and requested a

ulk. Steiner should propose a peace treaty to me. Bloch is
afraid that his Wochemehnfl could be ruined and is prepared
to merge with the Writ. He begs for peace. He wants to join
Zionum; all he asks is to be kept alive.
He wants to place his pa|>er completely at the disposal of our
party. We are to appoint the editors, he will pay them. Or we
ibould make the Writ a supplement to the Woe heme hrift.
Naturally I am rejecting this belated proposal. I am only letting him formulate this to pret isely so that later we will be able
t nib his nose in his fslth when he attacks us in the pay of the
nch Jews.
Blochs proposal is the first instance of lightning panic, such
at we shall probably see repeatedly on our way.
The rally of the Zionist students, which was prohibited the

before yesterday, could have done us gTeat harm among the
tDWM dly Philistines.
It was an unfavorable wind; I hastened to bring our boat in
front of the wind again by hoisting the sails differently. The prohibition of Zionist meetings could kill our movement. Today
it is still too weak to resist. Then, too, I was worried that the
Zionist Federation could be dissolved following denunciations
on the part of Community Jews.
That is why I sent Landau to the office of the president of the
Cabinet Council and had hun demand something impossible:
permission for the prohibited rally. That, I knew, we would not
get but we would explore the feeling for or against us, and precisely through the immodesty of a request for a special privilege
give ourselves the appearance of people who have a right to make
demands.
And this is what happened, if I am correctly informed by
Landau. He received the friendliest assurances from Dr. Rostier
(the niece of the coalition), and Badeni gave permission to
hold a meeting with the prohibited agenda, provided that it was
not convened by students.
At the same time, Badeni took cognizance through Rosner
of the anti-Socialist Welt, and Government Councilor Wohl in
the office of the Chief of Police was pop-eyed when Landau transmitted to him the "hint from the top.
In politics one must use difficulties for getting ahead.
July *t
Again on the train, once more en route to Ischl. In the weeks
that have passed I haven't had a moment to make entries in this
new "Log-book of the Mayflower, as the correspondent of the
London Pall Mall Gazette called it when he interviewed me
yesterday at Reichenau about the Congress and Zionism.
I cant even remember any more all that I neglected to recordThe time is past when I was able to note down the little crises
of the day. I he Welt will have to come to the aid of my metnofy
at some future date when I write my memoirs. The Welt is p*'
ing me a tremendous amount of work.
The most interesting thing since my last train-entry was the
necessary shifting of the Congress from Munich to Basel. I did
jvjjj t he idea of going to Munich, which had from the outset
unsuitable to me and which I had accepted only in deferent e to the majority of the Committee on Arrangements.
Then-fore I utilized the pitiful patriotic protests of the Munich
Community chiefs to transfer the Congress to Switzerland.
Basel was chosen after a survey made by our stalwart new
collaborator. Dr. Farbstein of Zurich.
However, despite this I asked Prince Wrede to address a confidential inquiry to the Bavarian government as to whether it
would have had anything against the Congress Minister Feilitsch
confidentially replied to Wrede that the government had no
objections to the Congress ( scil did not favor it either).
I received a letter from Newlinski at F.tretat that had a more

favorable tone. He had probably lost interest in the movement.
The Congrew seems to make an impression on him. He declares
again that he has never ceased "serving the sacred cause and its
prophet.
At last a fine letter from Szdchdnyi Pasha at Constantinople,

in response to the outline (contained in the copy book) which I
tent him.
My project is again being discussed in Yildiz Kiosk. That alone
is wonh something.
What else of an intimate nature ought to be recorded pro

fvlvro [for the future]?
The othrT day Dr. Koketch was deeply hurt because in the
^groda (which I made) of the Congress (which I am making)
of the Zionists (whom I am making) I did not include a change
proposed by the Committee on Arrangements (which doesnt
do a thing). He said: "We are not merely the privy council of an
absolute monarch."
Ischl, July
Another letter from Szdchnyi Pasha. He writes that the lint
favorite, whom he had already won for the proposal and who
was supposed to put it before the Sultan along with the prayer
rug. had then changed his mind again. Thereupon he had turned
to another favorite who was "even more influential" and would
perhaps do it.
I am writing him today that he should just persevere and try
to create a courant dopinion [current of opinion]: tossed-off remarks "that would be the best solution of all difficulties." and
the like could have a great effect. My friends and I would neser
forget his services.
Vienna. August 14
Work on the Congress and on the I Veit in addition to the

Neue Freie Presse is now exhausting all my strength, so that I
cant even muster the energy to make entries in this log-book of
the new Mayflower.
I had been prepared for a collision with Bat her upon returning from my vacation. However, he kept silent, and the day
before yesterday he even jokingly drew my attention to a
editorial in the Deutsche f.eitung about the Zionist (xmgrrv
He may be waiting for Benedikts return to settle the It elt pr"f>
lem. Perhaps the row will come when I try to leave again the
end of this week.
The Zionists of business and philanthropy are coming round

to me again, having realized that they cannot frustrate the Cmgress.
Bambus is said to have the intention of coming to Basel. He
wont get a membership card. Little Dr. Kohn. of the Group
Kohn Rapoport." also known as Group Korah, who tried to
brine about a split among the Zionists in Vienna, has made appli*
grion for membership. He gets a journalists card, at the most.
Colonel Goldsmid writes me a letter oozing with friendship. I
am answering that he should still come, otherwise he would be
eliminated from the nationalist movement forever: 1 will build
him a golden bridge. Finally. Scheid. the intriguer, the man of
mismanagement, is coming to Vienna one of these days allegedly on account of the "wine business; however, I am convinced
that he is doing it because he wants to get closer to me out of fear
of the Congress. At the same time he took out a year's subscription to the Welt and luxuriously paid *0 francs instead of 17
for it. The excess shall be returned to him together with an
ironic remark.
Newlinski is coming to Basel in order to report to the Sultan.

In his letters from F.tretat he claims to have instructions to this
effect. I am pretending to believe it. Obviously he only wants
to see if there is anything to the whole business.
N. unites there is a chance that the Sultan will reply to our
telegram of greeting. A subsequent letter says again that difficulties have cropped up. Consequently the whole thing was not
true But Newlinski can be useful to me in Constantinople just
the same.
Jr tuij le soigner [I am going to nurse him along].
Yesterday I sent a small silver center piece to Constantinople

fft the rummage sale for wounded soldiers.
August *3
Once again on the train, this time rn route to Basel, to the
Zionist Congress The amount of work in recent days was enormous.
576 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.R2L

The apprehended row with Bacher has not taken place to
date. He was even amiable the last few days before my departure
I did a lot of work for the N. Fr. Pr., in order to put hun m
a good mood. When I asked for my additional leave, he autd
a bit grumpy, but then did excuse me until September *. Whereupon he got to speak about my movement. My collaboration with
the Welt must cease, he said.
I replied: "I have published a total of only one signed article
in the Welt."
He said: What else are you doing, then? Surely you dan
want to become an itinerant preacher?"
No," 1 said, "I dont want to be a professional politician.
If that had been my desire, I would have accepted one of the
candidacies for the Reichsrat that were offered to me. Serenissimus,* as we call him at the office, bantered almost graciously: Some pleasure that would be! Id almost prefer to nt
in the Zionist Congress than in the Reichsrat. But sou ought
to stop now. You are a man of letters, aren't you, and, after all
you arc an intelligent man.
Yes, indeed, because 1 want to be an intelligent man I an
bringing my work under the aegis of the Congress. Otherwut
everything up to now would have been nonsense. I have fashiooed
a Congress for the Jews, and let the people help themselves from
this point on, if they really want to. As for myself, there are
times when I have had more than my fill of the whole thing.
And thats the way it is. Of late I have felt much disgust If
the Congress produces no serious results, I intend to withdraw
from the campaign and confine myself to keeping the flan*
alive in the Welt.
Bacher had a satisfied expression when I said this. And when
I told him good-bye on Saturday, he said with a pleased grin:
"Give my regards to the Zionists.
All right, I said "of course, not officially.
namT Hlghnm." a half affrrtionair. halHroaW

name for a running monarch.
So we shall see what the Congress brings. If, as a consequence,
ooliiital powers take the matter under consideration if,
far example. lhc Gcrn,an Kaiscr * ends for mc 1 ihal1 kcc P on
lllung. If not, and if the moneyed Jews also show no readiness
to any forward the movement which I have brought to this stage
at such great personal and material sacrifice. I shall retire.
Should I be offered the presidency of the Congress. I shall at
any rate accept it only this once. Even if I go on directing the
movement. I do not wish to preside over the Congress again.
Fact is which I conceal from everyone that I have only
an army of shnorrers [beggars].
I am in command only of boys, beggars, and prigs. Some of
them exploit me. Others are already jealous or disloyal. The
third kind drop off as soon as some little career opens up for
them Few of them are unselfish enthusiasts. Nevertheless, this
armv would be entirely sufficient if only success were in sight.
Then it would quickly become a well-conditioned, regular army.
So we shall see what the immediate future holds in store.
August S 4
On the train, en route to Zurich.
This rooming, when I was coming down the stairs in the
Tiroler Hof, who should step up to me? Hechlerl He had been
theTe since the night before, and was delivering a lecture in the
talon about me and my movement while 1 was taking a solitary

evening stroll through the streets of Innsbruck, thinking of anything but that the upper ten* in the Tiroler Hof were at that
moment being instructed in Zionism by a clergyman.
Hechler gToaned softly but audibly about the discomfort of
hu third-class trip.
I shall wire him 15 guilders fTorn Buchs, with which he can
tonvert his ticket into second class.
An odd thing, one of the secret curiosities of the Congress

the bet that most of the threads which I have spun up to now
* la taftkh In the original.
578 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER/i
will converge in Basel. Hechler is here, Newlinski will be, and
tutti quanti [all the rest) who have helped in creating the people,
movement under my direction. It will he one of my tasks to keep
them from noticing one another too much, for they would probably lose something of their faith in the cause and in me if they
saw with what slight means I have built up the present structure
The whole thing is one of those balancing feats which look jug
as natural after they are accomplished as they seemed improbable
before they were undertaken.
One of my worries is Newlinski both what he will say about
my people and what my people will say about him. I must endeavor to keep him a Heart [apart]. I consider it entirely possible
that the Bambuses, the little Kohns, even Dr. landau, for whom
1 have created a position and in whom I already scent disloyalty
and ingratitude, will run up to Newlinski and run me down.
1 shall demand of Newlinski urxe fulfills absolue [absolute
loyalty], explain clearly to him that he is to know no one but me
He should not have dealings with anyone, not let himself be
sounded out by anyone. I may invite him to an inner committee
meeting, but only if it is a highly opportune occasion.
On the other hand, if only because of Newlinski. I must give
the Congress a certain toumurr [style].
In other ways, too, the direction of these proceedings will, 1
believe, be a rare feat which will have no other spectator than
the one who is performing it.
An egg-dance amongst eggs which are all invisible.
* Egg f the N. Ft. Pr. which I must not compromise or
furnish a pretext for easing me out.
2 Egg of the Orthodox.
3 - Egg of the Modernists.
4 Egg of Austrian patriotism.
5- Egg of Turkey, of the Sultan.
the Russian government, against which nothing unpleasant may be said, although the deplorable situation of the
Russian Jews will have to be mentioned.
thE C oMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 579
Egg of the Christian denominations, on account of the
u 0 |y Places. ,
In short, it is a concise digest of all the difficulties with which
I have struggled until now. Added to this are a few other dance-
(ggs:
Egg Edmond Rothsc hild.
Egg Hoses ci Zion in Russia.
Egg of the colonists, whose help from Rothschild must not be
queered, tout en considtrant leurs misFres [while taking proper
account of their troubles].
Then, the eggs of personal differences.
Egg of envy, egg of jealousy. 1 must conduct the movement imprnoiially and yet cannot let the reins out of my hands.
It is one of the labors of Hercules without overestimating
it for I no longer have any rest for it.
August 17. Basel
Congress days!
Upon my arrival the day before yesterday I went right to the
office which the City of Basel has placed at our disposal.
It is a vacant tailors shop. I am having the name of the firm
covered over with a cloth, in order to forestall any bad jokes.
Similarly, in the matter of a hall I am concerned about our
not looking ridiculous. Dr. Farbstein of Zurich has hired the
Burgvogtei, a large but unsuitable place with a music-hall
stage. I asked for suggestions as to how we could make the backdropi for the %altimhanques [tumblers] disappear, but ended up
by hmng different and more dignified quarters.
To the Braunschweig Restaurant, where the food is quite bad.

rsery train brings Congress mcmlvers from all sorts of places,
caked with coal-dust, sweaty from their journey, full of intentions most of them with good ones, a few with bad.
Last night there arrived the "enemies Turow. Kohn, and an
unpleasantly sly-looking man from Warsaw, a certain Rabbinowicz, a real Judas, who started out by assuring me of his esteem.
In the afternoon Mr. Bourlier from Paris called on me and
interviewed me for the Journal.
All day there were caucuses of the Russians, conferring about
I dont know what.
My fine friend Wolffsohn from Cologne foresees dissension and
division.
We shall admit Bambus, Turow, and even little Kohn to the
Congress after all.
Morning of August 30, Basel
I no longer need to write the history of yesterday; it is already
being written by others.
I was calm and took note of the smallest details even yesterday.
1 have to leave for a session now and wont record the intimate
details until the train ride home: Nordau's ill-humor at the preliminary conference because he was not made president, and how
I gradually soothed his spirits.
Many people were profoundly moved yesterday 1 was quite

calm, as one should be when events occur as planned. Only when
I mounted the dais, immediately after my acclamation as president, and found among the mail the first letter from my Hans,
was I greatly stirred. At the presidential table the present significance of which I am not overestimating, but which will grow
in history I wrote Congress postcards to my parents, my wife,
and each of my children, Pauline, Hans, and T rude.
This is perhaps the first act of childishness I have committed in
two years, since the movement began.
September 3. Vienna
The past few days, the most important since the conception of
the idea that time in Paris, have now rushed past. In Basel and
on the way home I was too exhausted to make notes, although
they are more necessary than ever, because other people, too,
THE COMPUTE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER/.L 581
* j|rtldy noticing thM our movement has entered the stream
0< w n ,' sum up the Basel Congress in a word-which I
.mil guard against pronouncing publicly it would be this. At
o^-l l founded the Jewish State.
. id this out loud today. I would be answered by universal
, ILr Perhaps in five years, and certainly in fifty, everyone
wilfknow it. The foundation of a State lies in the will of the
1 pie for a State, yes. even in the will of one sufficiently powerhd mdividual (ltat c'rst mot [I am the State] Louts XIV).
Territory is only the material basis, the State, even when it postata territory, is always something abstract. The Church Sute
At Basel, then, I created this abstraction which, as such, is
invisible to the vast majority of people. And with infinitesimal
means. I gradually worked the people into the mood for a State
and made them feel that they were ns National Assembly.
One of my first practical ideas, months ago, was that people
ibould be made to attend the opening session in tails and white
tie. This worked out splendidly. Formal dress makes most people stiff. This stiffness immediately gave rise to a sedate tone
one they might not have had in light-colored summer suits or
travel clothes and I did not fail to heighten this tone to the
point of solemnity.
Nordau had turned up on the first day in a frock coat and
flatly refused to go home and change to a full-dress suit. I drew
him aside and begged him to do it as a favor to me. I told him:
today the presidium of the Zionist Congress is nothing at all,
we still have to establish everything. People should get used to
leeing the Congress as a most exalted and solemn thing. He allowed himself to be persuaded, and in return I hugged him gratefully. A quarter of an hour later he returned in formal dress.
In general it was my constant concern during those three days
to make Nordau forget that he was playing second fiddle at the
CogTess, something from which his self-esteem visibly suffered.
582 THE COMPLETE

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thE COMPLETE D1AR.es OF THEODOR HER7.L 585
nrrasion I emphasized that I was in the chair purely
* CV "!:.. I rta sons. because of my knowledge of pcrvms a..d
l0 ' S*^7du, in all other situations he war enmled to precei^ThU improved h.t mood somewhat; fortunately, loo. las
dOX . successful than my purely political one. and
^ *out everywhere acclaiming hU address as the best at the
C f!'? rlv , had to smooth down a few other sensibilities that
tad been rallied in the crush. Steiner had been passed by in the
of the committees, and went about with a deeply of.
rf sir I hastened .0 make him chairman for the gala recepdi and head of the organuatton committee, whereupon he
mtled himself on the speakets platform and kept the speaker,
from going up there. They had to talk from the Aw wh.le he
at on a chair on the platform Also among those offended were
Minu and a few others whom I had spoken to too harshly be thev tat daydreaming and motionless at the presidential
Everything rwted on my ihouldrr*; and ihii not ju%t wm<-
thing I am telling mytclf. for it k proved when on the

afternoon of the third day I left became of fatigue and turned the
chairman ship over to Nordau. Then everything wav hcltcr
tkelter. and I was told afterwards that it was pandemonium.
Even before I took the chair, things didn't click.
Good Dr. Lippe of Jassy, as the senior member, presided. It
had been agreed that he was to talk for ten minutes at most.
In the great hubbub he had not submitted his speech to me;
and now, when he was standing up there, he spoke without stopping for a half-hour and made one blunder after another. I nt
below him on the platform, next to Nordau, sent word up to
Lippe four times, begging him to stop and finally threatening
him. The thing was beginning to verge on the ridiculous.
Then 1 was called upon to speak. I was greeted with storms of
applause, but I was calm and remained so and intentionally refrained from bowing, so as to keep things at the outset from
turning into cabotinage [a cheap performance] or conference
[showmanship].
Then the presiding committee was elected by acclamation.
We walked up. The Congress cheered.
I called upon Nordau. He spoke wonderfully. He is and will
remain a monument of our age. When he returned to the presidential table, I came toward him and said: Monumrnium aere
perennium [A monument more enduring than bronze]!
Then the reports went off according to schedule. And now
it became clear why 1 had had to go to the Palais Bourbon for
four years. Subsconsciously I was full of the niceties of parliamentary procedure. I was affable and energetic after the model
of Floquet, and at critical moments I endeavored to coin mott
prtsidentiels [presidential phrases].
On the first day I made a number of mistakes; by the second,
according to the consensus, I had already become fully equal to
the situation. There were critical moments c.g., when a certain
Mandelkem got up and moved a vote of thanks on the part of
the Congress to Baron Edmond Rothschild. I rejected this proposal a limine [outright], because we had no right to vote in this
fashion on a question of principle, infiltration. I pulverized
Mandelkem* by saying that he was placing the Congress in the
embarrassing position of having to choose between ingratitude
toward a charitable enterprise and the abandonment of principles. The Congress cheered me.
Another critical moment when the Bimbaum scandal occurred. This Bimbaum, who had deserted Zionism for Socialism
three years before I appeared on the scene, poses obtrusively as
my "predecessor." In his brazen begging-letters, which he wrote
me and others, he sets himself up as the discoverer and founder
of Zionism, because he has written a pamphlet like many another since Pinsker (whom, after all, I had not read either).
He now had a few young people make the proposal that the
Translator 'i Note: Heal hid tilde iinguittk fun here. ~h4*nd*lkern~ U tl*
German word for almond.'*
I u f the Action, Committee be elected directly
^ v lht Congreu And thi, creature, who at the fim
Auembly of the Jew, ha, no other thought but to get
S^ll voted a .upend, ha, the nerve to compare humelf to me.
in hi. thnorring letter,, here. too. the audacity along with
c^jnng The .ecTelary -general, a, muted lepicvenutiv e ol
^ togreu. u .opposed to counter balance the other twentymembers of the Action, Committee!
I declared that I could not imagine how under such circumtunces anyone would accept a seal on that committee
The motion fell through ignominiously. It was the only discordant note at the Congress, instigated by Schalit. a young man
whom I had showered with kindness.
Mrs. Sonnenschem of the American Jeweu said to me during
ihis incident I had handed the chair over to Nordau "They
trill crucify you yet and I will be your Magdalene."
Otherwise everything went quite smoothly. Since I was not in
the hall during the debate on colonization. Bambus ventured
to the platform and sneaked himself onto some committee. I let
the bastard go, also let that rascal Scheid go unscathed, because
in the meantime the Congress had taken such a turn toward great
nos that I did not want to spoil the impression any more with
these annoyances.
Quils aillent le faire pendre ailleurs [Let them go and get
themselves hanged elsewhere].
Perhaps the most important episode, from the point of view
of principle although it may have gone completely unnoticed
was my introduction of the representative system, that is, the
A Wl- TL * *** 1 1 J - u
gates
On taking leave of Nordau, I said to him: "Next year we
dull define things further. You will become president of the
Congress, I, of the Executive Committee."
However, he was unwilling to commit himself in any wray.
Minor incidents without number.
586 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZi
Everybody came to me for information about everything, im.
portant and indifferent. Four or five people were always talking
to me at the same time. An enormous mental strain, ninr.
everybody had to be given a definite decision. I felt as though
I had to play thirty-two games of chess simultaneously.
And the Congress was magnificent. Once, while Nordau was
presiding, I entered the hall from the rear. The long, green
table on the dais, with the elevated seat of the president, the
platform draped in green, the table for stenographers and the
press, all made such a strong impression on me that I quickly
walked out again, so as not to lose my composure. Later 1 found
my own explanation why I was so relaxed while everyone else
was excited and dazed.
I had no idea how magnificent the CongTess looked in this
sober concert-hall with its unadorned grey walls. I had had no
previous experience of such things, otherwise I, too, would
probably have been swept with emotion.
And my best memory of these Congress days is of a few quarterhour chats at night on the balcony of the Hotel Trois Rois with
that fine old banker Gustav G. Cohen, whom I had nicknamed
' Beaujolais fleuri" after the small French wine he drank at meals.
September 4 , on the train to Ischl
When, upon my return two days ago, 1 came into the office
of the N. Ft. Ft., a salvo of laughter greeted my appearance in
the city room. The chorus was composed of Sthiitz, Kollmer
(nd kohn), Oppenheim, etc.
I put a good fate on it. When I entered Bathers room, he
received rne with an uncertain smile. He didn't want to hear
a word about that business, he said. But I had learned from
Miinz that he had sent for all the Swiss newspapers.
I hen we talked for half an hour about everyday matters. He

told me the story of a thrilling detective novel he had just read.
I he funny thing about it was that he kept turning o that I
wouldn t catch sight of the thick packet of newspapers in his
COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 587
rkrt They were the Swiss papers which had just
outer coat pocwci. ,
anivttiNewlinski has now proved himself a scoundrel toward me
teTday. when I called on him in order to discuss the results
, . 0^1 Congress and the next moves to be made in Turkey.
told roe that he had spoken with Edmond Rothschild in
Ttas thunderstruck, for he could only have gone to Roth
tchild as a traitor. For an entree he had probably used my conWenual letters, in which I wrote about my plans for the Conacted very reserved, did not want to name the persons who
had put him in touch with Rothschild. I presume it was that
other rascal, Scheid.
Fortunately I managed to keep myself under control. He told
me Rothschild had expressed the opinion that my Jewish State
had done a lot of damage; Rothschild was against me.
From now on I shall be on my guard against this scoundrel,
but 1 must not break with him, because he can do me enormous
harm in Constantinople far more harm than he could ever have
done me good. 1 did not even dare to let on what I thought of
his low-down trick. I even wound up by telling him. as though
1 believed in his sincerity, that he had done well to join me. now
that I was obviously in control of the entire movement.
"Four nr vous iles pas rmbarqu/ sur une mauvaise galere
[You didn't get aboard a bad hooker].'*
Italian and French papers report that the Vatican has issued
a circular letter protesting in the name of Christendom against
d* projected occupation of the Holy Places by the Jews. One
fJ f these days I plan to ask the Viennese Nuncio for a confidential
audience.
On my return to Vienna the day after tomorrow, I intend
to address the following letter to Count Hadeni:
Your Excellency will, I hope, remember your humble servant
from the negotiations about a newspaj>er which were conducted
two years ago.
Until now I have made no use of the permission, most graciously accorded me then, to request a private audience at vime
time.
Now there is an occasion of whose importance I hope to convince Your Excellency if I am favored with a chance to explain
it. However, I beg Your Excellency not to gTant me the conference at the time of the general audiences, but perhaps some
evening, when Your Excellency has a free half-hour. Also, it
would be desirable in the interest of complete secrecy if Your
Excellency notified me not through official channels, but directly: on such-and-such a day, at such-and-such an hour.
Assuring Your Excellency of my absolute devotion, I am
Most respectfully,
Dr. Theodor Herd.
September 6, on the train to Vienna
For the time being I am not sending the letter to Badeni, in
order to wait and see what attitude the N. Fr. Pr. is going to take
after Renedikts return.
However, I will in any rase seek immediate contact with the
Papal Nuncio in Vienna if he will receive me and get the
Congress report into the hands of the German Kaiser.
A Basel memory.
In deference to religious considerations. I went to the synagogue on Saturday before the Congress. The head of the congregation called me up to the Torah. I had the brother-in-law of
my Paris friend Beer, Mr. Markus of Meran, drill the brokht
[benediction] into me. And then I ( limbed the steps to the altar,
THE COMPLEX DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 589
.vetted than on all the CongrcM days. The lew He!* words ( the brokhe caused me more anx.ety than my
dosing address and the whole dtrection of the
proceedingsSeptember 9, Vienna
Bimbaum. more brazen and beggar-l.ke, is playing all h.s
^ to become secretary -general As yet there u not a penny
initcripts and already he wants his debts paid by the committee
a well aTa job (evidently a lifetime one) paymg-at least-. 800
^wha^For a pamphlet, which has remained obscure, and
a few articles.
When I appeared on the scene, he had been away from / .on.sm
for three years, having gone over to Socialism.
Despite this he had it spread around in Basel that without
Bimbaum. Heal and the Basel CongTe** would not have been
possible. Great applause!
I knew my people when I had the "group photographed in
the Caf* Louvre.
Rabbi Seff made an interesting proposal. The Russian Jews
in Amenca should be trained.
I had an idea along this line: Jewish rifle clubs.
Goldbaum sent me the following item from a German paper:
London. Sept. 7 (TelegT) . The Daily Srw$ reports from Rome
that Msgr. Bonetti. the apostolic representative in Omstantinople, has delivered a holograph letter to the Pope from the
Sultan expressing the latter's satisfaction at the imminent peace
treaty The Pope is reported to have called Msgr. Bonetti to
Rome in order to consult with him on measures to be taken
tpiw the Zionist movement. In this matter the Pope is said to
have turned to France as well, as the protector of the Christians
the Orient (?).
Even earlier, Italian papers had taken over from the Osservatore Romano the news that the Vatican intended to make a protest against the occupation of Palestine by Jews.
I am now writing the following letter to the local Nuncio,
Msgr. Emigidius Taliani, Archbishop of Sebaste, Apost. Nuncio:
Monsignor:*
1 have the honor of requesting Your Excellency for an audience
in order to speak to you about Zionism, a movement which quite
recently held its CongTess at Basel, under my chairmanship. During the past year I had the honor of having a rather lengthy talk
on the subject with Your Excellencys illustrious predecawr,
Monsignor Agliardi. Since then important events have taken
place. I humbly believe that it would be of some interest to HU
Holiness the Pope to have accurate information about our movement, and I should be happy to furnish it to Your Excellency
with absolute frankness and in the hope of not displeasing HU
Holiness. The news items in the press are, for the most part,
absurd travesties, and they could inspire regrettable judgmenu
as well as decisions that might be irremediable. 1 have friends
in Rome, but not everything can be explained in writing, and in
my opinion it is urgent that 1 be heard before Roma sit locuta
[Rome has spoken]. I have every reason to believe that the enlightened leaders of the Church will not regTet having listened to
me. Until this day I have not betrayed the confidence of the
princes and the statesmen who have honored me with it. Do permit me to assure you in advance of my absolute discretion.
Since I am still in the country, I beg Your Excellency to address the reply you might care to make to me at the offices of
the newspaper Die Welt, Vienna II, Rein brand tstrassc n. My
associates will immediately forward the letter to me; it might
be useful to put it in an envelope without a coal of arms.
If Your Excellency is kind enough to receive me, I should
like to request that I be scheduled for an evening hour when
there will be no other visitors.
* In French in the original.
Altaic aatp*. Monsignor, these expressions ol my deep respect
absolute drvouo" Dr. Theodor Herrl.
September 1 1
Received a card from the secretary of the nunciature: the
Nunao is receiving every day between .o and it a m. So he
too not wish to receive me separately, but in the general audience I shall go there on T uesday the 14th.
In today s Neues Wiener Tagblatt, the second editorial about
dw Zionist Congress. Dry presentation of the facts with subtle
malice toward the N. Fr. Pr., whose roost prominent contributor, Dr. Th. H.. was president of the CongTess.
gacher was extraordinarily amiable today.
When we were leaving. S. Mum came and told us that the
Pope had called Msgr. Bonetti from Constantinople to Rome,
in order to discuss steps against Zionism with him.
1 a. rmliltr It V for ZlOIl *
Vfunz abondait dans ce sens [also was of this opinion]: hadn t
I got this item into the papers?
I aid: Don't give me credit for any such Macchiavellian designs. I am a posheter yid [simple Jew).
Bather laughed.
September 13. Vienna
Evenu tome and go about which I would have written many
pages in the early period of the movement. Now they rush past,
crowd one another out, before I have had time to gel them down.
The Nuncio did not receive me when I came. HU servant told
e in broken German: You are quite unknown to His Excellency. Come back when Msgr. Montagnini U here."
Inunhedout.
Rtnc seems to have calmed down since then. It was a fausse
alerte [false alarm]. Perhaps they took the Rothschilds' word for
it that there was nothing to it. Sooner or later I shall have to
start a campaign against the Rothschilds. Titre tout indiqui
[The definitely indicated title]: The House of Rothschild"
objective presentation of the world menace that this octopus
constitutes.
In the Politische Korrespondenz there was a disdainful denial
to the effect that the Curia had not made the Zionist Congress the
object of diplomatic action, and would not do so in the future
either.
However. Rome did get interested in it.
Newlinski performed me an honest service in his Correspondance de IEst, in the form of two articles, the first of which pacified Rome, the second, Constantinople.
The day before yesterday I went to see him at SteinamangeT
he had called me urgently from Vasvar and in the shabby
restaurant at the railroad station we drafted the letter which I
am to write the Sultan. The letter will go off tomorrow, to Nun
Bey.
Newlinski is my directeur du protocole [protocol counselor),
he tells me the hundred-and-one petty details of diplomatic etiquette, e.g., that the letter to the Sultan is to be sealed with five
seals, but should bear no inscription.
He told me that ready money should be made available for
Nuri Bey une vingtaine de mille francs comme entree en
matiere [some twenty thousand francs to start with]. And our
movement consists of beggars, even though in the background
there are the big moneybags of the I.C.A., etc. What feats I am
performing in this respect will never be understood, ncveT ap
predated.
I must make my tools myself to fell the tree. The Stone Age
of politics!
Today, incidentally, I plan to stir up the committee, so that
they will help after all!
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER/L 593
. . Rtntdikt returned troro his vacation. He made a
JTto Ion,, a. me. 1 .poke unabashed!, about the Congress.
U'levi lcni. furious.
Whereupon 1 .witched to pleasant subjects.
September 24
Last night, session of the Inaction Committee at Dr. Kokesth s.
^ Bimbaum, the "secretary-general." has as his only general
pt ,on to date one document which guarantees him employ*
mr nt for one year and agatnst whtch he wants to rent fum, tore.
Mv good Schnirer. who is certainly as honest as the day is long
and an energetic person, demanded as the most important lh '"
ao agenda" for the Actions Committee. But behind this guilcImness there may be the wish to interfere with me.
| requested the gentlemen first of all to raise some money for
the * action." So far I have simply paid everything that has been
needed out of my pocket. If the committee wishes to ">rule.
it must first pass the test of strength getting 5000 guilders into
the treasury.
Kokesch declares this to be a flat impossibility. Quod est
demonstrandum [Which has to be demonstrated] He is a fine
person, too, but where would we be if we were dependent upon
him.
They want to issue coupon books on the shekel. I figure
that in this way 835 guilders and 75 kreurers will be on hand.
unless I make a drive.
After I have made it. Kokest h will probably believe that with- . . _ - .. 1 !
October 6 (Day of Atonement)
I am now tacking the Jewish Company .*
The Basel Congress meant the creation of the Society of Jew
looking forward to the Jewish State, although with opportunistic
la taflith la the original
modifications and weakly executed. The work of the coming year
will be the establishment of the Jewish Company, provisionally
named the Jewish Colonial Rank.
I have entered into correspondence on the subject with Schidrowitz, who is on news agency duty in I-ondon, and I am writing
a pseudonymous article, intended to open the discussion, for
the next number of the Welt.
During the coming months the idea of a bank will arouse the
lower instincts of Israel, just as the idea of the Congress frightened the higher ones and ended by inspiring them.
October 17
On idle days I am too exhausted, on full ones too occupied,
to make any entries in this diary. Thus it actually becomes pooreT
and poorer while the movement becomes richer and richer.
When I began to write down the novel of my life, all the shadows
that moved across my soul, and all the lights as well, were on
these pages. Now everything has moved up to the surface. I am
also more aware of my responsibility to express myself about
persons, because obviously these diaries will some day be material for the history of the Jews.
In this way a great deal goes by unrecorded. Yet there are details of great significance, such as this one:
A few days ago I told young Schalit, whom I had hired as an
editor of the Welt upon his request, to write a letter. Another
student was present in the office, and Schalit acted as though he
had not heard my instructions. When we were alone again, he
requested me not to give him such orders in front of strangers.
I said that he could well put up with this. He retorted that I did
not realize how frequently I insulted people.
I: When did I ever offend you?"
He: For instance, in Basel, at the preliminary conference,
when you yelled to me to stand by the door and let no one in.
Then it suddenly occurred to me that at the Congress this
Schalit was responsible for the Birnhaum incident, the only
the three days. In Basel I forgave him for it, because I

15 * for thoughtlcuncss and ineptitude. Now I recogniied it
,1m it waa: an act of revenge.
Lut night at half past ten. when I returned from the theater.
1 found a telephone message from Bather, asking me to come to
ihc office right away. I thought a brawl over ray amtlc Mau.cher was in the offing and once again got ready to do battle.
These alerts dont do ones heart any good, but they strengthen
I nun morally.
fame alette [false alarmj. All he wanted was a change in a
brief item that I had written for today's number.
The Daily Chronicle proposes a European conference for the

iculcment of the Jewish Question, as the Pall Mall Gazette had
proposed previously. This gives me a talking point for my request to the German Raiser for an audience.
Draft (first to be discussed with Hechler):

Your Imperial Majesty:
At the suggestion of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of
Baden 1 am addressing a respectful request for an audience directly to Your Imperial Highness.
Through my book The Jewish State, which was published
early in 1896, there came into being in all parts of the world a
movement called the Zionist movement. It has stirred many
hundreds of thousands of people.
On the last three days of this past August, *04 representatives
of the Jewish people from all countries assembled at Basel. This
0 gr of Jews, which elected me President, formulated the
P ro gram of Zionism: the creation of a publicly and legally safeflnnded home for those Jews who cannot or will not assimilate
U1 present places of residence.
A few days ago a proposal appeared in the British press to
convene a European conference for the discussion and solution
of this problem which exists in so many countries. Journals of
the most divergent lines such as the conservative I'all Af all
Gazette and the radical Daily Chronicle have agTeed on the
necessity of such a conference. Apart from the fact that the solution of the Jewish Question would also mean the solution of
part of the Near Eastern question, a relocation in colonies of
the non absorbable part of Jewry would be a relief to most countries, in which the Jews are either perishing in dire financial
straits, are being driven into the arms of the revolutionary parties through social ostracism, or dominate financial affairs in a
way deeply regretted by us non-moneyed Jews.
I must fear I should be unable to gain the attention of Your
Imperial Majesty for a lengthy discussion in writing. This extremely weighty matter gives rise to so many questions that even
the most cursory treatment would have to be unbearably prolix.
If I am most graciously granted an audience, I believe 1 shall
be able to furnish information on all details.
Our movement, which is already wide-spread, has everywhere
to fight an embittered battle with the revolutionary parties
which rightly sense an adversary in it. We are in need of encouragement, even though it has to be a carefully kept secret
I am placing all my hopes in the Kaiser, who looks beyond ihr
seas with a vision as wide as the world and of whose deeds his-
tory will extol precisely those which are not understood by the
petty people of the present.
Whenever and wherever Your Majesty may summon me for
an audience, I shall be at hand immediately.
With profound respect, I remain
Your imperial Majesty's very obedient servant
I)r. Th. H.
To the Grand Duke of Baden:
Once more 1 take the liberty of respectfully invoking the aid
TH E COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 597
Royal Highness. The movement, about which I was
* Y ^ sl to make a report one unforgettable day in Karlsruhe,
^ CrBU become a subject of international discussion, particuSr lhmugh the Basel Congress. The struggles and sufferings
j have had to go through in the meantime for this humane projhave been difficult enough. Now. public opinion in England
falling for a European conference on the tentorial solution
of the Jewish Question.
Last year Your Royal Highness advised me most graciously to
address a request for an audience directly to His Imperial Majory. Fearing that my application could go unnoticed among
countless similar ones, I have been waiting for a sufficiently serious occasion. This now seems to me to be at hand.
If Your Royal Highness would have the goodness to hand my
enclosed letter to the Kaiser now that he is staying in Karlsruhe,
or to send it on to him, I should know at least that His Majesty
has received my request.
May God. who has set the princes so far above the other people and en I ighiens them, be with my truly serious request.
With deepest respect and gratitude, 1 remain
Your Royal Highness devoted
Dr. Th. H.
Dated and mailed on Oc tober t *.
Will an answer come???
October 17
Something strange has happened now. On the day after this
letter had gone off, the Grand Duke of Baden, who had been
Imng most quietly for a long time, suddenly stepped into the
European spotlight.
He had wished to visit the (aar, who was staying at Darmstadt,
d this request was denied. The Grand Duke published this
htt in the Karlsruhe Court Gazette and then the hundreddioutand bells of the world press began to ring.
Where is my poor letter now? After all. I know from the hustle
598 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.RZL
and bustle at my own Congress that at such a moment one no
longer knows ou dormer de la tile [whether one is coming or
going].
But how odd is this coincidence that I had to write a lost let*
ter to the Grand Duke at the precise moment that quiet man
gets into a hurly-burly. One day earlier he might have listened
to me et encore [and then]!

On the other hand, a possibility of rendering him a little
courtesy has opened up. On the occasion of the denied visit, the
N. Fr. Pr. published a very sympathetic editorial (by Goldbaumi,
and yesterday 1 sent it to the Grand Duke.
Will he express his thanks and, to show his appreciation, forward my letter to the Kaiser? After all, that is all I need. Once
I have that audience with the Kaiser, a great deal will have been
gained.
But I dont believe it. Since I have been receiving so many
letters myself, I have known how hard-hearted the recipient of
much mail becomes toward his correspondents. And compared
to him, I am still young, poor, powerless.
Lefons des choses [Object lessons]! I am getting to know life
from many sides.
Goldbaumi While rummaging around yesterday, I happened

to come across the page-proofs of the Jewish Stale, which he had
returned to me uncut.
Now he writes Zionist articles for the Welt as Spectator."
Dr. Mandclstamm of Kiev is trying to induce a few Kiev millionaires to give money for the formation of a newspaper jointstock company. One million required. My father and I are willing to give 100,000 guilders if the Russians contribute the
remaining 900,000.
Following Mandelstamm's advice I am sending a business represenutive (Steiner) to Kiev.
& - er w jshcd to have it stipulated that his name would be
h oaper on equal terms with mine. This I categorically rewill merely be chief business manager if something
Ttfam already so exhausted that I dont care whether the
pper materializes or not. I have been wasteful in managing my
If the Russians put up enough money, it might be possible
ercn to force the N. Fr. Pr. to capitulate. With three millions 1
on easily buy it out. and that would of course be the best thing.
With the N. Fr. Pr. in our hands we could work wonders. Vederemo [We shall see].
On my walk this afternoon, powerful daydreams once again:
about a trip to Palestine next Spring. If I establish the newspaper as well as the Jewish Bank in the coming months, then the
ihip that I charter for the voyage will no doubt cause a sensation
in the Mediterranean.
At the head of a newspaper, supported by a new Ottoman
Bank, I am certain of a gala reception by the Sultan.
Fantasies!
But the man who brought the daydreams he had while strolling
through the Tuilerics gardens and the Palais Royal in June, 1895
to Basel and the Congress may yet sail the Mediterranean Sea as
a Jew returning home.
But I am as tired as an old man.
In this weeks number of the Welt, I had Kellner launch the

Jewish Trades Unions .
An article in the Jewish Chronicle by Mr. Delaforce fwho

something else namely, the formation of the traditional
Eogluh Trades Unions in every country) had given me the idea
*lU|)hh in original.
of setting up, in the form of such Trades Unions, the workingmen's cadres for the coming migration.
Kellner didnt quite understand me; but in the discussion
which is being started, it will be possible to develop the idea.
November 5
I sent Steiner to Kiev to speak with Brodsky about the paper
which is to be founded. Steiner reports that B., whom Prof.
Mandelstamm had prepared, has been won for the project.
November 5
Today, a row with Bacher.
Bloch's Wochenschrift carried a perfidious article: 'Herzl and
tli, \ / r P
After we had taken care of our editorial matters, there was the
Wochenschrift lying on Bachers desk. He asked whether I had
put it there. I hadnt. But why didn't he read it. He did. Meanwhile I looked out the window. I didn't want to leave l>efore he
had finished. Then he said: "This is unbearable. You have to
choose between us and the Well.
I said: "I have acceded to your request not to sign my name in
the Welt. I can't go any farther. If you consider it incompatible,
please tell me so formally. I have made a pledge. It is as if you
presumed that I would not keep my word. A man depends upon
his word. I shall keep mine, no matter what may be destroyed .
At this he backed down, gave the conversation a turn to more
general things, and we argued about the policy of the N. Ft. Pt.
He even said good-bye to me with gTeat cordiality.
I won todays battle. Tomorrow it will probably start up again,
on account of my article "The Hunt in Bohemia. It is a creeping crisis with a certain end my end.
November M
This afternoon, read my Ghetto at Countess KielmannseggT
The Count (the governor) came in during the second act, saying
thE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 601
he was very busy and could only stay a moment. Then he reamed to the end. with growing interest.
It had come about in this way. Ten days ago I decided to give
the Ghetto to Director Jauner for the < jirltheater. It was simply
that 1 expected once again, as so often before in these past two
-an to be removed from the N. Fr. Pr. Once out of it, I would
heboycotted. Not a soul would take anything from me any
longer: least of all would a theatre director risk incurring the
^pleasure of the N. Fr. Pr. because of a Jewish play.
I called Jauner to my place nine days ago and read the
Ghetto to him. He was delighted, laughed, cried. Only, misgiving* about censorship! Would be best, he said, if I read the
play to the governors wife. I consented, he spoke with the
Countess and this afternoon I read it. Reading a great success.
Afterwards I spoke with the governor about the Dreyfus affair
which, strangely enough, is active again at this particular time
just as it was three years ago, at the time when I was writing the
Ghetto.
November <9
Badeni is overthrown. I have been to Parliament during the
paw few days, watching the last mistakes of this amiable man,
who began with too much hand-shaking in the C hamber of
Deputies and ended by having the police marrh in I happened
to be a witness to both the first and the last sessions under Prime
Minister Badeni
The day before yesterday and yesterday, the revolution spilled
from Parliament out into the street, and yesterday afternoon the
Enipemr dropped Badeni.
I had to think of what he told me two years ago: "Je ne foutrai
P* le camp [I won't beat it]! ... It u not impossible
hat many things would have happened differently in Austria if
I had accepted his proposition at that time and become a better
counselor to him than Privy Councilors Feiberg and Halban,
*ho were around him.
How many acts of cowardice make a battlel
Gautsch, a plucky and pliable official, is his successor.
He is of the Taaffe school and will probably work with the
anti-Semites again. I don't think he will last long, and after him
will come the clericals. The Jews are making a bad exchange.
The N. Fr. Pr., which had headed the lynch-justice campaign
against the language ordinances, will no doubt soon bitterly regret that Baden i is gone.
The policy 1 have to pursue for my movement is not clear to
me yet. For the present, wait and see.
Nordau writes that he is trying to be received by the German

Kaiser in causa Zionism. If he manages it, he will be the head
man in the procession I have created. But its all right with me.
Let the cause grow over my head. I am writing him my consent
and asking him also to go to Pobedonostsev and to the Czar. I
am writing him further that I want to make him governor of
the Jewish Bank. Jealousy is stupid; then, too, I am not on the
make. My present dream: to write a verse play (Renaissance
costumes).
Nordau also reports someone came to see him about a loan
for the Turkish government. The latter wants 40 million francs
and is willing to give in return the concession for the railroad
between the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Persia as well as the
right to settle 70,000 square kilometers in Palestine. Lnfortunately the rich bastards arc not available to us, and the Bank
does not exist yet.
Nobember 19
It has occurred to me to offer Nordau's loan to the Jewish
Colonisation Association .* 1 am writing him to see Zadoc Kahn
and tell him that I offer to withdraw from the movement if the
I.C.A. carries this out.
Vienna, November 29, 1897, at night
Dearest Friend:
A letter that arrived this afternoon prompts me to wme you
once more today.

The matter of the Turkish loan is very important, and the
gives me an idea of where the resources might be found.
The Jewish Colonisation Association (Hirsch Fund) is to have
its meeting in Paris in a few days. All the gentlemen will be
present.
I would now ask you to submit ray following proposals to
Zadoc Kahn personally. He is the suitable intermediary and also,
as far as I know, one of the LC A.s most influential members.
The I.C.A. is to handle the matter. The procedure would be as
follows:
The Jewish Colonial Bank (t million pounds sterling) is
founded right away. Administrative board: the gentlemen of
the I.C.A. The shares can easily l>e plated, and I think I can do
so even with my present machinery. With the I.C.A. behind it
themattcT will be child's play anvway. Next this bank concludes
the loan you mentioned tome with the Turkish government. The
I.C.A. participates in it in a manner to be defined later, and, as
tenuity for the loan it grants to the bank, it receives the lands
ceded by the government. This is the rough outline.
In return we offer the following service: we place our entire
propaganda machinery at the disposal of the I.C.A., set up the
subscription on the broadest base, and I pledge my word of
hooor to withdraw completely from the direction of Zionist affairs. This last item should convince the gentlemen that I am
neither a politician* nor a financier and that I have no ulterior
motives in the proposal.
(Between us, I am already worn out by all the struggles and
<fiftniltiet.)
* ! tafluii Id the original.

Again a hesitation as 1 was writing letter suspended for the
time being. The I.C.A. would not understand the matter yet.
December i
Received today a letter from the Grand Duke of Baden: the
Kaiser cannot receive me. but would be glad to read my account
of the Basel Congress.
. Today I am writing to Caster to set up an administrative board

for the Bank for me.
To Zadoc Kahn, to call on Nordau, if I.C.A. is so inclined,
regarding the proposal for a Turkish loan which has been made
to Nordau.
December n
I oday the wealthy Poznanski from Lodz came to see me. A
plain, but intelligent man. He had first sent me the I>odz assistant rabbi Dr. Jelski, who had accompanied him to this city to
speak with me. Had he expected me to call on him at his hotel?
I sent him word that 1 was expecting him at my home.
The conversation revolved about general things for a long
time. Finally we got onto the subject of the Bank, which he is
greatly interested in. He plans to come back tomorrow morning.
He would like to found the Bank with 10 million pounds sterling
share capital.
One million shares, with a yearly payment of one pound.

000
Today I would content myself with Poznanski's joining the
movement. That is to say, I have already given the matter so
much prestige that no Rothschild is needed for backing any
longer.
If P. cannot be had cither, the whole thing must simply seek
a broader base.

Letter to Nordau:
^Tbanks for your letter of the 5 th of this month. The Battle of
lhe Drones still has not reached me. If possible, I want to write
iboui it in the N. Ft. Pt
I am expecting M. de Galart dun pied ferme [without flinching). In the meantime, the most important things have happened
here
With the Bank we have reached a turning point in our movement I roust speak laconically. . .
For two days I have had as a visitor the richest man in Russian
Poland J K Poznanski of Lodz. This man is completely sold
on the cause. However, he feels that the Jewish Bank should not
have two but five, possibly ten. million pounds sterling in share
capital. He wishes to join the syndicate whose function it will be
to guarantee the subscription. The other Russian millionaires are
as good as certain after he joins. With this the founding of the
Bank has taken a giant leap forward. 1 am sparing you an account of the steps I am taking for this purpose in Eastern Europe.
In London G aster has already started the ball rolling through
Seligmann the banker. The syndicate must display names from
all countries qut r onflenl dans le monde financier [which have
an impressive sound in the financial world].
Now there arises the Rothsc hild question. Poznanski who,
however, is prepared to go along without the Rothschilds, if
necessary, even in opposition to them first wants us to try to
get the Rothschilds to adopt an altitude of friendliness or, at
least, of benevolent neutrality toward the Bank. It iv an extremely difficult task, but with skillful leadership it does not
teem hopeless to me. Of course, contact with the Rothschilds
oust not be sought directly or in writing. In the course of the
campaign they would adduce against us any attempted and rr
jected advances, naturally only in the perfidious manner of the
financiers who have journalistic hravt (hatchet-men) at their disPl for a stab in the back*

A few weeks ago I published in the Daily Chronicle two articles in which I demonstrated the possibility of a financial boycott
carried on by the Jewish middle classes against the money magnates at some time in the future. The Rothschilds ought now to
be given to understand that the projected Jewish Hank could
possibly serve such a boycott and could be served by it. If they
learn at the same time that the Bank will come into being at all
events, they will not treat the matter with aristocratic coolness.
The expansion of capital, which is being planned now, will,
in any case, make the Jewish Bank a factor to be reckoned with
in the financial world as well. The whole question is whether
these people have sufficient imagination to picture right now
what will exist three or four months from now, or whether the
matter will be suitably presented to their imagination, which
has fallen asleep on their money-bags. In this, Zadoc Kahn can

be of the greatest help to us.
The matter must be shown to the Rothschilds earnestly. But
what do they have to hope or fear from the coming Jewish Rank?
If they stir up feeling against the Bank or even reject us in an
injurious manner, I shall initiate guerrilla warfare against the
House of Rothschild, and if I know you, you will stand by roe
in this. We shall plot this when the time comes.
But perhaps it will never come. And I would prefer that for
political reasons, although I consider these people parasites and
am furious at them from my very heart. If, then, the Rt neither
oppose the Bank nor reject it a limine [outright], it <an be useful
to them in two ways: 1 . as Jews, since the Bank is to bring about
the solution of the Jewish Question: t. as businessmen, since
the Bank can bring them benefits in many ways. Contrary to
Poznanski's view, I would consider it sensible if the Rothschilds
did not take any oven pan in the Bank. Otherwise people would
say that all of juiverie financiere [financial Jewry] was gathered there, and the Bank would from the outset have to fight
certain antipathies (of course, at the same time it would give
the impression of tremendous power), while without the Rothschilds it might give the appearance of being against the R a d
T Ht COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 607
- lir sympathy. However, if the Rs had some influence
^hTEnk through representatives, they could safeguard them * manv wavs under this cover. It is an old idea of mine
\a the only reason 1 am telling it to no one but you is that u
r uld make me suspect of giganfume-that the Rothschilds will
, juch a bank if one day they liquidate out of fear of general
l^d or wish to safeguard their fortune (which appears to have
orosm beyond the possibility of financial catastrophies).
To what extent the minds of these people are at all receptive
u, ,uch an idea is naturally beyond ray judgment.
However, 1 think I have presented the state of affairs clearly
enough to you. And from this there follows, too. the form of
your participation, for which I am not bothering to ask you. beau* I simply presuppose it as the logical consequence of what
you hase done for the cause up to now. 1 believe you ought to
approach Zadoc Kahn in the way that seems best to you. and
with the greatest dispatch Everything only orally, of course. You
be the judge of how to broach the matter to him. He is a fine
human being and a good Jew, but also devoted to the R f- He is
perceptive and will understand you d demi mot [without many
words]. He is on good terms with Alphonse R.. with all <l thrm.
Stir bun up, show him all that can be done if he helps us. No
material sacrifice is being asked of these miserable mstchands
/argent [money merchants]. The way the matter stands today,
after winning public opinion for our "crazy idea, something
that we accomplished with our rocTe pens and words, we only
need the simulacre [semblance] of this syndicate of guarantors to
make the subscription a tremendous success, thus letting /ionurn grow into a real power. Let him bend every effort to help
toward that end.
The Jewish Colonial Bank must actually become the Jewish
National Bank. Its colonial aspect is only window-dressing,
hokum, a firm-name. A national financial instrument is to be
created But if they force us to march off without boots, like the
*Mieti of the First Republic, we shall take revenge fi 01,1
distress
That is all I shall tell you. You understand me perfectly and
will put all your energy into it.
One word more about the next round. In April we shall
charter a ship (probably making all the arrangements through
Cook) and go to Palestine for four weeks. Thu is not yet for
public consumption. 1 am now getting estimates, calculations
of the costs per participant, etc. It will probably come to 1000
francs a head. AfteT we return from this excursion, to which we
will also invite a number of important people, the subscription

prospectus of the Bank will be issued. This you can tell to /Mac.
too, but to no one else for the present, because I must first make
various arrangements in Constantinople.
Finally: You write that you have connections with Pobcdonostsev. Could you quickly manage through him or other friends
in Russia to get the Russian government to permit the creation
of Zionist associations and collections for Zionist purposes? I
am told that this is a vital question for our movement in Russia.
The powerful man now is said to be Minister Goremikin. In
Russian Poland, the governor is Prince Imeretinski, and he ought
to be won over to our side.
I cannot have this very important letter copied by anyone, nor
do I have the time to do it myself. Therefore. I am asking you
to send it back to me after you have taken notes of all necessary
points in it, because I need it as a document for later. For putting you to trouble, as God knows! I am putting myself to
trouble, for this I am making no excuses. We arc serious at heart
With cordial regards,
Your loyal
Th. Henl.
December 18
After consultation with our treasurer Kremenc/ky 1 hase
promised Newlinski a monthly subvention of *oo guilders fur
the (.orrespondence de I'Est. Newlinski thanked me. quite
touched, saying that this support would save him much burdenTHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 609
ewvageney work. I had had no idea that it would seem
. . , uc h a lot to him.
u mid me what bad shape the Turkish finances were in. The
bLadon unab,c to P* y lhc ' r buuhcT S bi,k * Thc Brr,in
Zbuudor. Galib. had to leave his post because he was out of
yjjj Vienna one, Mahmud Nedtm, told him (N.) that
J^'ld hold out two months more; then he would have to
follow Galibs example.
Today Newlinski produced his first article as a correspondent,
although his traiiement (salary] doesnt start until January .
Mv guiding consideration in this subvention was wunething
Out Ftirth had told me a few weeks ago about thc Prince of Buloha that he had begun to take Zionism seriously after reading
Sc earlier ankles in the Core, de IEst. That is typical of these
Berlin. February 4 (1698)

It is indkative of the rush in which I am now living that I can
no longer enter the most important things here.
On January 6, following the Vienna premiere of the Sew
Ghetto, I came here and intended to describe the peculiar excitement that attended this premiere. I did not get a chance to
do it Either I am busy or 1 am exhausted. These days I always
live in a railroad atmosphere. The train speeds, or the station
is deserted.
Not until yesterday, when I had a reunion here in the Palace
Hotel with the Turkish ambassador Ahmed I ewfik, whom I
had come here to see at the beginning of January, did I feel the
necessity of putting down these important events as an especially
pressing duty.
Four weeks ago I had two long talks with him. He is a likeable
nun. moderately intelligent, not unfavorably disposed toward
the cause, but in a way that has no value for us. He would like
to attract the |ews to Turkey but without a territory of their
own and without autonomy.
We want to supply Turkey with funds; in return, he said, we
would be given a "friendly reception.
I told him this was no solution, had no lasting value. It would
be the settlement of new Armenians in Turkey.
Incidentally, he declared his readiness to convey to the Sultan
a memorandum which I am to work up.
1 went back to Vienna and told Newlinski that Ahmed Tewfik
did not seem to me to be ripe for the idea. We would have to
wait some more until T urkey was even worse off.
Perhaps and this would not be stupid T ewfik, for his part,
reasons: we Turks must wait until the Jews are even worse off.
To me, of course, this delay is not unwelcome, because 1
havent finished with the financing yet. The bank ts encountering great difficulties. The bankers are cautious, cool.
In January I had a conference in this city with wealthy Berlin
Jews which Professor Stein of Bern had called. That unpleasant
episode with Glaser which is recorded in the Welt is involved
here.
The rich Berlin Jews listened to an explanation of the project. Maybaum, the Protest Rabbi, had appeared, obtrusively
and uninvited, at the discussions as well. I "interested the gentlemen," but in the end, after the complete unveiling, they didn't
like the brides nose.
However, the moral impression of my explanations was excellent, according to what the intelligent young banker Dr. Arons
told one of the local Zionists.
I should like to get Arons for the Bank.
Then it was back to Vienna. In the N. Ft. Ft., where they had
raged at ray Ghetto before the performam c and caused me nervous cardiac pains again, the mood had changed in my favor because of the great theatrical success.
When 1 was here in January, 1 had also paid a call on I.ucan us,
the head of the Imperial Civil Cabinet. 1 asked him whether I
ought to request an audience from the Emperor or merely enter
my name. He gave a slightly superior, yet courteous smile:
"Leave your card."
The Emperor is acquainted with the matter; that was confinned by Lucanus who also told me that it was something fine
and great. But "the Israelites won't be willing.
A qu i le dues vous [Youre telling me]?!
Lat nigh* * again ran into Ahmed Tewfik heTc in the hotel
w hen I came from dinner. He asked me to keep him company.
He sard the same thing he had said four weeks ago. Why didnt
nc demand a tract of land in Asia Minor; that would be more
feasible.
1 rejected that.
Berlin, February 5
Joined Ahmed Tewfik for dinner again yesterday. He was al-
ready about to leave when 1 came into the dining-room, then

went back with me and kept me company. We chatted for over
an hour. This time, I believe, I won him over.
Before his eyes I built a Constantinople and a Turkey of the
future.
Qmnd voiLi serez grand-vizir, F.xeellence , I said, rout me
Inez venir d Constantinople el je vous recomtruirai la vi lie,
c 'ett i dire, je vous ferai le % plans [When you are Grand Vizier,
Your Excellency, you will invite roe to come to Constantinople,
and I will rebuild the city for you that is to say, I will make the
plans for you]."
He was visibly enthusiastic.
Newlinski was right that time. One ought to live with these
Turks, perform services for them for which they are very gratebil. el let amener petit & petit A nous aimer [and gradually get
diem to love us],
Tewfik even wanted to attend my Ghetto premiere today. I
b*d a box reserved for him, and arranged in the play for Wasserto substitute "the Khedive in the line The Sultan has
frothed his foot.
Unfortunately the Ambassador begged off today, on account
of a diplomatic reception. The only reason I wanted to have
him in the theatre was so that the newspapers would write about
it. Cela aurait bien fait dam le paysage [It would have looked
good in the picture].
Vienna, February 17
The Berlin critics demolished my New Ghetto.
I am writing to Nordau to get ready to take over the presidency

at the next Congress (which, following Wolffsohn's advice. I
shall have held in Basel rather than Ixmdon).
The Congress Office and the Headquarters will be transferred
to Paris after the Congress.
With this I am combining a warning to Nordau not to let
himself go in such rash remarks as the one in his last interview
which is contained in the English papers namely, that the
Roman Curia was inciting to murder on the occasion of the
Dreyfus- Zola affair in France. Such remarks can do our movement great harm.
Letter to Nordau: Vienna, February 1 *
February 2* 1898
Dearest Friend:
1 see with pleasure from your denial in the Jewish World
that you did not make those remarks. My only regret is that you
did not send a similar declaration to the Welt as well. After all.
that is what the Welt is for. I realize, of course, that you wanted
to reach the English readers first. You simply don t know that
the Catholics who matter in this instance, the higher church dig
nitaries, watch the Welt but arc not likely to know the Jewish
World.
Although you write that Zadoc and E. R. did not let you hear
from them any more, 1 would still like to ask you to return to
. reports Irom London that Sir Edward Sassoon
* L, the suction to consider the Bank tdea must be

it the London Rothschilds b, the Pari, ones Then Sassoon
it hilling IO participate too. You see the actual), s.mple
TLty we are lacing: to bring those who have declared their
iiuonal readiness together. I believe that a vigorous and. a,
a were, hypnotically suggestive procedure on the part ol IntelLilly superior men will suffice lor it. provided that the, have
odier kinds ol prestige in the world a, well.
Therefote I would urgentl, request ,ou to call on /-id'.
Man broach ihc question once more, and in any case demand
/Li Yes or No from Rothschild (Edro). We must make our
tjupoutiofu. The Bank is the point at which we get out into
reality. It will be created: with the aid of the gros bonnets [bigv jp] or in opposition to them.
Perhaps by now they already understand what awaits them
even in France and tomorrow in England. It is a question of
creating a safety-valve on which they will even make money,
ptr un triste velour des choses [by a sad turn of affairs].
If they leave the Zion movement bogged down in the mud. it.
loo, will turn against them with a vengeance.
All this you will certainly present in the proper way. Only, 1
recommend that you utilize the present mood in Paris. I omor*
row tranquility will return again, and they will continue to die
in their palaces of atrophy of the spine.
Not mailed, because Nordau writes he is under the surveillance
of the secret police.
February tj. at night
Letter to Nordau:
Dearest Friend:
It would have been quite welcome to me if you had also used
*he Welt at least simultaneously with the Jewish World for
614 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR7 L

your denial of the interview contained in the Xew York Journal
in which the remark is attributed to you that the Catholic
Church was inciting to mass murder in France. After all, that is
what the Welt is for, and as it is, it registers everything that concerns you with a conscientiousness that probably has not escaped
you.
Then, too, a denial would have been more effective from the
outset in the Welt, which, incidentally, is known in Roman circles.
(By the way, the paper is already costing me a whole pile of
money. After a year-and-a-half of hesitation, I had to found it
myself, because no one else wanted to do it and our movement
was absolutely muzzled.)
I dont believe that Zadoc and Edmond R. merely made spcm
of you. My judgment is that the brain of the latter works extremely slowly; but I dont consider him capable of craftiness
and mockery. Therefore, a second conference, definitive in any
direction whatever, would be highly useful, and after the impression which your previous presentation must have made and
which immediately afterwards you captured with the vividness
of a diary in a letter to me, 1 am convinced that the gentlemen
will be ready for such a conference. Thus I would advise you in
the interest of the cause to undergo this corvee [drudgery] once
more, especially because in London they are only waiting for a
word from Paris. I have a right to suggest this corvte to you,
because, God knows, I myself slave away day in and day out,
tackling everything, even tasks and people that 1 feel the greatest disgust for.
Now, to get to your misgivings about the transfer of the headquarters to Paris, I consider this essential. In the present state of
the movement it is not possible to separate the presidium of
the Congress from the Executive of the following year. If I *ril
you this, you can and will believe it. Incidentally, you will he
convinced of it in your first week in office. The organization that
was patched together in Basel has rough spots on which I have
been chafing myself sore ever since. An Executive as the renter
the complete diaries op
THEODOR HERZL 615
omnia""" would "P 1 ' not ** lokn,,ed
yn-' ">* a '<* of me ,or K - Whit
" 1!! I have had With the dilficult.e. arUmg Don. the law, gov
locution., you will laugh and .hudder. And even that u
T* It would be the death ol out movement if our a,
S like chow ol other nationaht.ev were ever d.olve<L
Xh, cowanh would unite into an army agatmt u-beh.nd
ibc night-watchman. Insanity! was the 6m objection raised
apirnt us. High Treason!, the second.
thday it is absolutely impossible to separate the Executive
from the annual presidium, because then there would be no
authority for the conduct of affairs, on the inside as well as on
the outside. Am I expressing myself too legalistically? You will
understand it nevertheless.
A for Pans. 1 certainly do not consider it as unsuitable as you
da After all, I know it too, better than you know Vienna. What
vai possible for me in Vienna, you will be able to do in Pans. 1
with I had the facilities here that you have there. You are despate Dreyfus trials in a free country. The proximity of Galicia
iui no significance whatever in this respect. You have no association with a newspaper? It goes without saying that the Welt
will be at your full and complete disposal, now as before. You
nttd only to send in your communiques. You have no Jewish
organ uai ion? Well, it will grow up around you, as it did around
me here. You will create it for yourself.
I believe, therefore, my dear, admired friend, that your misgiving! are unfounded. To be sure. I well understand that you
have them, for it is a hard and serious task, and after all. we
have the affairs of a tremendous distress to conduct, one which
oo. and undoubtedly will, demand an accounting of us at the
each year.
So I cannot see that there are any local difficulties. The only
qucRion is whether there is not some personal obstacle in your
^^ out ff*i. my dear friend, we must have a heart-to-heart
talk as men and Bnat Zion [Sons of Zion] who, 1 believe, are as
C 10 **6 other at can be. Do you perhaps doubt that you
could make such sacrifices of time as 1 have been making every
day for the past two years and a half?
The matter is too serious, too many hopes of poor people ride
every move that is made, or not made, lor us to i.til io conic
to an understanding about this. Now, 1 certainly don't believe
that the work of the headquarters will completely occupy you;
you see that I, for one. am able to run the literary section of the
N. Fr. Pr. and to edit the Welt on the side. It is a lot of work,
and it must be done, but fortunately you arc a tremendous
worker yourself, and it is only a matter of one year, i.e., up to
the Congress of 1899, which you will prepare, just as I prepared
those of 1897 and 1898.
I don't know whether 1 am presenting the matter dearly

enough, because, after all, many emotional factors are involved.
As for my desire to rest for one short year, you will find it understandable, and that also goes for my concern over my work up to
now, which, to be sure, is not as great as the effort expended on
it. I should like to guarantee the continuation of the edifice,
because a little of my blood adheres between the first stones.
February 14
In line with my promise to Nordau in Basel, I want to give
him the presidency for this year, even against the will of my
friends; but only if he takes upon himself the day-to-day work
for the year as well.
For the Congress is merely a golden gate, before and behind
which there lies nothing but toil and contention. It is only fait
that in addition to the golden honor he also accept the labor.
But I am not sure yet whether he will be the right man for it.
People will not appreciate what I have achieved until another
leader takes my place.
I have been steadfast in the worst days, calm in the best.
It takes certain abilities, too; To keep silent when a single
word could fire enthusiasm. To keep people's courage up even
when one is inwardly discouraged. Always to grin and bear it.
E ,,, with icoundreU; to Ik- haunted by bfggar*; and to
. , Klc d by pretention* boor*. There beggar* would
Jtte boot*, if they had money, and vice ver*a On top ol
5 treachery, imidiou* attack*, and no rewarda-lor of
this, envy, #
raunc I have done it out ol vanity.
Notdau stand thur Will he not be overcome by rage and
J-rtTf.* mv
work.'
March is
Rivalnes are beginning I still haven't finished the prepara
ODD) and they already want to depose me. At the conference on
March 6 the English Zionists joined with the Basel ones, to be
nrr but the next Congress is to decide where the Central Com
fuller* is to be located Why is something so obvious statedr
Because it is a declaration that the Vienna Committee must last
only until the Second CongTess. then will be the turn of the
London Committee. 9
Well, it's quite all right with me.
In the sessions ol the Actions Committee, only everyday details are settled.
Schnirer u too busy to be able to work for the Committee,
koine h formally takes care of incoming contributions. Minu
wiki frequently. Rremeneiky is limited in every way by his pouonn. Still, it would be the greatest injustice to disparage these
coworkm of mine. They honestly do what they can. The only
dung is that we don't have enough money for a major action.
The ihekel contributions trickle in, the demands are great.
I never bring up my plans and ac lions in the meetings, be-
Qu * Bimhaum is taking the minutes as secretary -general and

pibenng material for his future indiscretions. This is the
*Tpiral enemy, who, however, cannot be got rid of, berause he
(UsM ttiUMoricfaul
threatens he would starve. If you don't feed his face for life, h*
can bring disgrace to the movement yet. But perhaps he will
anyway.
My chief service to the movement is that I am giving it prestige. The funds are certainly available in principle" but at
the moment not in actuality. The future availability of these
funds is making a certain impression even now, thanks to me.
For the jheAe/ funds will flow in in ever greater quantities; then
it will be no feat to direct the movement. But today, with the
lousy few pennies, to give out subventions, attract the hangervon
of power, and what not that is a feat.
My wish for Basel: to transfer the entire financial structure to
England. Months ago, when I asked Col. Goldsmid to act as
trustee, he did not want to. Now he is likely to be willing.
I am tired, my heart is out of order.

March 17
During the last weeks I have been dreaming vividly about a
novel. Setting: the newspaper world of Vienna. Three volumes,
like acts. Hero: a Jewish newspaperman (something like Dr.
Friedjung) of Rabbinical background who turns Germanic. At
the university, member of a students' association, German songs,
ribbons, blark-red-and-gold assimilation.
First volume: The newspaper d venir [to come].
He is disgusted by the corruption of the press, wants to create
a clean paper, a German one, naturally. But where will the
money come from? His small capital is not enough. Finally, a
threadbare would-be newspaper impresario (type F.yssler, Luitige Blatter) draws up an estimate for him, even brings a fr*
backers. The paper is founded. Curtain.
Second volume: The German Paper.
Soltndid tar( Publicity. Gang ol literati joining in. poli.iJ* who wan. to gel thenuelve. booned. Smack in the noddle.
fool who doe.nl tee a dung. But all door, open to
cl^hecause he i against corruption. For a time, all he tee. it
STbaas ol bent humanity. Intoxication with power. He fights
!L the food king who control, all the other paper, through
Shareholding or interest Dewnption of the power of the pres..
The turning point.
Third volume: Collapse. ..... , tk.
The Germans in Bohemia, etc., refuse to be led by a Jew. The
paper declines. Like a gambler gone wild he sacrifices everytong to it, first his money, then his principles of purity. The
impresario manipulates him cleverly. Finally, scandalous col
lapse Dishonored, he leaves Vienna: the impresario takes over
the paper, which flourishes. But he has discovered Zion. In the
first volume he laughed at the crazy members of kad.mah, after
the breakdown (meanwhile they have grown) he recognizes them
as solace. .
A. he board, the boat, with the .corned, forgotten girl a, hi.

bride, the curtain falls.
Types, the teasing wedding- jester J. Bauer, etc.
The old sighing journalist, who has discovered ta mv
celebrities, advanced careers, and in the end turns out t >
helped only ingrates who despise him. He is ' r 1 ,c
decent maid. K a
In the first volume, the hero hears about * c
of Neo-Hebrews (Smolenski. Bierer). who * tr> Ee .
Asiatics. Now and then, a sound of the gTup Kt"' s,n *>
ity is heard, until their bright victory chant ursts
close of the novel like a great chord. .
The Prague jehnorr 6 o*Aer (beggar .ludenlj that Bac
me about yeuerday ured 10 lit down in ih< Pw ^ u
"The best thing would be not to be bo
bom. one ought to be bom as the son of a n< man _ h
one Un-t bom a, a wm of a rich man. one diould a. !
The Jewish Bohme. Also, the good, frugal, wonderful petty
bourgeoisie with its wonderfully worthy women.
March 18
Present relationship to the publishers of the N. Ft. Pr. Pleat
ant with Bacher. Bcnedikt is in the habit of joking: "With Henl
youve got to be careful. Perhaps he is right after all. When he
comes in, I always believe Jesus Christ is entering.
In London Wolffsohn seems to have won the banker Selignunn
for the Bank.
When I get the Bank set up, an enormous step will have been
taken.
Today the idea occurred to me to have the Jewish Communities captured everywhere by the Zionists after the Congress. We
have to be able to give honorary offices to our adherents and
sinecures to the venal. Unfortunately my undertaking requires
human beings with humaneness.
March 18
ConfidentielU
Reverend Sir:
My dear friend Dr. Nordau has given me an account of hu
conversations with you.
In his last letter he informs me that you are prepared to discuss the matter of the Bank with Alphonse Rothschild.
More power to youl A great deal depends on it.
Nordau has told you that we arc not asking the Rothschilds
for any sort of financial support or public connection, but only
for benevolent neutrality, and to put one of their representatives,

who is known as such to the financial world, on the founding
committee, later on the administrative board of the Bank.
One would think that R. must understand what is involved
l, CTe . Today he will help the national rescue operation by it,
tomorrow it can be an inestimable benefit to his otvn house. I
believe the House of Rothschild will have to liquidate in the
foreseeable future. It is too detested. This anonymous, intangible Bank may become useful, even for them. I don't want to
elaborate on this thought here, since I am usually accused of
having too lively an imagination.
At any rate, today you will admit that two years ago, when
I first had the pleasure of sharing my ideas with you, I estimated
the general situation of the Jews more correctly than most French
jews. Oh God, by now I almost stand there like an old prophet
to whom people would not listen. At that time I said that the
"Israelite Frenchmen would not be spared the change in the
weather either.
It is already here. And. believe me, it isnt over yet. Plenty of
bad things are still in store, particularly for the big-money Jews.
I spent four years in France, at the Palais Bourbon, and today
I view those familiar things even more coolly from a distance.
One moment of governmental weakness, ef vous merx dim des
nouvellcs de la rug laffitte [and you will be telling me news of
it from the rue 1 -iflitte].
However, even without violence in the streets and governmental weakness I consider it possible that in France special legislation will be passed against particular categories of Jews. The
droits de I'hommr [rights of man] arc a vieille guitare [old hat],
and do not forget that in this very France special laws were passed
against Frenchmen, not cosmopolites, and those involved were
the Frenchmen most deeply rooted in France, whose ancestors
had ruled the land.
Hence I believe that a cautious adherence to our movement
pccihcally, as the next practical step, the support of the neces*ary banking facility also is in the interest of the Frenc h Jews.
In any case, the Bank will be founded in the next few months,
wiih financial democracy or with financial aristocracy I have
622 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR herzl

qualified and unqualified promises from England, Cernu
Russia. The participation, albeit coven, of the biggest Houv
would make the venture solid from the start, and you will un
demand what gTeat importance I must attach to keeping the
deposits of the humblest people entirely free from risk. The
leaders of the people's movement must, of course, have nothitw
to do with money manipulations; therefore the Bank must I*
delivered up to financiers, and that is a real worry.
I dont know what you intend to say to Rothschild in order
to explain to him the planche de salut [last resort] of the Jewish
people. Do your best; your famous eloquence has never had a
wonhier subject, although it is only a matter of a bank. I should
also be glad to come to Paris for a day, if the man wishes information from me. He is an old man and probably incapable of
rising to vigorous new ideas; but perhaps it will not be impossible to explain to him that his money-dealer's life will have a
grand (ondusion if he helps along here without any kind of
sacrifice.
Of course, I don t have much hope of this, for such hearts are
narrow. I am only WTiting to you because I will not and must
not neglect anything. If I were interested in personal success. I
would certainly know how to achieve it. If today I attacked the
Rothschilds, as a Jew, as someone who by now has influence over
many hundreds of thousands of people, it would create the great-
est sensation all over the world. I would have public opinion
everywhere in my favor, to the extent that it cannot be bought.
And I am not doing it. A professional politician* would probably proceed differently.
By the Second Basel Congress, to be sure, the matter will have
to be decided.
This Congress will attract far more attention even than the
TSt one. What will be said there will probably reverberate
t roughout the world. Perhaps it is the nobler mission of the
new Jewry t astound the world by a fight against the financiers,
er aps this will be the rehabilitation of our despised name?
* In F.nglith in original.
\Vc are a curious people, arent we, if all this can take place
among"- . . . .
Be assured, at all events, of my continuing and sincere respect.
Yours faithfully,
Th. HcttI.
March 26
All sons of little disturbances, Froschmduseler* among the
Viennese university students who are being incited behind my
back by Bimbaum. He plays the pan of the misunderstood man
and the martyr, and although we were weak enough to create a
HneC ure of 1800 guilders annually for him out of the paltry
dukel monies, in return for which he writes three or four letters
a week, he is bleeding the students white.
Kellner, my dearest, best friend, whose visits are bright spots

amidst all the difficulties, reminisced the other day about schoolboy days in the heder. He was daydreaming in a class when
they got to the place in the Bible where Moses sings: Exodus, 15.
I immediately looked up the passage, and it moved me. Suddenly the idea popped into my mind to wTite a Biblical drama.
Moses.
The conditions in Egypt, the internal and external struggles,
the exodus, the desert. Moses death. I imagine him as a tall,
htal. superior man with a sense of humor. The drama: how he
is shaken inwardly and yet holds himself upright by his will.
He is the leader, because he does not want to be. Everything
gives way before him, because he has no personal desire. He does
ot care about the goal, but about the migration. Education
through migration.
*TtiMlaiOT't Note: An iIIimIoo lo ftotthmrvuUf In Cai| |oUrhi<r
M dwk aadnol brut rpk in ihr auw at the RHuftnanon Rollmhien i !
Battle homy omaehta (The Baltic at (he Fro* aad Mkc). a Gtect
1^ <4 it* Hotartu rpk
624 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER?L
Act I. Moses Return to Egypt. Conditions, wretchedness of th f
Israelites; Moses, embittered, shakes them up.
Act II. Korah.
Act III. The Golden Calf.
Act IV. Miriam.
Act V. Moses' Death.

Pageantry in the desert: the Ark of the Covenant, then Joseph's bones at the head of the procession.
The aging Moses keeps recognizing Korah, the Calf, always
the same processions of slaves. He is exhausted by all this, and
yet he has to lure them onward with ever renewed vigor.
It is the tragedy of the leader, of any leader of men who is not
a misleader.
March >6
I am still fighting with a wooden sword, like Tabarin or like
children.
I would need one of steel: i.e., a big paper with which one can
make policy, do services and favors, establish connections. If
only I had the X. Fr. Pr. in my hands, I would be able to work
wonders.
This way I toil away helplessly and make no headway. It is
a terrible thing to be sentenced to impotence with such clear
plans, such a distinctly marked road. I am wearing myself out
on it. I would need one lousy million to operate a big paper, and
for this greatest cause of Jewry it can't be raised. This is what
has been going on for two years now. When Baden i was still
there, the greatest effects could have been achieved with it. His
government in fact, conditions in Austria would have had
a different complexion today. He wanted to have me in closest
proximity to him, and I would never have given him the fatuous
advice of his ministers to have the police march into the Pariament. He is gone; and following Gautsch's brief adminisTHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER7.L 625
,|irrc is Thun, and probably nothing can be done
tration, now -"frurt* percipitndi [Fruits to be plucked]! Missed opportunities of Zionism
u'nlfftohn has been to London in order to work on the Bank
project. Now he is here and gives me reports.
^ \t first Seligmann the banker fell like laughing, but he turned
gnous when Wolffsohn developed the idea that Edmond Rothiduld should hand his colonies over to the Bank and take shares
in return. Then the l.C.A. should get behind the Bank also.
I believe this excellent proposal of Wolfhohn's will advance
the matter. Mannorek (the architect) is going to Pans next week.
I shall give him the assignment of taking this proposal to Edmond Rothschild.
If the founding of the Bank works out, we shall be over the
worst. I must bring the next CongTes* something. The Bank
would be splendidly suited for iu
March >9
Wrote to Alex Mannorek at Paris to submit Wolffsohn s proposal to Edmond R.. through Dr. Henri de Rothschild or directly. At the same time I am warning him against Scheid, who,
if he gets wind of the matter, will devise some counteT-coup in
ordeT to save his revakh [profit]. In my letter I am strongly emphasizing that the political leaders of the movement want to and
mil have absolutely nothing to do with the Bank itself.
April 1 1
All sorts of Frouhmiuifler.
Bimbaum quietly incites against me. at the University acts
the pan of the Columbus and manyr of Zionism, while I am
the Amerigo Vespucci and the usurper.
At the student's pany of the Ivria he said recently that he was
626 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR/j
grateful for moral benefactions (he was made an honorary
brother"), but that he was not obligated in any way by material
favors (we created a sinecure for him as '' seer eta ry^generar*
even before there was a kreuzer of shekel money on hand |
guaranteed him a years salary in a letter, on the strength of
which he rented furniture, since he was out in the street).
The "Tamowers arc agitating against the Central Committee
and against political Zionism which they have to thank for Kdm.
Rothschilds entering into a small land-sale deal with their
Ahavath Zion. For Dr. Salz went from Basel to Paris as "Vice.
President of the Congress, without telling me a word about
it, and there made some agreement in conflict with the recognizable Basel principle.
Undercurrents even in the Actions Committee. Individuals
are offended because they are not "informed of anything.
Yesterday I brought Schnirer to reason about why I have to
work alone, now as before.
The Committee is an unserviceable instrument. Only indiscretions are committed. No one is able to help; for various reasons
they are in no position to do so.
Yesterday Schnirer presented an excellent outline for organization to me. Shekel unit one crown. The shekels are to serve
only for administrative expenses. Any surplus goes to the National Fund.
Each 50 shekel subscribers form a group. Each ten groups a
district. Each ten districts a center. A group, a district, a center,
each has a head. The Congress Office deals with the heads of the
centers. The associations can continue to exist, but must invest
their funds in shares of the Colonial Bank.
I find this outline excellent.
I supplemented it as follows; The permanent Congress Office
has its seat in Basel, with a salaried secretary. The Congress
elects a board of directors, three men from each of the main
countries represented. The board of directors remains in Basel
one day after the Congress and makes all arrangements for the
year.
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.R7.L 627
There is no Central Committee any more rather, a model or
ggaiog committee which the other regional committees may
imitate if they * dc#ire
This way the difficulty of intemationality will perhaps be
overcome. We have no international organization, and yet a uniform streak runs through the whole thing.
April 16
Letter to Nordau.
1. Refen to my Easter feuilleton.
i. To the Bank matter, Wolffsohn, etc.

3. I wrote you that the confidential preliminary conferences
will take place here on April tj, 14. and 15. If it is not too great
a sacrifice, I should like immensely to have you here. But only
for the deliberations. This is not the right moment for a public
lecture. The Viennese local propaganda must not be carried on
now, for political reasons. For this we shall reserve the month
of November, perhaps even the middle of October. Then you
will gjve the movement in all of Austria a big lift by speaking
here. At that time the University will be in session too right
now the students from the provinces are away and then a great
Nordau party shall take place. Now it is only a matter of setting
up the agenda for the next Congress, discussing the outlines
which we have sketched here* (for the order of business, organization, etc.), as well as instructions to the representatives of
countries, preparations for the election of delegates, shekel paymenu, etc.
I dont need to tell you how much I wish I had your advice and
your collaboration here, just as I w ish to have you by my side at
sll tunes, because there certainly arc bad hours of d^faillance (dcprcmion]. However, come only if you can stay for the full three
days, and if your coming this time does not preclude your atfodancc in the autumn. In the preliminary conferences there
'I a am nrr whether ihne dry dUctmtom-wbkh. lo he sure. are ir>dOpet>
}* Ihe aaovrmmi - will make the tourney here eeem worth the eort to you.
(Htnfi note)

will inevitably be all sorts of idle talk, because reports have been
coming from various countries which we have to listen to. The
work so far of the members of the Inaction Committee, particularly of the corresponding members, has totaled zero. What l
haven't done here, simply has been left undone. Therefore, arm
yourself with patience if you come, and dont reproach me for
having rushed you here if the preliminary conferences should
bring about nothing of consequence. 1 hope that we shall not
have to do without your wishes and suggestions in any case. If
you are not coming, please write me immediately everything that
seems important to you.
4- After your response to my suggestion that you take over the
work between the second and the third Congresses, I naturally
can do nothing else but carry on the matter in the same way at
heretofore. After all, events have proved you right, for the time
being, and after everything that Marmorek has told me, I realize
that it would have been a misguided idea to transfer the headquarters to Paris. After my departure from there, things simply
seem to have undergone quite a surprising reformatio in pejus
[change for the worse]. Unfortunately, at the moment I don't
know of anybody in England either to whom I could turn over
the leadership of the headquarters. Quand on y a mis le doig/,
il faut y passer tout entier. J'y passe [Once youve put your foot
in the door, youve got to go all the way in. Here I go]. I know
myself at least: I won't let go until some day 1 turn up my toes
April 17
In Vienna the Welt has 280 subscribers. Because of this
since party propaganda has so left me in the lurch I have decided henceforth to promote the Welt like an ordinary paper,
through posters, etc.
The considerable deficit to date I shall naturally absorb myself
The current circulation *400 subscribers in all countries i*
insufficient to maintain the paper.
T HE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL G 29
April 22
Utter to Nordau:
Dearest Friend:
I have just received an emergency letter from the Berlin Group
10 the effect that they need you without fail for a speech.
I wanted to save this trump for Germany until the autumn, because of the community campaign. But if you arc ready to go
Mht now. don't let the views I expressed yesterday stop you.
If you go to Berlin, I beg you to include in your speech a
usage referring to the Jewish Colonial Bank. We are not yet
braking with the Haute Banque [big bankers], we are merely
giving them an avertissrment [notification]. I shall soon publish
in America a letter in this vein to our partisans. You, like myself,
must consider the following: the possibility of an understanding
with the big bankers exists even today. A negotiator who has
been to London (Wolffsohn of Cologne) is coming to Paris
dionly. You will hear details from Marmorek. Only if Wolffsohn
fails will peaceful negotiation be at an end. Therefore we must
not let loose as yet. Then, too, the Turkish government must
not know that the situation of the projected Bank is so doubtful.
But this is the averltssemenl [announcement]: we are even now
urging our partisans to subscribe, so that the bank will, if need
be, stand on its own feet, that is to say, come into being through
popular support. Since we are opposed to infiltration, which has
no future and is at the mercy of every pasha, subject to every immigration prohibition, the colonization associations are to inrest their property in shares of the Colonial Bank; every local
group shall accept provisional subscriptions and bring results of
bese provisional subscriptions (of one-pound shares) along to
Basel. Thus there will already be a noyau [nucleus] at Basel
according to the reports I get (Tom all over the world, this noyau
ill be substantial enough and standing on this foundation we
dull force the big bankers to go along, or we shall go on alone
at the same time fight against the dogs.
How you are to express this in your Berlin speech 1 do not
dare to prescribe. It is necessary! Don't let the financial part of a
disgust you. We leaders declare and have declared that we never
want to nor will have anything to do with the financial management. The movement needs a financial facility; we shall create
one for it by stirring up oppressed masses to help themselves
Qui veut la fin, veut les moyens [He who wants the end wants
the means].
Your devoted
Th. H.
April >9
On the 23rd, the 24th, and the 25th the preliminary conferences for the Second Congress took place. The feeling among
most of the people originally appears to have been against the
holding of the Second Congress. I convinced them that this was
necessary, because otherwise the movement would bog down and
because we must give it a new Constitution. The existing one
looks like an international organization, which it really is not.
We have only the disadvantages of this apparent "internationality, and our every step is impeded by the possibility that the
movement will acquire an illegal appearance. Any anti /.ionist
scoundrel can denounce us.
My idea, which I only outlined in the preliminary conference,
is to set up a Central Office in Basel.
There is no liaison whatever between the committees. One

committee at first the Viennese one, of course acts as the
model. What it does is imitated by the others voluntarily and
without orders, to the extent that the countrys laws, local needs
and possibilities permit it.
The heart of the negotiations was the Bank question about
which I put through my proposals: beginning the provisional
subscription of one-pound shares with a down-payment of 10%.
Pineles made a good proposal for its implementation. The
own-payment is to be deposited in the Postal Savings Banks in
tl* name of the subscriber, and the bank book is to be turned
over to the collector for his counter-signature.
g yiinka made confused speeches about the "Hebrew Educaripnal Association/' and finally declared (in private) that he
Hould gather an opposition against roe.
In general, the mood was the exalted one of Basel. They enthusiastically recognized me as head of the movement. It was all
the more depressing, then, when between sessions I went to the
oAce of the N. Fr. Pr., where 1 am the hireling of diametrically
opposed views. Thu weigh* heavily on me and paralyzes my
mength; but the "movement" is not in a position to relieve its
leader of this miserable burden.
The creation of a big daily paper is the problem which is innlable for the present The necessary money cannot be raised.
With two million guilders we could get control of the N. Fr. Pr.
sod thus have the suitable instrument. What a crying shame that
this amount, ridiculous! v small in proportion to the cause, cannot be raised. We are still like the soldiers of the Y rench Revolution, must take the field without shoes or stockings.
I am nuking great efforts to promote the Welt. The deficit is

increasing, and I must soon be able to balance the paper, other*
wiie it will eat up my resources
An interesting lettrT from Alex Marmorek. Zadoc is working

ndemJi for us. Ldmaad Rothschild is said to be a convinced
Zionist, but does not dare to come out into the open. An Indian
pruxe. Aga Khan, who was recommended to Zadoc by Haffkine
of Bombas, ts said to be a Zionist and willing to speak to the
Saltan on our behalf
May 5
It is pan of the ngnstur* umporu [character of be tunes]
now I again go to the office each day "ready to 11
632 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZI
The Welt is making a drive with No. 19 . Ten thousand copies are
being sent out; on the street-comers there are posters annouiu
ing Wrede's novel The Goldschilds. The question is how Bacho
and Benedikt will take this. I imagine that they are once mo
being incited against me by the financiers, and I am poised far
the conflict, although a bit excited, too. After all. the break with
the AT. Fr. Pr. is only a question of time now, unless I manage to
have it purchased by my partisans.
1 he Welt is eating up more and more money and must soon
catch on, or it will fold. I can keep it above water for about another year without ruining myself.
The Welt is getting no support from the party; in fact, the
idea has popped up that the Actions Committee should subsidize a Yiddish paper, and this would probably provide some competition for the Welt.
May 5
Bacher and Benedikt haven't stirred so far. On dirait mime
quits sont atmables [Youd even say they were amiable). But
something is unmistakably in the air.
Alex Marmorek reports an interesting conversation he has had
wit Edmond Rothschild. Aside from the silly carping reasons
and egotistic considerations which he adduces, it is noteworthy
1 . 1 t ..^ rn a< ^ v scs a Rank founded with a share capital of one
million francs. Such a bank, of course, would be no menace to
the House of Rothschild.
fight^ leUT UveTOm Un bel <usaut t Wc lhal1 * ivc ,hcm a 8*
, * n Actions Committee. The gentlemen are com*

mg t at I am giving them too little information. But if I
jtfue a call to work, it falls flat. Schnirer has no time. Mintz is
nerved because I work with the Marmoreks, who are his personal
joemies. When I asked Mintz to take charge of the press preparations for the Second Congress, he asked for time to think it
over, because he did not even know whether he would attend the
Second Congress.
May iz
Work on the Bank has begun.
What I am doing there is another feat, an innovation in financial techniques. The provisional subscription for a bank the details of which are not even known is really nothing but the establishment of a peoples share-issuing syndicate. Fleciere si nequeo
superos Acheronta movebo [If I cannot bend the powers above,
I will move the lower world).
Since the big financiers are hesitant, we are appealing to the
small pocketbooks right from the outset. If it succeeds, the enterprise will have the advantage that we shall not be in the hands
of a few big bankers. The Bank will then belong to the Congress.
This Bank campaign has something war-like in its successive
stages: The w*ay in which vague intention, more deliberate
planning, first proclamations, mobilization, setting up outposts,
skirmishes, and battle merge into one another, one moment with
awful sluggishness, the next moment with ridiculous precipitation; the way you are pushed more often than you push; the way
you dont really believe in yourself and then suddenly are in the
thick of it.
I always have to remember a word dropped by my dear friend
L Kellner, which I greatly resented at the time and which he
has since regretted. A year-and-a-half ago, when 1 wanted to get
him elected to the Reichsrat in Galicia, he declined distrustfully,
aying that the whole movement was just "noise ' ! *
Yes. everything is noise. I said to him in irritation. In truth,
noise is a great deal. A sustained noise is in itself a note wort >
htt. All of world history is nothing but noise. Noise of arms.
In FnglftUi in the original
634 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR | IERzl

noise of ideas on the march. People must make noue ,
them and still despise it. u 10
#
Yesterday I had a meeting with the Messieurs Brecher whom
we mtend to use a, bankers for the Austrian subwipsioo do
A little banking house, sel/made men who still show tho,
humble beginnings. A shabby office, which remind, me of dj
early days in the Catt Louvre, in the little back toon, which I
d photographed as a permanent souvenir. Of the diplomatic
'Zi t " c' 1 : h,< h ' d<a " Wi,h ,h ' n and > " dcaluw
with now. Yet these folks give the impression of prudence. J 2
Th lh * mca er Winnings of our linancial solidity
The older Brecher ha, a son in the firm who has been to J
do 00 D n ,orr "' "" yOU " R " BWhCT
V UBg T madc nuh " gol impression on me. and
while he wa, ,alk,ng_,o be sure, with a teruin hnamial lepl
_t I i- 11 < ^ CUrTC ^ to mc *hat he could make quite a serviceable d, rector of the Jewish Colonial Bank
only thing is, he made the mistake possibly fatal for his
reer-o saying that he did not quite share our views yet.
imr> | U< tlS aiC hanking bourgeoisie. If they have
through us Cn U ^ 10 j n * n w '*h us. they can become great
rultv n aVUi0n f! * u ^* cr 'P t ' n will have peculiar case and difi*
at our ** t ^ at KC 4 ^ a ^ ^ avc rca ^y made publicity
loud that il** c ^ fflcu hy, that we shall not be able to say out
IC f heI P a 8 a W ihc big bankers, because we have
* In F.nglih in original.
## I ranilatoy'i Noi r y. nLlll .
C.I 100 U grant doctor am u * ft, r * n<1 formality in the umr phrur. Amirtia li
THE COMPLETE DIARIES of THEODOR HERZL 635
to keep in mind that the Turkish government might hear about
it and lose its respect.
I didn't need Alex Marmorck's last letter to know that Edmond

Rothschild would turn his colonics over to the Bank once it is in
existence to this Bank whose coming into being he would now
like to present. Undoubtedly the I.C.A. will capitulate too. once
the Bank is there.
Most people don't see the connected events of the future. They
only see current connections, not future connections. That is
why the difficulties of my movement arc so great and why it will
look simple when 1 bring it to fruition. For then the separate
nrands will be woven together, and the piece of cloth will make
do particular impression. That is why I shall reap so much in*
giautude, too. What now exists as unused pans, and does not
exist as a whole, and would never exist without me, will then
be a cunent connection" and in the future make no real im-
pression on anyone.
Kokrvh, a member of the Actions Committee, said a few

months ago: No one is going to lend us as much as ten thouand guilders!"
And now I want to raise a share capital of 60 million francs
tor a Bank whose prospectus I am not even offering.
Naturally, Kokcsch is opposed to founding the Bank, just as
year he was against convening the Congress. But in the end
does acquiesce, because he is a good boy and has faith in me.
P rov ' 1 * on al subscription yields only 800,000 pounds

^ ,n ^' ^ ^ satisfied too. This will then give us a basis for
tyttdicate of guarantors which, to be sure, I could not get
along without under those conditions. The provisional people
will then constitute a unit in the share issuing syndicate, and a
few bigger bankers will have to be won in addition. If wont
comes to worst, the Bank will be created with less basic capital
May n
Hechler is going to Berlin to attend the Church Conference. I
again urged him strongly to induce the Kaiser to receive me.
If he manages that, I promised him that he would be sent to
Palestine at our expense in the autumn when the Kaiser takes a
trip there.
Hechler sensed how much importance I attach to being re
ceived by the Kaiser and demanded that I come to the English
church tomorrow, Sunday, and pray with him. AT plus m mom
[Neither more nor less].
At this I began to speak about the grass growing in my garden,
where we were sitting, without going into his presumption further.
Then, when he had left, I wrote him that he would go to Palestine if he arranged that audience for me.
May M
Yesterday, Bank meeting of the Actions Committee.
One man. Dr. Kahn, had collected 350 shares. All others, noth
ing! Kokesch had a number of representatives conscripted from
the shekel bloc list who are to act as collectors. That was all.
I indicated my dissatisfaction to the gentlemen in a few words
Thats how it was before the 1st Congress, too.
Wolffsohn has good intentions, but he is not energetic enoughHe requests that there be no more notices in the Welt about Hu
travels. He doesn't want to become ridiculous. All those pcopfr
still don t understand that I am making them great.
May *5
Typical of the big Jews.

Wolffsohn telegraphs that Seligmann (Frankfurt) has declined
to act as a depository for the share down payments.
Thereupon Wolffsohn turned to the A. Schaafhausen Banking
Association of Cologne (Gentile), which immediately declared
itself favorably inclined.
May 15
Spoke with my dear L. Kellner. I told him that if he survived
me, he should take care of the publication of this diary of mine.
The diary is to appear in the Welt in instalments.
Kellner shall also become editor-in-chief of the Welt when I
am no more. He knows the most about my intentions.
He is to receive appropriate compensation for his efforts, according to the circumstances of the paper The paper itself is, of
course, the property of my children, because during the period
in which I have been working in behalf of the Jews, I have neglerted to eam for them.
If mv Hans stays alive, he shall become proprietor of the paper
when he comes of age and pay his sisters an appropriate allowance from it provided it yields a profit.
Whit-Monday
Yesterday it was three years since I started the Zionist move
mem with my visit to flinch.
Today it is a worldwide idea.
Today I wrote to the amiable Hamburger Cohen, who can't

do anything in Hamburg (for the Bank), parce qu'on ne prtle
fu'aux riches [because loans are made only to rich people]!
The meaning of our Bank project is simply that with one leap
want to get out of the circulus vitiosus [vicious circle] that
consists in the refusal of the bankers to go along unless the bankers go along.
They are making our life a burden; that is why our moument
must finally break through or croak. To ine the matter is too
serious for a game, for the serious-minded it has hitherto been
too much of a game."
Hechler is in Berlin, will try to get to the Kaiser so that he

may receive me.
I need this audience, then the circulus vitiosus will be broken.
I don't believe, though, that Hechler can fix it. His daily letters from Berlin sound more and more discouraged and close
with: Ora pro nobis [Pray for us]!
May 31
Hechler has left Berlin bredouille [empty-handed]. The Kaiset
sent him word that he was too busy.
Hechler thereupon went to Karlsruhe. Superfluously.

June *
Jclski reports from I.odz that a merchant there had asked
Samuel Montagu in London whether he was participating in the
Bank.
If one day we take revenge on these big bankers, it will be well
deserved.
June 3
Caster is here. I told him the above facts and plan to discua
with him the beginning of the campaign against the English big
bankers.
The rich and the Great in Israel" are actually incurring a
fearsome responsibility by leaving me in the lurch. I am a very
irrviceable instrument for the return of the Jews and they let
me wear myself out in fruitless exertions. Perhaps 1 shall pass
without having secured the project, and then it will be lost.
June 5
Hechler is here again and reports that the Grand Duke of
Baden reacred favorably when he spoke about me and the Welt.
The Grand Duke advised Hechler to win over Eulenburg. the
ambassador here, for the cause. The Kaiser, he said, listens to
Eulenburg. Hechler should tell Eulenburg in the name of the
Grand Duke that in the latter's opinion something was involved
that might prove to be important for German policy in the Orient.
I am writing to the Grand Duke:

Reverend Hechler tells me that Your Royal Highness is still
interested in the Zionist mosrment and suggested that he call on
the Vienna ambassador. Count Eulenburg, for the purpose of arrangingmy audience with His Majesty the German Kaiser.
Only this definite information from my reverend friend Hechter could have encouraged me to write Your Royal Highness once
moTe - Is it not remarkable the way events have developed in the
East since about two yean ago I enjoyed the distinction of being
allowed to make a presentation of the Zionist movement at Karlsru he? German policy has taken an Eastern course, and there is
w,Df tbing symbolic about the Kaiser's Palestine journey in more
tan one sense. I am, therefore, more firmly convinced than ever
it our movement will receive help whence I have patiently
petting it for the past two years. By now it is clear that the
^dement of the shortest route to Asia by a neutral national ele640 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
ment could also have a certain value for Germanys Oriental policyAnd what element is this? I he same that is, par la force <Ut
choses [of necessity], almost everywhere driven into the arms of
the revolutionary parties.
In this respect, too, the events of the last few yean have confirmed many of my pronouncements.
This letter I did not complete or send off, because Hechter, to

whom I read the draft, advised me against it. Is it possible that
the Grand Duke did not express himself in the terms HechleT
conveyed to me? Could be.
June to
Seventh birthday of my Hans.
I gave him a Zion Hag. Shield of David with six stars in the su
triangles. The seventh on top.
In the middle field, the Lion of Judah after a drawing of the
painter Okin.
June 14
One of the most curious figures I have yet encountered is the
Rymanow Rabbi Horowitz, the son-in law of the Wonder Rabbi
there.
He came to see me accompanied by his secretary,' who, however, seems to be a servant and is treated in a disdainful manner.
Both wore kaftans. The servant had to remain in the hall.
Horowitz spoke d coeur dtfeouveri [frankly], was very skeptical
about the fanatics, and explained to me the "business (as he p l
it) of the Wonder Rabbis and their elegant way of life. He
boasted: my father-in-law needs 500 guilders a week,
16 servants.
Vet there was a certain naivetl about it.
He promised to interest all Wonder Rabbis in Zionism. 1 think
ii Kill be possible to direct these people if they arc treated appropriatelyIf he arranges a meeting of all the Wonder Rabbis, I will go
ihere for a confidential conference with all these gentlemen.
I, ^ especially interesting the way the fledgling Wonder

Rjbbt Horowitz explained the power of all these Rebbet. The
fanatics, of whom he spoke with thinly veiled irony, constitute
ibe core of the "disciples. The second group are the sensible
people who come to the Wonder Rabbi because he is at the center of connections and associations. Someone asks him whether
be should buy wheat. Someone else has been there before and
has mentioned the state of his wheat business. The Wonder
Rabbi, being at the focal point, is well informed. Therefore, his
advice is really worth its weight in gold. He gives tips, and good
ones, because, after all, his reputation depends on them. He
makes matches and settles disputes: by all this his power is preserved and increased. Simply marchandi dtnfluence (influence
peddlers], then. It is a natural explanation. The third group,
finally, are those who fear harm from the enmity of the Rebbe.
If someone has not crossed this limirut apostolomm [apostolic
threshold] in two or three years and the Wonder Rabbi is asked
about him. he says: He must be badly off; he hasnt been to see
me in a long time, apparently hasn't the traveling expenses!
In short, he can do his "disciples," who are his tributaries.
f 1 * 1 or good. It is an institution developed with singular
Arewdncii in which everything happens in the most natural
way.
And the amiable little Rebbe of Rymanow told me all this in
jhf friendliest blind trust, although he had never laid eyes on me

e. He added that he would make such confessions to no one
Evidently he takes me for a greater Wonder Rabbi even
die one of Sadagora. his uncle, and thinks that 1 am carry'ogon a business this way, too. There was an augurs smile in his
642 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFRZl
words as he sat before me in his elegant silk kaftan, with the
nicely anointed ear-locks and his golden pince-nez.
I didn't disabuse him of his misconception.
June 15
Draft of a letter to Kaiser Wilhelm (in the event that Count
Eulenburg receives the Grand Duke's message through Hechler.
acts on it, and invites me to request the audience):
Your Imperial Majesty:
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden recently ex
pressed the opinion to one of my friends, as I am informed, that
the Zionist movement (whose leader I am) could acquire some
importance to German policy in the Orient.
The aim of Zionism according to the program of last years
Basel Congress is to create a home, safeguarded under public
law, for the Jewish people in Palestine.
If I were granted an opportunity to give Your Imperial Majesty an oral presentation of the political and social overtones 10
Zionism as I did before His Royal Highness the Grand Duke
two years ago I believe I could get the brilliant German Kaiser
enthusiastic about this glorious project on behalf of the lowliest
I^t me emphasize only one point out of the wealth of reasons
in favor of the Zionist idea: the only cultural element with which
Palestine can be settled is the Jews. The land it too poor to attract others. For us it is rich in memories and hopes. And Pales
tine must be settled, for it is the route to Opbir as well as to
Kiaochow.
And if, per impossibile [as seems impossible] attractive conditions were created for other cultural elements, too, the most
bitter jealousy among the nations would arise. Europe, it seems
to me, would more readily permit settlement to the Jews. Per
raps not so much because of the historic right guaranteed in the
most sacred book of mankind, but because of the inclination,
present in most places, to let the Jews go.

Your Imperial Majesty is going to Palestine. It will be a procoooo of high and symbolic splendor. This journey will astound
the peoples of the East and disquiet those of the West. But if we
take everything into consideration, the new Imperial journey
to Zion may leave lasting traces in history only if it also tics in
with the modem Zionist movement.
Fora long time I have had the conviction that help will come
to us from Your Majesty. Your Majesty can command me at any
hour. May it happen soon!
It would be good fur the cause if I learned of this favor in advance of Your Majesty's Palestine journey and the Second Basel
Coogress. But with projects of this kind one must possess one's soul
in more patience than men ordinarily do.
With deepest respects, etc.
June 17
NordauMarmorck report from Paris that at the last meeting

of the I.C.A. Zadoc Kahn almost suffered violence, because he
read and supported our invitation to a conference of the colonitauon associations prior to the tnd Congress.
Thereupon the I.C.A. declined in an official, matter-of-fact letter to tend a representative to this conference. The world press is
beginning to editorialize about Wilhelms Palestinian journey.
Unfortunately I am still too powerless in the press to use this
otQuon to promote Zionism.
^**<Tday there was talk that the Emperor is going to abdicat
jubilee festivities and that his successor will suspend th
Uotuutuuon.
J* ^1 Jut *** J 0 ** wil > ** left out in the revised Consti
tan hr ' ! U<h 4,1 nationalities of Austri
00 he pacified. All this 1 predicted long ago.

June 17
I am writing Nordau and Caster (in Transylvania) to try to
have French and English papers sound an alarm because of Wilhelm I I s journey to Zion. Everyone has got to begrudge it to
everyone else, and this is how we will get it.
July
I am thinking of giving the movement a closer territorial goal,
preserving Zion as the final goal.
The poor masses need immediate help, and Turkey is not yet
so desperate as to accede to our wishes.
In fact, there will probably be hostile demonstrations against
us in Turkey in the immediate future. They will say that they
have no intentions of giving us Palestine.
Thus we must organize ourselves for a goal attainable soon,
under the Zion flag and maintaining all of our historic claims.
Perhaps we can demand Cyprus from England, and even keep
an eye on South Africa or America until Turkey is dissolved.
Cest encore a creuser fnnfnndemrnt [This is still to be thoroughly explored]. Discuss with Nordau before the Congress.
July 6
from my letter to Schauer, who called my attention to an antiZionist remark of the Turkish ambassador in Washington:
I have long been acquainted with the mistrust of the Turks.
I anticipated it. That is the reason for my opposition to infiltration. It is, at any rate, no short-sightedness in my policy. I can
demand a Jewish State in Palestine only while fighting colonization on a small scale. But the latter is apparently brainless for
the critical moment at which Turkey "noticed** the will-to-a-state
on the part of the infiltrees would find the colonists unprotected
immigrants, while under my policy negotiations can be carried on
before the boundaries are crossed, thus in a manner far more
favorable to us."
July 10
Various opposition to the Congress House in Basel which I

want to have Marmorek design.
I hope to overcome this opposition. The Jewish House in
Bawl will be a landmark of Switzerland, but above all a symbol
for Jewry. With nations one must speak in a childish language:
a house, a flag, a song arc the symbols of communication.
Even Marmorek. to whom I suggested this plan for the building, doesn't quite understand and showed me a sketch of no significance.
After all. in the case of the Jewish House in Basel, neo-Jcwish
style can be employed for the first time.
I gave Marmorek the following suggestion for the facade of
the Jewish House:
The hall is the house. It opens onto the loggia, but is lighted
from above like a parliamentary auditorium.
The an form which is most meaningful to me now is architecture. Unfortunately I don't command its meant of expression. If
I had learned anything, I would be an architect now.
July it
I gave an interv iew to the Vienna correspondent of the Pall
Mali Gazette about the Palestine journey of the (ierman Kaiser.
I (ought to stir up the attention and jealousy of the other Pow01, and taid it was our entire hope that we would be regarded
*the pit alter [last retort). No power could let any other have
Palestine
At the same time, I intend to irritate the Kaiser a bit by this.

July Ji
Yesterday a small engagement with Bacher.
I am now writing editorials for the N. Fr. Ft. that are success,
ful. Bather showers me with compliments, as Benedikt, who is
on vacation now, previously did.
Yesterday Bather said: "I like your editorials even better than
your feuilletons. Isnt there material for one today?"
I: "There would be one: the German Kaisers trip to Palestine.
But one would have to discuss Zionism in it."
He: " One wouldn't have to! You would.
Thereupon I opened a discussion of Zionism. He denied the
growth of the movement, which, he claimed, was being mentioned as a curiosity at most. He regretted that I was so obstinate,
because he liked me and I was an intelligent man otherwise.
I: Well, then the assumption must be in my favor that I am
not doing anything stupid there either."
He: "It is this very assumption that makes me annoyed at you.
You cant tell me that it is a serious movement.
I: "The German Kaiser asked through Lucanus for tny pamphlet about the Basel Congress.
That astounded him.
I: "In its beginnings Socialism wasn't a serious movement
either. Can you deny that it is one now?
He: "Socialism has changed radically. Marx and I avsalle still

thought in terms of a bloody revolution. Today Socialism ap
proaches the gradual transformation of society with bourgeois
methods."
I: Do you think that I expect a realization of my ideas according to program? I am under no illusions about the pluspelilio [exorbitance] that is inherent in my demands."
After this I went into a discussion of the question as an international one, saying that Fiance and Russia would not permit
the foothold in Palestine which the German Kaiser apparently
intends, and that we Zionists probably constituted the pis a ^ r
for Europe.
He listened to me, shook his head. But this time the fight was
a draw.
THF. COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 647
August 3
Wolffsohn telegraphs that the bankers Seligmann and Marx,
who were supposed to come to Cologne for the so-called Bank
Conference, have withdrawn their acceptance.
This dirty trick again calls everything into question. I am
telegraphing Wolffsohn: Stiff upper lip!
1 shall simply launch the Bank at the CongTcss, which will
save us being dependent on the banking bastards.
Letter to Benedikt (at Schevcningen):
August 5
Dear Friend:
First the news you asked me for when we parted: my good child
has pretty well recovered. I am starting my vacation today.
Only now am I calm enough to get back to something that we
once discussed at the Hotel Imperial: the question of whether
the N. Fr. Ft. will this year report on the Zionist Congress in
Basel. You were going to discuss this with Dr. Bacher, but in the
rush of your departure you probably forgot about it.
Without knowing your views Dr. Bacher probably wont make
adccuion on the matter, i.e., he will not make arrangements to
get coverage. However, all other papers, including the Viennese
ooes, are likely to carry reports this time.
Added to this is the fact that in the near future there will be
two conditions which will make mention of the Zionist movement
inevitable: t. the founding of the Zionist Bank with two million
pounds sterling, which I have already told you about; t. the German Kaiser's journey to Palestine. He is going to visit the Jewidi colonies there; it is not impossible that on this occasion he
w dl say something about Zionism.
In my estimation, a calm, impartial mention f this movement.
^ u underestimated, is advisable at this very time, on
occasion of the Second Congress. Something like what is con* n *8th volume of Meyers Konversatiomlexikon (half
w.
648 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFRZI

By this the N. Fr. Pr. will in no way commit itself as in favor
of my ideas. I certainly don't presume upon you that the N Ft

P r. should declare itself as a Jewish paper, although undoubtedly
both you and Dr. Bacher feel as Jews. If previously you were apprehensive that the propagation of Zionism would deprive you
of the right to join in the discussion of the language controversy
and other internal Austrian disputes, such an apprehension is no
longer justified today.
I he Berliner Tageblatt used to take a similar point of view,
and subsequently carried objective editorials of column length.
The N. Fr. Pr., however, will always be able to state that it did
nothing toward the dissemination of this idea, even kept silent
about it. Zionism has spread its own propaganda and now presents itself to the paper from the outside, like other events.
I personally have not minded being able to perform my literary work quite apart from my political activity. This way, at
least, not even the most malevolent were able to say of me that
I was a professional politician a breed that is greatly repugnant to me. And I hope that in the future, too, I shall be able to
stay with my feuilletons quietly, although I have, so to speak, put
a major idea on its feet.
After all, I have also declined seats in the Reichsrat, and I'd
rather write plays, even though I want to help the poor Jews.
What serious objections can be raised against our wanting to
set up a refuge for the oppressed Jewish masses?
Believe me, everywhere the Zionists program has penetrated it
has given discussion of the Jewish Question a tone more favorable
to us.
August 8
This letter, too, went unmailed, because today in the composing room I saw an editorial from the pen of Privy Councilor
Richter about the Kaiser's journey to Palestine.
Bacher got Richter to write the article I recommended with
the omission of Zionism.
In Engllih In the original.
August 9
Wolffsohn reports that only 100,000 pounds have been subscribed for the Bank.
Everything depends upon whether the weeks until the Congress bring a substantial increase.
If they dont, this time the atmosphere at the Congress would
have to be utilized for the Bank. A tremendously difficult task.
The rich boys want to let us freeze. La revanche sera terrible
[The revenge will be terrible].
I may even announce the boycott at this Congress.
August 1 1
Today Friedrich Schiff of Paris came to see me in Wahring. I
reminded him of his remark about my idea when I gave him
the manuscript of The Jewish State to read, three years ago in the
Hotel Castille, rue Gambon. He was ashamed and embarrassed,
and said: I have already been converted. You are right, you are
really right."
The baiting of Dreyfus convened him.
And just like this man, who once thought me insane, all the
others who called me crazy will come round. But what if I had
allowed such people to hold me back? The world would be
poorer by an idea, Jewry by this gTeat movement.
How gTeat, come to think of it, was the responsibility of those

who wanted to deter me, and how slight the punishment that is
befalling them for it.
He is embarrassed for a moment and says: You arc right!
August *7
Yesterday, farewell to Bacher, since 1 am going on vacation. He
*** 'cry cordial, couldn't repeat to me often enough how hard it
would be to do without me. He himself broached the subject of
be Congress. I told him that if he changed his mind and wanted
to have the Congress covered, he only needed to send me a telegram and I would make arrangements for him to get a good, objective report.
He groaned: It cant be donel If you werent with us, w e
would certainly have written about Zionism by now, like the
Kolnischc Zeitung and others. It is impossible because of you
personally, the dual position you occupy."
I didnt press any further. We took a quite cordial leave of
each other. But because I have the impression that he has softened after all, I will write the letter to Benedikt, mutatis mutandis [the necessary changes having been made] since the article
about the Kaiser is eliminated.
Conclusion of the letter to Benedikt at Scheveningen, H&tel

Orange:
So, un bon mouvement [a good movement]!
If Im not mistaken. Dr. Bacher, who is certainly favorably
disposed toward me personally, is at heart no longer so sharply
opposed to reporting about the Congress.
You will be well informed, too, je vous en rSponds [I guarantee you this]; you only have to notify me in time. And all this
can be done as discreetly as you require it. After all, this is what
we learned to read and write for.
One thing is certain: the Congress will this time be even much
more magnificent than the first one.
Yours very sincerely,
Th. Herd.
Conclusion : I believe you ought to write or telegraph Dr.
Bacher to order coverage of Basel from me. Then the N- Er.
Pr. will have registered the movement, as it were, and can henceforth calmly wait and see whether something great, historic comes
of it (as I believe it will), or whether it dries up in the sand.
August 25
In Basel again.
less and less time for impressionistic pictures. Everything has
turned into action.
Yesterday I came here from Lucerne with Wolffsohn. On the
tnin he converted me to the idea of establishing the Bank with
less than two million pounds, possibly with five million marks.
Thu small Bank can then set up the necessary subsidiaries.

In Basel I was met at the station by many people. This attention was very embarrassing to me.
August 19
The first day of the Congress is over.
Beforehand, all sons of excitement and weariness, Bank Conference a non conferendo [that doesnt confer], agitation by
igitis [the agitated], etc. Moreover, receptions, devotions, admirations. It all vanishes from beneath me in a peculiar way, as
though I were going up in a balloon nor does it give me any
son of pleasure. When 1 was twenty years old or later? we
were on summer vacation at some place where there was a green
meadow, and in the evenings I used to walk across it, absorbed
in youthful dreams. I no longer know the location of this meadow
which I still see before me; for ever since I have remembered
thu peaceful evening as something lost, 1 have forgotten where it
was. Somewhere past Vdslau, I think, maybe Pottenstein; but it
could have been Reichenhall. In that case it would have been
five yean later, when 1 was working at the courthouse in Sabburg. A gTcen meadow at eventide, a tall tree by my path, a little
b*ue 1 no longer know whether a farm house or a parsonage
* infinite, fragrant peace over it. There 1 was longing for the
odd and happy in my lack of success. This charming meadow
occurs to me now when the world is becoming more map-like for
Question is whether the intoxication of the Congress will again

P** like that, without leaving any traces. One hope is the Bank.
652 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR H ERZ L

When I left for my hotel last night at eleven o'clock * c h*j
three sessions, and no time for supper the anarchist Marcou
Baruch, who has been tamed by Zionism, went with me. He iai<j
Je regrette que vous mettiei en avant du peuple dlsrael U
banque. Je ne le voudrau pas pour Ihistone [I am som that
you should put the bank ahead of the people of Israel. I wouldn't
want it for the sake of history]!'*
Otherwise a muddle-head, this fellow did utter the first mat.
nificent words of the CongTcss.
The debates yesterday afternoon were depressing.

In the morning I had read off my programmatic speech, and
Nordau had given his annual address. He again spoke splendidly,
but a bn long-windedly, and actually did not have much that
was new to say. He is a terrific speaker.
In the afternoon, the treasurer's report.
Then the nonsense started immediately. Gaster presided with
a heavy hand. Oskar Marmorek, to my complete despair, praised
the Actions Committee because it had achieved so much with
such small means. And in the gallery sat Newlinski. whom I had
sent for with his wife and children, so that he might report to
the Sultan how strong our movement was. After that BernsteinKohan took the floor and praised us because we had accomplished
all this without money, without resources. I sent word to him that
he should shut up that instant, otherwise I would leave the Coogress. He went on talking nonsense without stopping, referring
tx more times to our poverty until I had the session interrupted in order to convene the Finance Committee.
II the speakers wanted details, statements that we cannot give,
, usc l ^ c y arc 100 snsall. The movement this year is nine tunes
( nircr s figure) bigger than it was the previous year but it i*
just that last year it was ridiculously small. This is something that
to be hurdled. Luckily our books, which we submitted to
the Finance Committee, were in splendid order. We were able to
ihow a surplus of 61,000 francs.
The rest is in the Welt.
The opponents who had been announced with a lot of shouting

evaporated in the CongTess. Landau made himself ridiculous
with bis opposition; 1 didn't need to destroy him. Bambus pulled
in his boms.
September t, at Constance
The Congress is over.
A feeling of utter exhaustion. The last session until five in the
morning.
I nude the mistake of overloading the third day as the final
day; hence the excitement of the final night and the successful
dirty tricks of the Galician bastards Kohn (little Kohn). Landau.
Sal/, and Mai/. Landau was the noisiest and the stupidest.
It's true that I hamstrung them; but if I had not been so exhausted from that twenty-one-hour stretch of presiding. I would
have annihilated them. Now the chairman's words needed for
that occur to me. I should have said: Once more there is an attempt from the same quarter to affix a yellow badge of shame to
our Congress!
I should have nailed little Kohn like a bat when he was up
there on the speaker's platform: Are you a Zionist?
In short, many other things.
One can't foresee everything. Otherwise, we would have had
a splendid fourth day with the tum in the Dreyfus affair and the
telegraphic reply from the Sultan which 1 had not counted on at
alL
I have to be all the more indignant at the behavior of Schnirer,
tokesch, and Mint/. These people actually wanted to desen me
when they noticed the displeasure of the Congress at our failure
to make the financial picture public. I let Mintz go, because he
*d been an uncertain recruit all year anyway. The two others I
654 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HIR/ L
induced to stay. Mintz is a bom deserter; he has caused me c
barrassment enough. Schnirer and Kokesch are decent dcodT
even though their hearts sank into their boots. They live
too narrow horizons. They absolutely fail to understand why"
allowed Newlinski to run up a hotel bill of 500 francs in Ila*l
just as they approved his monthly subvention only with f ~,k
gritting and mistrust.
These are the instruments I have to work with. They break
in my hand, like the wooden paper-knife at that tempestuous setsion.
This diary is deficient I feel it. The stormy aspects are lacking in their secret nature, which I could still get down direedy
afterwards and then forget. The lifeless aspec ts are also lacking,
and the moods of depression which they cause would be of even

greater interest to the future readers of these notes.
During the Congress I also had a secret contest with the rabbu
of the blackest stripe who had come to join the movement. They
wanted concessions, which I denied them. I felt that they were
yielding and wanted to salvage whatever they could from their
C Cat * I made no concessions to them, they went along
even without them.
. wrangles also about the Rank matter. However, the opposition, with clever Bam bus at its head, did not attack our badlycovered position skillfully. When I saw that they chose a point
at . unfavorable to them and fought only for the addition
A 3 |T S, | ,, f C 3n< * ^.^ rT * a to * of the first resolution on the
I 1/ discussion so as to tire the people out. After I had
et t cm scream on this point for four hours, I abandoned it, because it was not at all important to me. They thought they had
-on a victory, and the proposal to found the Bank the only
(hing that mattered went through amid cheers.
The only error in the debate on the Bank was that I allowed
a half-hour recess to take place, during which time the physically
fxhausted opposition was able to fortify itself a bit.
Today I am traveling with Hechler to see the Grand Duke.

September 3, Bregcnz
Yesterday, then. I was with the Grand Duke. It was a charming early-autumn morning when Hechler and I went in the hotel
a mage from Constance over to the island of Mainau.
My mood was fundamentally different from the one before the
meeting at Karlsruhe. I no longer expected so much from the
conversation, which this time was to bring so incomparably much
more.
At eleven oclock we arrived at Mainau Castle, but had to wait
a full hour in the pretty salon on the ground floor. Court atmosphere. Heavy lackeys, who still have the army in their bones and
try to float over the parr) net floor with their peasant feet. Officers
in civilian clothes, then a general (Muller?) who was Hechler s
successor as tutor to the princes and accosted him. The general
said with a touch of humor: "In those days you predicted to us
the end of the world as imminent. I held it very much against
you. And you see, the world has'nt come to an end yet.
Hechler introduced me to the humorist, but I contented myelf with nodding coolly. The general looked at the photograph
of the Congress with polite irony, too. Hechler is fine for the
entree, but afterwards one becomes a bit ridiculous because of
him.
Then we had to step into an adjoining room, because the
Grand Duchess and the Due hrss of Genoa were supposed io pass
through the salon. Such small humiliatums, which are not directed against me personally at all. but against everything that
656 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR IIF.R7X
is not 'court,' give me back my stiffness which I lose through
obliging treatment.
At twelve o'clock we were called to the first floor to see the

Grand Duke. He was in civilian clothes, salon coat, white vest,
and greeted me with great friendliness. During the entire audience I was able to see his face only in silhouette because he intentionally sat with his back to the window, while I was fully illuminated as though I were to be X-rayed.
The conversation was downright grandiose, highly political.
If I were to publish it today, it would be a sensation for all of
Europe. The Grand Duke conversed with me in the most candid manner about all of world politics, and from each of his
kindly words there shone lienevolence toward me and good will
for the cause. But he also gave me a magnificent demonstration
of his confidence by discussing with me the most secret German
political matters and speaking unreservedly about the intentions
of the Kaiser.
He began by saying that the German government had made
inquiries in Constantinople about the attitude there toward the
Zionist movement and had been informed that the Sultan viewed
our cause with favor. Ijter remarks brought out the fact that
the inquiry was made through Herr von Manchall who enjoy*
great favor with the Sultan.
I was able to supplement this information with the news that
the day before I had received a telegram of thanks from the
Sultan.
The Grand Duke told me that he had made a detailed repon
about the Zionist movement to the Kaiser. The latter thereupon
instructed Count Eulenburg to make a closer study of the matter
and report on it.
The Grand Duke now told me on what good terms the Kaiser
was with the Sultan. This excellent relationship started with
the Cretan question. The friendly turn that Germany rendered
the Turks by withdrawing troops from Crete made the very
deepest impression. German influence in Yildiz was now unlimited, he said. England has been crowded out completely, W
a y nothing of the other Powers. And the Grand Duke added
with a smile of satisfaction: "We have accomplished all this without using the fleet or making any special exertions. Germanys
wishes receive unqualified consideration. And if our Kaiser drops
a word to the Sultan, it will certainly be heeded. But we have
to be very careful. In world history, individual steps sometimes
take a very long lime. One must have patience. First you must
wait until the Kaiser returns. If he received you before that, it
igbt do the project more harm than good. You know what
comments the Kaiser's journey has elicited everywhere. The
KKalled Palestine journey, which was originally supposed to
have only a religious character, has now become a political one.
This follows from the fact that the Kaiser will be going to
Constantinople first, whereas originally be intended to go directly to Palestine. Thus he will first be paying a visit to the
suzerain of the country. From Palestine he will then go to Egypt,
that is, to another vassal state of the Sultan.
Continued on the train:
I remarked that it would be very welcome if I could make a
presentation to the Kaiser before his departure, so that he might
speak about Zionism in Yildiz rn conruussance de cause (from
acquaintance with the subject].
The Grand Duke asked: "Do you intend to found a state?
I believe that would be the only right thing for you to do, if
you wish to have legal security. (I had told him that earlieT, and
also that we dont want to expose ourselves to the whims of pasha
government ; A formula could be found by which you keep the
overlordship of the Sultan, something like the former Danube
principalities. What it would tum into later (he smiled) say,
in a generation that, after all. we cannot tell today.
1 now expounded my oft -mentioned points of view, our relationship to the revolutionary parties, which evidently pleased
him. ( Parbleu [of course]!)
When I mentioned the consequences that Zionism has had
in Russia, where the Socialists and Anarchists are being converted to Zionism, because we have given them an ideal, he

nodded vigorously and said: "Pobedonostsev ought to hear that.
You should tell it to him."
He saw a major misgiving in the fact that certain groups of
Jews would see something anti-Semitic in the partisanship of
the German government. Until now, he said, people have regarded Zionism as a species of anti-Semitism. And he mentioned
the fact that during the Jewish riots in Algeria Rothschild had
threatened the French government that he would leave the
country if order were not restored. Thereupon a new governor
had been sent to Algeria. He seemed to fear a similar threat of
exodus on the part of the German-Jewish financiers.
I tried to set him straight on this. The German Jews would no
longer have anything against Zionism from the moment they
were sure that no one would interpret it as unpatriotic behavior
on their part. An exodus of all Jews was not intended anyway.
Assimilation would start in earnest then. And just as the Huguenot
families, who are still flourishing in Germany today, have been
well assimilated, it would then be the same way with the Jews.
Indeed, if a Heine wrote poetry for the Germans then, they
would not cast him out as a Jew, but rejoice at his having sung
the beautiful German songs.
Just as Chamisso, whose home was Boncourt Castle, is considered a good German poet.
In other ways, too, I drew his attention to the fact that with
the Jews a German cultural element would come to the Orient.
Evidence of this: German writers- even though of Jewish
descent are leading the Zionist movement. The language of
the Congress is German. The overwhelming majority of the Jews
are part of German culture.
We need a protectorate accordingly, we would prefer a German one. We cannot do things all by ourselves; people must help
us if they acknowledge our endeavors to be just, etc. the oftensaid things, but this time said at the right address.
He liked all that. He also spoke about anti-Semitism, entirely
in the spirit of Kaiser Friedrich. He called it an ugly movement,
first anti-Semitic, then anti-capitalistic, finally anarchistic.
Hethler occasionally broke in with prophetic remarks about
the return of the Jews * The Grand Duke listened to him with
a benign smile, but nodded approval to me when I said:
"Such things arc beyond my judgment. 1 can only speak of
what I see.
At this the Grand Duke said: Yes, let us consider the matter
onlv as a world-historical matter and not as a theological one.
Hechler spoke about the Ark of the Covenant which Henning
Melander plans to search for. I asked the Grand Duke whether
he had read those articles in the Welt. He said yes, and then he
aid that the Kaiser wished to discuss this Ark of the Covenant if
they were so inclined in Yildia. The Kaiser was extremely
interested in the Ark, and its discovery would certainly be an
event in world history.
One of the wishes the Kaiser planned to express to the Sultan
was for permission to conduct a search for the Ark.

Many other interesting and noteworthy things were brought
up. He spoke of the petty intrigues which the Prince of Bulgaria
was carrying on now, and of how here, too, Germany had intervened between the little Balkan princes and the Porte; Milan
in Serbia was the disquieting element. He said he had to tell me
something that I, as an Austrian, would probably not like to
bear namely, that Austria no longer had the influence to
intervene in this way.
Then we spoke about Austria he always with the greatest
candor and confidence and how deplorable the present bungled
situation was. The latest proposal was to make Austria into a
federation of states.
That would be the end," I said "Whom would one place at
the heads of the individual states?"
Archdukes perhaps!" said the Grand Duke.
I do not believe that would work." 1 replied. "1 he situation
is different from that in Germany. Germany is stronger as a fed*
eration of states, but Austria would be weaker. The unifying
bond is lacking. The only one is the dynasty. T be archdukes
* In 1* u* original
660 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR | JFR7l
could not be sovereigns, but only governors. A prince must
out of the soil."
And many more memorable words were spoken, not all of
which now come back to my mind. Finally, at a quarter to two
he said with amiable regTet that he had to dismiss us non He
gave me a long hand-shake, assured me of his aid and his
will, and said that he had a lively interest in the subject And
when I had already walked a few steps away, he overtook rot
again and squeezed my hand once more.
I took my leave.
Hechler stayed behind a few more minutes and asked if the
fact that this audience took place might be made public The
Grand Duke permitted it. But later I told Hechler, who will
convey this to the Grand Duke today, that 1 preferred to forego
the announcement so as to be able to operate in complete secrecy.
It would give rise to distrustful discussion if it became known
that the Grand Duke is interested in Zionism just before the
Kaiser s Palestinian trip.
Letter to Bacher, dated Brcgenz. September 3:

Dear Friend: (Strictly Confidential)
The Congress is over. I am sorry, and not for my sake, that
e N. Fr. Ft. has again failed to take cognizance of this event
In my devotion to you and our paper, which is well known 10
you, I consider it my duty nevertheless to tell you that very big
things are in the offing. The Sultan sent me a telegram of thanks
at Basel. The Grand Duke of Baden invited me to visit him following the Congress. Yesterday I have been to Mainau Castlf
and had a two-hour conversation with him which would cause
the greatest sensation throughout the whole world if 1 made it
pu ic. The Kaiser will call on the Sultan in (xinstantinople
prior to going to Palestine.
It is high time for the N. Fr. Pr. to register the Zionist move
ent. shall on<e more place at your dis|)osal an article about
Zionism, which I will sign, so that it may not be taken for the
view of the publishers. You are aware that I know how to write
discreetly.
Kindly direct your answer to Unterach am Attersee.
If you don't wish to accept my suggestion, I still count on your
complete silence to everyone, as though I had requested your
word of honor in advance.
Your devoted
Th. H.
September 9, Unterach
After careful consideration I did not mail the letter to Bacher.
Wolffsohn. who accompanied me here, concurs with me in this.
Yesterday I wrote to the Grand Duke that for reasons of expediency 1 would for the time being make no use of his permission, conveyed to me by Hechler, to make public the fact that I
had an audience with him.
At the same time I wrote the Vienna ambassador Eulenburg

that the Grand Duke had informed me that he had been instructed by the Kaiser to report on our movement. I would like
to speak to the Kaiser before his Palestinian trip. If Eulenburg
desired further information. 1 was ready to come to Vienna for
a day.
September 15, on the train to Vienna
Yesterday I received this wire from Eulenburg: Shall be
av *dable on 16th, nine a.ro., German Embassy. Eulenburg.'
I thereupon decided to go to Vienna at once. The German
***** is coming to Vienna on the 17th for the funeral services
f the murdered Empress and may receive me.
This time I have neglected entering a gTeat deal about tht
Congress.
Nordau was charming, amicable, and intelligent. He has rcconciled himself to playing second fiddle, and because of this
shone all the more. This time, too, he was fully a Zionist, while
the first time he had not used the word and the idea as though
they were pan of him. Last year he only gave a report on Zionism.
He was opposed to suppressing the financial report. He said it
was praiseworthy to admit that we were weak and had only an
army of beggars and fools. I would risk making myself suspect if
an accounting of the money were not given. I stubbornly stuck
to my view.
At length he said that he was standing by the shore, watching
me fight the waves in the middle of the river. (True!) I was
swimming well and vigorously. But if he saw me in danger, he
would jump in after me and pull me out.
September 16 , Vienna
This morning, with Eulenburg.
When I arrived at the Embassy Palace, the Count has just been
summoned to the Emperor at Schbnbrunn, because it was reported
that the Prince Regent of Bavaria had had a stroke.
I had to wait for an hour, together with Hechler, who had
received permission from F.ulenburg to convert a small saloo
into a Palestine museum for the benefit of the Kaiser, who arrives tomorrow. While mounting his charts, Hechler started
perspiring and finally threw off his coat. He went on working in
his shirt sleeves. At last everything was arranged: temple models,
maps, plaster casts of ancient relics, etc.
About half past ten the Count returned, apologized, and after
inspecting Hechlers curiosities, he launched into an amiable conversation.
He is a tall, elegant man, on lifes downward slope. Somewhere
around 55 , but he still seems to have a future. Imperial Chancellor, perhaps?
He gives the impression of complete self possession. You have
a man before you who is locked tight like an iron safe. He looks
you full in the face, and yet there is nothing to be read in his
cold, blue eyes, in his wrinkled face with its grey, pointed beard.
Suddenly the iron safe opens, although he has not moved a musde. The change lies only in the expression of his hard, blue eyes,
which can become soft. And on bidding me farewell, while a
moment before he had given me a full and friendly look, he
suddenly locked himself up again.
He opened the conversation by expressing two misgivings: the
soil in Palestine was lacking in humus, and the Turks would
view the immigration of two million people with disfavor, indeed. suspicion.
For the Sultan he gave me a deep look was downright criminal with fright.
He spoke at some length and with assurance, although he evidently is not yet acquainted with the project.
Then I took the floor and said all the things I have already
said 10 often, in The Jewish State , The Basel Congress, etc. They
were new to him and visibly fascinated him.
He asked what I actually wanted the Kaiser to do at Constantinople; did I want him to tell the Sultan to give us the land and
autonomy?
No, I said, the Kaiser should only put in a word recommending that the Sultan enter into negotiations with us. After all, the
matter was very complicated. We were not really interested in
getting permission to immigrate. We would take the country
only on the basis of autonomy.
The blue eyes repeatedly deepened as I spoke. He became perceptibly warmer.
He had promised me at the outset that he would try to persuade
the Kaiser to receive me in East Prussia, where he was going on
a hunting party, for he was to accompany the Kaiser there.
It was unlikely that the Kaiser would receive me tomorrow in
Vienna, for he would arrive at one o'clock and leave again at
ine in the evening. During those few hours he would have a
great deal of excitement, and he also had to confer with Billow
with the Imperial Chancellor, and with others. I thereupon nude
the suggestion that perhaps 1 could go along on the Kaiser) Imperial train and make my presentation to him en route.
Eulenburg thought it over and said he intended to bring it up
tomorrow, if the opportunity arose.
But I think I made the strongest impression on him when I
said: Our movement exists; 1 expect that one or another of the
Powers will espouse it. Originally I had thought that it would
be England. It lay in the nature of things. But it would be even
more welcome to me if it were Germany. The Jews of today are

predominantly German in culture. I am not saying this because
I am at the German Embassy right now, but because it is true.
Proof: the official language of the two Basel Congresses.
The mention of England, in which I have been mistaken thus
far (but which might still come through after all), was the coup
final [clincher].
All of a sudden he declared that he would welcome my speaking with Biilow tomorrow. The latter was coming down from
the Scmmering; he would not be attending the funeral services
and might be able to see me.
I put myself at his disposal, saying that I would be waiting at
the I Veit tomorrow morning from ten o'clock on.
When I was at the door, the blue eyes again closed down like
iron, with the lids still open.
I held the outer, he the inner, door-handle as I went out. When
1 pulled it shut somewhat slowly, I felt a stronger counterpressure from inside the room.
In the afternoon the Actions Committee met at my home. 1
gave them a report. The two Marmoreks greeted my success enthusiastically, Dr. Kahn was curious, Schnirer and Kokesch took
it almost as a matter of course.
Once a poor stock-exchange galopin [errand boy] suddenly
made 50,000 guilders. During the first hour he nearly went cTazy
with joy. By the second he said: 50.000 guilders! Hasst d Tusch
[Some big deal]!
As a reward for his past management llechler gets his traveling expenses to Palestine 1000 guilders, to start with.
He is such a good old soul, modest and humble. He did not
even ask for it. It does my heart good to make the old man's secret wish come true.
September 18, Ischl
Yesterday was a noteworthy day, one that might have become
a day of destiny for the movement. Would the Kaiser receive me?
1 slept late, wasn't a bit nervous, and didnt arrive at the office
of the Welt until the stroke of ten, having come from my home
in the "Cottage section. They had already phoned from the
German Embassy that I was to come there at eleven.
At eleven o'clock I drove up. The doorman told me Count
Eulenburg was not in. I replied that I wished to see HerT von
Billow, which surprised the lackey. On the staircase a footman
met me: "His Excellency is expecting you."
Biilow received me in his living quarten. with trunks open
he had just arrived. He greeted me with captivating kindness,
uymg he had read many of my writings, was happy to make my
acquaintance, etc.
At this 1 grew weak. I had confronted Eulenburg. who had
fttnvrd me coolly, with resoluteness, and my words had been
iron like and clear. In Bulow's presence I unfortunately became
a vain writer and strove harder to make polished mots [phrases]
*han to talk seriously to the point. This was simply a fit of weakas caused by his ingratiating behavior. After the conversation
1 had the delayed reaction devoir iU beret et roult [that I had
***** properly taken in].
Btilow doesn't give the impression of being a Prussian, but of
* ' la the origin* 1

666 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR/i
something like a North German Austrian: smooth, obliging,
times almost sweet, more vieux jeu [the old style] of diplomats
than the new iron kind of Bismarcks era. He is tall and slim, but
not stiff; a friendly face with rather gentle eyes and a small
blond-grey moustache, otherwise clean-shaven; the bearing of an
old lieutenant who resigned his commission early because his
gaiters bored him. Evidently has artistic leanings, too. (Eulenburg had mentioned the day before yesterday that he had.)
From this it may be concluded what a brilliant wind blows
from the summit. The Prussian court appears to be more concerned with art than people suppose.
Our conversation unfortunately was more of a chat than a
tightly organized political conversation. It also jumped from one
thing to another; the anti-Socialist aspect of Zionism was gone
into in the greatest detail flirted with would be more correct; on the other hand, little was said about the Oriental-colonial
and political aspects.
Biilow was already informed about the Second Congress, and
he asked why the N. Ft. Ft. had kept silent and the Frankfurter
Zeitung had written in such an unfriendly tone. I explained that
it was due to the fear on the part of the Jewish-liberal pa pen
that the anti-Semites would question their patriotism.
It was regrettable, I added, that our movement was actually
becoming known only through jokes and caricatures; but if one
had strong enough nerves, this too was a good way. afteT all, to
popularize the idea.
He nodded with a smile.
I then expounded my theory about draining off the surplus
Jewish masses. He agreed with me that through this immigration
the lot and the situation of the remaining Jews would improve
There were also plenty of Jews whose departure would certainly
not be welcomed. But they would remain in any case. In fact, he
did not believe that I would get many adherents from Centra!
and Western Germany to come along; only from the Fast, and
perhaps alv> those who felt the tightest economic squeeze and
Who would then be led by a few idealists.
He, too, confirmed what Eulenburg had already told me that
the Kaiser was by no means an anti Semite, which he was decried
as being. He was merely against the destructive Jews.
This brought us to Socialism. I made my position clear that
it was folly on the part of Jews to join the Socialist movement
which would soon rid itself of them. Then, too, Jews were not
Socialists at heart. I mentioned something that I had recently
read: Pre Mosaic Egypt was a Socialist state. Through the Decalogue Moses created an individualistic form of society. And the
Jews, I said, are and will remain individualists.
He liked that. too. He quoted Heine, who had talked about
egalitarian louts. The Jews, said Billow, would never put up
with that equality stuff. He had once discussed the Socialist state
of the future with a Socialist leader. It would be like a field of
poppies in which every taller flower would be beheaded. Such a
state would be boring and devoid of talent, too.
Was all this courtesy to a visitor, or honestly meant? Both
Eulenburg and Biilow expressed themselves about the Jews in
such a way that if their words were made public they would get
the reputation of being the most extreme philo-Scmites.
Quite a few details of this conversation, which flitted about
rnt truly, have already escaped me. When I quoted Biilow the
Grand Duke's words about his being considered the most qualified person to make an unobjectionable presentation of such a
tkficult and delicate subject as Zionism, he bowed and was quite

touched; and at that moment he was the weaker of us two.
But presently he regained the upper hand when he said: If
only wc were that far along, the key-word of the situation would
be found. Whether you or I or another, wiser man says it makes no
As I see it, the main difficulty lies in managing to give
die Sultan that advice to enter into negotiations with you. It
wild surely make a big impression cm him if the Kaiser were
o give him such advice. But we would have to see to it that
dien do not find out about it, otherwise the entire combination
ay be upset.*
TramlatoTt Nmr Hrinr called Amenta the land ei the f.UuhhrtufUgri.

I gathered that he was not in favor of my being received by
the Kaiser either in Vienna or on the train. He didnt come
right out with it, but I sensed it, despite his geniality. Had I
been too talkative and given him the impression that I couldn't
keep my mouth shut? Or are their intentions toward us already
so serious that they have to carry out this plan with caution? 1
shall not find out until later.
With regard to the Socialist aspect of the question, at any rate,
we saw eye to eye. He was impressed when I mentioned the fact
that at the University of Vienna we have taken students away
from Socialism. Some might believe they will set up the Socialist
state of the future over there; but that was not my view. We
might be able to arrange some matters better than in our old
society, but on the whole, things would probably have to remain
much the same. If I thought otherwise, I would really be a
Utopian.
Again he had his charming smile: "Yes, it would then be the
polis [city-state] of Plato!"
We had chatted for about three-quarters of an hour. A servant
entered and put something in order. At this Biilow suddenly
asked me to excuse him: he had to go to the station to meet the
Kaiser.
And before 1 had had a chance to unfold the entire matter,
our conversation came to an abrupt end. He dismissed me with
the utmost amiability. I managed to give him Erters article from
issue No. 37 of the Welt and told him that according to this
article there was even less of a legal case for the French claims
to the Orient than for claims which might be made by others.
He quite shared this view and promised to read the article.
Finally, 1 begged him to introduce me to the Kaiser, if possible,
even though it were only in the train on the return journey. 1
should be pleased to hold myself at his disposal in some baggagecar. Again he nodded. He never says no nor yes cither.
Then I left, and knew even on the stairs that nothing was going to come of it either because I had committed some blunder,
or because he does not consider it expedient.
1 immediately summoned my good Hechler, so as to salvage
wtotfVcr C ould be salvaged from the situation.
Hechler then waited in the doorkeeper's quarters at the Embgiy during the entire dinner (which followed the funeral of
ibe Empress). He sent his card to Count Eulenburg, saying he
was below stairs and at his command. But no call was sent to
him.
I myself waited at the Welt for a call, from five o'clock on. I
put a crape band around my hat and bought black gloves, so as
to appear at the station in the proper court attire. It got to be
debt oclock half past eight a quarter to nine. Then Hechler
ailed me on the phone. The Kaiser had just left with Eulenburg
for the station without remembering me.

I was rather disconcerted and drove to the Wcstbahn terminal
io order to take the train to Ischl. Hechler accompanied me. We
agreed on what he should say to Eulenburg today. I planned to
write Eulenburg from Unterach. At Ischl I received a wire from
Colonel Em. saying that the German Eraliassy had telephoned
to ask whether I was still in Vienna. He had replied: No. Should
he call me back from Ischl? Unnecessary, they said; the message
would be put in writing.
Does that mean that all is not lost yet?
At any rate. I have the promises of Eulenburg and Biilow that
the German government intends to assist us in Constantinople.
Vederemo [We shall see]!
September tt, on the train at the Lake of Zurich
When I left Unterach last night, no word had come from
Eulenburg. Therefore I must assume that I evaluated the situation correctly after my conversation with Biilow. I shall not be
able to see the Kaiser.
To make one last attempt. I plan to write the following letter
to Eulenburg from Paris:
Your Excellency:
My devoted thanks for listening to me in \ lenna. promising
me your help, and giving me the opportunity of speaking with
Herr von Biilow. Unfortunately the conversation with the latter
remained incomplete, since His Excellency had to leave for the
station to meet His Imperial Majesty. Our discussion had not
progressed beyond those points which would indicate that our
movement can fight and weaken the revolutionary parties.
Originally I had believed that this alone would gain us the
exalted protection of His Majesty. But according to the remarks
of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden I may assume
that the further course of our movement in the Orient, if we
should succeed in initiating an organized exodus of the proletarians to be settled, would engage the interest of German policy. Actually it is an element of German culture that would
come to the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean with the Jews.
I beg Your Excellency not to interpret it as immodesty on my
part if I once more present my request for an audience with
H.M. It is of the greatest timeliness. I do not wish to reproach
myself later with not having appreciated this important moment.
One word from the Kaiser can have the greatest consequences
for the shaping of things in the Orient. I should particularly like
to direct the attention of His Majesty to some things which I
have already briefly indicated to Your Excellency:
i- The relief for the internal situation of the different countries if those parts of the Jewish population that are considered superfluous are diverted. At present they are supplying the revolutionary parties with leaders and lieutenants.
* In the natural course of things each country would relinquish only as many Jews as it can spare. In each country,
the drainage would come to a standstill along with antiSemitism itself. For the stimulus to emigrate, which, as it is,
is lacking or only slight in the upper economic strata, would
then be eliminated.
3 . For I urkey, the influx of an intelligent, economically energetic national element would mean an unmistakable
strengthening. Therefore, the advice which the Kaiser should
give to the Sultan would be the advice of a friend. The lat-
ter should enter into negotiations with the Zionists, which

would for the time being involve no obligation and be kept
completely secret.
Turkey would have direct benefits (a large payment of
money on our part, and possibly a further improvement
of her finances) as well as indirect benefits, through the
general increase in commerce.
^ The return of even the semi-Asiatic Jews under the leadership of thoroughly modem persons must undoubtedly
mean the restoration to health of this neglected comer of
the Orient. Civilization and order would be brought there.
Thus the migration of the Jews would eventually be an
effective protection of the Christians in the Orient5 . The needs of all of non-Russian Europe call for the creation of a direct Southern route to Asia: that is. a railroad
from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf. The Jews
could and must build this gTcat road of the nations, which,
if undertaken differently, might call forth the most serious
rivalries.
For all these reasons I venture to ask for a hearing from His
Majesty, even before his departure for Constantinople.
In the internal situation of France I now find a peculiar, completely unexpected corroboration of my arguments. I lived there
for four years and am somewhat acquainted with the country.
Nevertheless, this time 1 am quite taken aback by the increase
of disorganization in a short time. Thus France must acquiesce
to every fail accompli which does not irritate it almost to the
point of insensibility.
What I am saying here quite plainly and seriously will, I
hope, find its way to the genius of the Kaiser through the kindness of Your Excellency.
The journey to the Holy land is now grandly conceived as a
pilgrimage on the pan of His Majesty. But it can turn out to
be more; it ran attain to the signficance of a historic turning
point in the Orient, if the return of the Jews is initiated.
And precisely this greater end would remain concealed for a
while. It is the same as in the mountains, where a water-shed is
not immediately noticed either. But then the waters flow differently.
Commending the cause which I represent in all humility to
Your Excellencys benevolence, I remain, with deepest respect,
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Theodor Herzl.
With it, a second sheet:
Since a letter addressed to Your Excellency might attract the
attention of the local post office, I am arranging for it to be
mailed in Cologne. My address, until September *9, inclusive,
will be: Hotel Castille, rue Cambon, Paris; then, until October
1: Doelen Hotel, Amsterdam; from October 2 until October 5,
inclusive: Burlington Hotel, Cork Street, Piccadilly, London,
W. Then, Vienna again. A message will probably rea<h me most
inconspicuously through the German Legation in the cities concerned. 1 would be very happy if I received orders to travel from
London to His Majesty. However, it goes without saying that I
am available earlier, or later, at any place whatever.
September 24, Paris
I am writing the letter to Eulenburg at the Hotel Castille, in
the same room and at the same table where I wrote The Jewish
State.

Day before yesterday I was at Nordaus, yesterday at Zadoc
Kahns.
Just talk.
September 29, on the train to Holland
Obviously there is no helping the French Jews. They make a
fire with their beds. They seek protection from the Socialists and
the destroyers of the present civil order.
Zadoc was of good cheer, because it no longer involves Dreyfus but Zola, and Picquart.
The Hague, September 3
The French Jews are absolutely unavailable to us. Truly, they
are not Jews any more. To be sure, they are no Frenchmen
either. They will probably become the leaders of European
anarchism.
I also had a farewell conversation with Nordau. He said he was

unable to put himself at the disposal of the movement to the
extent he would like to. He would jeopardize his position with
the Vouuche leitung and his livelihood. Unfortunately true.
It is a trying shame that we cannot support a propagandist ic
talent like his.
Nordau views my achievements with the Grand Duke and
Bulow with skepticism. He thinks nothing at all of Billow s obliging attitude. He feels that Bulow only wanted to have a chat with
an interesting man who has recently been in the news.
Nordau showed me a letter from Gaster imploring him to < ome

along to London , since I simply would not be dissuaded.
Strange behavior on the part of Bentwich and Caster, who
invited me in Basel to come to London at the beginning <f October and now arc against it.
1 have only one explanation for Casters letter: he wants to
cushion my appearance with that of Nordau. The rally shall n<t
be held for one man. Two men are less than one. thinks Caster,
who teems to be concerned about supremacy *
HowevrT. Nordau doesn't feel like playing a supporting role.
*nd he isnt going to london.
* ^ ^ original
The Hague, September 30
Traveled again through the fragrant Dutch countryside. But
not as I once did. In 1885 I was a callow dreamer who saw only
the surface of things.
Today the country has a different message for me.
I see a city suddenly rising from the plain, without mountain,
river, or sea without motive, so to speak. This is The Hague.
A proof that will-power makes cities rise.
If I point my finger at a spot, and say: here shall be a city a
city will come into being there.
All Holland is a proof of what men can extract from the most
unfavorable soil.
A young man in love sees his beloved under every womans hat.
In the same way, to me everything is now an allusion to, and
a memory of, my idea.
The Hague, October 1
Yesterday Kann, whom I came here to see about the Bank,
took me to the painter Israels. A short, agile, smart old little
Jew. He is just painting David playing the harp before Saul. I
explained Zionism to him and recruited him. He thought the
idea beautiful.
October *, 6 oclock in the morning
What happened yesterday I shall record en route.
I am now writing to F.ulenburg:
Your Excellency:
Please accept my humblest thanks for your very kind letter and
all that it contained.
1 shall leave London on Wednesday evening and go directly
to Berlin; I shall report to Your Excellency immediately upon
my arrival, since I can stay in Berlin only till Friday evening.
My Berlin address is Palast Hotel, Potsdamer Platz.
With deepest gratitude and respect, I remain
Your Excellencys humble servant.
Dr. Th. H.
October 1, on the steamer between Flushing and
Queens borough
Yesterday the following took place. In the morning I went
jjih Kann from The Hague to Amsterdam where I had directed
m y mail. I did not expect, or only vaguement [vaguely], that
Eulenburg would answer me.
At the Doelen Hotel I was told that a gentleman had come
there, looking for me. two days ago. Since I had written to no
one but Eulenburg and my family that I would be staying at
the Doelen Hotel in Amsterdam, I immediately guessed something. . ,
The surmise became a certainty when I received F.ulenburg s
note, the coda to his long letter. I immediately drove to the
German Consulate, where I was received without the morgur
offinfllr (official arrogance]. The secretary told me that I had
been expected since yesterday. However, could I prove my iden
tity? Because that could cost us our necks. I established my
identity in more of a psychological than a documentarv fashion,
since I had no papers of any kind on me. My passport was at
The Hague. I persuaded them of my identity. I he \ icr-Consul
was even more amiable when he handed me Eulenburg s letter.
I read the letter in the carriage, and at first was almost
by it The colossal achievement which it represented at first ha

an unpleasant effect on me. I saw at once the grave consequences
which this can have for me at the S. Ft. Pr. If, after the c *P ,r *
lion of my leave. I go to Palestine instead of reporting f<>r ' "* v
at the office, this could quite simply cost me my job. On e
other hand, I cannot disregard the Kaisers wish, which re* y *
a command. F.ulenburg writes that the Kaiser would l>e sappointed if he did not see me in Jerusalem. So there is n<> hesita
ing Cest iengrennage [Im caught in the toils]. I cannot c
otherwise, I must put even my position at stake.
Wolffsohn was waiting for me at The Hague. I d' not im
mediately tell him and Kann what was in the letter. / **** * '
Itnlrmrni boulevrrs/ [I was literally bowled over]. I rode my
bicycle, alone, to Scheveningen, relaxed through the physical
exercise and the view of the beautiful evening sea. A sunset in
reddened clouds, some cloud-drama of unknown melody and
plot which was taking place between the lustreless sky and the
shimmering sea, in bloody catastrophes, unintelligible but gripping.
During the day I had seen many other beautiful things. The
brownish-green, softly fragrant landscape between The Hague
and Amsterdam. The deep green of the shrubs, the brown, oily,
sluggish canals, the wandering wings of the wind mills a whole
enchanting world of muted color. In Amsterdam, the exhibition
of the collected Rembrandts, including "The Night Watch,"
which was well hung this time and glowed with color. Also paintings by Maris, who is strangely reminiscent of Corot and Lhermitte. The prettiest picture, however, in the Jewish Quarter.
Three Jewish children, a tiny boy between two little boys, went
sta f?f? e ring arm in along the side-walk, pretending they were
tipsy, and humming the Dutch national anthem. It was Saturday,
the shops were closed, the Jews in their shabbes dress: and I said
to Kann: Ten years from now, the children in the Jodenbreetstraat and in all the Jewish quarters of the world must be singing
the Zionist anthem.
Not until later in the evening, after dinner, did I let Wolffsohn
and Kann know the contents of the Eulenburg letter. First I
asked Kann how devoted he was to the cause; anti when he
avowed his complete devotion, I made both of them give me
their word of honor and their hands, and read them the letter.
Since it mentioned a deputation, I was justified in informing the
two men I intend to take along.
They were both astounded. We had been speaking of bank
matters. 1 said to them: I must now establish the Bank under
any circumstances.
Kann said he could participate only if it was something solid.
I replied that of course I preferred a good, solid frank, honorably
conducted by reliable people. But I should have to deal with
the other sort too. It is like a bridge. I come roaring along with
a locomotive and can. There is a stream I have to cross. If there
a good bridge so much the better. But I would get across
^tn if the bridge was bad. They should help me to build a
good, solid bridge.
Kann, who was wavering a bit, seemed to have been stiffened
by this.
Then I went to bed and slept on the matter; and when I awoke
at five in the moming. 1 knew as usual what I had to do.
I sent Eulenburg the above letter not in the form of a letter,
but as a telegram to Wolffsohns partner Bernstein in Cologne,
and he is to re-telegraph it.
In Berlin I shall try to dissuade Eulenburg from having the
Laiser receive me in Jerusalem. Instead, he should receive me

privately in Berlin. This is my view today, though it may be suscepuble of clarification and in need of it. By Wednesday, however, I shall perhaps have considered the matter, surveyed it from
other angles, and may recognize the trip to Palestine as a necessity.
As of today the matter still seems premature. Still, it will serve
to hasten the completion of the Bank.
How swiftly we shall go ahead from now on is really incalculable.
Too bad that I am a wage slave of the S. Fr. Pr. Everything
would be different if the tramps with whom I have so often struggled for my existence were different.
What obscure, indesrri liable battles I have had to fight over
every little step I took will never be suspected or appreciated by
the ungrateful Jews, who will show enmity toward me soon after
wccess has come.
One effect of the letter from Romintrn is that tomorrow evening in the East End I shall speak more moderately, because unfortunately the participation of the moneyed Jews will be nec**"7 *fter all.
I was planning to lash out at them.
October 3, London
While crossing the magnificent sea, I discussed many things
with Wolffsohn on deck. He feels that I may be of even greater
value to the N. Fr. Pr. after Palestine.
After sleeping on it once more, I myself now incline to the
view that maybe the trip wont break my neck after all.
Last night here I received a telegram from Hechler, to whom

the Grand Duke had given a detailed telegraphic account of the
Imperial matters already known to me.
This morning I received a telegram directly from the Grand
Duke, saying that he had sent me important news* to Vienna.
I am answering him: 1 most humbly thank Your Royal Highness for the great favor. I shall be there in good time.
Very respectfully yours,
Herzl.
Tonight is the mass-meeting * in the East End. I slept badly,

have heart palpitations of a disagreeable kind; and since I have
prepared no speech, I am worried that I may be au dessous dt
tout [at the bottom of the pile].
October 3, 6:45 in the evening
In the afternoon, va et vient [coming and going] at the Burlington Hotel. Candidates for the directorship of the Bank presented themselves. The majority of the "Bank Committee" i*
opposed to its immediate establishment. Bentwic h retires ,* as Col.
Goldsmid retired when there was supposed to be some action.
I am insisting on it: the Bank must be created now. The expenses of registering and establishing it will be borne by Wolffsohn, Kann, and myself.
In Engliih in ihc original.

Between limes I had Sidney Whitman introduce me to the
Bishop of London at the Athenaeum Club. Now I am supposed
to leave for the East End and make a speech before 8000 people,
and in the excitement of the last few weeks I have had no time
to prepare myself.
1 am not at all well today. Palpitations, shortness of breath.
And so I go on riding across Lake Constance *
October 4. morning
Yesterday's mass meeting * * in the East End was attended by ten
thousand people. My speech (in German) got much applause,
but was oratorical only de chic [for style], and not good. Today
I know some things I should have said. MoU [words] that would
have had wings, etc. The usual thing.
Very picturesque among my supporters* * was the Catholic
Father Ignatius. In his black pleated monastu habit, with his
medieval evangelists pulpit gestures, his beautiful, clear profile,
his spirited speech, he was a joy to listen to and to look at. I
admired him like a show-piece, while he praised me as if he were
talking about someone else. The enthusiasm that I inspire leaves
roe quite cold.
Finally, a certain Herman landau, an ugly Mauschel, came
forward to avenge his friend Montagu, whom I had attacked. He
brought a jarring note into the meeting, and after the floor had
been taken away from him, he screamed that we were trying to
take money from poor people in order to start our Bank.
Then the banker Seligmann, who had recently stabbed us in
the back, asked to be introduced to me, and made a sweet-andur face.
I left on foot with Sidney Whitman. But we had to take a
carnage after all, when the crowd of our followers on the main
urcft grew too big.
* TnMlator't Nocr An allinkm 10 the ballad, baaed on an old Swabian Wfmd.
* u -nd der Bodentee. aiao known a* Der Sinter uber den Bodentee, by
, Wiwab (I 7 v iHyo) A Iravrlrr on hocarbaik unwillingly rdm arm*
Imarn Lake Cornu oce Wbrn he rrachea lb* other dtorr mteh and ia lold at the
frnI * o. he dropa dead
f nglMh hi the oridnal

October 5 , in the morning, London
At the Burlington Hotel it is like at a bank. Big conversations
in our drawing room. Cohen of Hamburg is on the side of the
Englishmen who dont want to establish the bank right now, but
first a transitional corporation. Wolffsohn and Kann-The Hague,
my confidants, want to go ahead immediately. Still, yesterday
morning I inclined toward the view taken by timid Cohen, an
amiable, cautious adviser. But Cohen made the mistake of taking
me to the banker Rafaels. Rafaels, who seems to be a blockhead,
knew nothing whatever of our movement. And Cohen asked him
for advice. This turned me against Cohen and brought me back
to the immediate establishment of the Bank. We went to see the
Solicitor of the Bank of England, in order to ask his legal advice.
He said we could found the Bank with seven shares. We have
* 00 , 000 .
October 5, London
Last night the Hank project took a remarkable turn.
We had called a meeting of the Colonization Committee at
the Burlington Hotel for yesterday evening. Caster, Bentwich.
de Haas, Greenberg, and Seligmann the banker were to attend.
Others who were there were Kellner. Wolfbohn. Cohn. Kann,
and Heymann. I treated Seligmann very coolly, hardly spoke to
him and the reason for this was the perfidious letter opposing
the Bank which he had published in the Jewish Chronicle.
Caster opened the discussion with petty details of the Colonisation Committee. I let them talk. When they were discussing
the question of how to pay the secretary of the committee and
talking about the shilling difficulties. Seligmann took the floor.
He said he wished to tell us from where we could get the funds.
Instead of the Bank we ought to found a Jewish Colonisation Society It would be possible to win the good will of the "big
bankers for such a society. He was speaking unofficially, to be
sure, but he thought that such a society would easily raise not
two, but five, million pounds. He intended to discuss this with
Montagu and others. Our Bank would lead to catastrophes, d la
Union Gtntrale, etc.
I immediately sensed the victory that lay in this proposal, and
answered him. holding up to him the entire list of sins against
our movement committed by the bankers, argued down his misgivings about the Bank, and threatened him with war and boycott if the big bankers came out in opposition to our Bank.
He laughed out loud. But his laughter was too loud to be only
mockery. There was also fright in it.
Then I told him that I was ready to drop the Bank project
if the land society he had suggested came into being. I gave him
a Berlin address for a reply within two days. I said, however, that
* 1* EagUah in Ihe original.
68S

we would go ahead working for the Rank, because I had no confidence in the good will of the big bankers. And the matter could
no longer be carried on in dilatory fashion.
October 6, on the train to Berlin
To me this incident is only one more proof of the necessity for
the Bank. If it instils fear in the big bankers even before its
establishment, it will accomplish all the more tremendous things
once it exists.
Between Dortmund and Hanover I conversed with a fellow

passenger, the London Zionist and tobacco-dealer Mayer, about
the soil outlook in Palestine. He has been there, has set up tobacco plantations, and finds the land first-rate.
What under the sun am I not going through in this movement!

A noteworthy thing was the English promoter* scenes in the
Burlington Hotel. The would-be directors that applied, all the

comings and goings of the visitors. The worried dissuader Cohen
from Hamburg, the sly little South African Hcyman, who
doesn't know yet whether there will be a profit for him in it, and
if so, how much. Because of this attitude of his Hcymann will
have to be jettisoned at the next opportunity.
In contrast, Wolffsohn, and next to him young Kann from
the Hague, have been excellent, steadfast, loyal, adroit. For this
both of them shall be made great.
Also, the scenes with the English Solicitor Freskville, in appearance like the fine picture of an old man in a castle ,* and
many other things were very curious.
The impressions pass by too fast.
9 In English in the original.

On the crossing from Dover to Ostend I spoke with Wolffsohn
about how obvious and easy the founding of this Bank, which is
now costing us so many sacrifices, will be considered later. We
three, Wolffsohn, Kann, and I. are advancing the founding costs.
1 have subscribed to the largest number of shares (*ooo), also the
largest number in proportion to my means, although the project
certainly will not and must not yield me any profit.
And we are being abused by scoundrels a la Herman landau
on orders from other scoundrels like Montagu and Rabbi Adler.
Tomorrow I plan to write the following to the Grand Duke:

Even before I am acquainted with the full scope of things in
the offing, I feel impelled to repeat to Your Royal Highness, even
though only in brief summary, my mint respectful thanks which
I have already taken the liberty of telegraphing from London.
I cannot begin to express what comfort and reassurance 1 derive in the sometimes very bitter hours of the work I have started
from the thought that the kindly hand of Your Royal Highness
helpfully hovers oveT our work. The name of the Grand Duke
Friedrich of Baden, which is venerated and loved by the German
people, will be blessed by other millions as well when the time
0,0,0 *hen on* * allowed to say who was the first prince who
look an interest in the deliverance of the poor Jews.
Today 1 shall call cm Ambassador Count F.ulenburg in this
niy. and I hope to learn from him the arrangements with which
our Royal Highness is already acquainted in any case. It goes
without saying that I shall be in Palestine in time.
Berlin, October 7
Thu draft was not sent off. because I learned from Eulenburg
y that the Grand Duke was coming here.
Therefore I am wiring him as follows:
686 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER*,

To Hit Royal llighnns,
Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden,
New Palais, Potsdam.
1 have learned from Count Eulenburg, on whom I calltd it
Liebenberg, that Your Royal Highness is turning here. Forth*

reason I am staying heTe one day longer.
This \ery day I was going to send off a letter with my no*
respectful thanks for all the favor I have experienced from Your
Royal Highness. As a precaution I preferred not to write froa
abroad. Now I would be very happy if I were accorded the
privilege of being received by Your Royal Highness tomomw.
in order to request your exalted, kindly counsel at this nr*
turn in affairs.
Your Royal Highness' respectful servant.
Dr. Theodor Henl
Palast Hotel.
Berlin, October 7
On arming here last night I was disappointed at x M|
the expected message from Eulenburg I considered asking h*
by telegram whether or not I ahould tome to L,cbro ^C ( ~
tided limply to wire him that I waa coming out today by
rapt etc. And it waa good that I dtd. For nwanwhde . km
him waa on the way. telling me to eapect him here "
or in my hotel. The latter obvioualy a mere geature <*>
However. I preferred to talk with h.m out there
that way I learned in good time ol the Crand uke^ _
I almoat miwed the train thia tnorntn*. Tl* ^ 1
forgotten to call me. So. alter _ up ^,L.. nA ihmlfflt*
time and. a. uaual. planned errnTt^bdore^^ ^
waa not yet aeven o'clock. Finally 00 , orbikr 11
The tram waa due .0 leave the Stett.ner "****+
I jumped up. and in fifteen minutea , |(K ^wr**
fasted and was rushing to the station. I p
ble fare. Luckily I still made the train. A lovely autumn morning
enveloped the Mark which is by no means such a sandy desert as
people say it is. So we too shall convert the sandy deserts of our
country into a beautiful Mark.
At Lowcnberg the Count s dog-cart was waiting for me. The
coachman surveyed me haughtily when I asked whether he was
waiting for a Dr. Henl. He had been told only: a tall gentleman
with a black beard. I am probably the first Jew he has ever driven.
Nevertheless 1 managed to draw the stiff youth into an almost
friendly conversation. A refrain from one of Spielhagens novels
kept running through my head: *H inrich Scheel drove the
horses." For here 1 was right in the midst of Spielhagens world,
the landed gentry, who had been spoken of in the circle in which
I used to live, among scoffing Jewish liberals, with nothing but
haired, fear, and derision. The noteworthy thing about the episode is that I am by no means coming to them as a submissively
fawning assimilationist, but as an upstanding Jew. This Hinrich
Scheel had probably never driven a |ew before. When 1 asked
him about distances, from Potsdam, etc., he explained them to
me by the time it takes the Dragoons and the Yellow Uhlans to
cover the ground. Hinrich Scheel who, incidentally, is going
to Vienna the Count's coachman thinks in terms of Dragoons
and Yellow Uhlans. Huntsmen, too. He said that hunting had
been going on for three days now. A few of the gentlemen were
still in the castle. The Count himself would probably go to Berlin this evening.
This morning a few gentlemen had gone out after pheasants.
In the sunny fields, an occasional bird flew up; I lacked a shotgun and the skill for them. These birds have evidently been reproducing themselves from time immemorial, for the benefit of
noblemen who on fine autumn days go out to kill them.
On the fields, which are now being turned over, here and
*ncre small groups of peasants. Potato harvest. A living poem of
the Mark.
In a brief half-hour we were at Liebenberg. A beautiful manor
l*>uae, to which a new wing is being added. I had no chance
really to look around. Two footmen were waiting outside the
irate One of them announced me to the Count. In the hall, huntL weapons and trophies. The whole, grand style * 1 he Count
came out at once. He was in hunting costume, and it seemed to
me the first thing he did was to take stock of my clothes. I had
carefully considered what I should wear, and had taken my grey
frock-coat and trousers, although under different circumstances
the light-colored lounge-suit would have been more appropriate
The light-colored suit would have been informal. However, I
certainly did not want to give the impression that I considered
myself a guest. I was coming on business, a shade less habilU
[dressed up] than if it had been in the city that is, gTey rather
than black.
1 believe he found me suitably dressed.
He led me into the great hall where the whole family happened to be gathered: his mother, wife, daughters, sons and their
tutors. I only had time to glance quickly at the very elegant
tableau and was unable to take in any details. A billiard table did
strike my attention, as well as a breakfast table, a few beautiful
old pictures and the autumnal park shimmered through the
tall French windows of this ground-floor hall. Eulenburg briefly
introduced me to the whole party and invited me to take a stroll
with him a bit of le tour du propridtaire [the proprietors tour].
But even though he permitted me a glimpse of the magnificence
of his estate he nevertheless did so in a grand manner, for he is
in every way a grandiose gentleman.* Naturally, as a member of
a race which he considers a higher one, he feels superior to roe.
But how can 1 resent it when I consider the wretched vs ay in
which precisely the higher Jews that is, the kind he has <<n
tact with, if any behave toward our idealistic cause." Incidentally, he does seem to acknowledge the fact that one tan avMKiJtf
with the Jew Herzl.
Since I am not forcing myself upon him socially, and indeed
In ilngliih in iht original.
had made it quite clear at the outset that I intended to go back
just as soon as we had completed our business, his air of superiority could not shock me. We got down to business.
To begin with, he reported: "I have already written you everything of importance, at the Kaiser's order. The Kaiver is very
warmly inclined toward the project. I succeeded in making him
take this attitude, or else there would simply f>e no point to it.
He has to be gTeatly interested in a matter, otherwise he soon
loses sight of it. which is understandable, because such a great
variety of things happen. To be sure, I had already mentioned it
at Vienna, but there we did not have the proper leisure for it.
Afterwards, at Rominten. it was different. There I was able to
return to the subject repeatedly, and I did."
I interjected: "It is one of the many different remarkable dispensations that we should have found an absolutely ideal advocate in Vour Excellency.
He gave a gratified nod. "That is true. My standing with the
Kaiser u such that I am able to speak to him differently from,
and more than, many others. Very few people can go as far as I.
There is always one point or another beyond which a man does
not dare to go; then he withdraws. I have been able to bring the
matter up again and again, and I have succeeded. Fortunately
for your cause I have also been able to win over Bulow, my best
friend and a most outstanding statesman. By the way, the world
will yet see quite extraordinary things from Bulow.
I remarked: 'Bulow dews not seem to have exerted himself
very much in Vienna. I had the impression that he was none too
willing.
The Count: lie restrained himself which is understandable
a first meeting. One is cautious, does not let oneself go imli*t*ly. However, the main thing is not what he said to you,
i what he said to me when 1 tried to persuade him. I convinced
nun.
1 *Pke a few warm words of thanks. At this F.ulenburg rewar ed, while looking at me steadily with his steely eyes: Per-

haps the moment will come when I shall claim favors from you.
I declared: "Henceforth you will find in me a devoted and
grateful man.
He said: "I am glad that you feel that way about it.
I: "Your Excellency may count on me. Perhaps you will permit
me to give you proof of it at once.
He made a motion of refusal with his hand. "No, not right
now. The occasion may arise some day, but this is not the time.
I begged him to be assured of my devotion at all times.
I am skipping about a bit in retelling this conversation, just
as it comes back to me. After all. during all these talks I must
concentrate my presence of mind on bringing up the right
things. That is why I am always weak in reproducing them later.
My own impressions are less strong, because I use all my psychic
energy to make strong impressions.
He said that I should go to Constantinople in any case. Perhaps the conversation there would be sufficient, and I would not
have to go on to Palestine.
I called his attention to the fact that it was not just a question
of myself, but of a deputation as well. I would not be able to use
residents of Palestine for the deputation, because they might get
into trouble with the authorities if they associated with a foreign
sovereign over the Sultans head.
He said that it was nevertheless the Kaiser's wish to receive a
deputation of Zionists in Jerusalem.
I remarked that in any case I was the only one who could
present the people. I intended to take along a man from Cologne,
one from the Hague, and one Viennese in addition to myself. I
did not want to include any Englishmen now, for political reasons. Russians might be harassed upon their return because of it.
Altogether, Russia was the great problem. It is true, I said, that
up to now our movement has been tolerated and our numerous
associations have been left in peace. Hut this has been so only
because there has been no talk of any intercession on the part of
Germany. There is no way of telling what the situation will be
once the German sponsorship becomes known.
Eulenburgs comment on this was that, in his opinion, nothing
need be feared from Russia. The Czars intentions are obviously
idealistic, as evidenced by his peace proposal. (At this, a hint of
irony in his steel-like eyes.) "If worst comes to worst, our Kaiser
could write him a letter and win him over to Zionism. Since
Russia has no objections to the departure of the Jews, no obstacles will be placed in the way of the cause.
I mentioned the extraterritorial iza tion of the Holy Places, in
the well-known way.
Eulenburg seems to anticipate difficulties only from England
and France. With regard to the latter country, I was able to give
him information gratifying to us. France was now undergoing a
severe crisis. Law and ordeT were being championed by liars. The
country was too weak to take any action in the political arena.
Eulenburg further told me that the Kaiser had already got
quite used to the idea of a protectorate. The Kaiser did not
doubt that the Sultan would receive his advice favorably, since
he was convinced of the Kaisers friendship. And the Kaiser had
also said that he could justify his espousal of the Jewish cause to
his own people!
Wonderful, wonderful!
So the intervention, the protectorate, of Germany is a fait acquis [actuality]. Nor does it detract from the colossal import of
this accomplishment that Eulenburg told me at a further turn
in the conversation: "We can only desire it. How it works out
later is in God's hands. We <annot know today whether we shall
be able to pursue the matter to its conclusion.
"Germany will not go to war for the sake of the Zionists.
When we had set out from the manor-house, a footman came
after us with a telegram Eulenburg read it. then called to the
* eTVam , who was standing by at a distance, to take the telegiam
* QUe. and put the paper on the ground for the servant to
pck up; meanwhile we walked on. through the garden into the
Woodl . and then back.
After we had talked for a half-hour, I mentioned the two tele692 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
grams from the Grand Duke, especially the one sent to me directly at London and mentioning important news
He wired it en clair [openly]? asked the Count, shaking his
head.
Yes, en clair"
He is coming here tomorrow, probably to bid the Kaiser farewell. It was in the telegram I received just now. 1 am invited to
luncheon. This will give me a chance to speak to both gentlemen
about your business. After the meal; when one sits back comfortably and chats.
Then I said that I would stay over for a day in order to thank
the Grand Duke.
And we left it with the understanding that I would keep myself at their disposal at the hotel tomorrow in case 1 was summoned.
A game-keeper with two dogs straining at the leash came into
view. The Count had been showing signs of impatience for some
time now. 1 declined his invitation to cat a second breakfast,
which had been set out especially for me, on the pretext that I
was anxious to get back to Berlin.
The Countess was charming on closer contact, when I said
good-bye, and shook hands with me very amiably, although we
had not spoken together. The Count finally instructed the coachman to take me to the station by a lovely roundabout route. A
waving of hats, and then Liebenberg lay behind me.
Hinrich Scheel drove the horses. But this time, I think, with
greater respect, for he had seen the Count stand in the gateway
until my departure.
Hinrich Scheel was silent.
Following Eulenburgs advice, I only left my card at Billow's.

Something else occurs to me: I pointed out various considerations. Actually, I said, there were two forms of effectiveness. H
a widely-publicized demonstration is the object, then of course
* In English in the original.
a reception of the deputation would be the best thing. But if it
is desired to lay the actual ground work in secret thus, longrange effectiveness. as it were then it would be better merely
to receive me here or in Constantinople. I was, of course, at their
disposal in either case.
Eulenburg said that since a protectorate was involved, the
matter could not remain concealed for very long.
Therefore he thought it best to come right out with it. immediately and demonstratively. The world would then have to
come to terms with it.
Here 1 recognized the Prussian. This is the forthright grand
old style. Open and above-boardl This way they have accomplished everything.
Berlin, October 8
The protectorate! Many will shake their heads over it. But I
believe the only right course is to accept it gratefully, now that
it has been offered. For surely no one among us has dreams of
a monarchy, since I have none.
To live under the protection of this strong, gTeat, moral, splendidly governed, tightly organized Germany can only have the
most salutary effect on the Jewish national character. Also, at
one stroke we would obtain a completely ordered internal and
external legal status. The suzerainty of the Porte and the protectorate of (^rmany would certainly be sufficient legal pillars.
The only question is whether it should be and" or or, suzerainty and/or protectorate? We shall see how this develop.
In any case, the big-money scoundrels will no longer be able
to behave as they have up to now.
I am racking my brains over what Eulenburg could have meant

favon." Whatever they may be, he will get them no mat*** when, no matter where, no matter how. Everyone who comes
into contact with me shall get the opposite of the proverbial
opinion of the Jews.
Today I am sitting in the hotel and waiting.

It is now high noon, and I have had no sign of life whatever
from either the Grand Duke or Eulenburg. They are now at
table in Potsdam and must be talking about me. If my calculations are correct, I am bound to be summoned to Potsdam this
afternoon. I have laid out everything; black frock-coat, shirt,
neck-tie, shoes; and I am having my hat blocked.
But I also made such preparations on the day of the Empress

funeral in Vienna, and 1 was not called.
To be sure, if the matter is now being taken as seriously as
Eulenburg says and writes, and as the Grand Duke telegraphs
en clair [openly], it is absolutely essential that I be called to
Potsdam. I would be completely mistaken in the Kaiser if, after
luncheon, he does not simply give orders to summon me. Perhaps the Grand Duke will have me sent for?
At all events, tense moments in the serial novel of my life.
In the evening I must definitely go to Vienna.
October 8, 1:15 p.m.
The expectation is becoming more and more tense.
I am putting on my No. 1 patent-leather boots, so as to lose
less time dressing when the command arrives.
I was at the hotel clerk's desk a moment ago when one of
Billows servants came and left the latter's visiting-card for me.
From this I infer that Eulenburg has spoken to him during the
morning and that things arc going well.
Strange ways of destiny.

Through Zionism it will again become possible for Jew's to
love this Germany, to which our hearts have been attached despite everything!
Berlin, October 8 , 4 :*o p.m.
At half-past three the following telegram arrived from the
Grand Duke:
*To Dr. Theodor Herzl, Palast Hotel, Berlin; despatched at
Potsdam, Oct. 8 .
My letter to you left Mainau for Vienna on the fifth, but am
glad to be able to see you here, if you are willing to come very
early tomorrow morning, say, eight oclock. Stadtschloss, Potsdam. Friedrich. Grand Duke of Baden.
I replied:
To His Royal Highness Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden,
Stadtschloss, Potsdam.
Shall be there at eight oclock tomorrow morning. Most respectfully, Dr. Th. H.
This delays my depart ure by another day. I cant go to Vienna

until tomorrow evening. The whole party of travelers will be
delayed. All my arrangements, ordering of clothes, etc., will be
impeded. But que faire [what to do]? I must definitely find out
all the details here first.
October 8, 5 p.m.
I am now waiting for Eulenburg who, according to the timetables, ought to arrive here from Potsdam at four-thirty in order
to make the 6:06 train to Lbwenberg. Provided that he is returning to Liebrnberg via Berlin. Aftet that there is only one other
train from here to Lbwenberg. at ten oclock. To be on the safe
wle, I shall leave word with the desk clerk that 1 shall be at the
Koniglichn Schamptrlhaus [Royal Theatre] until ten oclock, so

bat I can be summoned by telephone if Eulenburg comes later.
I have often thought of withdrawing from the movement as
soon as I achieve something decisive. I would then say: No reward would be too high for what I have done for the Jews. But
even the smallest reward would give rise to the assumption that
I have done it for the sake of some advantage. Now, it would be
a terrible disgrace for the Jews if someone were to reproach rae
with such a thing. To forestall that, 1 am taking my departure,
and this is the last service I am performing for the Jews.
My mind always does hurry ahead of events. But now the
latest developments give me an idea that goes even farther: that
I shall be in no position to act thus. For the German government,
which is making agreements with me, will want me to remain so
I can keep them!
October 9 , in the evening,
on the train returning to Vienna
The car is shaking badly, and that is a pity. For tomorrow in
Vienna comes a great whirl of fresh events, and I shall have no
time to make entries.
And this has been a tremendously interesting day. I was up
by half-past five no rest day or night.* Careful toilette. At seven
o clock I was at the Potsdamer Bahnhof. Going up the steps ahead
of me was who? Biilow. Grand salut [Big greeting]! Then again
on the platform where he was walking up and down with a general. However, I quickly got into a compartment, so that he
would not think I wanted to intrude. If things went well, I was
sure to see him again during the course of the day anyway.
On the trip out there I was quite calm, without the least excitement within me. On arriving at Potsdam, I did not look
around for Biilow, but immediately took the first cab and drove
to the nearby palace.
The sentinel at the gate, the ensign of the guard, and finally
a flock of servants directed me to the Grand Duke's wing. I had
to wait for a quarter of an hour in the ante-room, rather disre Trantlaior Note: Krine Ruh' hri Tag und Naeht, a phraac from I hr German
vmion of Lrporrllo t opening aria in Moun t Don Gi ovannt.
garded by the valetaille [servants] who carried on their conversation about silver and laundry without paying any attention to me.
I turned my back to them and looked out at the impressive cour
(fhonneur [grand courtyard] of the Prussian Versailles.
The activity would be a good subject for a feuilleton. A great,
splendid order. All sorts of lackeys and maids, a whole hierarchy
of horses and carriages.
At eight oclock sharp, the head footman issued an order,
which was relayed from one to another of several servile spirits, to
announce me to the Grand Duke. And he, the kindly soul, did
not keep me waiting long. I was immediately conducted to him
through three or four sumptuous salons. He received me in an
exquisite study, wearing a general's uniform. I don't even remember all the kind words with which he greeted me. 1 only
know that I love and venerate this wise, good, and gTeat man.
Never in my life have I met a man so truly aristocratic through
and through, never have I believed that princes like him exist.
After he had asked me, with his customary courtesy, to be
seated in an armchair facing him, he opened the conversation.
I thanked him for all he had done. He waved it aside, smiling
gently. His letter had been sent to me at Vienna on the fifth.
Now he wished to give me an oral report. "The Kaiser,* he said,
has been thoroughly informed about the matter and is full of
enthusiasm. That word is not too strong: he has taken to your

idea quite warmly. He speaks of it in the liveliest terms. He
would also have received you by now, for he has confidence in
you; but it is now deemed better to receive you at Constantinople and at Jerusalem." (Apparently the Kaiser was conveying
this message to me through him.) "Things seem to be going well,
* 00 . A good report has come from Herr von Marschall. and that
in itself it a success. The Kaiser believes that in any case the
Sultan will rcrrtve his advice favorably. For during the Cretan
c *ii the Sultan had occasion to assure himself of the Kaiser's
*od will. The Kaiser has now undertaken to mediate and he
*<nds to go through with it. He is enthusiastically in fasor of
it.

The good Grand Duke repeated the word several times as
though intentionally, so as to make me feel quite hopeful. And
so I told him quite confidentially about the various difficult hours
I had had to go through. There have been times, I told him, when
I could have lightened my burden by saying that the Grand
Duke of Baden was in sympathy with our cause. But I had always kept silent. And it was just as well. For the cause would have
had more authority, but also more enmity, if people had known
that a man who had seen and taken part in so many great affairs
was in favor of it.
He said: Yes, it is just as well if the personal element is not
too much in evidence. Even, and especially, in the hour of success there are always people who begrudge it to a man. What
difficulties we had effecting the unification of Germany! Many
a man who later benefited by it would not participate.
I listened to his allusions to that great epoch, made in confidence and yet with aristocratic restraint. It was one of those
moments when one pinches oneself to make sure one isn't dreaming. Here was one of the greatest men of the greatest period of
Germany speaking in this way with me, a plain journalist.
We then turned to some of the specific obstacles. I mentioned
Russia as the greatest. There we would have to come to a clear
understanding about the extraterritorial i/at ion of the Holy
Places, the extra commercium [removal from the trafficking of
nations]. Then all that remained would be to take the poor Jews
out of the country. Surely no one would object to this out of
sheer cruelty.
He said: In Russia one must be prepared for anything. Let
me just remind you of how the Germans in the Baltic provinces
were treated. In that case persecution was carried quite far as
far as Siberia."
The situation in England appeared more favorable to him.
He agreed with me that the English Church favored our idea,
even though English statesmanship had not taken up the matter.
He was glad to hear that I had spoken with the Bishop of I/mdon.
We then talked about France and her present situation He
listened attentively to my report which culminated in the con
elusion that France was too weak to resist a fait accompli.
He remarked that the conditions were moving toward a dictatorship. and called my attention to the fact that the younger
Napoleon, the Russian general, was in Paris now. He could be
expected to make a coup de mam if he won over the generals
I said that this man was too little known in France; on the other
hand, the Duke of Orleans would have more chance, at least in
the provinces. Pahs was strictly Socialist.
After that he said: The generals are in agreement among
themselves In case of war they would no longer act together
It would be different only if we provoked things-only then
would they be united. But let us hope that we shall not live to see
such eventualities.
And he spoke with the greatest frankness about the French
general vtaff. In the Dreyfus affair, the rotten system was rebelling
less against the acquittal of the innocent man than against the
exposure of the embezzlement and fraud of the secret fund.
Boisdeffre's hurried resignation was probably connected with
the three millions of the fonds secrets (set ret funds] which they
could not account for.
The Grand Duke is convinced of the inefficiency of the French
army Of course, many things have improved since .870. but
things have gone to rack and ruin nevertheless.
Then the conversation turned to the expansion of the German
7. of which he is a warm proponent. He expects a great deal
own the new ly founded Naval Association, which aims at the
popubri/stion of proposed marine legislation in the country.
er told me that he had had research conducted to find
. 1 011011 domcttic indintry participated in the expan_ c nav T had turned out that not a penny of the
was leaving the country . . . And these German ships
KTved to secure new markets for the entire domestic econ*d to increase the greatness of the Empire. After all. it
700 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF I HEODOR HF.RZL
was not a matter of world dominion, hut of the economic welfare
of the people. He reminded me of Venice and what it had accomplished hy its sea power.
With admiration I listened to these exalted, mature thoughts,
surrendering to their calmness without even being acquainted
with the details. I suggested to him that he disseminate these
views among the people in some easily grasped and entertaining
form, and placed my pen at his disposal for this. That would
be the most effective propaganda against the S<x i a lists.
Then we got back to our project. I said I would not iu.ik< it
public in any form, but leave it to the German government to
release whatever seemed suitable to it. 1 he presentation of the
matter would require a great deal of caution and skill. I would
remain silent.
Thereupon he thought it desirable for me to speak with
Biilow that same day at Potsdam, and advised me to wait for
Biilow at the Hotel Einsiedler.
He thought that this would be a suitable form of presentation:
With the consent of the Sultan, the Kaiser would take the migration of the Jews under his protection.
We had talked for about an hour and three quarters. He concluded the conversation with kind words. When 1 thanked him
for everything with feeling, he said he regarded it only as the
fulfilment of a duty. I should not hesitate to turn to him whenever I needed him. By now I must have noticed that he was no
ill friend to the cause.
Long and warmly he pressed my right hand, from which I had
forgotten to remove my glove, as etiquette would have required.
The lackeys outside were amazed at the long audience and
made low bows. That's nothing new to me.
Then I checked into the "Einsiedler," opposite the palace,

and wrote to Biilow, asking whether he would receive me. I had
breakfast and looked out the window. A splendid group of
officers, for the Flag Festival. And up the street came cadets.
littler and littler ones, the future officers of this inexhaustible
Germany, which wants to take us under its protection.

Fully dressed 1 threw myself on the bed of the small room
which I had taken for a short time.
At noon a reply came from the palace: Minister-of -State
Biilow requested me to come to room No. 149 of the palace at
about one o'clock.
I went. They were just making preparations for a dinner.
Lackeys and officers' orderlies in droves. Glanced into an Imperial office .* It all could scarcely have been any bigger.
Bulows servant was awaiting me outside Room 149, at the
end of the long palace corridor. I was immediately ushered into
a small rococo apartment: ante-chamber, salon, bedroom, in
bright colors.
Biilow was in the salon, but not alone. A short, crooked old
gratlrman. bedecked with decorations, a yellow grand-cordon
across his court dress, sat with him. Both arose and I was introduced to the Imperial Chancellor, Prince Hohenlohe.
I understood at once: a trial of the heart and reins.* *
Hohenlohe looked at me with his dim, blue, old man's eyes
in anything but a kindly fashion. From him. too, I heard the
first anti-Semitic remark in these exalted circles:
"Do you think that the Jews are going to desert their stock
exchange and follow you? The Jews, who are comfortably insulted here in Berlin?
I replied: "Your Highness not Berlin West, but Berlin East
or North I dont know exactly where the poor Jews live here
will go with me.
All of Hohenlohes objections were terre a lerre [on a low
kvel) somewhat in the vein of Agliardi during that ulk in
the nunciature in Vienna. The Catholic objections, ao-io-speak.
He also asked what territory we wanted to have, whether as
far north as Beirut, or even beyond that.
I said: We will ask for what we need the more immigrants,
* In KorImIi in original
** Tiaatlaior's Soar prufung yf Hen nnd Suren (1uiw 7. 10).
702 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF I HEODOR HERZL

the more land. It will, of course, be purchased from its present
owners in accordance with civil law.
Hohenlohe: Who are these?
I: Arabs, Greeks, the whole mixed multitude of the Orient."
Hohenlohe: And you want to found a state there?
I: We want autonomy and self-protection.
Hohenlohe: What does T urkey say to all this?
Je le croyais mieux renseignd [I had believed him better informed], and replied: The Grand Duke told me that favorable
reports had come in from Herr von Marschall.
Biilow, who had been sitting in the comer of the sofa next to
Hohenlohes armchair, with his lips pursed tight and his eyes
deliberately vacant, interjected: I don't know anything about
that. Ive seen nothing from Marschall on the subject.
I did not allow myself to be disconcerted, and said: "I have
reports that the sentiment is favorable. I recently telegraphed to
the Sultan and he replied.
Hohenlohe then asked a few skeptical questions about the

number of those ready to migrate, and the funds available. I
referred to the various funds which would combine when things
reached a serious stage. One of these funds, I said, amounted
to ten million pounds.
Biilow, who had been listening en poupte rose aux yeux de
porcelaine [like a pink doll with china eyes], now remarked:
Thats a lot! . . And, half turning to Hohenlohe: The
money might do the trick. With it one can swing the matter." ##
Hohenlohe was silent.
Earlier, when I was taking a seat opposite him in a rococo
armchair, he had taken his white-plumed two-cornered hat from
the table between us and put it on the little side-table, so as to
have a good view of me.
Now he picked up his hat, said to Biilow, I>et's go to that
In English in original.
Translators Note: These two sentences are reproduced in the Berlin dialect
in the original.
the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 70S
dinner now, and got up; we also arose. He gave me his hand
and went out.
Biilow too was suddenly in a great hurry:
See you in Constantinople, doctor! And he adjusted the
gold shoulder-cord of his blue court-dress.
Where will the Kaiser receive me? In Constantinople and
in Jerusalem?"
In any case only once!" said Biilow.
I said: Shall I, then, submit at Constantinople the address
which I am to deliver at Jerusalem?
"Yes, oh yes! And he was already in the next room, where
I beard him call out in an irritated voice, Neumann! Neumann!" Evidently the valet. His F.xcellency was, or pretended to
be, in a rush to get to that dinner.
Back again through the long corridor; in the office one could
see even more feverish preparations for that dinner.
When 1 was downstairs and was walking alongside the palace,
a brilliant suite of officers was just coming from the park and
toward the ramp of the palace. The kaiser! who has certainly
spoken about me a number of times today and is quite enthusiastic, according to the Grand Duke.
But why the depressingly cool behavior of Hohenlohe and
Biilow?
There are two explanations for this.
Either they are at odds with their Imperial master, but do not
dare as yet to stand up to him. So for the present they treat the
nutter with dilatory coldness, in order to trip it up at the proper
moment and bring the whole thing to the ground.
Or is it merely the official face of diplomacy? This is how they
probably always sit back in sofa comers and armchairs, with eyes
which practically suck dry the person they are watching. This
u how they probably always display the utmost indifference
even toward matters which 611 them with the greediest excitement. I believe this is the vieux jeu [old style] of diplomacy.
* * lofltah la (he original

If Bismarck had concerned himself with the matter while he
was Chancellor, he would no doubt have dealt with me differently. He would have attacked me differently I would have defended myself differently. Cela aurait Hi un plus bel assaut (That
would have been a grander onslaught].
But how strange that the Imperial Chancellor du jour [of the
present] is obliged to enter into negotiations with me and with
obvious repugnance at that regarding which the dethroned
Bismark did not even answer me three years ago; it may have
seemed that crazy to him.
Today the German government concerns itself officially with
a matter which Bismark did not think worth so much as a chat or
a letter in reply.
Hohenlohe and Bulow are certainly cold and unfavorable.
But how does it happen that the good Grand Duke spoke of a
success involving Marschall, which Billow knows nothing about."
How does it happen that Eulenburg tells me Billow is won
over, when the latter, or at least Hohenlohe, shows himself uninformed?
Perhaps the explanation for Billows coolness is his ignorance
of how much the Grand Duke and Eulenburg have told me about
the Kaisers attitude. After all, this, more than anything else, is
what counts.
Of course, I also must not forget that the most splendid intentions of this Kaiser of genius often arc subsequently corrected,
denied, and modified by his counsellors.
He was forced repeatedly to change his policy toward Social
Democracy. In other cases, too, he was not always able to carry
out his best decisions. Therefore, caution I
However, I believe that even if worst comes to worst our idea,
as the jilted darling of the German Kaiser, would lie taken up
by others, for this adventure can only contribute to its advancement.
October 10 , morning, on the train, nearing Vienna
Supplement to the Bii low- Hohenlohe conversation;
Billow: "In any case it would lie the first eastward migration of
the Israelites. Until now they have always moved westward.
I; Not at all! This time too its toward the west. It is simply
that the Jews have already circled the globe. East is west again.
At which both smiled.
Throughout the conversation I was en pleine possession de
moimime [in full control of myself]. Not flustered for a moment.
Vienna, October 1 1
Addendum to the conversation with the Grand Duke.
He spoke about Rome. We may have nothing good to expect
for our cause from Rome. A Protestant empire is odious to the
Jesuits down to their souls their black souls. Now, our empire
as such is not Protestant, to be sure, but embraces all creeds. Yet
it is a fact that a Protestant is at its head, and this is what bothers
them. Therefore we must expect opposition from that quarter in
Palestine, loo.
October 1 1 , Vienna
Immediately upon my arrival in Vienna I had Marmorek con-
vene the Actions Committee. Marmorek himself declared he

could not go on the trip, because he might lose a lot of money on
a building he had started for his father-in-law. loiter he asked for
time to think it over.
At noon at the Neue Freie Press*.

I spoke first with Benedikt. He was still antagonistic, but
wavering deep down inside. He said he had carefully read the
reports on the Congress and was beginning to see the light. We
had given up a gTeat deal of our original program. He does not
believe in the Bank and is afraid I could compromise myself with
it. "If you raise two millions pounds, you can hang me.
"Will you put that in writing? I said.
"Vienna, October 10 . If you raise that two million pounds, you
can hang me.
He made a droll gesture toward the desk, as though he meant
to sign it.
Then with Bather, who was grinning uncertainly.
I showed both of them the telegram from the Grand Duke calling me to Potsdam. Naturally I told them nothing further, but
prepared them for something big that was in the air.
They both tried to worm the secret out of me; but they did
not succeed.
In the evening, the A. C. Schnirer, Kokesch, Marmorek

met at my place. I gave them a report.
Kokesch suggested that the presidium of the Congress go to
Palestine as a deputation. I accepted this proposal and immediately sent an urgent telegram to Nordau and Gastcr, asking them
to go to Brussels today where Wolffsohn would give them further
information. At the same time I wired Mandelstamm. asking him
to go to Tarnopol where we are sending Marmorek.
In the course of the day negative replies came. Nordau can't
come until the beginning of next week. This is a way of saying
no if one is urgently summoned at once. Caster wanted to be
wired first what it was all about, and since Wolffsohn didn't give
him any information, a difficult problem came up in Gaster's
congregation and he couldn't get away.
The most willing of them was Madelstamm, I believe. But
it would have taken him two days to get a passport, and therefore
he wasn't able to go across the border.
Foreseeing these refusals I had already provided an alternative:

The Actions Committee is to go. I was going to take Schnirer
and Marmorek with me. But then Kokesch, the least suitable
one, sulked because I did not choose him. Schnirer pointed out
that for him it was a matter of subsistence because he lived from
hand to mouth. The traveling expenses alone wouldnt be
enough. He would also lose wages and must provide for his
family. We quickly decided to compensate him. Marmorek has
a big construction job which he cannot leave. Despite this he
came round and promised to go with us. Wolffsohn telegraphed
that Bodenheimer wanted to go along. That would make six of
us. of whom Kokesch is quite superfluous. They want to leave

only Kahn here, to carry on the daily business.
After the A. C., Newlinski came to see me. I plan to send him
to Rome while I am in Constantinople and Jerusalem, to prepare the ground for me. On my way back I intend to go to Rome.
He thinks the most that could be achieved would be something negative, at best a few indulgent words in an encyclical.
But something would have to be done for the Peters Pence, too.
Entrndu [Agreed].
I promised him (by agreement with the A. C.) two thousand
guilders for his trip.
During working hours at the office today, a row with Bather
and Benedikt.
I said to Bacher: 1 have been invited by the Kaiser to go along
to Palestine."
The news actually depressed him.
Don't you find that interesting?" I asked him.
"I foresee difficulties for the Neue Freie Preuf arising from
this. After all, he invited you as a Zionist.
In any case, not as an editor of the N. Ft. Ft. You need not
rite anything about Zionism in the future either. For you the
**** thing would be if you let me expound the matter in the
Pf*r But suit yourself.
Then with Benedikt, who looked away wildly, shyly, and en** 0ttl b r * I presume that they are cooking up something; perhaps
they are going to disclose my confidential information to the
Foreign Office.
I asked them to get me a recommendation to the Austrian
ambassador at Constantinople through the foreign Office.
Bacher referred me to Bencdikt. The latter, back to fiac her.
Benedikt lied: "Calice has been our enemy for the past two
years, since the time you were there with Newlinski. He wrote
a secret letter about you to the Foreign Office, which Dckzy
conveyed to us.
"Well, I wanted to grab Ddczy by the throat; you kept me
from it.
Incidentally, I need Calicc like a hole in the head.
El sur cela bonjour [And with that, good-bye].
October it
The two greatly excited me again yesterday.
A strange psychological phenomenon that Bacher causes me
more anguish than Imperial Chancellor Hohenlohe!
In his presence, strangely enough, I still feel like what I once
was: a shy journalistic tyro, although he certainly does not impress me intellectually.
October 14
On the Orient Express, on the way to Constantinople. Nearing
Sofia.
Great hubbub in the last hours before the departure. Headquarters: my home.
After a lot of back and forth it was derided that Schnirer and
Seidener the engineer would go along from Vienna.
The day before yesterday I called on Ambassador Mahmud

Nedim Bey. One hour of absolutely empty talk. To my request
to give me introductions to Constantinople he replied with an
Arabian tale: A gardener came to a wealthy man and begged him
for a loan. The rich man refused gruffly. Half a year later the
poor man came and brought him a basket of fruit by way of
thanks. The rich man was astonished and thought it a mistake.
"No." said the pauper. "I owe you a debt of gratitude, because
you did not put me off, but gave me a flat No. That way I lost
no time and turned to someone else who helped me."
In the same way, he, too, did not wish to put me off. He must
not recommend me. otherwise people would think he had been
bribed. But if an inquiry came, he would make a favorable
report.
Since that was all I had wanted from him in the first place,
I was quite content.
1 said: "I hope. Your Excellency, that I. too, will return in
half a year with a basket of fruit.
Yesterday, prior to my departure. I read U riser K at he hr n

[Our Kalie) to the actors in the Burgtheater. There, too. I wanted
to establish a fait accompli. Who knows how much longer I shall
be with the Neue Frete Presse. And by now I know people well
enough to realize that they would also punish me for the loss
of my position.
Yesterday I did not bother to go to the office, so as not to let

myself be excited again by Messieurs Bacher and Benedikt. I
ent the "Steward's Key to the Literary Section (the key to
my desk) to Bac her with a few joking words of excuse.
Taking leave from my loved ones was quite hard this time.
1 could very well stay in my beautiful house, with my lovely
children, whose rosiest childhood is passing without my enjoying
H; who are gum ing up without my observing the delightful de**! of their development. And I am undertaking such a long
J 0W, * ,C Y- that may not be without danger. I have even been
warned that an attempt on my life might be made in Palestine.
The warning came from Ben \ chuda, through Dr. \\ erner.
But it is my duty to go.
It affected me deeply at parting that my good parents cried.
They would be the only inconsolable ones if I did not come back.
It would be no comfort to my poor old parents that I would
then be a figure in world history.
They both blessed me when I left them. May God keep them
healthy and grant us a happy reunion!
In the waiting-room in Vienna I saw the Berlin ambassador
Ahmed Tewfik, accompanied by Mahmud Nedim.

Yesterday evening, after dinner, 1 chatted with Ahmed Tewfik
for hours. I believe he is not favorably inclined. But I mean to
make him benign.
The Austrian ambassador, Calice, is also on the train. At first

I didnt recognize him. He is the source of the IViczy slander.
I didn't want to recognize him either. But then, in the afternoon,
he passed me in the smoking-room and smiled at me. At this
I greeted him.
October 15, on the train, nearing Constantinople.
Yesterday evening, after dinner, I chatted for two hours with
Ahmed Tewfik in the smoking-room. I got him to talk, so 1
could inquire incidrmment [incidentally] about the Sultan's
relationship to the Kaiser. For Mahmud Nedim had given me a
skeptical answer to a similar question. He had said that in the
Cretan question Turkey had not got very much out of Germany
and Austria. They did withdraw from the concert of the Powers;
but he wished they had stayed in it and defended Turkey.
Ahmed Tewfik, on the other hand, was delighted with the
Kaiser and with Germany. The Sultan and the whole Turkish
people, he said, were filled with gratitude for this great friend.
They regarded the importation of German culture to Asia Minor
as a major boon, etc.
Naturally, this information pleased me greatly, for it betrays
the kind of disposition that we need for our cause.
With Wolffsohn and Bodenheimer we converse in code, so

as not to be understood. The code words are the old man for
the Grand Duke, "the nephew" for the Kaiser, etc. My good
Wolffsohn. who goes along with everything, finally went so far in
his precaution as to say "the J. S." for my pamphlet about the
Jewish State.
All the fellow passengers recognize me and whisper. An English clergyman. Mr. Biddulph, a charming person, introduced
himself to me m route, saying he was a Zionist.
Discussed with Bodenheimer the demands we will make.

Area: from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates. Stipulate a
transitional period with our own institutions. A Jewish governor
for this period. Afterwards, a relationship like that between
Egypt and the Sultan. As soon as the Jewish inhabitants of a district amount to $4 of the population, Jewish administration goes
in force politically, while local government (communal autonomy) always depends on the number of voters in the community.
These are Bodenheimer's ideas, in part excellent.
A transitional stage is a good idea.
At the station we were met by Danuaso and that servile Greek,

Konsiantinidc*.
No sooner had I arrived and changed than I drove to ^ ildiz

Kiosk in order to announce my presence. All the scenes already
familiar and therefore lacking the interest of those first days two
years ago. It was raining, and the city, which could be so beautiful, looked even filthier and more down-at-ihc-hccl than it had
then.
When I drove to the hotel from the station in a carnage, 7.ia
Pasha passed on the old bridge, he recognized me and gave me
a long, searching glance.
In the hotel, the sycophantic activity. Fawning frauds.
In Vildiz Kiosk, crowds of idle servants. I had myself announced to the Second Secretary, Djevad. He was not in. Why
didn't I come back tomorrow (today)? I left Newlinski s letter
of recommendation, which says that I have come pour d/puter
mes hommages au pied du trdne de Sa Majesty Imperiale le
Sultan [to place my respects at the foot of the throne of 1 1 is
Imperial Majesty the Sultan].
Then I went to the Chief Master of Ceremonies, Munir Pasha.
He wasnt to be seen either. For him, too, I left a letter from
Newlinski of the same contents, introducing me as the head of the
Zionist movement.
1 am not a bit interested in seeing these gentlemen. It is only
a matter of acte de presence [putting in an appearance], lest they
make false assumptions.
Meanwhile I had sent Bodenheimer to the German ambassador, Marschall.
He and Wolffsohn came back soon after 1 had returned to
the Hdtel de Londres from Yildiz. Both of them downcast.
Bodenheimer described the course of his mission as follows:
"I got to the Embassy and sent Marschall my card on which I
had written that I had an important disclosure to make to him
in behalf of Dr. Herzl. He received me coldly, and after 1 had
told him that you were requesting an audience from him he said.
I dont know Dr. Herzl. Thereupon I declared: 'Dr. Herzl
is the leader of the Zionists and has been in touch, in pervin and
in writing, with Count Eulenburg. It concerns the reception of
a deputation by his Majesty the Kaiser. At these words 1
noticed that Marschall was taking on a more conspiratorial
expression. But he replied: I cannot receive Dr. Herzl now,
because in half an hour I shall go to the Dardanelles to meet the
Kaiser.' Thereupon 1 took my leave. If you still want to sec
Manchall. you must go to the Embassy immediately.
1 decided not to go, for, since he was on the point of leaving,
I would in any case have been une figure piteuse [a sorry figure].
Still, it i a blow that Marschall, on whom I had counted defieiente [in the absence of] Billow, has such a negative attitude,
doesn't even know me, or claims not to.
Later it occurred to me that Bodenheimer might have said
the wrong thing by mentioning Eulenburg. For Eulenburg presumably was one of the "men in the background of w'hom
Manchall spoke when he rushed into print.
The evening passed with disagreeable thoughts. We went to

the Petits Champs theatre for one act. Two years ago the troupe
of /a Mororina was at this out-door theatre. Now there is a Yiddish theatrical troupe, presenting Gibor-Hail.
A depressing impression. Since this pitiful an, such as it is,

represents the top achievement of our jargon-speaking masses,
their present level must be recognized as a most sadly low one.
/ ZfZ icoeuri [I was disgusted].
For dinner there showed up, in addition to Danusso, Lionel

Bey Bondy, the ad hoc correspondent of the .Veue Freie Preue,
a Bohemian Jewish opportunist of the Catholic faith and in
Turkish services. He had read in the evening paper (the work
f the Greek Konstantinides) that Dr. Herzl, the director of the
,\eue Freie Preue," had arrived here. Did 1 perhaps wish to
rr P on on the Imperial journey in his place? Maybe he wanted
to find out other things, too, because he is in and out at Yildiz,
I reassured him, saying I was on a trip for my health with my
Biends and did not have any reportage in mind.
Then, when he bragged about his "intimate friends" Tahsin
Bey (currently the Sultans first favorite) and Nuri Bey, 1
asked him to bring me together with these two. I know that
I was demanding something impossible these days, and did it only
according to my principle of pluspetitio [making exorbitant demands], since great lords must always be given the opportunity
of granting something to someone or of denying it.
Overnight I slept on the next plan. Tomorrow I shall have a

letter delivered to Billow, saying that I have to see him the very
same day, because otherwise the deputation could not be on the
scene in good time. As a last resource, if Billow fails me, which
I expect with near-certainty: a wire to Karlsruhe asking for the
telegraphic arrangement of an immediate audience with the
Kaiser. This is the ultima ratio [last resort].
Also overnight: Bodcnheimers transitional stage is simply

impossible. We can demand only the creation of an organic germ
cell a Jewish land-company for Syria (with chartered* sovereign rights) and, if all goes well, get it.
Detailed legal proposals would provoke an immediate brusque
refusal from the Turks. Therefore, a return to my idea of a
Jewish Company.
October i 6
The formidable armies were bom of cowardice.
October 17 , Constantinople
I think I am now once again riding over Lake Constance.
Nothing happened all day yesterday. In the morning, letters.

In the afternoon, a visit to poor, good Mrs. Gropler at Bebek.
* In Rngluh in the original.
She lies in bed and waits for her disintegration. Yet she is charming and intelligent. I promised her to come to see her each time
on the day after my arrival in Constantinople.
A beautiful evening with southern colors on the Bosporus.
October 17
Now that Marschall has failed us, the great problem is how
to get to the Kaiser. I shall try to get a letter into his hands
through Court-Marshal Eulenburg. I am also writing to Biilow

and telegraphing to the Grand Duke for aid.
Letter to Court- Marshal August zu Eulenburg:
Your Excellency:
I have received a written message at Amsterdam, and later a
verbal message at Liebenberg, from His Excellency the Ambassador Count Philipp zu Eulenburg that His Majesty the Kaiser
is willing to take the cause of the Zionists under His Most Gracious Protection and wishes to receive a deputation in the Holy
Land. I have learned likewise that Your Excellency will most
kindly prepare the reception of the deputation.
I now permit myself to present to Your Excellency the enclosed
letter for His Imperial Majesty, begging you to take note of its
contents and to submit my letter to His Majesty at your earliest
convenience. Time is extraordinarily pressing, and if everything
to be in accordance with His Majestys wishes, which have been
conveyed to roe by His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Baden,
expeditious treatment of the matter will be necessary.
begging Your Excellency to accept the expression of my
deepest respect. I am
Your very obedient servant.
Dr. Th. H.
HAtel de Londres, Pera.
Letter to the Kaiser:
Your Imperial and Royal Majesty,
Most Gracious Kaiser and Lord:
After the disclosures which His Royal Highness the Grand
Duke of Baden was gracious enough to make to me last Sunday
at Potsdam, I venture to direct to Your Imperial Majesty the
most humble request to grant me an audience, even though brief
and confidential, here in Constantinople. The reasons for this
request are as follows.
The reception of a Zionist deputation in the Holy Land will
undoubtedly supply the public opinion of Europe with material
for discussion. If this discussion is accompanied by a fait accompli
one that need not be announced in its full extent any intervention on the part of others, which may be intended as hostile,
will come too late, and everyone will have to acquiesce in it.
Precisely at this time France is inwardly so weakened that it cannot make a move. To Russia the Zionist solution of the Jewish
Question means an enormous relief; in addition, the problem
of the Holy Places will simply be eliminated.
Nor is an effective objection to be feared from English policy,
since the English Church is known to be on our side.
Everything depends on the form of the fait accompli which is
to be created.
In my modest estimation, the permission for a "Jewish l^ndCompany for Syria and Palestine under German protection
would suffice for the moment. This land-company would gradually establish the other, more specific organs of implementation.
The*
I raruhlort Note: The break at thU point cormpomit to the original

To His Royal Highness,

Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden.
Karlsruhe.
That was all. By way of precaution, the telegram 1 had in
mind was not sent off. following a consultation with Wolffsohn
and Bodenheimer.
#
observation of the general political situation will then determine when and where, at what moment and to what extent, the
German protectorate can be given a greater public emphasis.
Even if His Majesty the Sultan does not immediately realize
what aid the Zionists would bring to his impoverished, decaying
state, he will accept Your Imperial Majesty's advice in a personal
discussion as to how his administration and finances could be
regenerated. Once this moment of personal contact is past, the
intrigues, which so proliferate in the Orient, will begin to hold
sway again.
Tomorrow morning at ten oclock a Russian steamer leaves
for Alexandria; it is the last boat that I can take if I am to be in
Palestine in time to present to the Kaiser in the land of Israel
the delegation of European Zionists which has been ordered
thete. If, therefore. Your Majesty wishes to grant me the favor
of giving me a secret hearing prior to the public gesture, the
available time is limited. I could come to the German Embassy
inconspicuously and there await my orders.
Cod s designs hover over us in these world-historic hours.
There is no fear if He is with us.
'Vith the most profound respect, I remain
Vour Imperial and Royal Majestys most humble senant.
Dr. Th. H.
Tramluar'i Note: Thus In ihr anginal Thr irnirnrt brofcra al an the prri
^ coalman her*.
Letter to Bulow:
Your Excellency:
1 have the honor of most humbly informing you that I am
keeping myself at your disposal here. Unfortunately 1 can stay
here only until ten oclock tomorrow morning, because this is
the hour at which the Russian steamer sails for Alexandria, the
last ship I can still take if 1 am to be in Palestine in time to
present to His Majesty the Kaiser the delegation of European
Zionists which has been ordered there.
1 should like to request Your Excellency to be kind enough
to inform me when and where the deputation will be received.
There is also the question of determining exactly the contents of
my address to His Majesty.
Begging Your Excellency to accept the expression of my deepest respect, I am
Your most obedient servant.
Dr. Th. H.
HAtel de Londres, Pera.
October t8, Pera, to: 15 in the morning
I just made a clean copy of the letters, a bit excited. In the
letter to the Kaiser I made a slip on the 3rd page; it should have
read when and to what extent. In my nervousness I wrote
"moment instead of "extent. I was afraid I would have to
write the whole thing over unpleasant when the time presses
so. Then I helped myself by inserting "where: when and where,
etc.
Wolffsohn, my most reliable man, has now left by coach for

Yildiz, together with Danusso and a dragoman, to deliver the
letters.
This morning Schnirer and Seidener arrived.
Bodenheimer is a bit of la mouche du coche [a busybody].
I am preparing my clothes for the audience q uitte d les
rem bailer [at the risk of having to pack them again] and having
my hair cut.
October 18, 1898,
eight o'clock in the evening, at the hotel
After the audience with the Kaiser, which I will enter tomorrow en route.
I had arranged with the Kaiser and with Biilow that this very
evening I would submit the draft of my address in Palestine.
Draft:
Your Imperial and Royal Majesty!
Most Gracious Kaiser and Lord!
With deepest reverence a delegation of sons of Israel approaches the German Kaiser in the country which was our fathers*
and no longer belongs to us. We are bound to this sacred toil
through no valid title of ownership. Many generations have
come and gone since this earth was Jewish. If we talk about it, it
is only as about a dream of very ancient days. But the dream is
still alive, lives in many hundreds of thousands of hearts; it was
and is a wonderful comfort in many an hour of pain for our
poor people. Whenever foes oppressed us with accusations and
persecutions, whenever we were liegrudged the little bit of right
to live, whenever we were excluded from the society of our fellow
citizens whose destinies we have always been ready to share
wj^lly the thought of Zion arose in our oppressed hearts.
There is something eternal about that thought, whose form,
*0 be sure, has undergone multifarious changes with people,
institutions, and times.
Thus the Zionist movement of today is a fully modern one.
h grows out of the situations and conditions of present-day life,
*nd aims at solving the Jewish Question on the basis of the possibilities of our time. Indeed, we believe that we may finally
720 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.R7.L

succeed now, because mankind has grown so rich in means of
communication and technical achievements. Enterprises that
would have seemed fantastic as recently as half a century ago
are commonplace today. Steam power and electricity have altered
the face of the earth. Humane conclusions should be drawn from
this as well.
Above all, we have aroused the national consciousness of our
scattered brethren. At the Congresses of Basel the program of
our movement was formulated before all the world. It is: I he
creation, under public law, of a home for the Jewish people.
This is the land of our fathers, a land suitable for colonization

and cultivation. Your Majesty has seen the country. It cries out
for people to work it. And we have among our brethren a frightful proletariat. These people cry out for a land to cultivate. Now
we should like to create a new welfare out of these states of distress of the land and of the people by the systematic combination of both. We consider our cause so fine, so worthy of the sympathy of the most magnanimous minds, that we are requesting
Your Imperial Majestys exalted aid for the project.
But we would not venture to do so if out plan contained anything that could offend or encroach upon the ruler of this land.
Your Imperial Majesty's friendship with His Majesty the Sultan
is so well known that there can be no doubt as to the intentions
of those who are turning to Your Majesty for the most gracious
transmission of their desires.
We are honestly convinced that the implementation of the
Zionist plan must mean welfare for Turkey as well. Energies
and material resources will lie brought to the country; a magnificent fructification of desolate areas may easily be foreseen:
and from all this there will arise more happiness and more culture for many human beings.
Wc are planning to establish a Jewish I and-Company for
Syria and Palestine, which is to undertake the gTeat projec t, and
request the protection of the German Kaiser for this company.
Our idea offends no ones rights or religious feelings; it
breathes long-desired reconciliation. We understand and respect
the devotion of all faiths to the soil on which, after all, the faith
of our fathers, too, arose.
Oct. 19 , 98
On board the "Imperator Nicholas II"
(This is as far as I got. for it was already 8:45 and we had to
hurry to the harbor to embark for Smyrna-Alexandria. Therefore, in all haste, I wrote at the end that I would add the conclusion in Palestine.)
I accompanied the draft for the address with (roughly) the
following letter to Bulow:
Your Excellency:
I beg to enclose herewith the draft for my address to His
Majesty. I have spent a very had night with all sons of pains in
my hean and am vinually incapacitated for work. I shall append
the conclusion later. I am leaving at ten oclock, shall be at
Smyrna on Thursday morning, at Piraeus on Friday, at Alexandria on Sunday, Port Said on Tuesday, Jaffa on Wednesday.
Any messages should kindly be sent via the I>egation of the city
concerned, where I shall call immediately if a line is left at
Thomas Cooks Office. Above all, I request most respectfully
that word be sent me at Alexandria as to when and where the
deputation is to present itself to His Majesty, and also as to
whether Palestinian Zionists are to be added to the deputation
(which consists of five European Zionists). I would have to know
this at early as Alexandria, in order to make the necessary arrangements
If the proposed draft of my address is not satisfactory, I shall
"rake the desired corrections in Palestine.
*TRing Your Excellency to accept the expression of my deepest respect, I am
Very sincerely yours.
Dr Th H.

October 19,
3 o'clock in the afternoon
On board the "Imperator Nicholas II in the Sea of Marmara.
Only now do I have a chance to record the events of yesterday.
1 am sure some of them have already escaped me. The long-prepared conference with the Kaiser did find me a bit nervous. I
can remember all the little things about it better than the substance of it. It is like a photograph taken with an unsteady hand.
The picture is bound to be a bit blurred. Above all. I dont quite
clearly remember the course of the conversation. The Kaiser, to
be sure, made a deep and strong impression on me. Afterwards
I tried to capture this impression in the form of a metaphor and
could only hit upon the following: I felt as though I had entered the magic forest where the fabulous unicorn is said to
dwell. Suddenly there stood before me a magnificent woodland
creature, with a single horn on its forehead. But its form surprised me less than the fact that it existed. I had previously imagined the appearance, but not the breath and life of this creature. And my astonishment grew when the one homed creature
began to speak in a very friendly human voice and said, "I am
the fabled unicorn!
This is how the day went yesterday.
Having laid out my frock-coat, etc., so as to be ready in a jiffy
when the call came, I went to lunch, but ate and drank little,
so as to be alert and brisk when the expected moment arrived. Wolffsohn came back from Yildiz Kiosk at half past
twelve. He had done brilliantly. Without knowing the languages, without cither Turkish or French, he as well as Danusso
and the dragoman of their carriage had got through the guards
of Yildiz Kiosk and reached the quarters of Court-Marshal Eulenburg. He had sent the latter his card, on which he had written:
Of Dr. Herzls party. Eulrnhtirg came out at once, called him
inside, closed the outer and the inner doors after looking around
carefully, and took my two letters.
Its a good thing that you are here already. I shall immediTHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 723
ately P vf to H** Majesty. . . . How long has Dr.
Herzl been here?
Wolffsohn replied: "For a few days.
Eulenburg noticed that he was holding another letter in his
hand. Have you anything else? I might transmit that also.
Wolffsohn: It is a letter to His Excellency von Bulow.
Eulenburg quickly returned it: "Deliver this one yourselL
He saw him to the door and out, and then turned him over to
an adjutant who conducted him to Biilows door. Billow came
out grumpily, took the envelope, tore it open, and shouted at
him: "That will be all.
Wolffsohn said: Good-bye, Your Excellency."
BOlow snapped: Good-bye! And disappeared.
After Wolffsnhns report confirming Billows animosity and

Eulenburg* friendly attitude, which I had already divined I
waited with greater certainty for a word from the Kaiser.
After lunch I tried to take a siesta, but sleep wouldnt come.
Then 1 chatted a bit with Wolffvihn and the others.
Suddenly, at a quarter past three, the hotel clerk came in

excitedly: There is someone downstairs with something for
Dr. Herzl from His Majesty.
I slipped into my grey frock-coat, and the gentlemen left the
drawing-room. But it was only a messenger or a secret -service
an. who presented me with a slip of paper which read:
Theodor Herzl to report at 4:30 to His Majesty. Yildiz.
I pencilled a receipt on the slip: Dr. Hers!, received at 3:15-
The gentlemen were quite excited. I was conscious of no
>ck, but | had been considerably unnerved even before that.
* P't Seidener my hand for him to feel that it was quite steady,
***ked Schnirer merely to feel my pulse. He found it to be 108,
*Jich is very fast for me. But I believe it had been that fast even
7** 1 received the message. Schnirer asked me whether I
10 ^ke some bromine. I inquired when it would produce
724 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.R7.L
an effect. In half an hour. So I did without it, because by then it
might not be necessary any more.
Careful toilette. The color of my gloves was particularly becoming: a delicate grey.
I had Wolffvihn accompany me. and installed a dragoman
(a sly-looking Jew who appears to have police connections) on
the coach-box. Wolffsohn uxik along a clothes brush.
VVe drove through the bedecked streets of Pera. A lane of
curiosity-seekers. All the windows occupied. Our carriage, too,
attracted quite a bit of attention, but it still could not arouse as
much interest as the imposing state-coaches with courtiers in
gala dress and gold-braided officers. Yet I thought to myself that
perhaps none of these coaches-of-state was carrying so much world
history through the streets as the ordinary ha< kncy cab of my
arabaji.
In front of the German Embassy the crowd was denser. The
Kaiser's escort was waiting there, his flag was flying from the
roof and his carriage was standing in the driveway. So I would be
reaching Yildiz before him. In order not to arrive too early, I
had my driver stop for a few minutes near Dolma Bagjeh. Marvelous colors on the Bos|x>rus. Off shore lay the trim yai hi "Hohenzollem."
At 4:15 we passed through the upper gate of Yildiz Kiosk. 'I he
Jewish dragoman had to remain behind. A gate-keeper took the
seat next to our arabaji, and we drove into the gardens of
Yildiz. These grounds are. I believe, permanently off-limits to
the public. We went on for five or six minutes. Magnificently
large, although not particularly well-kept grounds. On our left,
a very high mysterious wall behind it the flowers of the harem
bloom and fade.
At five minutes before 4:30 we drove up in front of the new
little palace, built especially for the Kaiser. Gnm-looking soldiers
outside the gate. On the stairs and in the halls, an immense number of Turkish and German servants, along with much-beribboned officers and Turkish courtiers.
None of the German court tieople was there. They were all
itill at the Embassy. Rather unnoticed. 1 withdrew into a conidor. I looked so insignific ant that the German footmen conversed
quite unconst rained I y right next to me. They cracked their
lackey jokes. When I came in, I had told the functionaries only
that I wished to see Court-Marshal Eulenburg. They had told me
to wait. At a quarter to five 1 grew anxious: was there not some
mistake or even a bit of hidden malice? Perhaps I had been
given the Kaiser s message incorrectly: 1 should have been at the
Embassy at four-thirty, as I had offered to be in my letter. Who
knoxs. perhaps the Kaiser was superstitious, and if the appointment fell through, maybe he would no longer want to have anything to do with me.
In my concern I turned to the Turkish adjutants. All they knew
was that the Kaiser was expected. After leaving the Embassy he
was first scheduled to visit the German school.
The only result of my inquiry was that I was invited to enicT
one of the ground-floor reception rooms which, however. I
could not leave again. It seemed to me as though I heard my
name repeated by the officers in the main corridor, and I had the
impression of being closely watched . . . Once Wolffsohn passed
by the doorway, but didn't see me. lister he told me that someone had come up to his carriage and asked him if he was here
with Dr. Herd of the \eue Frete Preue; then four people had
ttood around his carriage and kept guard over him until our
departure. When the Kaiser amved and Wolffsohn left the carnage and took off his hat. someone crept up from behind and
peeked inside his top hat to make sure there was no bomb in it.
Meanwhile, 1 kept growing more and more uncomfortable
in my talon, which had bet omr a guard room. I had already given
u pihe audience as lost. Then, at 5: 15. a stir. The guard of honor
ui*ide the building came to attention. Cavalry men hose into
8 ^ 1 11 he foot of the steep, winding road. Behind the horsemen,
die Kaiser t carriage: at his side, the Empress.
* was not sony that the windows of my room gave no view of
d>e splendor of this procession. It might have made me more selfGXttciou* I wanted to step out into the hall but some flunkey
blocked my path and with an unmistakable gesture motioned
me back into the room.
At this point there is a blank. I believe I told someone to inform Count Eulenburg at once that I was here. Five minutes later
I was called. An elderly gentleman stepped up to me in the hall.
Dr. Herzl?" he asked.
His Excellency, Count Eulenburg? I asked.
He gave me his hand and pointed to the stairs leading to the
upper floor. I think he also said, You will go with Herr von
Billow to His Majesty!
I went up the stairs rather calmly. At the top there stood, most
splendidly, the aide-de-camp on duty, a gentleman of Prussian
elegance, who watched my ascent I'ocil narquois [with a quizzical
expression]. Still, he seemed to be satisfied with my coat, the
crease of my trousers, and my patent-leather shoes, for when I
mentioned my name, he clicked his heels:
Count von Kessell and gave me his hand. Somewhat fatuously, I repeated:
Dr. Herzll Whereat he flashed a brief smile of superiority.
I now stood at the head of the staircase. Count Kessel was
staring intently over my shoulder; so somebody worthy of notice
must have been standing behind me. However, I did not turn
around. Presently that somebody came round the comer, so that
by half glancing to the right I was able to sec who it was.
A white dress the Empress! She had been standing with
Uiilow behind a column and had watched me ascending the stairs.
I bowed, she gave a slight acknowledgment and disappeared.
Count Kessel stood at the center door, opened it a little, looked
in, and spoke to someone. Then he motioned to me and held the
door open.
I walked in briskly. The Kaiser, in a dark Hussar uniform,
approached me. I stood still and made a deep bow. He then
came up to me, almost as far as the door, and gave me his hand.
I believe he said he was very pleased or something of the sort

to meet me.
I said: Your Imperial Majesty. 1 am very happy about this distinction.''
He then went back around the table, moved an armchair in
place for me, made a gesture of invitation with his hand, and
seated himself with his back to the writing table, crossing his
legs with the Hussar boots, like someone who is making himself
comfortable for a lengthy conversation. Billow had entered behind me. and we sat down together. Like myself, he held his
top-hat between his knees throughout the audience. I forgot to
take off my right glove, as etiquette would have required.
While waiting I had been a bit uneasy as to whether my
morning-coat was appropriate or whether tails would not have
been correct. Billow's morning-coat reassured me.
When I had come in, the Kaiser had looked at me grandly with
his great sea blue eyes. He has truly Imperial eyes. I have never
seen such eyes. A remarkable, bold, inquisitive soul shows in
them However, he obviously is not indifferent to the impression
he makes on others, particularly the first impression. He is exactly as tall as I am, and my first impression was that he is
embarrassed about his withered arm. And that he thinks to himlelf: You. who are coming from the outside, from a world that
knows me only from pictures or merely sees me rush past in the
whirl of splendid royal parades aren't you disappointed at
eeing before you a Kaiser who has one arm shorter than all
other men?
Accordingly. I kept my ga/c on his fine, frank, genial and yet
bold eyes, which fairly bewitched me.
I had expected that he would begin with a stream of con vena,Ion * an< l bus hadn't fully recovered my breath when he invited
mf to speak.
Where shall I begin. Your Imperial Majesty?
Wherever you like,*' he said, a bit ironically, and leaned back.
J**} rf Ptcd the substance of the letter I had sent him yrsterT in a rather shaky voice and with my heart pounding against
Hbs. It annoyed me to think that the unsympathetic Bulow
was surely watching my embarrassment with amusement. Still,
I didn't say anything stupid. My uneasiness lay only in my tone.
But when I had propounded the matter of the land company
and the German protectorate, the Kaiser nodded quickly and
contentedly, as is his wont more with his eyes than with his
head. It is most characteristic. He looks at you squarely and
strongly the Kaiser! and when a remark or turn of phrase
appeals to him, his magnificent eyes, with his lips tightly < losed,
say: I got you youre my man thats fine with me.
There are innumerable portraits of him, but because this
approving glance, a most original, powerful flash, cannot be
painted, people dont know what his eyes are like.
He soon took over the conversation and explained to me why
the Zionist movement appealed to him. Unfortunately I was a
preoccupied listener and, beside*, had to concentrate all my
energies on preparing my replies, so that not all the details have
stuck in my mind. He always referred to the Jews as your
people and in a tone that was not exactly friendly. He did
not doubt that with the financial and human resources at our
disposal we would succeed in carrying out the colonization of
Palestine. While he said this I was a little inattentive, since I

had to make a mental note of the effectiveness of my three yean
work in making the obscure word Zionism a terrne refU [household word], one that the German Kaiser used readily in talking
to me.
There are elements, he said, among your people whom it
would be quite a good thing to settle in Palestine. I am thinking
of Hesse, for example, where there are usurers at work among
the rural population. If these people took their possessions and
went to settle in the colonies, they could Ik - more useful. (\ his
was roughly the sense of his remarks.)
That he should identify the Jews with a few usurers annoyed
me; and suddenly my irritation restored my composure, and
I made a brief speech attacking anti-Semitism which, I said, had
stabbed the rest of us right to the heart. We had been deeply
hurt.
Biilow noticed that 1 was making an attack, and parried my
thrusts. He said that the Jews had recently shown themselves unpateful to the House of Hohenzollem, to which, after all, they
owed a great deal. The Kaiser's grandfather and father, and His
Majesty himself had always shown themselves gracious toward
the Jews, and now the Jews were to be seen among all the opposition parties, even the anti-monarchical ones.
Singer! tnumi ured the Kaiser, who had been listening to
Bulow with an expression of approval. Bulow hinted that the
Kaiser felt offended.
I explained that we were taking the Jews away from the revolutionary parties.
The Kaiser remarked that he thought the Jews would support
the colonization of Palestine if they knew that he was keeping
them under his protection, and that therefore they would not
really be leaving Germany.
Billow added: And let us hope that they would be grateful
for it! But he called my attention to the fact that the rich Jews
were not in fas or of my ideas. "The big newspapers are not for
it either, particularly your own. You should certainly try to win
over one or another of the great papers.
I said: Your Excellency, this is a mere matter of money. As
a man of letters. I regret having to say this."
Btilow s point in raising this objection was, by the way, unmistakable. He wanted to indicate to the Kaiser that I had no
power behind me Billow said everything in opposition, with the
eiception of the little word No. which he obviously does not dare
to say. since the voluntas regis [royal will] is Yes. Bulow says,
W* 11 . . . r "Yes. but . . . .* "Yes. if only. . . All
*krd Nos.
^ Hotrtv ni | felt my argument strengthened as the Kaiser visi*upportrd me with nods and glances.
Presently I came to the favorable feature of the moment, the
* fTn l weakness of France.
A* this point the Kaiser took over w ith verve.
I read in the Seue Freie Pi me today about the projected
coup detat. You know the conditions. What do you think ot
Prince Napoleons chances!
Your Majesty, I believe he has none. I he country does not
know him."
But it does, interjected Biilow, he is a Russian ofheer.

I rejoined: Yes, but Russian prestige has declined greatly
since the disarmament proposal.
The Kaiser laughed with his eyes almost audibly, 1 am
tempted to say.
They have calculated, I added, "that the conversations of
Kronstadt and Toulon have cost them eight billions.
The Kaiser now laughed aloud. "Thats a lot. A crazy people,
anyway. How hard Ive tried to put some sense into them. All
in vain. Now Ive finally given it up. There is no helping those
people. The only thing they see is the Gap in the \ osges. He
clenched his right fist and imitated the theratening gesture of the
French in the direction of the Vosges. Then he shrugged his
shoulders.
I remarked that the army had suffered greatly because of the
latest Dreyfus incidents. And suddenly we were en pleine affaire
Dreyfus [deep in the Dreyfus affair]. The Kaiser I think to
Bulows mild horror spoke frankly and freely about the Affair.
I advanced no opinion one way or the other; but soon it became
completely clear that they considered Dreyful innocent! It was
something absolutely colossal.
What kind of people are they," cried the Kaiser. "Do they
really think I am crazy enough to write such letters to anybody
at all? Hanotaux put *7,000 francs on the table for those forgeries. They were offered to him, and he, the Richelieu, the great
statesman, thought they were genuine or pretended he did.
Why, its incredible! The matter got about through Princess
Mathilde. Hanotaux declared in her salon, before a gathering of
army people, that he had letters from me in his possession. Of
course, she immediately saw the impossibility of it and told him
so.
At this point my recollection is uncertain. If I am not misXHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 731
oken. the Kaiser said: And then she bounced him out.** This,
uany rate, was the sense of his words.
Biilow said: "The mendacity of these people is remarkable.
Didn't one of their ministers declare that Dreyfus' innocence was
known to the government? 1 forget which one it was."
Viger, said the Kaiser. This old red radical Brisson, astonidiingly enough, is the only honest man left among them; he
wants to bring out the truth."
I told about Bourgeois, the master mind of the Cabinet, who
let Cavaignac run upon the sword that was held in front of him.
Apin the Kaiser laughed with his eyes and said: The other
day I was with a number of my colleagues . . (I think he
aid: in Vienna, at the funeral of the Empress. 1 didnt immediately understand whom he meant by "colleagues" until he continued ) The King of Rumania told me something he had
found out in a roundabout way from a French officer. Namely,
that embezzlements are at the bottom of the whole business. For
a long time now, the French General Staffs secret funds have
been stolen. Captain Dreyfus, too, was offered *0.000 francs.
He would not take it and said: 1 dont need the *0,000 francs.
What am I supposed to do with *0,000 francs? So they had to
get rid of him, since he knew what was up. And this is why
Eaerha/y and Du Paty de Clam were kept. More and more officers who had taken money became implicated, and now they
re dsielding one another ... I often wonder what is to become
of that country. It is valuable, after all. The French spirit conttitutes the spice, the pepper, for the other cultures the Attic
nit. Of course, too much peppeT is no good. But what i* going
to happen to France?"
"Your Majesty, I think that it will crumble from within. I

id. **It is fine indeed in literature and art*, and it is the refinerat of decadence. That the French are seeking a war I do not
Wiese. The ruling class has the greatest interest in not wanting
war."
Yes." said Bttlow, a war would remove them in any case, the

present republicans. Victory like defeat would bring a monarchy.
With this truism 1 agreed, of course.
The Kaiser said: "From all appearances in France it docs seem
to follow that a republic is not the best conceivable form of government.
I spoke about the present parliament in the vein of my treatment of it in The Palais Bourbon, and asked the Kaiser whether
I might send him this book.
He said yes with his large eyes.
Then he said: I also think that they will keep quiet, if only
because of the Exposition. That is when they want to get money
from everybody.
A real Frenchie, I said, "can't stand a German, but he gladly
takes his cash.
They won't get to see mine," said I think the Kaiser; but
perhaps it was Biilow. I think, but am not sure, that this answer
was given. Nor do I know in what connection I answered the
Kaiser s question about the coming development of F rance as
follows:
People will always go to France in order to have a good time.
Billow interjected jokingly:
^ es, cafs and Beisel [joints], as they call them in Vienna.
Now and then the Kaiser glanced at his watch, which he wears
strapped to the wrist of his short left arm. To think how much
these Imperial minutes are worth, espec tally on such a day, the
first day of his visit to Constantinople!
The conversation flagged for a moment after this French interlude. I used the pause to get back to our muttons:
And that is why France cannot offer any objections to our
project. And for Russia it also meant a solution, etc. the
familiar points.
I he Kaiser said with a touch of humor, in which, however,
there was only free-and-easy sympathy and certainly not heartlessness:
# In Englith in original.
"Yes, your people have had a pretty bad time of it in Russia
during the past couple of hundred years.
"Pretty bad was what he really meant; the expression he
ironically used said just the opposite. But this phrase, too, has
escaped me.
1 then proceeded, and unfolded the entire plan before him,
accompanied by his nods. I believe I presented all the arguments: Russias Siberian railroad, a Pandora's box with untold
ills for Europe; the shortest line to India* etc. Everything,
everything He listened to me magnificently, at times with visible
strain and effort when I touched upon the complicated forms of
the loans we could arrange for Turkey. Finally I said:
"I don't know maybe I'm extremely stubborn about it,
but the thing seems completely natural to me!"
He looked at me grandly: "To me. too!
Billow interposed: Yes, if only the people here are willing;
perhaps the Ministers ought to lie . . With his thumb and
index finger he made the gesture of counting out money. "Well,
here they all take.
The Kaiser rejected this with a light movement of his hand and
said:
"But surely it will make an impression if the German Kaiser
concerns himself with it and shows an interest in it."
fit was then that I had the magic-forest sensation of encountering the fabulous unicorn which said with a human voice. "I am
the fabled unicorn.)
The Kaiser continued: "After all. I am the only one who still
sticks by the Sultan. He puts stock in me.
He had glanced at his watch again and arose. But when he saw
that I had something to say, he asked: "You have another question?"
Already on my feet, I brought up the specific questions about
the audience in Palestine, my address, etc.
The Kaiser said: "Write out your address and give it to Btilow.
* In Englith In originsl
Then I shall go over it carefully with him. . . .Just tell me in
a word what I am to ask of the Sultan.
A Chartered Company * under German protection.
Good! A Chartered Company! And he grandly gave me hii
hand, which is strong enough for two, squeezed mine good and
hard, and went out first through the center door.
Outside stood Count von Kessel.
Insert:
At an earlier point in the conversation 1 believe, after we had
mentioned the distressing situation of the Jews in the East, the
Kaiser said:
"But things will probably get worst of all in France. In that
country anti-Semitism is likely to become strongest. For there the
Church is behind it, and the Jesuits won't let go once they start
a thing like that. Herr von Rothschild seems to know this too,
for he is having his art collection shipped to London.
After the Kaiser had left the salon, I went out with Biilow.
He gazed after the Kaiser who was striding with an clastic step
down the corridor with Kessel, and said to me: That is a monarch of genius!"
Then wc descended the stairs together, and Biilow said eagerly:
"You must see Marschall and talk things over with him. Let him
give you exact information. I think the Turks arc now unfavor-
ably disposed.
I naturally promised him to go to Marschall at once and not
to write my Address until afterward; but I thought to myself that
he was not giving me this advice out of benevolence. Actually,
I don't want to lie unjust, not even to the unfriendly Biilow.
He has very great responsibilities and would pay for it if matters went wrong. Under the Constitution, it is he who will have
* In English in original.
to endorse the project; hence he is not merely entitled but even
obligated to observe extreme caution.
The courtiers and officers, and especially the lackeys, were astonished when they saw the previously disregarded, unknown
Jew in civilian clothes come down the stairs after a private onehour audience with the Kaiser in the company of the Minister
of State and engaged in animated conversation with him. with
Biilow whispering along in easy familiarity. I finally arranged
with Biilow that immediately after my conversation with Marichall I would prepare my Address and send it to him.
Then I left. The colorful cluster of Turkish officers gave me
none too friendly looks. In bet. unless my hasty look as I went
out deceived me, in the glances of some of them I saw hatred or was it envy? Did they already know, had they already
guessed, what my business was with the Kaiser? Or were their
senile souls piqued at the conspicuous distinction I had been
accorded?
I stepped into my carriage, where Wolfftohn had been waiting
in the greatest agitation, and we drove off through the Yildiz
gardens. I only told this good fellow briefly that the audience had
been fine and that we would be received in Palestine. For after
Marschalls negative behavior we had begun to doubt it, and
had not even bought our steamship tickets for Alexandria.
As we drove out through the Yildiz gate, the festive illumination of the city had already started. An exquisite sight, for which,
however, we lacked the proper attentiveness. We were too excited.
First I drove to the German Embassy. As I had expected. Marchall was no longer there, having gone to Yildiz for the gab
dinner. All along the road, in fact, we had been passing guests
on their way to the affair. I gave the Embassy clerk my card, with
* comer folded down.
Schnirer. Seidener, and Bodenheimer were waiting at the
Hotel dc Londres, themselves greatly excited. Since Danutso
was also present, I called them into the next room, gave them a
tumm.iry account, and asked them to take the fat Italian down
to the dining-hall with them. I was quite exhausted from the
great psychic strain, and still had to compose that difficult and
important Address. I had some tea, but still didn't pull myself
together enough to finish the speech.
I kept trying until eleven oclock, while Wolffsohn was packing
my trunks for me. Then I sought to make myself sleepy by drinking a bottle of Bavarian beer, and I did sleep until four oclock in
the morning. Then I got up, lit all twelve randies in my bedroom, wrote for half an hour, and then went back to bed, exhausted. At six oclock I got up again and finished as much of
the Address as I could by half-past eight, when I sent it off to
Billow, with a covering letter, by the German post.
In the meantime, Wolffsohn had "managed our departure.
All I needed to do was drive to the harbor and board the ship.
Glorious sunshine at the harbor of Constantinople. I also ex-
perienced a certain sense of relief when I felt the deck of this

Russian ship under my feet. For I did not, and up to this time
do not, know how the Turks will regard the matter, which has
now become something to take seriously. On approaching Smyrna
I even thought it possible that the local Turkish authorities, informed of my presence, would bestow their more or less benevolent attention upon me. Even now, on October 21, out on the
Aegean Sea, I am still quite uncertain as to what may be in store
for us. Yesterday at Smyrna I sent for the local newspapers to
learn whether the news agencies had reported on my audience.
I wasnt able to find anything.
That my audience cannot long remain secret and that the
diplomatic world is in a great uproar over it by now I think I
may assume without delusions of grandeur. Enfin, nous verrom
[Anyway, we shall see).
At any rate, today I already constitute a troublesome pervinage
to many a party interested in the Holy I .and, and I dont know
whether some plot is not being hatched against me in Palestine.
From what quarter? I cant even make the most far-fetched guess.
But I am not telling these anxieties of mine even to my travelling companions. I am obviously approaching the climax of my
tragic enterprise. If the expedition to Palestine is successful, the
very hardest part of it will be done. Everything else will then be
simply a matter of execution, vunething which can be accomplished by others, too.
The days I am now living through are critical days of the first
order. Only when I am again on a ship headed for the Italian
coast will I have the feeling that this new ride across Lake Constance is behind me.
I have written down these recollections of the great day, October 18. on shipboard on the 19th, 20th, and 21st. I do feel now
that I have set down all the most important things, and that the
day with the Kaiser has been preserved for posterity, to whom it
belongs.
October 21
One more recollection. Most of the time the Kaiser looked me
full in the face. Only when I spoke of the new overland route to
Asia Mediterranean, Persian Gulf did he stare into space as
though lost in thought, and the thoughtful expression on his
fine, serious face revealed to me that I had fully gripped him.
October 27, Rishon-le-Zion, 6:00 a.m.
No entries were made during those sunny days at sea. They
were halcyon days. Everything worth noting moved past my unclouded spirit without leaving any traces. And yet there were
noteworthy things: the ship that took us to Alexandria, that
floating cosmopolitan city which contained all sorts of things,
from a cattle market to a Frenth salon; Smyrna, picturesque
filth and varia mtieria, assorted misery in red. yellow, blue colors; Jews .Ashkenazim and Sephardim from all over the world.
raJt up in this Asia Minor town. And once again over the winecolored sea, past the epic isles of the Greeks, to the Piraeus,
which was a disappointment. Up through the dust to the Acrop738 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
olis, which likewise says so much to us only because classical literature is so powerful. The power of the word! Then raicd
through Athens in a matter of minutes, but that seemed enough
for this modern city.
Evenings on shipboard, long talks with the French writer Ren6

Bazin. My judgment of the French was not a gentle one. I told
him, among other things, that a powerful literature can also
disseminate weak ideas throughout the world. On the other
hand, powerful ideas (such as the > 8th century ideas about reforming the state) can also spread a feeble literature all over the
world. But present-day France, I said, has neither great ideas nor
great writing.
The Frenchmen Bazin, I.amy, Mille, etc., took down their impressions throughout the voyage. I did not. Now I am sorry I
didnt; but the soul, too, must have its fallow season in order to
become fertile again. And I have so many projects ahead of me
that I can forgive myself for not making a literary harvest from
my joumey.
Hot days in Alexandria and Port Said. Alexandria shows how
a clever European administration can draw a habitable, comfortable city even out of the hottest soil.
At Port Said I greatly admired the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal,
that shimmering thread of water stretching away toward infinity,
impressed me much more than the Acropolis. Human lives and
money, it is true, were taken and squandered on the Suez Canal,
but yet one must admire the colossal will that executed this simple idea of digging away the sands. In Panama this will had
grown senile; this, and not the natural obstacles, evidently
wrecked that second project.
I he last two nights of our voyage, which we spent on a smaller
vessel, the Russia" (sailing from Alexandria), it was unbearably
hot in the cabin which the five of us shared. I was up on deck
by three o'clock in the morning. The last night I even slept d Ui
belle tloile [under the open sky] from midnight on. At night
and in the morning the sea was wonderfully still and shimmered
in variegation. When it grew light, we began to peer toward the
Jewish coast. Toward seven o'clock the first bit of land, two dots
of mountains on the right, was sighted by Wolffsohn. We approached the land of our fathers with mixed feelings. Strange
what emotions this desolate country stirs up in most people: in
die old German pastor from South Africa, in the Russian muzhik
in the foul-smelling steerage, in the Arabs who have been traveling with us from Constantinople, in us Zionists, in the poor
Rumanian Jewess who wants to join her sick daughter in Yerusholayim and who has reason to fear that she will be turned
back on account of her Rumanian passport. Incidentally, our
companion Seidener is in the same situation with his Russian
passport.
Thus the landing shaped up as rather uncomfortable, when
Jaffa hose in sight. In any case, I had made my plans for the
eventuality that the Turkish port authorities refused to let us
pass. I drafted a telegram to the Kaiser informing him of the
trouble that was being made for us. But it turned out differently.
When we were on the big Cook landing lioat. which I had asked
the Rumanian woman to board also, 1 learned that German
police would be at the pier. I jumped ashore, and while the
Turkish police were snooping about our tezkeiehs, I took the
German official aside and told him that we were here on the
Kaisers orders; the five white cork-helmets should be allowed to
pass through at once. This was done. I turned the Rumanian
woman over to Mme. Gaulis, the wife of a French journalist, who
was sitting in the next boat; she was to pass off the Rumanian
as her servant. Mme. Gaulis did so, the poor old soul clung to the
Frenchwomans skirt and thus slipped through the cordon so
happy at being in Palestine where she was going to visit her
mortally ill daughter. What forms happiness takes!
And we were in Jaffa!
Again poverty and misery and heat in gay colors.
Confusion in the streets, at the hotel, not a carriage to be had.
I was already on a horse, to ride to Rishon, but dismounted again
when Dr. Joffe procured us a conveyance.
We drove in the terrible heat first to Mikveh Israel. This

is an excellent school of agriculture. Bunting over the gate in
honor of the Kaiser, who will pass by here tomorrow on his way
to Jerusalem. I will try to persuade him to visit the institution.
From Mikveh, through the countryside neglected in Arab
fashion to the much-praised Rishon-le-Zion. For a poor village
this is a fairly prosperous place. But if one has imagined it as
more than a poor settlement, one is disappointed. Thick dust on
the roads, a bit of gTecnery.
The administrator received us with a frightened air, obviously
dared to be neither amiable nor unamiable. Fear of Monsieur
le Baron hovers over everything. The poor colonists have swapped
one fear for another. We were shown through the wine-cellars
with elaborate ceremony. But I have never doubted that with
money one can set up industrial establishments no matter where.
With the millions which have been poured into the sand here
and stolen and squandered, far different results could have been
achieved.
Meanwhile, news of our arrival had spread through the village. A deputation came to invite me to the Beth lla'am. We
were welcomed by music which, unfortunately, was only wellintentioned. Again a lane of faces such as I have seen in l^mdon,
Berlin, Briinn, everywhere. Someone made a speech in which he
tried to harmonize their obligations toward the Baron and their
love for me, a harmony just as impossible as the one the conductor tried to achieve between the violin and the flute. The
big drum had to cover up everything. I also spoke a few words,
advising them to be grateful to the Baron, although his aims
were different from mine.
Then I inspected the house of a colonist who had made good.
Large rooms habitable, anyway. But faded fares.
Next I saw the house of some day-laborers. Wooden plank beds
and squalor.
Finally I spoke to the physician of the colony. Dr. Mazie. He
gave it to me straight. Fever! All of the colonies suffer from
ever. Only large-scale drainage operations and the elimination
of swamps, he said, could make the country habitable.
This is also my view and intention.
It will cost billions, but create billions of new wealth! Such
Arabs as are immune to the fever might be used for the work.
Jerusalem. October 29
Conclusion of my Address to the Kaiser:
This is the fatherland of ideas which do not belong to one
people or to one creed alone. The farther men advance in their
morality, the more clearly do they recognize the common elements in these ideas. And thus the actual city of Jerusalem, with
its fateful walls, has long since become a symbolic city sacred to
all civilized men.
An emperor of peace is making a gTeat entry into this eternal
dty. We Jews gTeet Your Majesty at this exalted moment, wishing from the bottom of our hearts that an age of peace and justice may dawn for all men. Including ourselves.
October *9. Jerusalem
Sent the Address to August Fulenburg with the following covering letter:
Your Excellency:
I have the honor most humbly to submit the enclosed Address

of the Zionist Deputation. I beg Your Excellency to lie kind
enough 10 inform me. when returning the manuscript, of the
changes desired by llis Majesty the Kaiser, or else to convey his
gracious approval to me. I shall read it as bidden when the audience takes place.
At the same time may I request that I kindly lie notified of
the day and hour appointed for the reception of the deputation.
Begging Your Excellency to accept the expression of my deep*** rw pnt, I remain
Your humble servant.
Dr. Th. H.
October * 9 . Jerusalem
I must add what has happened since the day before yesterday,
when wc left Rishon-le-Zion. We drove away from Rishon in
the morning. About half an hours distance from there is the
Jewish hamlet of Wad-el-Chanin. There we were met by the entire population; singing children; an old man presented me with
bread, salt and wine from his own vineyard. I had to visit almost
all the homes of the colonists.
We drove on. A cavalcade came galloping toward us from the
settlement of Rehovot: about twenty young fellows who put on
a kind of fantasia, lustily singing Hebrew songs and swarming
about our carriage. Wolffsohn, Schnirer, Bodenheimer and I
had tears in our eyes when we saw those fleet, daring horsemen
into whom our young trouser-salesmen can be transformed.
Hedad! they cried, and dashed away cross-country on their little
Arab horses. They reminded me of the Far -West* cowboys of
the American plains whom I once saw in Paris.
At Rehovot, an even greater demonstration; the whole village
awaited me in rank and file. The children sang. With the resources of the poor, a princely reception.
Back in the brooding heat to Jaffa, which I reached exhausted.
My good Hechler had arrived. I related what had happened
since our last meeting and asked him to tell Count Eulenburg
that I would await the Kaiser the following morning on the
highway outside Mikveh Israel.
Early yesterday morning I drove out to Mikveh Israel. I was
already unwell, but with an effort managed to stay on my feet.
The picture of the trainees at their farm implements was a
pretty one. Among the curious the somewhat baronially arrogant Rothschild administrators turned up also. I told Niego. the
director of Mikveh, that I would introduce him to the Kaiser,
should the latter recognize and speak to me. Niego begged me
JJ 1,1 ' "" , '" m ,! " " 'l"s. because it might I., .
Zionist demonstration and could harm him. I was there as the
In EnglUlt in the original.
guest of Mikveh and therefore should not introduce him, the
director. Actually, this was a mild reprimand, but I did not resent it from the otherwise amiable man.
At nine o'clock a commotion on the highway, which was lined
with a mixed multitude* of Arab beggars, womenfolk, children,
and horsemen, heralded the approach of the Imperial procession.
Fierce- looking Turkish cavalry came galloping toward us at full
tilt, rifles at the ready and shooting even more threatening
glances all around. Then the outriders of the Kaiser. And there,
among a grey-clad group, including several ladies, the Kaiser
himself.
1 gave the schoolchildrens choir of Mikveh the signal to intone Heil Dir im Siegerkranz." 1 stood beside one of the
ploughs and took off my cork-helmet. The Kaiser recognized roe
even at a distance. It gave him a bit of start; he guided his horse
in my direction and pulled up in front of me. I took two
steps forward; and when he leaned down over the neck of the
horse and held his hand down to me, I stepped up quite close
to his horse, stretched up my own hand, and stood before him
with my head bared.
He laughed and flashed his imperious eyes at me.
"How are you?"
Thanks, Your Majesty! I am having a look at the country.
And how has the journey agreed with Your Majesty so far?"
He blinked grandly with his eyes:
"Very hot! But the country has a future."
At the moment it is still sick," I said.
"Water is what it needs, a lot of svater! he said from above me.
Yes, Your Majesty! Irrigation on a large scale!"
He repeated: "It is a land of the future!"
Perhaps he said some other things which have escaped me, for
Mopped with me for several minutes. Then he held down his
** In the original
^TnmUinfi Note "Hail to iher with the rktor'i wrrath " a tong by Schu5 ,lv * Harriet (about i?au). widely tune at a royal aalute to the tune o 4
the Ring - 7
hand to me again, and trotted off. The Empress, too, had ridden
forward a bit and gave me a nod and a smile. I hen the Imperial
procession moved on to the strains of "Heil Dir im Siegerkranz*
from the childrens throats.
1 noticed the Kaiser drawing himself up more proudly in the
saddle and saluting his hymn, as, back in Breslau, he had saluted
the statue of his grandfather.
Among those riding behind him I recognized Court-Marshal
Eulenburg, who greeted me affably.
The spectators at Mikveh Israel were quite dumbfounded. A
few of them asked who it was. They simply wouldn't believe that
it had been the Kaiser. The Rothschild administrators looked
timid and out-of-sorts.
Wolffsohn, that good soul, had taken two snapshots of the
scene. At least he thought he had. He patted his kodak proudly:
"I wouldn't part with these negatives for ten thousand marks.
But when we got to the photographer's at Jaffa and had the
negatives developed, it turned out that the first picture showed
only a shadow of the Kaiser and my left foot; the second was
completely spoiled.
Then we took the train in the frightful heat to Jerusalem.
Just the departure from the Jaffa station took an hour. Sitting
in the cramped, crowded, scorching compartment was torture.
While crossing the dismal, desolate countryside I developed a
fever and grew more and more feverish and weak as we rode
further into the Sabbath. For, because of the delayed train, and
to Wolffsohn's extreme chagTin, we found ourselves traveling
into the Sabbath. The moon was full when we arrived in Jerusalem. I would have gladly driven the half hour's distance from
the station to the hotel; but the gentlemen made long faces, so
I had to resign myself to walking to the city, weak with feser
though I was. I tottered all over the place on my cane; with my
other arm I braced myself alternately against Wolffsohn's and
Schubs arm.
In spite of my weariness, Jerusalem by moon-dust with its
the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER/.L 745

grand outlines made a powerful impression on me. Magnificent
the silhouette of the fortress of /ion, the citadel of David.
The streets were crowded with groups of Jews strolling in the
moonlight.
I was very sick before falling asleep. 1 took quinine and vomited after it. Then Schnirer rubbed me with spirits of camphor,
and slept that night in my narrow little room.
Wolffsohn was beside himself with excitement. Maybe he had
already given me up.
In the morning I awoke feeling better. But Im still quite
feeble today. It is now evening, and I have not stirred from the
house all day. I only look out the windows and conclude that
Jerusalem is magnificently situated. Even in its present decay it
is a beautiful city, and, if we come here, can become one of the
most beautiful in the world again.
From my hotel window, this afternoon, I saw the Kaiser pass
through the triumphal arches, first the Jewish and then the
Turkish. He is said to have stopped a little longer at the Jews'
arch. I haven't been to the Jewish arch, because there are two
factions here. One wanted me to deliver the communal address
to the Kaiser. The other apparently wished me to stay away entirely me and my Zionism. Since, as I was informed, the Hakham Bashi of Constantinople has proposed to the Chief Rabbi
here that I be put under the gTeat ban. I preferred not even to go
near these carping Oriental objectors.
October ji, Jerusalem
When I remember thee in days to come. O Jerusalem, it will
not be with pleasure.
The musty deposits of two thousand years of inhumanity, intolerance, and uncleanliness lie in the foul-smelling alleys. The
one man who has been present all this time, the amiable dreamer
of Nazareth, has only contributed to increasing the haired.
If we ever get Jerusalem and if I am still able to do anything
actively at that time, I would begin by cleaning it up.
I would clear out everything that is not something sacred, set
up workers homes outside the city, empty the nests of filth and
tear them down, burn the secular ruins, and transfer the bazaars
elsewhere. Then, retaining the old architectural style as much
as possible. I would build around the Holy Places a comfortable,
airy new city with proper sanitation.
Night before last the good Hechler arrived here and came to
see me.
I told him: If I have anything to say at the next vacancy of
the Jerusalem English diocese, you must become Bishop of Jerusalem. *
He resisted the idea.
I repeated: bishop of Jerusalem!
The local Jewish Community is like the rest of them. It turned

out that the man who brought me their supposed invitation had
lied. After leaving me he went to the communal leaders and told
them that I would very much like to await the Kaiser tinder their
triumphal arch. Thereupon the leaden declared that there
were no more available spaces.
Yesterday the Sephardic Rabbi Meir was among the visitors
who have been calling on me at the Marx house. He explained
the attitude of the local Grand Rabbis to me: they dont want to
incur the displeasure of the Turkish government.
Amused, I said: "In order not to cause the gentlemen any embarrassment, I shall also omit paying them a visit.
We have been to the Wailing Wall. A deeper emotion refuses

to come, because that place is pervaded by a hideous, wretched,
* In English In original.
speculative beggary. At least, this is the way it was when we were
there, yesterday evening and this morning.
Yesterday evening we visited the Tower of David. At the entrance I said to my friends: "It would be a good idea on the Sultans part if he had me arrested here.
A touching view from the decayed battlements on the city
melting away in evening mists.
Earlier we had walked rather quickly through the Via Dolorosa, because it is said to be an ill-omened place for Jews. Seidener, who used to live in this city, absolutely refused to accompany
me. I would have considered it cowardice not to go, and so I did
walk along the street of the Holy Sepulchre. My friends restrained
me from entering the Church itself. It is also forbidden to set
loot in the Mosque of Omar and the Temple area, otherwise
one becomes subject to excommunication by the rabbis. This is
what happened to Sir Motes Montefiore.
How much superstition and fanaticism on every side! Yet I
am not afraid of any of these fanatics.
We were in a Jewish hospital today. Misery and uncleanlinest.

Nevertheless, for appearances sake. I had to testify in the suitors
book to its cleanliness. This is how lies originate.
From the gallery of an ancient synagogue we enjoyed a view
^ Temple area, the Mount of Olives, and the whole storied
* an< l*pe in the morning sunshine.
I am quite firmly convinced that a magnificent New Jerusalem
(ould be built outside the old city walls. The old Jerusalem
**!! remain lourdes and Mecca and Yerusholayim. A
?CT T priy, elegant town would be quite possible beside it.
October 31
Today the Church of the Redeemer will be consecrated by the

Kaiser. I avoided his procession while on our way to the city. At
Mikveh it was good, here it would be bad, to stand in his path.
1:30 p.m.
Again hours of intense, uncomfortable expectation. Since the
night before last, when Wolffsohn delivered my letter to Count
Eulenburg in the Imperial encampment, there has been no word
The five of us hang around, not knowing when we are to be
received. The Kaiser is scheduled to go to Jericho today and will
not return until day after tomorrow. Question is whether he will
receive us today or the day after tomorrow (the last day). In fact,
the more faint-hearted among us are beginning to ask: will he
receive us at all?
Who knows what international intrigues arc now being played
over our heads. We have no newspaper here, in two weeks no
news of what has been happening in the world.
Despite this general despondency of my four friends, I just

gave them a bit of instruction for the reception: the order in
which they are to stand, their deportment, etc.; I also tried to
prepare replies for the questions the Kaiser might ask. 1 told
them to keep in mind that the Kaiser was a powerful figure, but
still, only a human being. They should be humble, of course,
but nevertheless remember that they were representing the re
nowned Jewish people at a historic moment.
1 further inquired whether their clothes, linen, neckties, gloves,
shoes, and hats were in order.
Then I sent off Wolffsohn to reconnoitre why we had received
no word. He was to go to Hechler, and the latter to Eulenburg
out in the encampment.
And I am waiting.

Three oclock
Wolffsohn returns from Hechler all excited.
Hechler told him the Kaiser was leaving tomorrow morning direct for Berlin, as gTave events were taking place. France had
declared war on England.
The whole thing seems incredible to me.
Meanwhile a Russian consular official is here at the Marx
bouse with the same rumor.
I still believe it is a case of exaggeration or a fantastic rumor.
Perhaps both repons come from the same source.
Hechler also told Wolffsohn that during today's consecration
ceremonies the Kaiser had beckoned to him twice, whereupon
he reported for an audience. Half an hour from now he will be
with Eulenburg. after that with the Kaiser, and he will ask the
latter whether he has forgotten the Zionists.
Wolffsohn is now going to Hechler again.
6:30 p.m.
Hechler was here for an hour, drank tea. and told us about his
contretempi [mishap].
He had arrived at Eulenburgs tent where he was told that the
Count was expected back momentarily. Hechler rushed out in
order to notify Wolffsohn that it would be a while longer. When
he returned, Eulenburg had been there and left again. For half
>n hour our good Hechler sat in Fulenburgs tent and waited.
Then, trumpets, the noise of depan ure. Who was leaving? The
Kaiser. And Count Eulenburg? With him. So Hechler marched
off bredouille [empty-handed].
5 : S he drove back to the Imperial encampment. Now
Wolffsohn and Schnirer have gone out there to wail for Hechler.
This uncertain waiting has by now completely demoralized us.
Hechler told us that the Kaiser would not be leaving for
J*^ho. but for Beirut. So the war scare seems to have been a
fabrication after all.

November i, Jerusalem
At 7:30 yesterday evening Wolffsohn and Schnirer came back
from the encampment with the following report:
Hechler saw Eulenburg, first spoke about this and that, and
then asked when the Zionists would be received. Eulenburg said:
"Tomorrow or the day after.
The Kaiser is not going to Jericho, but is staying here a while
longer.
I am very sorry that I allowed my companions to dissuade me

two days ago from writing to the Kaiser and asking him to receive me as soon as possible, because I had to return to Europe
without delay; my ship would be leaving on Tuesday.
The gentlemen were afraid of forcing the pace. They don't
know my reason: I want to leave the country immediately after
the audience, before the Turks regain their senses and perhaps
make trouble for me.
Now the chance is lost. There won't be a safe vessel sailing
for Port Said before next Tuesday, and it is highly doubtful
whether there is a chance connection whic h would enable us to
be in Port Said or Alexandria by Saturday.
I made a great mistake in letting myself be dissuaded.
Overnight it occurred to me to send the Kaiser some photographs of the colonies and take this opportunity to remind him
of the audience. I have now sent out someone to buy a piece of
costly fabric as a covering for the pictures. Wolffsohn will take
the packet to Eulenburg, to whom 1 am writing the following
note:
"I have the profound honor to hand Your Excellency herewith
a few photographs of the Jewish colonies already established in
Palestine, with the request that the pictures lie submitted to His
Majesty the Kaiser.
May I take this opportunity to inquire whether the day and
the hour of our reception have already been fixed? Directly after
the audience we should like to depart for Europe, where pressing
business calls us.

With repeated thanks to Your Excellency for your very kind
offices and begging you to accept the expression of my deep respect, I remain
Your humble servant.
Dr. Th. H.
November s. Jerusalem
This letter to Eulenburg was not sent off. For while Scidener
and Schnirer were out, yesterday morning, to get the cover for
the pictures, the kavass of the German Consulate came with a
slip that bore only my name, and he invited me to call on the
Consul-General.
I found the Consul-General, von Tischendorf, in the company
of a Count Miihling who wore the new red Cross of Jerusalem.
Tischendorf told me that I was being expected at the encampment by legation Councillor Krmeth who wanted further information horn me about the audience I had requeued. So there
was to be an audience after all.
My friends and I had already been quite disheartened by having had to mew" for so long. On our way to the Consulate,
Schnirer pulled a long face and expressed a pessimistic view,
ying that this summons to the Comulate meant snow.
*** more overjoyed when I told him in the carriage
was happening. We drove to the Imperial encampment; I
T*rlf announced to the legation Councillor. The latter, a
nightly-built. still young, but already very self-possessed official,
**oved me with some condescension, led me into a reception
**H. where he lounged hack rather grandly in an armchair,
an *l then waved my corrected Address in front
^ number of passages in the draft I had sent Eulenburg
**** crossed out with a pencil. These I must discard, he said. He
** ,cl My lhat to the Kaiser. He! He? Who is he? It
*nded me of the servant in Dr. Klaus who treats the patients
in the doctors absence, but I took the young mans presumptuousness with an unperturbed expression. He finally desired me
to submit the document to him again, along with the revised
manuscript, so that he might compare them and see whether I
had done things right. I overlooked the impertinence of it and
said calmly, "Certainly!
He added, with half an apology, that after all he had the responsibility. He? Who?
Then he asked me. not ungraciously:
"What city is your usual place of residence?
As if he didn't know all this very well. Surely an audience of
this sort is not an everyday occurrence. These gentlemen must
have talked about it at length and often, as well as grumbled
about me. Obviously they are all furious that the Kaiser should
pay so much attention to a Jew.
But again I gave a very calm and modest answer: "In Vienna."
I also asked in what way I would be notified about the publication. I would, of course, make public only what I was instructed
to publish.
He observed coldly: " Instructed does not seem the right
word to me. At most you will be permitted to publish something.
This time he was right. I prepared to leave. Might I bring

along some pictures of the colonies for the Kaiser? Herr Kemeth
or Kehmeu had no objection; but he would welcome it if we did
not take too much of the Kaiser's time. He welcomes something.
I learned, too, that Billow would be present at the audience.
Then I left.
In the evening I sent Bodenheimer to the mighty Herr Legationsrat [Legation Councillor] with a clean copy of the new version as well as the corrected manuscript.
In the light of evening he is said to have been not entirely ungracious. He said to Bodenheimer: "Your representative, Dr.
Herzl, spoke about publicity. In any case, we are counting on it
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HF.RZL 753
that for the time being nothing of the sort will be undertaken.
Bodenheimer assured His Importance of our discretion.
For a man who knows so well how to correct ones diction it
was undoubtedly a deliberate mistake when he spoke of me as
the "representative of Dr. Bodenheimer. Je deplais a ces Messieurs. Je men doutais [I displease these gentlemen, 1 suspect].
In the afternoon we were on the Mount of Olives.

Great moments. What couldn't be made of this countryside!
A city like Rome, and the Mount of Olives would furnish a
panorama like the Janiculum.
I would isolate the old city with its relics and pull out all the
regular traffic: only houses of worship and philanthropic institutions would be allowed to remain inside the old walls. And the
wide ring of hillsides all around, which would turn gTrrn under
our hands, would be the location of a glorious New Jerusalem.
The most discriminating from every pan of the world would
travel the road up to the Mount of Olives. Tender care can turn
Jerusalem into a jewel. Include everything sacred within the old
walls, spread everything new round about it.
VVe climbed the Russian Tower myself only as far as the
fim level, because I got dizzy, the other gentlemen to the very
op. Incomparable view of the Jordan valley with its mountain
*ôpr*. the Dead Sea, the mountains of Moab, the eternal city of
Jerusalem.
It would require time and a clear head to elaborate all these
impressions.
our way bark we went to the rocky Tombs of the Kings,
*rre once owned by a French Jew, P^reire. and pre*
him to the French government. This is how impossible
^P ple ^considered it that the Jews would ever own anything
November 2, Jerusalem
The morning before the great event a bit hectic. While still
in my night shirt I instructed my friends how to behave during
the audience. Amusing details. Bodenheimer doesnt have a good
silk hat. Then the excitement of procuring a carriage, since we
must certainly drive up in state.
Many bothersome callers.

Our good Hechler has just been here. He undertook to deliver
the folder with the photographs of the colonies to Count F.ulenburg. Then he blessed us in the name of the God of Abraham.
Isaac, and Jacob, put on his white hat with its flowing veil, and
left.
Now. at eleven, we are taking a snack, and then we shall dress.
Schnirer wants to give each of us a little bromine which is what
people take nowadays before going to fight a duel.
At 1:08
We are already back from the audience.
This brief reception will be preserved forever in the history
of the Jews, and it is not beyond possibility that it will have historic consequences as well.
But how odd were the details of the entire procedure.
At 11:30 we were finished with our abbreviated luncheon. I
insisted on keeping my gentlemen on short rations, so that they
might be in the proper trim.
By noon we were all dressed. Bodenhcimer had a grotesque
top-hat and cuffs so wide that his shirt-sleeves kept sliding down
into sight. At the last moment we had to dig him up another
pair of c uffs.
I put on (for the first time) my shabby Mcjidiye decoration.
1 wouldn't let anyone take bromine as Marcou Baruch said
at Basel: je ne le voulais pas pour I'histoire [I didn't want it.
for the sake of history].
Et favais raison [And I was right].
In the burning noonday sun and the white dust we drove to
the encampment. A few Jews in the streets looked up as we
paoed. Ducks in the swamp, when the wild ducks arc flying overhead.
At the railing enclosing the encampment, the Turkish guards
hesitated to admit Schnirer and myself. Then a non-commissioned officer came and let us pass.
Inside the enclosure Count von Kessel, in colonial uniform,
met us and directed us to a reception tent. There we stood for
about ten minutes and inspected the little salon with its colorful
carpets and furniture.
Then we were summoned to the Imperial tent. The Kaiser
awaited us there, in grey colonial uniform, a veiled helmet on
his head, brown gloves, and oddly enough with a riding crop
in his right hand. A few pares before the entrance I came to attention and bowed. The Kaiser held out his hand to me very
affably when 1 entered. Somewhat to one side stood Bulow in a
dusty, grey lounge-suit, holding my corrected draft in his hand.
My four companions entered the spacious tent behind me. I
asked if I might present them: the Kaiser nodded, and I did so.
As each name was pronounced, he placed his hand to the visor
of his helmet.
Then, after exchanging a glance with Billow, I took out my
tcript and read it aloud, at first softly and in a somewhat tremulous voice, but gradually trts a mon asst [quite at ease]. From
time to time 1 glanced up from the paper and looked into the
KaiseT 1 eyes which he kept levelled at me.

When I had finished, he spoke.
He said roughly the following:
thank you for this communication which has interested me
P'Ouy. The matter, in any case, still requires thorough study
further discussion." He then went into tome observations on
colonization up to now. "The land needs, above all, water
He used some technical terms related to agriculture
forestry. For the rest, his observations had told him that the
*** arable. "The settlements I have seen, the German ones
as well as those of your people, may serve as indications of what
can be done with the land. The country has room for everyone.
Only provide water and trees. The work of the colonists wdl also
serve as a stimulating example to the native population. Your
movement, with which I am thoroughly acquainted, contains a
sound idea.
He then assured us of his continued interest, and what else he
said during the five or six minutes of his reply I can no longer
remember.
When he had concluded his formal response, he gave me his
hand, but did not dismiss us yet; instead, he drew me into a
conversation with Bulow: You know Herr von Bulow, don't
you?
Did I know him! Biilow, who had followed ray whole address
running his forefinger along my draft copy, gave a sweet smile.
We talked about our trip.
The Kaiser said: We happened to hit the hottest time of the
year. I he day when we met was the worst. At Ramleh we took
the temperature: 31 in the shade, 41 in the sun.
Biilow said sweetly: As His Majesty the Kaiser was gracious
enough to observe, water is the main thing. Herr Herzl will
know better than I what the Greek poet says:
Apiaro r fUy SS<p" [Water is best].*
We can supply the country with it. It will cost billions, but
it will yield billions.
Well, money is what you have plenty of, the Kaiser exclaimed
jovially and slapped his boot with his riding crop. More money
than any of us.
Biilow abondait daru ce sens [echoed this]: Yes, the money
which is such a problem for us you have in abundance."
I pointed out what could be done with the water power of the
Jordan and drew Seidener, as an engineer, into the conversation.
Seidencr discussed dams, etc. The Kaiser eagerly took up the subject and developed the idea. I his brought him to sanitary conditions, eye diseases, etc., which break out particularly at the time
Translator'* Note: A quotation from Pindar.
the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THF.ODOR HERZL 757
of the fig-harvest. At this point I brought in Schnirer, who spoke
briefly on the subject.
I managed to get in my idea of turning over the old city to
charitable institutions, cleaning it up, and building a New Jerualem which people would view from the Mount Olives the way
Rome is viewed from the Janiculum.
I was not able to bring in Wolffvrhn and Bodenheimer, for the
Kaiser concluded the audience by shaking hands with me once
more.
I went out first, then cast one more sidelong glance behind me.
law the profile of the Kaiser who had turned to Bulow and was
speaking with him; it looked as though he wished to give himself
contename [an appearance].
As we went away. Count von Kessel asked; Already over, the
audience?" He was less obliging than at Constantinople, from
which I inferred that our stock was lower.
Upon leaving. I said to Schnirer: *7/ n'a dit ni oui ni non [He
aid neither yes nor no]."
Again they didn't want to let us pass the barrier. But outside
wood the secret-service agent and supposed Zionist Mendel Kramer, who has been accompanying us since Jaffa by order of the
Turkish government, it seems to me and made them open the
gate for us.
He aid neither yes nor no. Evidently a lot has been happening
Wund the scenes. On the back of the draft copy that I returned
^ w pencilled note. Tewfik Pasha. Grand Hotel " I
"^de an inquiry as to whether this was the Foreign Minister. It
Telegram to the Grand Duke:
- ? ^ Ryal Highness, Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden.
W today to send Your Royal Highness, f T om the
Holy City, thanks Irom the bottom of tny heart for all His kindness.
Respectfully,
Theodor Herzl.
November 4, Jaffa
Following the audience, the day before yesterday, we drove to
the Marx house. A few people who had seen us leave and return
pushed their way in, pretending to be visitors. With an effort we
managed to clear the drawing-room. At half past three I drove
in company with Wolffsohn, Bodenheimer, and the colonist
Broze to the beautifully situated, but still very, very poor colony
Mozah, where that stout-hearted young man started four or five
years ago to cultivate the unspeakably infertile soil. By now he
sees the fruits of his industry, he is already beginning to reap the
harvest. I he drive along the picturesque mountain road from
Jerusalem to Mozah somewhat reminiscent of the Pyrenees
passed quickly for us while the colonist Broze told us about the
hardships of the initial period. Once, when the vines were Ireginning to sprout, deer came at night and ate off the shoots.
Thereafter he camped out with a rifle for three nights, although
there often are hyenas there, and didn't sleep a wink so as not to
be taken unawares by them.
Was ever a soil more heroically conquered?
At Mozah I planted a young cedar on Brozc's holding, on the
sheltered slope which faces away from St. Jean. Wolffsohn
planted a little date-palm. A few Arabs helped us, besides the
colonists Broze and Katz.
We returned to Jerusalem in the dark of night.
So as not to have attention of any sort at our departure, I had
asked my friends not to pack until after night fall. I got up at
two in the morning and pac ked my things.
We took the early train yesterday from Jerusalem to Jaffa. I
wanted to leave the city and the country without delay, and hur-

rial to the harbor I took a small boat and had the boatmen row
out to a Lloyd steamer which was ready to sail. Not for us,
unfortunately The ship was bound for Beirut. I was willing to
*0 along there and then back again by another Lloyd steamer,
anything to avoid staying here any longer. But it proved to be
impracticable, because the ship already had steam up. our luggage was still at the railroad station, and connections bac k from
Beirut were uncertain, too.
Besides the German battleships, the only other vessels lying
at anchor were another Beirut-bound boat belonging to a travel
agency, a Russian freighter which still had four days of cargoloading. a Turkish steamer for Constantinople, and the yacht of
Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald. I rowed up to all of
them, with the exception of the T urkish steamer whit h I avoided.
Nothing doing. A shipping agent told us that an Flnglish orangefreighter would be sailing for Alexandria the next day (that is,
today). A ship of the Prince Line would not arrive until tomorSo we were unfortunately obliged to spend the night in Jaffa,
where I was bothered by curiosity-seekers, friends and foes. In
particular, there was a certain I)r. Mazie of Rishon who. I am
told, goes about saying that I wish to convert the Jews to Protestantism, that I am a toed of the English Mission among the Jews,
iiiik 1 is* in m iiuauuous remarks.
It ihould abo be rationed that Mr. N.r*o. the director .,1
Israel, expressly requested me not to pay a second visit
52* ** Mmc Nic K * urgent invitation. I had promised
pro forma [as a matter of courtesy]; the Turkish authori"v he said, might take it amiss
Cl "" ** ,hr P*" ,hc H'Hhvhild
edi ' " ,rvrn rtRitt after the encounter at Mil*

My four friends are discontented, because for the time being
we must not divulge anything about the audience.
I am writing to Gordon Bennett:*

Dear Sir,
Perhaps you know my name as that of the leader of the Zionist movement.
I had to speak with the Emperor at Jerusalem and came back
yesterday too late to Jaffa, so that there is no ship for me. I wish
to go to Alexandria.
Now 1 understand that your Yacht leaves this evening for
Alexandria. If that is so, have you a place for me and only one
of my four companions? In that way I could reach Alexandria
to-morrow evening, in time for the steamer to Naples, where I am
expected.
I should be very thankful to get your answer as soon as possible. If you have no place for me, I must try some other combination, and that is difficult in this place.
Believe me, Sir,
Yours obediently
Dr. Th. H.

I am also writing to Hechler not to have any more chats with
anyone here, on account of the tattling and the informers.
November 5, in the morning
At sea, between Jaffa and Alexandria, aboard the English
orange freighter 'Dundee."
Only now do I consider our expedition completed, and with
fairly good success.
In Palestine things had got too hot for me. If the Turkish
government had only a glimmer of political foresight, this time
* In Engluh in the original.
they would have had to put a stop to my game once and for all.
Ever since my arrival at Constantinople they have had an opportunity to do this which may never return. All they would
have had to do was to expel me. Or they could have made even
shorter work of me by simply having me attacked and put out
of the way by gendarmes disguised as robbers.
But people's lack of understanding for my idea not only frequently does me harm, but also does me good My plan is not
understood; that is why it is furthered so little and impeded
10 little.
The Turkish government allowed me to continue and complete my journey ; and unless my suppositions deceive me, I am
a political factor by now.
One of the peculiarities about this journey is the fact that since
October 19 I have not known what has been happening in the
world. Newspapers are non-existent in these pans, telegrams take
four to five days, letters are delivered haphazardly or not at all.
Thus we have no idea whether our expedition was so much as
noticed in the political world: and if so, what comment it has
evoked.
For a few days we heard talk of war-like entanglements between France and England, but these improbabilities as well as
the story about a successful Napoleonic coup detat were soon
denied again.
Tbe last day in Jaffa was most disagreeable. All sons of beg
pn and spies turned up. A very bad impression was made by the
lodmh ild physician Mazie, who intruded upon us and who. we
rn ^' wa * making roe out the tool of the English mission
,mo * 1 8 the Jews.
That is why yesterday morning urns crier gore [without any
am.ng} I went with Wolffaohn down to the harbor and had
****' f^wed to the little F.nglish freighter "Dundee" (of
* n d when I saw that five pervins could be acodaud. though but poorly. I booked the passages and sent
Wolffsohn ashore with instructions to fetch the whole party,
bag and baggage, within the hour.
I myself stayed right on the ship, out of reach of the Mendel
Kramers, Mazies, and all those people who, with good intentions
or bad, might have got me into trouble with the Turkish misgovernment whether in order to save imperilled Jewry, earn
their thirty pieces of silver, or get into the good graces of Rothschild or some pasha.
Only aboard this cockle-shell of a boat, which would presumably be tossed high in a high sea, did I feel safe and regard my
renewed ride across Lake Constance as successful.
My companions, however, whom VY'olffsohn brought aboard
the Dundee precisely within the hour, did not sec things that
way. They considered the little boat too small for the passage to
Alexandria. Seidener and Bodenheimer in particular rebelled.
Schnirer maintained a sullen silence. Only Wolffsohn stood this
test, too, as he always does, and stuck by me through thick and
thin.
The gentlemen complained about my arbitrary action, reproaching me for calling no previous discussion of this sudden
embarcation. I explained to them that there had been no time.
In bad weather it is impossible to get out of Jaffa harbor. One
can get neither aboard nor ashore. Since all the repons had predicted an imminent storm and the skies were already overcast, I
had produced this fait accompli. Incidentally, an immediate
restoration of the status quo was still possible; why didn't those
gentlemen who had no faith in the Dundee go ashore again.
Seidener thought that was no longer possible; he would not
be permitted to go ashore with his Russian passpon. I offered
to accompany him and get him through, as at the first landing.
Then they hesitated. Finally 1 categorically insisted on the three
of them going ashore again, because I wouldn't want any reproaches en route if the weather turned bad. Thereupon they
stayed, intending to spend only the night on the "Dundee and
today transfer to a bigger ship that was expected.
Meanwhile, the captain speeded up the loading of the oranges
bfcause he didn't want to lose these passengers. The sea was
imooth at sunset, and when the three mutineers were for the last
time faced with the question of whether to go along or stay behind, they went along.
But we have had a rough passage so far. The "Dundee' rolled
and pitched like mad. We couldn't stay in the cabins because of
the stifling heat. All five of us had our mattresses put on the
deck and once again slept, or lay awake, & la belle tloile [under
the open sky]. Seidener and Bodenheimer became sea-sick even
during the night. Now, in the forenoon, my good Wolffsohn feels
sick also.
Schnirer and I are still in good shape.
And in spite of this bad |>assage I feel fine when I consider
that this venture of a Pretender's journey to Palestine has, up to
now, come off successfully.
November 8 , on the high seas,
bound for Naples
Aboard the "Regina Margherita
We are heading north, homeward. Wonderful Egypt was full
of the most joyful surprises for me. There one can see what industry and energy can make even out of a hot country. Even
though we dont have the Nile mud in Palestine, the soil does
offer a thousand possibilities which sensible management can
bring out.
The Khedive Ismail had an excellent idea for the creation of

new city districts. Whoever pledged himself to build a house in
the value of 30,000 francs within a certain time received a piece
of land gratis. This could be imitated and even improved. Parts
of the city could be constructed according to a master plan.
Architectonic collective effects, as on the Place dc la (kinto e,
etc.

Similarly wilh the elimination of swamps. Anyone who pledges
himself to drain a piece of land, gets it as his property and is
exempted from taxes for several years.
On the Regina Margherita there is a Franciscan priest who

was also our fellow passenger on the Dundee."
When we met again in Alexandria yesterday we greeted one
another affably. This morning I got to talking with him. He is
the prior of the Franciscans of Tiberias. An amiable, intelligent
man. He had a cursory acquaintance with the Zionist movement.
In my presentation it made perfect sense to him. Particularly my
idea of cleaning up all of the old Jerusalem, barring daily traffic
from it, and making out of it, so to speak, a sacred jewel in a
rich setting. In Rome he will introduce me to the head of the
Franciscan order, Lauer.
November 9 , at sea
A letter to the Grand Duke, one about which I have been
ruminating since Jerusalem, is to give a push to our cause,
which is certainly at a standstill and may have been upset. For
the past two or three weeks we have been cut off from all news.
The French and English newspapers which, much delayed, we
were able to get hold of in Egypt did not contain a word about
us. Neither did the dispatches of the telegraphic news agencies.
From Alexandria I wired my father, asking whether the Jerusalem audience was already known, and received the cabled response: Audience known."
Now we are heading for Naples, full of excited anticipation.
My companion, were afraid that the whole audience would have
to remain a secret.
Howevtr I had determined to make the fact, if not the tuba a "a" nc ' PUbliC - Since ,hf v were fatick In-tween
2 d AIandna. I did no. tell them about i, until Cairo I.
h ' CT tm become
out our action. This way my dispatch to the Welt gets merely
the character of an official confirmation and not of a revelation.
November 9 , lying in my cabin
(Dated November 18 , 98 )
Utter to the Grand Duke:
Assuming a continued interest in our cause on the part of
Your Royal Highness, upon my return I am permitting myself
to report to you most respectfully about the events of the Palestine journey.
On the second of November, following the reception by His
Majesty the Kaiser of the Zionist delegation. I took the liberty
of telegraphing my most humble thanks for all the kindness and
encouragement I have received from ôur Royal Highness.
A positive result in the sense of his Imperial Majesty formalls
assuming the protectorate requested by the delegation has not
been achieved. When I had my first audience in Constantinople
I believed, it U true, that such a result might come about on

the occasion of the public gesture in Jerusalem, for His Majesty
was very favorably inclined toward the Zionist idea something
that we evidently owe to the gracious intercession of V>ur Ros.il
Highness. It was stipulated that I should submit the draft of my
Address prior to the formal reception. 1 his I did, and thr draft
was approved with a few cuts. 1 take the liberty of sending V>ur
Rosa I Highness herewith the Address I made in Jerusalem, and
beg most humbly that the manuscript be returned sometime.
However, between the private audience in Constantinople and
the reception of the deputation in Jerusalem, difficulties vein to
have arisen. I don't know anything further about this as yet
only draw this conclusion from the fact that His Majesty d not
mention the protectorate over the land-companv in his regions*
The establishment of a land-company after the pattern of the
Chartered Company or the East India Company seem at t e
In Eng Inh in thr origin* L
moment to be the very thing that could be obtained from the
Sultan without arousing too much ill feeling among the other
Powers.
I am still of the opinion that under the present < ircumstanccs
no effective objection may be expected particularly from France,
the power which claims to have a protectorate over this part of
the Orient. The Fashoda incident was confirmation of this view.
The present Republican government must quietly acquiesce
in any fait accompli that is not a downright insult.
Since His Majesty was gracious enough to remark that the
matter requires even more detailed study and further discussion, I shall probably soon learn the nature of the difficulties
that have arisen.
Unless my interpretation of the most recent events is an erroneous one, it was only external difficulties and not a change
of mind on the part of His Majesty that have for the time being
postponed the declaration of a German protectorate which we
expected. I am mindful of the wise words Your Royal Highness
spoke at Mainau: that in such world-historic matters each individual step requires great patience. And perhaps I am not
wrong in regarding even the undeclared protectorate as one
virtually existing; at least until such time as I am expressly informed of the contrary. The fidelity and caution which this imposes upon me I shall observe and maintain.
But even if German policy had to turn away from our cause,
I shall owe an everlasting debt of gratitude to Your Royal Highness for the moral support of my endeavors which cannot be unjust if such a high-minded prince approves of them.
I wish the conferences which I was privileged to have with
Your Royal Higness and about which I am most dutifully keep
ing silent were known to the world.
This infinitely noble and simple way of pel forming a rulers
functions would surely touch most people and make some others
deeply ashamed. I o me they have been unforgettable moments
which have compensated me for many struggles and sorrows in
my difficult task. And I shall also remain forever grateful for
being given the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the
sunny personality of the Kaiser.
With the most profound respec t, I remain
Your Royal Highness very obedient servant.
Dr. Th. H.
Karll.udwigvr. 50, Wahring, Vienna.

November 15, on the train
between Gonegltano and Udine
Since we left the "Regina Marghcriia" in Naples there have
been days of depression. At Naples we got the first news from
Europe. Till then we had been cut off from the world.
The German newvagenc y has issued a colorless, odorless dev
pub about our audience: a Jewish deputation had been received by the Kaiser, in Palestine.
"Receiied after going to press.
Jerusalem, November t. Kaiser Wilhelm has received a Jewish deputation, which presented him an album of pictures of the
Jewish colonies established in Palestine. Replying to an address
b? the leader of the deputation, Kaiser Wilhelm said that all
those endeavors were assured of his benevolent interest that aimed
a the improvement of agriculture in Palestine, thus furthering
welfare of the Turkish Empire, with complete respect for
the loverrignty of the Sultan.
TTlhtt is apparently from the pen of the ungracious legation
uwnallor Klement or Kemeth. unless it is Bulow's handiwork
7 traveling companions were depressed, most of all Roden
Even the faithful Wolfsohn faltered.
millLI f If moral [I raised their morale again]: I
to us n l ' * arran * c for publication of a version suitable
Ti) d ,!j! l 0 ' d ' ' h "" : You * ,hi wh r 1 <hf ldcr.
mma ...Tl n * f ,rovc my l * l,c 10 prsition. I am neither
and that T T ,rr ,han ne * * u Bul 1 rcra *n undaunted.
* T deserve to be the leader. In darker moments
than this one I have not lost courage in fact, I have made even
greater sacrifices.
The planned trip to Rome also had to be cancelled. In Naples

there was news from Newiinski waiting for me: he had fallen
seriously ill and could not travel.
I think this is just an excuse. Either he does not have the connections in Rome which he pretended to have, or he quite sim
ply wants to pocket the two thousand guilders which I had paid
out to him.
Still, I am not angry at him, even if it should turn out that he
has always lied to me. Actually, his lies supplied me hints for action. For the things that I guessed as correct I at least had in him
a collaborator to whom I could refer. That is why, as a precaution, I never checked on his statements too closely.
Since the main reason I wanted to send him to Rome was to
prevent him from possibly intruding on me in Constantinople
where he would have been in my way, I wasnt too bothered by
the disrupted plans for Rome. There would even have been certain inconv4nients [inconveniences] on account of the Grand
Duke, who might have regarded it as duplicity on my jart. It is
true that in Palestine Germany did not keep its promises to me:
and the lower functionaries even shamefully twisted and distorted the Kaiser s actual words at Jerusalem, which were al*
ready greatly toned down. But I always want to be irreproachable
in my conduct.
At any rate, now I must send the Grand Duke a letter different
om the one drafted earlier. The Kaiser will not be in Berlin
ore the end of November. So I have time to get information

in lenna, also to speak with Eulenburg, before writing the
Grand Duke.
The fact that the Kaiser did not assume the protectorate in
sa em is, of course, an advantage for the future development
of our cause. 1
Mv companions, it is true, were quite disappointed. For the
protectorate would have been a clear immediate benefit. But not
to in the long run. We would subsequently have had to pay the
Dost usurious interest for this protectorate. It would only have
been much more convenient, and Bodenhrimer would have returned to Cologne a made man, which, to be sure, is not now the
case. And since he proved to be rather unmanageable on the trip,
I shall in future doucement 4 carter [gently sidetrack] him.
Schmrer and Seidener returned home directly from Naples.

I parted from Wolffsohn and the slightly ill Bodenheimcr at
Rome
November 18 . Vienna
Insen for the revised letter to the Grand Duke, which I have
ow sou off after all via Cologne- Wolffsohn, omitting certain
passages
I wish the conferences, etc. etc.
November 18 , Vienna
Home again.
The Inner Actions Committee gase me a tempestuous wel**^Btit they haven t done very much during my absence.
_ 5* Mi< * , ^ al a * ,eT dispatch from the German newsthey had all been crushed.
Now they want to put on a monster party in my honor at the
^****l. Thu I firmly refuted.
Tfcy med to get into the elections of the local Jewish Com
^ ^ VC 11 U P ^ uc * co *nplete lack of organization
otr wk^T hue Prrue they only smiled, not laughed any
returned. A few of them even smiled enviously.

Benedikt made a sweet-and-sour face and asked what the Kaiser
had said about Austria.
Nothingl I answered. Bacher was very amiable. On his table,
to his shame and embarrassment, there was a copy of the Welt
which he didnt have a chance to hide. He, too, quizzed me; he,
too, got only vague answers. I said I would enlighten him only
after the Neue Freie Presse had published its first Zionist article.
But after that we did get into a dispute about Zionism, with a
pleasant ending.
Yesterday I went to sec Newlinski, who really is gravely ill

and moriturus [moribund]. He had reports from Constantinople.
The Kaiser is said to have told the Sultan: The Zionists are not
dangerous to Turkey; but everywhere the Jews are a nuisance
which we should like to get rid of." To which the Sultan reportedly replied, in his usual manner, that he was quite satisfied
with his Jewish subjects. The Empress, for her part, is reported
to have said that the journey was going to be very nice; the only
disagreeable thing was that she would have to see so many Jews.
More gossip from Constantinople: Nuri Bey is hostile to us
because he hasn't received any baksheesh yet. but an investigation is pending against him for having taken bribes for assigning
consular posts. The ambassador at Berlin. Ahmet! Tewfik, is
also against us. In Turkey there now is a feeling of disappointment over the Kaisers journey which ran up 16 millions in expenses and was not able to prevent the loss of Crete.
On the Roman side, Newlinski relates that he has spoken with
Tamassi in Munich and with Nuncio Taliani in Vienna, and
has also had letters from Agliardi. The sentiment, he says, is
divided. We should, in any case, attempt something in Rome.
Then came Kozmian. Badenis friend, a bit toned-down and
epressed. He spoke about Zionism, saw many difficulties in the
question of the Holy Places, and does not quite believe in the
implementation.
December i, Vienna
Since I have had no sign of life from Ambassador Eulenburg,
whom I informed of my return, I am today writing to August
Eulenburg at Berlin:
Your Excellency:
1 have the most humble honor to send a book and a newspajK-r
article for His Majesty the Kaiser.
The book ( The Palais bourbon) is being sent under separate
cover. His Majesty gave me permission at Constantinople to
present it to him. The enclosed article is likewise connected with
the audience in that city. In it are reproduced remarks which
His Majesty was pleased to make to me. Naturally, in the newspaper I did not permit myself to make the slightest allusion to
the exalted origin of these observ ations.
Thanking Your Excellency in advance for your good offices
and begging you to accept the expression of my deepest respect,
I remain
Your obedient servant.
Dr. Th.H.
December 6, Vienna
Since the Lack of news had become alarming, the day before
yesterday I sent my good Hechler, who is back from Palestine, to
Karlsruhe to see the Grand Duke. If there was nothing wrong,
he was to wire me: Uncle's condition fine, possibly splendid.
This evening his telegram came: "Uncle splendid, grandson
(probably supposed to be nephew) very well-behaved. Hechler
So I hope that nothing has come 'twixt the cup and the lip *
But why the long silence, especially Eulenburg's? A sort of
filing in ante-rooms.
* Tnmtaior Nose Hml i phne. Itrttthm Upp' KtUhrtrwmd, m

rrtrdruh kind, portn Ko mg In Hot Otoe).
Today the news from Paris, via Marmorek, that Nordau U
ready to go to London with Wolffsohn, negotiate with the
I. C. A., and call on Salisbury to whom he has access.
I had a wired reply sent, saying that this was welcome, but that
for the time being he must not divulge the result of his conference with Salisbury to anyone but us.
The language of the anti-Zionist Jewish press, especially Jewish

Chronicle and Blochs Woe heme hrift, has recently surpassed
everything previous in vileness. I cannot answer, so as not to get
into the dirtiest scuffle.
December 9, Vienna
Received a very fine letter from the Grand Duke, dated the
5th of the month.
Hechler s telegraphic bulletin is confirmed, then.
Yesterday I read the Grand Dukes letter to the A. C. Schnirer
said half-heartedly: The letter contains nothing positive, I
explained our present situation to the gentlemen as follows:
verything depends on the results of the Bank Committee
w ic meets in Ixmdon today. According to a confidential report
rom our Bank secretary Loewe, a few days ago a meeting took
p ace at Lord Rothschilds which was attended by S. Montagu.
occatta, Dr. Adler, and others. They were suppmrd to issue
a manifesto against our Bank. Rothschild could not make up his
ind to sign Adlers draft. If such a manifesto is issued, we must
fnrn > ' ,r * C ^ 1 ^ UT b* at Make, the whole thing will
n into a press fight, war against the big bankers.
fi< 11 i c. lffSOhn u,cccr< * n K et| ing Messieurs Sassoon, Montetnm i n a C , Dlan on our *dc and I would unhesitatingly
no finan * our ovcr to them, because we have
nur^r and on, Y "** ** ferity for political
Xh^ W K v a immwiia ly march as power against power.
With the banking facility, everything can be done in Turkey.
1 shall send Wolffsohn to Constantinople to gTease the palms of
the pashas. Then I shall go to the Raiser and ask him for an
introduction to the Czar. This is why the Raisers good will is
something wholly positive. Actually, the confidence of the two
pniuts of Baden and Prussia is le plus clair de noire avoir aetuel
[the most obvious of our present assets].
From Paris Wolffsohn reports unsuccessful negotiations with

Edmond Rothschild, etc. Narcissc Leven. as president of the
I.CA and the Alliance, made the statement in front of witnesses. I hope; Wolffsohn didnt say that they don't know what
to do with their millions, but that these millions will be at our
disposal as soon as we ac hieve something positive.
Today Wolffsohn wired from lôndon that the work is proceed

ioq well. I am skeptical, however.
December 13, Vienna
Molffsohn telegraphs that everything has been successfully
completed. But I dont believe it. since I miss the names of wellknown bankers.
December 14
Hechler was here yesterday. The Grand Duke spoke to him
* affably as he had written me. The main difficulty lies in the
<*wne nationalities of the Jews; too many of them are under the
pmter non of French citizenship.
Yesterday Benedikt brought Municipal Councilor Stem to my

introducing him to me as president of the Federation of
^nuniiies (of 100 Austrian Jewish communities).
I said: The organization is all right with me. What are you
planning to do?"
Stern (without self-irony): We shall rent an office.'
I said: A good thing that you created this organization
for us. Your office will be occupied by us Zionists."
December 15. Vienna
Letter to the Grand Duke:
My most humble thanks for the most gracious holograph letter
of the 5th of this month.
That the present condition of the Jews in Jerusalem unfortunately, elsewhere as well could not make a favorable impression on His Majesty the Kaiser I had to assume in advance.
But precisely these conditions and our ardent desire to change
them are the main reasons for the existence of the Zionist movement. Incidentally, if His Imperial Majesty had inspected the
agricultural colonies already established in the Holy land, he
would have been able to observe what a beneficial change, in
a physical as well as a moral sense, the new way of life to which
we wish to introduce our masses has produced among the people.
We regard changing the standard of living not as the goal,
but only as a means toward the improvement of our people. If we
succeed in providing for our unfortunate brethren the opportunity for productive work on the historic soil for which they
have the desire, as has been proved irrefutably by many facts
t is will at the same time give us sufficient authority to accomplish other things as well.
It is a great comfort to me to learn from Your Royal Highness
that my most humble address in Jerusalem has not met with
isfavor, and that we may now as before count on a benevolent
interest. It appears that difficulties are seen in the different citizenship of the Jews who are already settled in Palestine or are
o be settled there in the future. But may I in all modesty point
out that the auumptimi of a protectorate on the part of Crermany
*ould soon produce a change in this situation. Since at present
nmoliy all the threads converge in my hands. I tan assure you
dut this difficulty can be removed. Even the settlements of the

AUisncr tsftlite, which has hitherto been under French influence, would. I definitely know, subordinate themselves without
delay to the community as soon as it has come into being I he
question is only how the German protectorate may be established
without smoke and fire. For I understand full well that Germany
cannot and will not enter into incalculable entanglements for
the take of our idea, no matter how universally humanitarian
it may be.
However, we are in a position to propose a. so-to-speak. inconipKu<>us method by which the immigration of the Jews can be
carried out under German protection gradually and steadily,
and to which no valid objections could be nude if things are handled cautiously.
Thu is the creation of the Jewish iand-G>mpany for Syria
and Palestine, which 1 mentioned in my Jerusalem address, with
the provuion that it have its seat in Ciermany. Such a land-company has a civil-law character. Any secret agreements between
the German government and the leaders of our movement must
not. of course, leak out. All that would be asked <*f the I nii*
government would be to rescind the immigration prohibition.
The latter is untenable anyway, because, as \our Ryal High
ness probably knows, only in recent weeks various representatives
n Constantinople, especially the English one. have remonstrat
against it.
At any rate, we shall establish the Jcwuh Und-Company in
d* near future, because we absolutely need thiv faci nv or
future development. However, up to now I have intention* y
^fd the mailer dilatorily, because even .n it* ,hn n,
a* the future protective relationship of the Dnd-compa y
Bum be determined. . <4in .
To avoid getting tedious, I shall give at this P ,nt
elusion of various trains of thought the question is: shall we
obtain German or English protection? The protectorate of any
other power is at present out of the question.
Today our movement is oriented toward the German protectorate. Since I have had the good fortune to be allowed to
approach Your Royal Highness, it has been my constant thought
one toward which 1 naturally was inclined by my education
and my capacity as a German man of letters that we ought to
exert every effort to acquire the protection of the German Empire and of German Law. The tendency of German policy, gmwn
recognizable recently, to get a foothold even farther East; the religious and political interest on the part of His Majesty the Kaiser
in the land of our fathers; the noteworthy actuality that German
influence in Turkey has become the predominant one all this
has lent force, within our movement, to the viewpoint which I
represent, in contrast to those which present English protection
as desirable. The question presses for a decision in the near future.
Now, I do believe that even in the event that we establish a
land-company, under civil law, with its seat in England, this
need not exclude the possibility of having the established settle*
ment placed under German protection, under international law,
at a later date perhaps a sort of German-English co-protectorate;
but who can foresee what complications and difficulties might
then arise. The whole thing would hover between two, and possibly several, powers.
At Jerusalem His Majesty deigned to tell me that our plan
required further discussion. I now await commands.
During the Christmas holidays I could get away from here for
a few days and go to Karlsruhe as well as Berlin in order to become acquainted with any decision.
I do not venture to ask Your Royal Highness again to take
t e trouble of a written reply. A brief notification by wire to
*ay t at Your Royal Highness has been pleased to transmit my

present letter to Hi, Majesty, would please me greatly.
shall understand what is meant if the wire simply reads:
Letter sent to Berlin. Come Christmas to Karlsruhe, to Berlin.
signed merely with Your Royal Highness' Christian name.
With the expression of my most sincere veneration and deepen gratitude. I remain
Your Royal Highness' very obedient servant,
Dr. Th. H.
December to
The founding of the Bank drags forward, with an effort and
under ridiculous difficulties. Wolffsohn informs me that he has
completed the formalities.
December to
Yesterday a long conversation with Eulenburg at the German
Embassy. I explained to him the dilemma whether to establish
the land-company under German or English auspices, as I had
door in my letter to the Grand Duke.
He, for hu pan. confirmed the ill-humor of the Kaiser who
md very friendly things about me to Eulenburg. too over the
jon of Jerusalem. So there too, said the Kaiser, the Jews flock
to the big dty. 1 pointed to the colonies. Eulenburg said that this
Me a big difference, and accordingly the Kaiser had made a
Me. He. Eulenburg, said he liked the idea of chanenng the
land company in Berlin.
He also spoke to me in absolute confidence about the current
*y failed the attitude of the Keue Freie Preut ex. roc about his conversation with our Emperor
Tliun affair (the threat that Prime Minister Thun had
Rîfhsrat, on acrount of the expulsions from
Eulenburg told the Emperor that Thun's language was
nndthai Austria's domestic policy could not in the long
Fiam contradiction to its foreign policy. However,
ludp !7 r ki* fears in the kindliest manner; and this
IOU ^*d him, because he tenderly venerates the Em778 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
peror. But Eulenburg was still afraid that the old gentlemans
daily surroundings, the continued influence, might sway him in
the opposite direction. Thun, he said, has Russian sympathies,
and, indeed, the Emperors recent visit to the Russian Embassy
for the birthday celebration of the Czar had been counter to all
usage.
Since Eulenburg had given me this information in confidence,
but for the benefit of the Neue Freie Prase, I told it to IJacher
and Benedikt, who pricked up their ears and were obviously
pleased about getting this opportunity for information through
me. A quelque chose malheur (Zionism) est bon [A misfortune
(Zionism) is good for something].
I had also told Eulenburg how well I had liked the Kaiser. This
pleased him greatly. I remarked that many unofficial press errors have been made; otherwise the people and the world would
have to have a more correct conception of this amiable and gTeat
man. Eulenburg agreed with me about this. He repeatedly ex-
pressed his gratification at our having this mutual relationship,

and invited me to visit him often.
However, I intend to make only very sparing use of this invitation.
December t *
Received the following wire from the good Grand Duke:
Your letter sent to Berlin. Until answer from there, can hold
out no promise of conference.
Friedrich.
December *3
The question occurs to me whether the "unpleasant impression which the Jerusalem Jews made on the Kaiser is not merely
German statesmanship's way of backing out of the protectorate.
Perhaps influences today still unknown to me have come up
jp opposition to the plan, and in order not to be considered
veak or vacillating, the German statesmen give this pretext.
December >4
Nordau sent me an utterly incredible essay, which he wrote
for the Achiasaf calendar, for publication in the I Veit. In it
be propounds the view that the conversations about Zionism between its leaders and statesmen, etc., had no more significance
than discussions about the latest comedy or the last Derby race
as long as the Zionists were not everyw here bound together in
tight organizations in whose name the leaders spoke.
This is basically incorrect, because we ran proceed only by the
method of negotiorum gestio and raiihabitio, and not by the impractical method of the mandate, which presumably is nowhere
auctioned by law. Added to this is the fact that today this article which was written last June, to be sure could almost be
taken as being against my conversations with the Kaiser.
1 answered him that if I, as president of the CongTcis and the
leader recognized by all Zionists without bragging speak with
atesmen. I cannot be considered a private person chatting about
the subjects of the salons. Also, it cannot be regarded as levity
or a crime if 1 speak in the name of the Jewish people I can
f der to Nordau himself as my chief witness, because after the
Fint Congress he wrote me: Consider yourself as the government!
Decern lx- r *6
news horn Berlin. This means mow and Billow!
Decrmber >9
Freie Preue there was a Berlin dispatch.
*ly from an unofficial source. I asked Bacher: from whom?

He told me: "Steinbach is in Berlin and has talked to Billow.
I am certain that Biilow also spoke about me and that Steinbach made some tepid answer disparaging me. Steinbach is an
"anti-Zionist" and probably said I was a charming writer of
feuilletons, but that no one took me seriously as a politician
As if I had been present.
This is the curse of weakness. Just one lousy million for a
newspaper and everything would be different.

December *9
The condition of our cause is now a desperate one; I can't
deceive myself on that score.
After the great success of the Palestine journey, the insufficiency of our banking people and financial forces is an absolute
catastrophe.
Our Bank secretary lx>ewe is blowing the emergency whistle,
saying he will soon be without money to defray the day-today
expenses.
WolfFsohn arrives here today. I must have a serious talk with
him. The others cannot do anything whatever, and I fear he is
not the right man either.
>899
January t, Vienna
Yesterday I sent the Grand Duke the following telegram: I
have the profound honor to send Your Royal Highness most
respectful best wishes for the New Year.
Dr.ThH."
To which I received the following reply today:

I am very grateful for your kind wishes and return them most
warmly. Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden.

I ought to have telegraphed the Kaiser, too.
January s
WolfFsohn was here for a few days. II ma un peu remis du
cocut au ventre [He put some heart into me] in regard to the
Bank.
After all, I subscribed ^500. for the guarantee fund, and this
may be lost.
January 1 1, 99
I am taking the liberty to draw your attention most humbly to
the enclosed editorial from the Welt. To the extent of my
knowledge of conditions in France, I think I may say that the
appointment of M. Constant as ambassador at Constantinople is
a direct answer to His Majesty the Kaiser's journey to the Orient
and can only have the purpose of undermining German influence
in Turkey. What path this man. at the same time the craftiest and
the most brutal of French politicians, will take, cannot, of course,
ocn be foreseen. Only one thing can be said with certainty:
If the disreputable Constans is pulled out of his well-deserved
oblivion, and if this is done by a ministry which includes
M. Constans' adversary Freycinet, who has been deeply wounded
by the Panama affair, they are planning something that requires
a nun who is capable of anything. Constans will within a short
lime be the center of all endeavors directed against German influence in Constantinople.
To be sure, 1 have reason to fear that my most humble remonstances in Berlin are not being heeded at the present time, since
^ kl**r which Your Royal Highness sent to Berlin has not been
to. Nevertheless, I should like to draw attention to this
^ ,urn F affairs if only because the work that Constans will
without any doubt do at the Sultan's court is likely to demon782 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
strate soon that my modest warnings have not been wholly unjustified.
With the expression of my deepest respect, I remain
Your Royal Highness grateful servant
Dr. Th. H.
Sent off via Cologne on Jan. 1 1, '99.
January 16
Everything bogged down. Something has to happen. I have
decided to request an audience with the Czar via Bertha von
Suttner.
Letter to Bertha von Suttner:
Vienna, Jan. 16/99
My dear Baroness:
Today I come to you with a request which means a great deal
to me.
Here, in a few words, is the story.
It would be of the greatest importance for the Zionist movement if I informed the Czar about the purposes and aims of the
movement. I would have to discuss it with him in person in
order to win him over to the cause, as I succeeded in doing with
the German Kaiser. Therefore 1 should like to have an audience
"ith him, and my magnanimous and gTeatly admired friend
Bertha von Suttner is to help me toward that end. Count Muraviev is said to have expressed himself favorably about our cause,
ou have contact with him, and my request is that you write
im a fine letter telling him who I am and what I want the requested audience for.
Although I feel that you arc benevolently disposed toward me,
wou d certainly not trouble you for the sake of my humble per*|J* k Ut 'V* * mattcr cause on which, after all, you yourhave bestowed your interest. Mettei, de grdee, tout votre
es ' ,T, t et toul v <>tre coeur dans cette lettre [Please put all your
kxjI and all your heart into this letter], then success will be assured.
The following points, among others, ought to be stressed.
Zionism aims at creating a legally safeguarded home for the
Jewish people. For Russia this cause, which I believe to be a
humanitarian one, is also politically valuable for several reasons.
In Russia the Jewish Question poses an unsolved and very embarrassing problem. The Czar, whom all of us have recently come
to recognize as a great heart, cannot possibly refuse to support
a peaceful, humanly benevolent solution. This would end once
and for all the persecutions of the Jews, which break out in Russia from lime to time and at the same time are in the nature
of serious disturbances of the general peace. By no means all

Jews would emigrate from Russia no more than they would
from other countries , but only a surplus of proletarians and
desperate ones who, supported by their wealthy fellow Jews,
would be able to establish a new, permanent home for themselves
and at the same time substantially increase the cultural resources
of civilization in the Orient. Furthermore, the weakening of the
revolutionary panics would go hand in hand with this augmentation of culture and order. Panicular emphasis should be given
to the fact that we are everywhere engaged in battle with the
revolutionaries and are actually turning the young students as
HI as the Jewish workingmen away from Socialism and Nihild by unfolding before them a purer national ideal. These effects of our endeavors will be observable in Russia, too. All of
tbe desperate Jews would have to become anarchists if Zionism
not draw them under its influence.
It will certainly be possible to solve the problem of the Holy
Ebces through extraterritorialization by agreement among the
P 0lrm In the reorganization of conditions, religious interests
fee safeguarded much better than in the present state of
/**** ^fefeh surely is not satisfactory to the feelings of Christen* * CitfLtr, io (he original.
All this I might be able to explain well to the Czar de vive
voix [by word of mouth]. That I am worthy of an audience, *
it were, is certainly borne out by the fact that the German KaUo
has granted me two major conferences. By taking an interest in
this cause the Czar will add a new leaf to his wreath of glory
as one of the greatest princes of peace of all time. Please tell him
also that, to the extent that it has lain in my feeble powers as a
journalist, I have gladly devoted myself to serving the cause of
peace.
In short, madame et grande amie [madam and noble friend],
say everything that your heart and your mind prompt you to say.
For you will bind many human beings, and particularly your
obedient servant, to everlasting gratitude if you procure this
audience for me. Naturally 1 am ready to appear before the
Czar at any time and at any place, but the sooner the better.
Present the matter to Count Muraviev as quite urgent, and assure him that I shall remain gTateful to him, too, for his intervention. A pen is not worth much, to be sure; but one that has
never been set in motion for anything unclean may under certain
circumstances be something not to be entirely dismissed.
Since we would like to use the Peace Conference for a Zionist
demonstration as well, it would be of the greatest importance if
the audience were granted in advance, immediately if possible.
Gratify me with a prompt reply, and believe in the sincere
admiration of
Yours very faithfully,
Th. H.
Postscript:
It might not be without interest to point out that news of the
*/ar s peace manifesto happened to break during the Basel ConSrcss, and that the Congress responded to the telegraphic news
y immediately passing an enthusiastic resolution of concurrence,
t ic trst such resolution to conic from a representative body.
February 6
Dined yestciday with the Suttners. The Baroness told me that
two days ago she was in the company of Kapnist, the ambassador.
He told her he had received a letter from Count Muraviev say-
ing that the requested audience was out of the question now,
although the motives of our movement were looked upon benevolently.
February 6
From the 14 th to the 19 th the full Actions Committee met here,
and Nordau was here. There are protocols of this. The statutes
and prospectuses of the Bank were hauled about in idle talk and
finally accepted without major changes.
1 said that the decisive battle was over the Bank subscription.
Nordau of a different opinion. The thing is this: I am concerned
with migration and building, he is satisfied simply with polemics
and demonstrations
Nordau ' big Vienna speech which he also repeated verbatim
in Berlin and Cologne was inept, injudicious, incorrect. Many
f the things I have built up by assiduous, patient work he reck*
k*ly destroyed. He was interesting as always, but didn't do any
fooA His success was a personal one; the cause he harmed. He
de quite uncalled for advances to Socialism, exposed all our
weaknesses, told about our helplessness, etc. I was very distatis*
kd and didn't conceal it from him either.
February 8
Went to see Nuncio Tagliani yesterday.
He gave me a very friendly reception, saying he personally
not unfavorably inclined toward the matter. 11 est iris rond
**/>*/*/< tris fort [lie is very plump and seems very vigorous].
of those fat men who have hair on their chest. He said 1
^*?bt to tend Newlintki to Rome, for he has the best connections
"*** Hidden tally, the Holy See had always been well disposed
toward the Jews. If they were locked up in the ghetto, it was only
to protect them from the mob.
There have also been interruptions in this benevolent tradition, I remarked.
February u
Days of despondency. The tempo of the movement is tlowin|
down. The catchwords are wearing out. The ideas are becoming
subjects for declamation, and the declamation is losing its edge.
I now face the Bank subscription with trepidation. Wolffwhn
reports that no serious bank wants to act as the agent of subscription. Kann has the peculiar idea of naming the Cook Travel
Bureau as the subscription headquarters. This I veto.
Hechler wants to go to Karlsruhe again. The Grand Duke
wired in response to his inquiry that he could come. I am giving
him instructions.
February ti
Hechler has been to Karlsruhe. The Grand Duke asked bun
to insite me to come and sent me a telegram setting the audience
for the 27th of the month, at ten in the morning.
On Sunday I presented the question to the A. C: Should I
a ' t e Grand Duke to assume the protectorate over the landcompany? Kokesch is in London, Schnirer was not at the meeting
armorek, Kahn, and Kremencizky were unanimously in favot
my offering the protectorate to the Grand Duke. I said: AftfT
* e ^ on 8 Tttl can kter disavow me if it does not approve of
V must always reckon with future ingmtitude. Right now our
situation ,s so desperate that without German aid we shall be

tuck in the mud.
0 Îtler says that the idea of collaborating with England

our project struck the Grand Duke favorably.
n ay I shall exert every effort to get the Grand Dul
10 telegraph the Kaiser and secure an audience for me. From the
gaiser I shall request an introduction to the Gear. I am ordering
Wolffsohn and Kann to Kai Isruhe.
February *8. On the Orient Express,
on the way back from Karlsruhe
The evening before yesterday I arrived at Karlsruhe. Almost
at the same minute Wolffsohn and Kann arrived on the train
from Cologne. We met on the platform. A kind of RUtli meeting* of the Jewish Colonial Bank. We then discussed late into
the night what was to be done. They anticipated the subscription
as a dtmsiie [disaster]. Up to now we have not managed to secure
even one proper bank as a subscription agent. A first class boycott on the part of Jewish high finance.
We agTerd that unleu help came to us from the Kaiser or the
Grand Duke, we would be in hot water. I explained to the gentlemen my intention of asking the Grand Duke to persuade the
Kaiser by telegram to receive me. Wolffsohn and Kann had en
route agreed on what they should demand from me. scil. what I
ihoiild demand of the princes. Their demand: The Deutsche
Bank at Berlin should be appointed to act as a subscription
agnwy.
*-7 billing, ai icn Of iota slurp, 1 arose up in iront o

castle, in a small town gala coach which is presumably use<
k* weddings
0*** again I passed through the proud entrance hall into the
ante-chamber where, three years ago. the flags of 1870 in
. casings had so stupefied me. By now I was more
10 wch sights, nor did I have any more palpitation when an
***** * rrtnmtt u> ihr RO1I1 or CrAiU, a mmUrm in thr Uri
**U|Tirt 1 , * ,Un ' 1, **** cwdu* 10 ihr Wilhelm Tell Irjrod rrpnmuti*m
Unirrsraldea met In 1907 10 nmt ihr ftOlU Oaih. on whkli
officer in court dress asked me to step from the gTeen waiting
room into the red salon.
Ten minutes later the good Grand Duke opened the door.
March 4 . Vienna
The Orient Express had rattling carriages this time, my fountain pen was bad, and so I was not able to jot down the repon
en route. At home, however, I first had to take care of the everyday affairs and revise the letters to the Grand Duke and the
Kaiser, which finally went off yesterday after hard work.
This way the first freshness of the notes is lost.

The good Grand Duke, then, opened the door of hit study
where 1 had been three years ago. He greeted me in his cordial,
gentle manner, and invited me to sit down opposite him, at
the desk,
I gave him a report and submitted my new plan involving his
undertaking the protectorate over the land conquny.
1 he idea seemed to make a favorable impression on him; in
fact, he even indicated his inclination in no uncertain lenns.
However, the Kaiser would have to give his consent. He recommended that I discuss the matter with Financ e Minister Miquel
in Berlin. After all, it would be indispensable for the project
that we enjoy the protection of the Prussian monarchy. In Prussia they would not like the idea of one of the federal stales having such major financial undertakings. He could give me many
an instance of this for example, the trouble they were making
over the permission for the Baden lottery. So, to sum up, I
ought to speak with Miquel. I also divined the feeling of the
erman government from his words of friendly reserve. They
want us to complete the arrangements first, acquire land and
*ctt ers privileges then we should ask for and obtain the protectorate. One can t be any more cautious and prudent than that.
c on y thing to be said against it is that once we have got that
. we s a no longer need the onerous German protectorate.
XHE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 789
Vet I accept further negotiations on this basis, because I must
accept everything and because negotiations, even though they
but be hopeless, have value for us. So I said that I intended to
ire the Kaiser and request an audience for the following day.
The Grand Duke advised me to address the telegram to Luanus. I had been with him for an hour, and half an hour previouilya Minister had had himself announced. Therefore the good
Grand Duke terminated the audience, but told me that, since
I ns staying until evening. I could call on him again.
1 drove to the hotel, told Wolffsohn and Kann what liad happened. and sent a long, urgent telegram, the request for the audience, to Lucan us.
At about four o'clock in the afternoon the reply came. The
Luser could not receive me tomorrow, because he was just about
to go away. I should speak with Minister of State von Bulow.
A rejection, then, since Billow is antagonistic.
Rten narrwe ni comme on le cratnt ni com me on teipere
[Nothing happens as one fears, nor as one hopes]. These words
boned through my head during the whole trip.
Before 1 left to see the Grand Duke again. Wolffsohn and Kann
told me to be sure to ask for a recommendation to the Deutsche
Bad in Berlin, for they had not managed so far to get a (sank
b* the subscription to the Jewish Colonial Bank. Everything.
*WTythmg / am supposed to do.
Again I drove to the palace. The Grand Duke admitted me
Aldy. This time we conversed in the red salon, where
^ Bangs an old portrait showing a sensitive, enthusiastic
*h n the dress of the 1840 s. I believe it is his portrait.
I pvc him Luranus telegram and indicated that my hopes had
greatly. He consoled me and expressed the expectation
energies would not diminish. I reminded him of his
M ^ >ou dam when he had recounted to me the difficulties
on the founding of the German Empire.
^ *** u *d. "and when the thing is finished, one has to
* and relinquish everything to others, who were formerly

opponent*. But one must be content with the inner satisfaction,
and also with the fact that one meets strong characters such as
you."
As he said this he gave my hand a long squeeze. I was deeply
touched.
As for the recommendation to the Deutsche Bank, he gave it to
me most readily after I first mentioned it. He asked how the
recommendation should read. I requested it in the form of a
letter to me, and he promised this.
Messieurs Wolffsohn and Kann were very much satisfied with
this outcome. Then we dined in our hotel drawingroom and
afterwards went out to hear some music. When we returned at
half-past ten, no letter from the Grand Duke had arrived yet
We went to bed a bit anxiously. But at 1 1:30 there was a knock
on my door; it was a court lackey. The entire hotel staff, respectfully gathered on the stairs, watched him deliver a letter
from their sovereign to me. I immediately informed Wolffsohn.
who slept better as a result.
At 4 oclock the next morning we had to get out of the hay.
At five I boarded the Orient Express to Vienna: Wolffsohn and
Kann took the letter with them to Cologne and were scheduled
to go from Cologne to Berlin that evening.
On the trip home I went through the same sensations that I
have had so often. The closer I come to the Neue Freie Presse,
the smaller I become. At the same time, some uneasiness ovct
whether a row was not in store for me on account of my repeated
absence. A fail n'en narrive ni comme on le craint ni com me 0*
Pesp}re [But nothing happens as one fears, nor as one hopes].
I arrived in Vienna in the evening, and went to the office first.
My masters were almost gTacious and joked affably about my trip
the purpose of which I kept silent about.
On the second day telegrams from Wolffsohn in Berlin arris eA
in the agreed upon ctide: Deebee for "Deutsche Bank."
They had spoken for 11^ hours with Director Siemens; he
going to speak with his administrative board. But Wolfeoh*
and Kann were under no illusion that this wasn't a refusal A
the COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER7.L 791
it was. He wrote them a rejection. Thereupon they had one more
unsuccessful! conference with him and went back to Cologne.
There the Schaafhausen Banking Association again rejected the
proposal.
Today's telegrams from Wolffsohn sound very resigned: I
wired him something like the following, sharpened by a passage
which I hope he will not resent, saying that if we two didn't proceed energetically now, we would be incompetents.
D. Wolffsohn. Karol ingerring. Cologne.
Conference with Siemens after rejection of Deebee pointless
and undignified. Try Dresdener Bank. If refusal, immediately so
organize subscription that Broad Street Avenue becomes center.
Everything must simply be directed there. If Broad Street not
allowed to accept down payments only registrations should be
duected there, but down-payments should lie made at same places
that served for preliminary subscription. Awaiting wired report
on this. Every moment missed now means irreparable loss.
(Wolffsohn had wired me that I should speak with Siemens,
who will be in town tomorrow, but I don't feel like it, because
we have already been turned down.)
March 1, '99
four Royal Highness:
Once again 1 must express my sincerest and most respectful
thanks for the encouragement I received from Your Royal Highness during my visit. The protectorate which I dared to request
** already in virtual existence, our enterprise already enjoys the
protection of the noblest prince. May it one day become plain
tor all to see.
Today I will write a report for His Majesty the Kaiser and
ness to it to Herr von Lucanus. In this report I should like to
ate the proposals I took the liberty of making to Your
Highness and to request an audience within the coming
r the purpose of documenting and implementing the

plan which is now ready in its altered form. In this way, through
one of its federal rulers, Germany could assure herself of influence
in the cause which may assume tome importance in the future.
And yet, through the circumstance that the initial practical itepi
are being taken by an enterprise based in England, any premature arousal of jealously would be avoided. A fait accompli
could be prepared and established in all secrecy, and its proclamation would be reserved for the most opportune moment.
The domiciling, according to civil law, of the land company
which is to be created later, at Karlsruhe for example, would then
depend on the political circumstances.
However, to connect permanently the so highly respected
name of Your Royal Highness with this project would be an act
of historic justice, provided that what we are attempting to do
will receive a place in history.
With the expression of my sincerest gratitude and deepest
respect, I remain
Your Royal Highness most obedient servant.
Dr. Th. H.
Your Imperial and Royal Majesty,

Most Gracious Kaiser and Lord:
From Karlsruhe, where His Royal Highness the Grand Duke
did me the favor of accepting my detailed reports, I took the
liberty upon his exalted advice of requesting by telegram an audience with Your Majesty.
The reasons for this are the following.
Having received no word whatever since the Palestine journey
about the assumption of the protectorate, which had previously
been intended, I had to supfxise that political difficulties had
arisen. I he mistrust of the Sultan and the jealousy of other
powers seem to have manifested themselves. Must the implementation of a plan with a future therefore be given up? 1 faUf
understand that the Imperial government will not risk an en
tanglement on our account. But would it not be possible to find
an arrangement through which the goal would be attained inconspicuously and surely?
Such an arrangement 1 have permitted myself to submit to
His Royal Highness. It is this: First we create a corporate body
in England which will take the preparatory steps and, moyennant
finances [for a financial consideration], acquire lands and setllen rights from the Turkish government. On the basis of such
concessions the actual Chartered Company will then be formed
and, circumstances permitting, with its legal headquarters at
Karlsruhe and under the protection of His Royal Highness Grand
Duke Friedrich. There will automatically result from this a
political relationship of protection by the Empire, one to which
there can be no objection from third panies.
No express declaration on the part of the Imperial government
is required for this; in fact, we could be disavowed without
further ado, as operating on our own, just as the English government was able to do with Cecil Rhodes at any time. Naturally
there are big different es between Sir Cecil Rhodes and my humble self, the personal ones very much in my disfavor, but the
objective ones gTeatly in favor of our movement, which has at
its disposal a different kind of capital and, most of all, tremendous human resources in all of Eastern Europe.
I'nfonunately Your Imperial Majesty did not see the activity
of our colonists already in existence in Palestine. The sight of
the Jews jammed together in Jerusalem is not a pleasant one.
But even these Jews would like to get out in the country and till
il, if, strangely enough, the Turkish government did not
prohibit iL
To my sorrow I must fear many another incorrect report. I
believe that Your Majesty's counsellors occasionally hear disparages remarks about our movement especially from Jews who do
noc *fi*re my views.
The explanation for this is simple. A good number of rich
ei/ End Jews are worried that we might take them with us;
** ** *^7 *hey try ( 0 make us ridiculous or despicable in their
* ln Install In (he origin*!

conversation and their newspapers. Methinks, however, that this
very kind of opposition must recommend us.
Our endeavor has many aspects. One of them is the absorption
of the Jewish elements that will remain in every country. But
I believe that the adjustment to the national body should not
be attempted through the process of revolution. The way to
complete assimilation can probably lead only through the established church.
Only those are to go along who cannot or will not assimilate
at their present places of residence this is our principle. Those
who remain behind will of necessity be even better citizens. No
more unnatural alliances between iron safes and petroleum barrels.
The value of our movement for social betterment has no more
remained concealed from Your Imperial Majesty than has its
value for colonial policy. Actually, our movement would be strong
enough even if it drew not one man or one penny from Germany.
Our resources are in Russia, Rumania, Galicia. England, America, and South Africa. Nevertheless, Germany can, in a way
which shall be kept secret for the time being and will even later
involve no obligation, assure herself of influence for the future
and at the very beginning of our colonization gain an industrial
market of the first magnitude. The sole prerequisite is that we
be able to organize in Germany.
I understand that written declarations may not be expected
on this subject the way it stands today. Therefore I herewith
venture once again most respectfully to request an audience after
Your Majestys return. I very badly need encouragement at this
particular time. Then I will move on, attempt to win the favor
of the Emperor of Russia, and not return again until I can present you the completed matter. On the other hand, failure to
grant me an audience would be a de facto sign to me that we
need not hope for even secret and non-binding panic ipaiion any
longer.
The idea I serve has already touched a gyrat monarch in this
century: Napoleon the hirst. The Paris Sanhedrin of the Jews
in the year 1806 was, to be sure, a last gasp of this idea.
Was the matter not yet ripe at that time, was there no resolute
representative of the Jews, was it due to the paucity of means of
communication?
Our time, however, is under the sign of communication! to
use a phrase that has become a household word. 9
The Jewish Question must be brought under this sign; this
is how it can be solved. And what was not possible under
Napoleon I is possible under Wilhelm HI
With my deepest respect, I remain
Your Imperial and Royal Majestys most obedient servant,
Dr. Th. H.
Covering letter to Lucanus:

Your Excellency:
1 permit myself to express my sincere gratitude to you for your
kind telegraphic reply to Karlsruhe.
1 have written the enclosed letter to His Majesty the Kaiser,
containing a request to grant me an audience as soon as possible,
*t the suggestion of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of
Baden. Important things are in the making.
Since I am permitting myself the hope of being ordered to
Berlin by His Majesty in the near future, I have postponed my
all on Minuter of State von Bulow, which you kindly rccom"^ded to me, until that time.
Begging Your Excellency to accept the expression of my ev
te *m, I am
Respectfully yours.
Dr. Th. H.
^ olr ^ rTT * remind* ihr kiurt at an Inarriptioa die Litter wrote
W p*rated 10 Dr. von Vq-han. (he Orman fwimitirt General,
7 - Die Hell am fnde det if. Jehthundertt tlekl uniet dem
Hj TerlrJln. , dmrthbruhl die Uhimnken, trek he die V Alter irrnnen,
^ j JJ* **iaram den k'eitonen neue Bruehengen (The world at (he
l %t\ m ~ crn,ur T L* under the aign of communication. It break* through
W U1 * d 1 **de people* and rttabllahe* new con net t ion* among (he nation*)

March 4
Kokesch came back from London today. The horrible English
legal work is now completed. The authorizations of the directors
and members of the Council must be sealed; the unsealed ones,
which we got together by the skin of our teeth, are not sufficient.
Another loss of lime; yet the subscription, on which so much
depends, draws near. Today I gave orders not to delay any further
and simply undertake the subscription at the Jewish Colonial

IJank in London itself. La dernihe cartouche [The last round of
ammunition]. I am afraid it will be a failure mais rien narrivc
ni comme on le craint ni comma on Vespire [but nothing hap
pens as one fears, nor as one hopes].
The Bank is the hardest part of the work so far. If it worb
out, afterwards not a soul will suspect what we have gone
through, how much energy it has required. For we actually have
a boycott of the big bankers against us. If I ever get my hands on
them, I'll give them a good going-over.
March 10
I-ast Monday the Sonn- und Montagszeilung carried an item
to the effect that the Turkish ambassador, Mahmud Nedim, had
been called to Constantinople, because a financial agent had attempted extortion from him and the Sultan.
I o learn something about this I went to sec Newlinski.
He guessed why I had come, but, since I didn't mention it.
he didnt speak about it. I asked him, in order to orient myself,
whether he would be able to go to Constantinople. He said he
would, but added that it was hard, because once he was there, the
Sultan wouldn't let him go that is, not for four or five months;
this is how much of a favorite he is with the Sultan. The matter
would require further thought. Meanwhile, he said, he could
give me the welcome news that we had gained a new helper in
the person of Artin Pasha, the State Secretary in the foreign
Office, who was back in favor again. Proof: letters from Danuiso
about conversations with Artin, who is willing to submit a memorandum on Zionism to the Sultan.
March 10
Getting the signatures of the directors, governors, councilors
for the prospectus involves enormous difficulties. Some refuse
to sign at the last moment for instance, Ussishkin, the author
of the Lex Ussishkin at the Second Congress.
Today, 18 days before the subscription, it is still doubtful
whether we shall manage the signatures for the prospectus!
Go parade in state" with this.*
March 10
Yesterday I received a refusal from Lucan us.
The Kaiser, he wrote, regretted being unable to receive me
in the near future and left it to my discretion to discuss things
with Minister of State Billow.
Th* rejection, then, which I said in advance would be something de facto, too.
Letter to Bulow;
Your Excellency;
About two weeks ago His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of
B*den advised me to direct a request for an audience to His
Majesty the Kaiser, in order to stir up the dormant Palestine matW- I did so, and received word from Herr von Luranus to get
1 touch with Your F.xrellency. Accordingly I shall take the
oeny during my next stay in Berlin to ask you for a conference
""fitch, however, will probably not get beyond the academic.
Uf I believe. Your Excellency, that you are not in favor of the
Ptoject. I have been fully aw*arc of this since the moment I first
( Now Moil, pun li board on the phutr Stool mat hen, which
Urn, IT T. W ot ahem oT-; but he hvkmolj hod the Jewiab
(We) in mind u well
798 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF I HEODOR HERZL

had the honor to convene with you about Zionism. On the one
hand, you consider the difficulties in Turkey and the resistance
of various interested parties as too great; on the other, you regard the inclination of the Jews to emigrate as too slight. A
responsible statesman must view a movement whose lofty character he may not entirely dislike du point de vue de Iart [from
an artistic point of view] with the greatest coldness and even distrust. This much I understand.
However, Your Excellency, I believe that you have been unfavorably informed by our opponents, particularly our Jewish
opponents. Our movement is a great deal stronger than, fur
a number of reasons, it appears to lie.
That the rich Jews do not personally want to go along is well
known. It would be worse if they did go I don't mean just for
us, but for the countries concerned.
Popular rage and popular humor, it is true, arc directed
against Herr Kommenienrat but his departure would be a low
not only to the humorous journals. His amassed wealth should
disintegrate right where it is: through marriages, wastrels, awl
in other natural ways.
A solution of the Jewish Question which promises such an
assimilation as well as the draining off of the socially and economically frustrated and nearly despairing elements should perhaps not be rejected out of hand.
But even if Herr Kommenienrat does not want to make a
personal sacrifice (later on, during the pleasant season, he will
make a little excursion to Palestine, when the hotels have the
comforts of the Riviera), he will have no objections to poor
devils and fools like me going and staying there. For this he is
even ready to make financial "sacrifices; I have it directly from
him.
This attitude is comical, like most human weaknesses, but at
any rate it is human. Who is not an opportunist?
Tranilator't Note Literally. "Mr. Commercial Councilor," an honorifc **
awarded to butinewmen lor (pedal arrvice* to ihe government, lu doae* An*n
can equivalent would be a "Kentucky Colonel.
Similar forces are at work on various newspapers with which
1 am well acquainted. The fact that they are not on my side in
tbc nutter is surprising to Your Excellency, even makes you bc|jfre that our movement is insignificant. However, the more numerous the Jews on such a newspaper, the more they have to be
afraid that people will reject their criticism of Germany, Austria,
etc., with the shout 'To Palestine! And at the present time they
mil believe they cannot do anything smarter than criticize. Why
don't 1 create a big counter journal myself? Because that would
be another story, as Kipling says. With such a paper one has to
be on the job day and night, as with a boiler, and cannot undertake anything else. That is why I have declined offers of this
kind, including one made to me three years ago by our government.
Your Excellency, I don't know how funny it may sound when
I ny that 1 want to solve the Jewish Question. To me it seems
mtible, and I believe that the Zionist idea will make its way.
Fen soon, in a matter of a few years. All indications point to
h.
If our project failed, hundreds of thousands of our adherents
would at one swoop change over to the revolutionary parties;
this too is a natural thing.
Cet animal eit trii m/chant: il se d/fend lortqu'on Vattaque
[Thu animal is very vicious; it defends itself when it is attacked).
But our project must succeed I am tempted to say, just as
ôand two make four.* Turkey needs the same Jews that are
wanted elsew here.
TfcTurks are incapable of remedying the present wretched
, r country. Occupation by any Power would not
infidel??! Y iljf olhm common crusades against the
oeweni th^K VUL CT n W P rrha l* ,CM against the
cross i. against the symbols of other
t the krw (VtU ' 44mm U a reference to the
^wdCotkaj (itj, uthorty Hu tnfluti couainput
800 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR IIERZL
Christian churches. But Palestine has also become a traffic problem, because it constitutes the shortest way to India 9 nay, the
shortest southern route to all Asia, since the new northern one
is in the exclusive possession of Russia. Prom the Mediterranean
coast to the Persian Gulf a railroad will be, must be, constructed
which only the Jews can build. After all, by now one knows what,
oddly enough, was not known as recently as thirty yean ago in
the chancelleries of the slates: what a short route like the Suei
Canal means. The solution of the Palestinian Question I no
longer say Jewish Question is a complement of the mow recent happenings in Asia.
Now, 1 have had the good fortune to meet with approval of
this idea on the part of His Majesty the Kaiser. The prospect of
a German protectorate was held out to us. Hut it did not materialize. In fact, our expedition to Palestine was almost a failure. One little unofficial despatch from the telegraphic newv
agency simply reduced our audience in the encampment at
Jerusalem to nothing.
I kept silent about this, as was my duty after the confidence
I had been shown.
Today, then, the question presents itself differently.
Have we nothing more whatever to hope for from the German
Imperial government, or is it simply that open support for us is
not intended, for reasons that I do not know but can guess?
If the latter is the case, i.e., secret support is regarded as admissible, I would make proposals in Berlin. I quote from my letter
to His Majesty my new combination:
"First we create a corporate body. . . " (p. 795 ). up to
. required for this."
It is an enormous difficulty for us that we have no firm point
around which we can organize.
Lacking this, we need some existing organization which would
offer us certain technical facilities. We have many letters, but
no mail.
In English in ih original.

That is why I was willing to pay the high postage of the protectorate. I dont know whether we shall still apply for a protectorate later, when we have seen things through without any
Hipport: it will presumably no longer be up to me to the extent
tiut it is today. Of all conceivable protectorates, I would still prefer the German, if only for the reason that German would
then be spoken over there.
But perhaps in the meantime we shall have to commit ourselves elsewhere.
I am not worried about our ability finally to manage things
all by ourselves, provided our will remains firm. It is only a
matter of lost time. Perhaps this will make our enterprise loom
larger in the judgment of future times; for glory increases with
difficulties. But we would rather become less famous and get to
the real work of colonization sooner.
Since I rarely indulge in illusions, I do not expect Your
Excellency to be converted lay my remar Ls of today. Should you
have anything to tell me or wish any oral information, your call
will find me ready to come to Berlin at any time.
Otherwise I shall postpone this visit until my way takes me
there.
' our E**clleney to accept the expression of my deeptopect, I am
Your obedient servant.
Dr. Th. H.
After the recall, dated March 18 .
H is Exc ellency. Minister of State von Bulow,
S^roary in the Foreign Office. Berlin.
~ crann Uuke of Baden:
After the recall, dated March .7.
Royal Highn cm:
I hpriti '
the Kaiirr * rc P n most respectfully that His Majesty
Ct mrt ^ m y inquest for an audience and has re-
802 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER/l

fcircd me to Minister of State von Bulow. Since, for the sake of
greater clarity, I had remarked in my request for an audience
that I would regard a failure to grant it as a de facto rejection
also, I know now where I stand. Herr von Bulow, whom 1 p ro .
foundly admire as an ingenious and skillful statesman, is nevertheless, if my observation does not deceive me, antagonistic to
our cause. Nothing, I believe, can be expected from that fjuarter.
This is why I am not going to Berlin.
But unfortunately, the recommendation to the Deutsche Bank
in Berlin, which Your Royal Highness gave me with such gracious alacrity, has produced no result either. I sent two of our
financial men to Berlin, to negotiate with Herr Siemens, the director. He turned down their proposals.
So I can only assume that a hope which was uncommonly dear
to me has vanished, and that we shall not attain our goal under
a German protectorate. I regTet this more than I can tell you.
Your Royal Highness to accept the expression of my
heartfelt respect and continued sincere gratitude, I am
Your very obedient servant

Dr. Th. H.
Insert (cf. p. 801):
" That is why. . . to "commit ourselves elsewhere."
March 14, at night
This insert is responsible for my wiring Wolffsohn to hold
this letter, which I had sent off via Cologne, and my making a
fresh copy from Sheet II on. This evening, while I was listening
to Hechlers speech about the Palestine journey, it suddenly occurred to me that the joke about the high postage of the protectorate could be interpreted as a presumption in bad taste.
Telegrams from the Bank Committee reach me en mauc.

Gaster and Bentwich are said to be making trouble. I simply
can't understand it. What docs Gaster, who is only authorized to
sign for us, want?
In the evening Hcyman reported that Bentwich was asking
150 pounds sterling for putting his name on the prospectus. If
this is true, I shall throw Bentwich out with scorn and loathing
and kick him out of the party.
March 16, evening

Disagreeable telegrams from London during the day. Gaster,
they said, in whose name all authorizations were made out, is
refusing to give the signature needed for the registration.
I sent Gaster a categorical telegram in which I gave him a piece
of ray mind. I told him that he could only deprive us of 300
guilders and three, albeit precious, days. For if need be, Kokesch
would be there on Monday morning and provide the signature,
since the authorizations were made out jointly in his name too.
Thereupon Wolffsohn reported in the evening that Gaster had
complied.
Today I went to see Newlinski, who is ready to go to the

Grand Turk. I very much desire it, but only if his doctor declares
that it could not harm his badly shattered health. Incidentally,
I suspect that a trip to the South has been prescribed for him.
We shall send along young Dr. Poborski as his medical traveling
companion.
March 18
The journalist Bcn-Yehuda from Jerusalem came to see me.
A short red haired Jew from the Orient. 1 am beginning to become acquainted with the various Jewish types. He is longwinded in his narratives and seems to have some ulterior motive.
But I learned from him quite a bit about the sentiment in
Turkey toward Zionism.
He said that in the Orient everybody was afraid of everybody

else. The people were a wild animal that could be unleashed, but
also could be steered in any direction. If the authorities give
a signal, the Mohammedans will fall upon the Jews system of
hatchet-men, as with the Armenians. This is my long-felt argument against infiltration.
In the higher baksheesh circles there is timid discussion of
Zionism. Everything depends on the Sultan. Even the Grand
Vizier is only a lackey.
The American Ambassador, Straus, is said to be secretly welldisposed toward Zionism, Ben-Yehuda assures me.
The Mutessarif of Jerusalem, he said, was an affable gentleman
and had asked him why he didnt edit an Arabic newspaper. I
asked Ben-Yehuda how much he would need for that. An annual
subvention of 2000 francs. I told him to write me about it in the
middle of May, perhaps I would get him that amount. (I feel
that if the Bank comes into being it will be worth that much to it
to have an Arabic voice which finds favor with the Mutessarif
and influences the people in the proper way.)
Wrote Kellner about a matter which has been in my mind for

a good long time. 1 want to start a press bureau here with news
from the Orient for Western newspapers, especially English ones.
Kellner is to lay the groundwork in london, and the thing is to
be launched in the autumn. It will Ik* an instrument of power
either for or against Turkey.
Le sabre pour ou contre la stcuritt publique [The sword for
or against public safety].
The Bank! Yes, everyone clings to, everyone rushes after,
gold." Actually, the entire further course of the movement depends on the success of the subscription which I have promoted
in every way.
They all demanded the postponement of the subscription,
* T "! Ncxc: ~Am Gold , hdngl. noth Gold* dtingl doth
mu<|uotaiicin from Goethr't Fautl, Pori I.
which was not ripe yet and had been dragged out by the difficulties of registration. Last week I had been softened up for a
moment and was about to agree to the postponement. My
father expressed himself against it this reminded me of the days
before the publication of The Jewish Stale, another occasion
when at the decisive moment I found in him the support to
stand firm. This strengthened me this lime, too. We shall stick
to March 8th. But the subscription will extend over jo days.
According to the telegrams, pandemonium seems to have
reigned in London the last few days. Wolffsohn traveled back
and forth. Today he is in Ixmdon again. This is the day on
which the whole thing is to be registered, and under the name
"The Jewish Colonial Trust (Judtsche Kolonialbank) Limited.
The name Trust was forced through by Bcniwich and Caster,
by the latter under serious violation of the instructions he had
accepted from the out-of-town members of the Council. What
they [want] with the name Trust. . . .*
March 24
Alex Marmorek reports that Bernard Lazare wants to resign
from the Vienna Committee, because he foresees a bust of the
subscription and with it the collapse of the movement. lanre
has heard from Poznanski that the latter does not intend to keep
up his subscription.
I immediately wrote Nordau an indignant letter about I-a-
zares cautelous policy. I.azare is said to have declared that he

wanted to "keep leaders in reserve for the Jewish people in case
ihe present leaders fail.
I asked Nordau to remonstrate with l-azare. so as to avoid a
scandal.
Meanwhile rumors have spread here that the Hovevei Zion

were planning a major action against me and political Zionism
11 *heir meeting in Paris.
* Tnmbujr i Notr Srntmcr uolifiiM w
Blochs Wochenschrift publishes the following Paris news
from Landaus venal pen:
[Editorial:] [ v *VI, P- *46 ]
The Delegate Conference of the Zionist Federation at Paris.
Before the Meeting.
(By Our Special Correspondent)
Paris, March 17
The conference of delegates called by the Central Committee of
the Zionist Federations has definitely been set for the 19th of
this month. Delegates have already arrived from England, Germany, and Austria, and those of other countries are being expected. Brain, brawn, and bankbooks will be represented at the
meeting. The promotion of large-scale colonization in Palestine
is now to go forward.
This very city of Paris is the residence of those personalities
who are willing to carry through the colonization of Palestine on
a large scale, and one need look no farther for the resources required for it.
Now we mention first of all that great friend of Zion
Baron Edmond Rothschild. His great services to colonization in
Palestine and his immense sacrifices are well known. HoweveT, it
would not lie correct to present him as a mere benefactor. Baron
Rothschilds actions are motivated by a great idea, the idea of
bringing ever greater masses of Jews into the land of their forefathers, in order there to create for them opportunities for earning a living and to regenerate them morally and economically,
as was proved by his address to the colonists during his most recent stay in Palestine. However, Baron Rothschild, who is intimately acquainted with conditions in Turkey, does not consider
it necessary to make a stir and cause a sensation; he simply i*
not concerned with publicity, but with action. For instance, f r
a considerable period of time he has been making efforts to pur*
chase the antiquated harbor of Caesarea, in order to renovate it
and make it the base for Jewish immigration and Jewish export
a deed whose importance to the realization of the Zionist idea
can only be called immense. The deal was almost completed
when the journey of the German Raiser interfered and the latter
requested Caesarea from the Sultan as a German coaling-station.
In this connection certain people will of course insist on asserting that the German Kaiser is the most zealous protector of Zionism. Let us hope, however, that the Baron who, unconcerned
about the sniping Dorn certain "Zionist quarters, is proceeding
with the execution of the great work, will also succeed in acquiring Caesarea in addition to other concessions he has been
promised during his last stay in Constantinople.
Baron Rothschild is also doing his best to encourage the Galician colony "Mahanayim. and he has instructed his newlyappointed inspector, M. Barbier, who is leaving for Palestine in
a few weeks, to transform the Kaba soil of this colony into an
olive grove.
A second eminently important personality is
Af. Narcisse //wn. During the time that he has been president both of the Jewish Colonization Association and of the
Central Committee of the Zionist Federations he has placed the
multiple millions of the society at the service of Palestine colonization. Apart from the numerous subventions to colonies already in existence, we owe it to him that the Jewish Colonisation
Association has recently purchased 40,000 dunams in Palestine
(Sejerah), in order to settle Palestine Jews as farmers there. This
enclave has room for 400 families. The kushans Hand-register
transfers) have just arrived. The Jewish Colonisation Association
has granted four million francs for the establishment of the
Sejerah colony.
I will mention but a few others: Zadoc Kahn, the Grand Rabbi
of France, who is a member of both executive committees and
supports the cause of colonization; Prof. Josef Hal&vy, and so on.
These men will be joined at the meeting by others who have
demonstrated through years of self-sacrificing devotion in the
most diverse countries how very sacred the colonization project in
808 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HER 2 L

Palestine is to them. And it is precisely the purpose of the conference of delegates to safeguard it, expand it, and protea it
against rash interference on the part of va banque [all-or-nothing] gamblers.
After the Meeting.

(By Our Special Correspondent).
Paris, March *o
The hopes and expectations which true friends of Zion everywhere attached to the conference of delegates may be regarded
as entirely fulfilled. What has for years been striven for by practical-minded Zionists, who prefer practical deeds to mere talk
namely, winning the support of the "Jewish Colonisation Association for the colonization of Palestine has now been achieved.
Only if one considers that the "Jewish Colonisation Association'
has over 200 million francs at its disposal, about four times as
much as the "Colonial Trust" has yet to raise, will one appreciate the full import of the fact that the "Jewish Colonisation
Association now regards Palestine as the main scene of us colonizing activity and is making the funds available for it.
This is the significant success of yesterday's conference of delegates. It will certainly be learned with joy in Austria and particularly in (>alicia that the conference has decided to allot 40,000
francs to the Galician colony "Mahanayim." thus fulfilling the
condition on which the "Jewish Colonisation Association" made
its subvention of 80,000 francs dependent. This fully gurantees
t e Mahanayim colony and shows up the ridiculousness of
t osc prophets who predicted that this colony would collapse.
The sympathy and the support which the Galician society
avas Zion and its endeavors have encountered among the
ocal powers are also a personal triumph for Dr. Salz and ample
compensation for many an insult that Dr. Herzl has recently inM'cted on him in his mean and petty jealousy.
As regards the relationship between the "Jewish Colonisation
Association and the Central Committee on one hand and the

Herzl party and the "Colonial Trust on the other, this is best
shown by the following fact:
Some time ago Mr. Wolffsohn, who is virtually assured of being the first director of the Bank and is moving to London, was
in Paris in order to win over Narcisse Leven for the "Trust.
The latter declared, however, that it was not necessary to found
a bank, for there was plenty of money on hand that was available
for all serious colonizing and industrial enterprises in Palestine.
However, they should submit concrete proposals and plans to
him. But this was not done. Instead, the "Jewish Colonisation
Association is now sending a secretary to Palestine for several
months in order to study conditions there.
One of the most important nutters on the agenda was the
question of the reorganization of the Central Committee and
of propaganda. On this point, however, most of the decisions have
for the present not been made public. But this much can be said
even now, the Central Committee has been expanded through
new personalities from various countries. Among those who have
been added to the old members like Narcisse Leven, Zadoc Kahn,
Dr. Hildesheimer, Bain bus. Colonel Goldsmid. etc., are the wellknown gynecologist Professor landau, the wholesale merchant
Israel of Berlin. Sir Josef Sebag Montefiore of London, and Bernard lazare, who has already resigned from the V ienna Actions
Committee. Another new member from Austria is Dr. Salz, one
of two additional members from Vienna whose appointment has
been decided on.
It was further decided to set up an Executive Committee in
Berlin, to take charge of propaganda and implement the decisions
of the Central Committee.
A report was also presented about the favorable development
f the Kastinie colony, which was founded by the Central Committee. and it was observed that the grnin harvest alone netted
the colonists 40,000 francs last year. For this colony a credit of
up to 300,000 francs was granted.

This much in haste about the work of the conference which
was guided by love and self-sacrificing devotion to the Jewish
people, but also by real manly seriousness. And the fruits of such
labors will surely not fail to appear either.
L
In the next number of the Welt I plan to write a reply in

which this turn of events will be flatly described as what it is: a
victory of my ideas.
March t 6
Alex Marmorek arrived here yesterday and gave a rather excited report on the happenings in Paris. B. Iâzare did not keep
his word to him, for he had promised not to announce his resignation from the Y'ienna Committee before the end of the subscription; and now that scoundrel landau has already announced
it in Blochs smear sheet.
(Incidentally, I have had an advertisement of the prospectus of
the Colonial Trust given to Bloch. For one hundred guilders
that man of honor accepted it.)
Overnight a new plan of action occurred to roc. I am having

Alex Marmorek write Nordau to tell Levcn the following.
I did not have sufficient confidence in the willingness of the
Paris gentlemen and the I.C.A., and that is why I did not give
them any details about my negotiations with the German government. Now that I have learned of their decision to go to
Palestine, I am ready to come to Paris and submit the secret
documents to them under the following conditions:
The conference is to be attended by Narcitse Leven, Mmond
Rothschild, and Zadoc Kahn from the other side, and from our
side, in addition to myself, by Nordau and Alex Marmorek. The
conference is to remain absolutely confidential. Secrecy as to its
substance will be stipulated in a sworn protocol.
March <9
Alex Marmorek tells me about a remark made by Bulow
which Nordau heard from lluhn, the Berlin correspondent of
the Kolnische Zeitung.
Huhn asked Bulow what he, and also his "gracious lord and
master," thought of the Zionist movement. To which Bulow is
aid to have replied:
"Our gracious lord and master, as you know, quickly becomes
ablaze for a cause. So it was in the present instance, too, and to
such a degree that there was no arguing with him. But you also
know that our gracious lord and master cools off again just as
quickly. This time, too. Dr. Herzl made a very good impression
on me, it is true, but I don't believe in the project. Those people
have no money. The rich Jews wont have any part of it. And
with the crummy Polish Jews nothing can be done.
That was how I had construed Billows attitude long before
1 heard this story.
I had guessed this view, as is proved by my last letter to Bulow.
March 19 . evening
Thu rooming there arrived a telegram from the Colonial
Trust in London which depressed me quite a bit:
The result of the first day of the subscription was -eight thou**nd shares.
In the evening there came a second wire which sounds fine
kn may be only hokum after all. It reads:
Despite hostile press, tremendous local demand, particularly
from provinces, for subscription blanks.
Tremendous certainly sounds wonderful! But demand for
hat/
Now Toward the rad at kb tprrrh Billow bpsrd Into (hr Berlin
At present only for subscription blank*, not shares. It this a
trick of little Heymann or really the beginning of a great success?
I am now in one of those moods in which Faust is ready to
make any deal with the devil. If anyone promised me the success
of the subscription today, I would immediately sell him ten yean
of my life for it.
It is true, I wrote Wolff sohn yesterday that I had a presentiment the subscription would be a success a sort of flaire de
VartillcuT [artillerymans instinct] and if I was mistaken in this,
it would be the first, and a most serious, mistake I have made in
the Zionist movement. But those infinitesimally measly 8000
shares of this moming have made my expectations quite small.
This evenings telegram again produced a small boom in my

expectations. But I don't quite trust that telegram.
Newlinski is leaving for Constantinople tomorrow. Since N.'t
heart condition is quite serious, I am sending with him, as his
attendant physician. Dr. Poborski of the Ivria. Naturally I had
an inquiry made of his family doctor first as to whether the journey could harm him. Reply: He can have a fatal attack any moment, whether home in bed or on a train. I discussed the matter
quite frankly with Ns wife. N. himself feels like going and doing something decisive for us, in the expectation, which truly
shall not be deceptive, that we in turn will do something for him.
But I am conscious of a grave responsibility in letting him
depart. At present he is the only pervin who may be able to arrange an audience for me with the Sultan. I cant help but want
him to go.
I only hope that the journey will not harm him.
Both of us were greatly moved when I went to see him today.
He is afraid of the journey, but nevertheless has a fine, brave
sense of duty toward what he has already received from us and
what he still hopes for. Because of this I have begged his forgiveness for many a thought I once had about him.
He told me today, among other things, that the Vienna am
bassador. Mahmud Nedim Bey. was now at Constantinople and
would probably not return, because he has fallen from favor.
Quel sale pays [What a foul countryj.
Mahmud Nedim has literally been starving here. He received
no salary and lived on 'scarlet runners and beans which he
cooked himself. The Caliphs ambassador! If all this were in a
novel, people wouldn t believe it.
On awakening this moming. I received the following wire
from Poborski:
"Newlimki died tuddenly. At wife, requer, .end the neeevwry
if pornble. Convey, ng remain. to Vienna tomorrow evening Dr!
Poborski. Hotel Bristol.*
h was a great, unpleasant surprise with a whole vista of fur(her troubles.
I wired back:
; Mnr de Newlituki. Hotel Brinol. Pera. Cormaminople.
reply rhalen Mourning with you with all my hean I reill to you and your children a iatthlul friend, ready to help,
ror when we meet Sendtng thouvand (rant. 10 Poborvli
I hen | had,,, leave for the rynagogue on Leopoldgawe where
c, ..a " ' lr con * TC K>iion had invited me for today. They
by calling me up to the Torah.
n 1 hH n thc Ho,y of Ho, * and cantor
* Poor N , OUl lHr beaul, * uI ch . * could only think
"wuh , IIUkl wht * * now stretched out in the Hotel Bristol
v,c * vrr he Golden Horn."
ttnd f n ^ rU l %ly ' m,ruc,ct * Gscar Marmorek to wire the thou^ ,rano o Poborski.
to term* ,J,C * mcf al my house. We had to come
1 c quite difficult situation. Apart from the emoTrs-lwo, . Sou Hml

^ Hebrew imn muthtbed
tional shock, we also had to solve the financial problem we were
now faced with. The A C. has to meet the heaviest demands, and
the inflow of shekels at present equals zero. Three thousand
guilders had already been expended on N'ewl inskis journey.
Now the additional expense of conveying the remains back, the
presumable claims of the widow, etc. Great worries, especially
now when the Bank campaign is exhausting all our resources
and imposing enormous sacrifices on each of us. As it is. a begging-circular was sent out during the last few days. Again I had
to "set a good example" and part with 500 guilders.
The gentlemen this afternoon believed the transportation of
the body would cost several thousand francs. To meet this outlay
it was decided, after much having it back and forth, to raise a
loan of 5000 guilders. I declared that I could not give any more
money, because I do not ask for repayment and do not get it
either.
So Marmorek is to try to borrow this money on the basis of the
shekels offered as security by the A.C., from my brother-in-law
Nasrhauer; and Dr. Kahn, from one of his relatives.
Newlinski's death is a terribly hard blow to me. Although he

had one foot in the gTave his widow will hold me responsible for
the journey, despite all the precautions I took. I had made an
inquiry of his family doctor, through Poborski, as to whether he
might go without harm to his health. The answer was that he
could die at any moment in his own room. And yet and yet!
But Newlinskis death is a great loss to our movement as well.
He had the best connections at Constantinople as well as at
Rome. At this time, something virtually irreplaceable.
With him there disappears from the novel of the Zionist movement one of its most remarkable characters. He was a grand
seigneur dichu [fallen aristocrat], likeable despite many a questionable quality, and truly charming in manner.
April 3.
A miserable night. Couldnt get Newl inski out of my mind.
I racked my brain how much it had been my faulL Should I
have kept him from uking the trip? He wanted to go somewhere
south. The reason he preferred going to Constantinople was that
this trip didnt cost him anything, provided him with a medical
attendant gTatis, and promised the possibility of greater results.
For 14 yean, since his first attack, he had been a doomed man.
Did the journey cost him months, weeks, days, or hours of his
life?
I told him often enough that he neednt go if he didnt want
to. I let him keep the tooo guilders for the Rome journey without ever reminding him of it with so much as a look.
Should I have held him back?
_ m April 3
The Bank is also a great worry.
Heymann, the only director who lives in London, holds meeting* of the Board of Directors with Caster and Bentwich. who
are only deputies of deputies of the Council, and makes basic
decisions.
I will wait until the subscription is over and then put things
in order.
But while the gentlemen are in command, they push the probkin* of fund raising for the preliminary work onto my shoulders.
e guarantee fund is exhausted: I think it has been mismanaged. Now Heymann needs, as he writes me. 600-1000 more.
The envelopes having been switched by mistake, today I re^êd a letter from Wolffsohn to Kann.
In it Wolffsohn writes that the subscription payments should
used to defray expenses I am protesting against this today in
* n,fT * Wolffsohn and in another to Heymann, Caster, and
Bent with
I don t like Wolffsohns proposal. In any event. I shall keep a
in the future.
816 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF rHEODOR HERZL
April 4
This mornings mail brought me poor Newlinskis last letter:
Hotel Bristol, Pera. A P nl * ,8 99
My very dear Friend:
We arrived here safely. I stood the journey well and am pleased
about it. I have just returned from my first visit to Yildiz Kiosk;
I was very agreeably received and told to come again on / uesda y
afternoon.
Dr. Poborski is a nice fellow. My best thanks for everything,
and many regards from
Yours sincerely,
M. de Newlinski.
The weather is cool.
To the Turkish chargi daffaires, Resmy Bey:

Your Excellency:*
Day before yesterday I received the sad new's of the sudden
death, at Constantinople, of M. de Newlinski. Your Excellency
will probably have been informed of it by yesterday's jupers.
By this mornings mail I have just received the last letteT of
this sincerely mourned friend. He writes me that immediately
upon his arrival he went to Yildiz Kiosk where he was given the
best imaginable reception, and His Majesty set Tuesday today,
alas for receiving him.
One of the best and most devoted friends of Turkey has just
gone. He was also an outstanding friend to our cause. I should
like to have the honor to discuss with you one of these days the
situation caused by this grievous death of a mutual friend.
I remain. Your Excellency,
Respectfully yours.
Dr. Th. H.
The leiier u in French in ihe original.

April 7
The Newlinski case is singularly distressing and dramatic. The
man was never presentable, and those who made use of him
princes and governments always took care to conceal their relations with him. He was every inch the classic example of the
secret agent. Now his corpse lies across our path, and some
people seem quite inclined to charge all of his dubious undertakings to our account. Fortunately, our account, even though
we are not producing it, is clear, and my own conscience especially is at ease.
1 never had any other relation to him but the acceptance of
his intervention with the Sultan when it was offered to me.
He cost me a good deal of money, also drew a subvention from
the Committee. I dont know to this day whether he did anything
for us with the Sultan, or if he was even in a position to do anything. He never furnished any proof of it, if I except the fact
that he introduced me to various Turkish dignitaries. Perhaps
he merely played me up to them as an editor of the Seue Freie
Prase. It is a secret he has taken with him to the grave.
Still, even as regards my shekel-piyen my conscience is dear
for having recommended that the A.C. pay him a subsidy. Even
though he may not have been able to be of use, he could have
<fone us a frightful amount of harm. Once or twice he had
hinted as much, and I hastened to make him into a friend before
he could become an exton ioner. With a single paragraph in his
Correspondence de PEst he could have made us out to be dangerous enemies of Turkey, or, at best, as blagueurs sans i mporl * nce [inconsequential wind-bags].
For the past few days, his death which occurred in the service
f Zionism has been the talk of the town here in \ lenna. A few
People have asked me reproachfully why I made him take the
I gruffly sent them about their business. In truth I have
00 Qu * to reproach myself with carelessness, because 1 had con-

suited his family doctor as to whether he might go, and he had
said yes.
Despite my formal blamelessness and although his doomed liie
would hardly have lasted even a matter of weeks longer, the case
is quite agonizing to me. Did I do enough to dissuade him from
the trip? This is how 1 search my soul.
I never dunned him for the traveling money which he had had
since October; I never pressed him to go; I reassured him when
he lamented that he would not be able to use it; I told him that
he should go to Constantinople only if he wanted to go some
where south anyway. I am delivering quite tragic monologues to
myself.
This evening his wife comes back.
The body is on the same train. I must go and meet her at the
station, which is quite a hard task. Perhaps she will reproach
me. If so, what shall I, what can I, reply? Another bitter occasion
will be the funeral. It will require a gTeat deal of fortitude, under
the eyes of the mourners. II faut passer par id (It is necessary to
go there].
The day before yesterday Newlinski's family doctor published

the following declaration in the Neue Freie Frene:
M. de Newlinski.
To the Editors.
In one of yesterdays Monday papers, the death of M. de
Newlinski was presented as one that had taken place under mysterious circumstances. As the long time physician of the deceased,
may I be permitted to point out that he had for a number
yean been suffering from a severe heart condition (aneurysm
the aorta). Last winter he had repeated attacks of extreme cardiac weakness, and consequently his sudden death was apparently
caused by a similar attack which brought about cardiac paralyse
With the respectful request to publish this letter in your esteemed journal, I remain
Yours,
Dr. Ludwig Frey
Vienna. April 4, 1899.
April 7
Yesterday Alex Marmorek told me, among other things, about
a discovery of his which is still a strict secret; I am the only one
be has told about it besides his family. He believes he has found
a remedy for tuberculosis. If this is true, it is something colossal
this much is clear. He says that his experiments on animals
hate been successful. Now he intends to experiment on human
beings But first he will, and must, disclose it to Duclaux, the
head of the Pasteur Institute. For his streptococcus serum he has
received no financial remuneration whatever. Before he turns
over the T.B. medicine, he wants to make sure of getting 50%
of the profit the Pasteur Institute will make. He thinks this will
amount to millions each year; and he wants to be rich so that he
can do something for Zionism.
Now. it is possible that the Pasteur Institute will refuse
him the 50%. In that event he intends to leave and offer the
whole thing to Lord Lister for the Jenner Institute in Izmdon.
I. however, advised him to submit it to the German Kaiser. .As
soon as Duclaux has refused. Alex will call me to a meeting on
way* at which we shall discuss the further details, for naturally I want to utilize the moral effect of this achievement for
he benefit of Zionism.
Since there is the possibility that the French, whether they reK*i him or accept him. can later reproach him with having acted
001 * * disinterested scientist but as a commerfant juif [Jewish
*** *). I advised him to accompany his verbal disclosure to
Duclaux with a written one as well, saying that the reason he
Winu lo participate in the profits is that the rich Jews are not
* > tacit* in (hr original
doing anything for our people and that he wants funds he can
use for the good cause.
April 8
Ricn n arrive hi com me on le craint, ni comtne on I espere
[Nothing happens as one fears, nor as one hopes].
This time, ni comme on le craint [the former].
A bit uneasy I drove to the station yesterday evening, to meet
Mme. de Newlinski and the coffin.
An odd assortment of people at the station. Oscar Marmorek
had come with me. Some poor relations were already there. Then
came Resmy Bey, the I urkish charge d affaires; further, a fet*
friends of the family and the family lawyer, the latter in a sparkling mood and with many anecdotes to tell.
A communis opinio [consensus of opinion] crystallized: it was
all the fault of the family doctor who had attended Newlinski
and had consented to the journey. (As a matter of fact, this is
my real opinion, too.) But who knows? If I had not been diligently doing my duty, perhaps my absence would have caused
them to call me the guilty party.
The lawyer expressed his confidence to me that the Zionists
would do something for the children, since N. had made the tnp
on our behalf.
The train was late. All sorts of stories were told, including the
one about an attempt to blackmail the Sultan, which had been
falsely hung on Newlinski, whereas the blackmailers according
to Resmy Bey were a certain Graf and his bailleur du jondt
[silent partner] Eisner.
The lawyer told how he had introduced Eisner to Nuri Bey.
It was at a stag supper-party with dames nues [nude women]
that the Turkish State Secretary made the acquaintance of
Eisner von Eisenhof.
During the hang-over they are supposed to have got together
on a plot which was directed against Ambassador Mahmud
Nedim and. it seems, netted the latter the Sultans disfavor.
The train came in. Mme. de Newlinski got off, tottering and
lobbing, and fell around everybody's neck, including mine. She
begged me to come to the house, after the hearse had been
driven to the Karlskirche.
So I drove from the station to her apartment. Several friends
of the family were assembled there, among them the family doctor who was not at all depressed. There was also a big stock-gambler who had made many hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, out of Newlinskis tips.
I told the woman that she could always count on me as a (rood
friend.
The children were in quite good spirits and laughed a lot.
I soon took my leave. The big speculator left with me and
told me he hoped that "the powerful Zionist group in whose
service N. died would "do something for the children." This is
pmiing the emotional buck. Each shifts it on to the next man.
Luckily for the children, I at least shall not leave them in the
lurch.
Poborski told me about Newlinski's last hours. He had been
at Yildiz, to be sure, but had not spoken with the Sultan, as his
last letter suggested. Poborski also told me about the shameful
l^rngvon afteT Ns death: how the doctors and the clergyman
to squeeze every penny they could out of the embalming
the consecration rites. But also that Artin Pasha had told fat
Danusso that I would soon be called to Constantinople. Vede"mo [Wait and see]?
April 8
Thu morning the first exton ion er called on me.
At ten o'clock a gentleman sent his card in to me. "Josef Graf,
Mitor of Information Wien, it said on it.
The blackmailer, of whom Resmy Bey had spoken yesterday,
admitted him. A shabby, elderly man entered. He had a
Pronounced nervous blink

voice. Everybody in Vienna, he said, was talking about how
Ncwlinski had gone to see the Sultan, on instructions from us.
with an entourage like an ambassador s." If this was conrect.
he had some interesting news for me. I gave him an evasive answer, but he made me his disclosures" anyway.
A certain Bernhard Stem, former Constantinople correspondent of the Neue Freie Prase, had received from an opponent of
the Zionist movement, Herr Richard Rappaport (of the group
Korah." which was mentioned on an earlier occasion) instructions and funds to go to Constantinople and work against the
Zionists. He. Graf, had taken Stem in some time ago. when the
latter was hard up. Recently Stem had come to him and shown
him four thousand guilders which he had received to work
against us at Yildiz as an "emissary." It was true, Graf said, that
he himself was an opponent of Zionism, but it would be a shame
if Jews did not stick together. Stem was scheduled to leave for
Constantinople on the Orient Express on Monday, but on Sunday (tomorrow) he would come to sec him once more. Why
didnt I use this information in any way I thought appropriate.
It was Rappaports aim, he said, to demonstrate, by frustrating
the Zionist movement, that only his Jewish People s Party was
on the right track.
I replied that one opponent more or less did not matter to us.
Our position was simply to reward the people who sened us and
brought us proof of the services rendered. We couldn't do anything else. My personal point of view, however, was not that of
a politician. I would never join the Jewish People's Party, because I was not interested in political posts or the like. I have
expressed my views on the Jewish Question; they seem to have
found the approval of many. If these people turned away from
me again, my activity would simply be at an end. But what our
aims are we say out loud at the Congress and in our newspapers.
We do not travel by secret paths.
Then I brought the conversation onto general things and dismissed the scoundrel.
THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 82S
In the afternoon I called on Mme. de Ncwlinski and discussed
money matters with her. The widow is composed, very clearheaded and covetous. I promised her that, to begin with, we
would continue to pay her the subsidy drawn by her husband
(too guilders a month) until the next Congress, with the proviso
that she carry on the Correspondence de IEst.
Then I will try at the Congress to bring about an arrangement
favorable to her.
For it is to our interest that the Correspondence does not fall
into the hands of blackmailers.
In the evening I convened the A.C. at my place, told the gentlemen everything, and they exonerated me. It was also decided
that I should call Rappaport on the carpet tomorrow to find out
whether Grafs tale was true.
Either extortion has been attempted on us, or Rappaport is
being swindled. Perhaps both.
An additional detail. Newl.s widow informed roe, among

other things, that the big-time speculator Zierer had told her
before her departure that should her husband die in Constantinople, she ought to have him buried there, because the transportation back to Vienna would be too expensive.
And upon that note she departed.
They all even including, in this case, the doomed man, the
Snot of the lot calculated that his death on the journey would
P** us, the Zionists, under perpetual obligation to his survivors. He sold us his corpse, as it were.
Sutely nothing remotely as strange as this occurs in novels.
Actually, the only dupe in this sad affair is myself, who tailed
10 *** through this scheme.
wever, Ncwlinski himself showed courage and a fathers
In my eyes, after his death, he looms head and shoul824 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL
ders above the whole riff-raff; to get mixed up with this rotten
bunch was the tragic blunder of his life.
April 10
Newlinski's funeral yesterday. First class. But many were absent from the Karlskirchc who, while he lived, had caroused and
gone on the town and been involved in all sorts of secret intrigues
with him.
Jews were in the majority. Wonder what most of them thought
of all this pageantry?
At the church-door most of the people who had stayed till then
drifted away.
I spoke to Resmy Bey and made an appointment for today.
I drove to the cemetery in company with the journalist Ronried. On the way out his conversation was a funeral march. We
were driving slowly, for the undertaker's staff was walking alongside the hearse with torches. One of them, at the rear, bore the
departed's decorations on a red cushion. Outriders, etc.
Out at the cemetery, the ceremony was brief.
Poborski took me aside: the widow counted on our defraying
the funeral expenses, at least half of them.
Kozmian said to me: "The poor fellow had only another
month at the most to live, anyway."
On the way back, Ronried lit a cigarette and said with an air
of consolation: "One more whos got it over with." And he blew
the lively tunes of a military band returning home.
Then I went to sec Rappaport about the Graf-Stern blackmail affair. Following my custom, I took the bull by the horns.
Rappaport gave me his word of honor that Stem had been assigned no political mission." He was only supposed to go to
Constantinople as a representative of the Extrapost, in order to
make connections with the aid of which the Extrapost a littleread Monday paper would obtain influence in Balkan circles.
I explained to him that the whole business amounted to blackmail and that he was being duped. This poor rich young man,
however, trusts the pack of parasites surrounding him more than
he does an honest adviser. I think that right afterwards he went
to those scoundrels, in order to have them tell him fresh lies and
to believe in them.
I placed myself at his disposal in case he wanted to unmask
Stem.
Yesterday I went to see Resmy Bey. the Turkish charge d'af

fares. He spoke frankly about conditions in Constantinople.
When I told him that I was able to catch the blackmailers Graf
and Stem and show them up publicly, he told me with typically
Turkish shoulder-shrugging and equanimity: "That wont do
these two any harm in Constantinople."
He said further that I should win over either Nuri Bey or,
preferably, Tahsim Bey. The reigning favorite now is Tahsim
Bey. Lutfy Bey, the interpreter of dreams, was no good for our
purposes. Lutfy *s specialty was decorations and concessions. For
politic al matters Tahsim was the best.
I also told Resmy that I was having the Correspondance de
tEst continue through a subvention I was giving to Mme. NewItnski and was keeping it at the disposal of the Turkish govern*
^ c urse, quite free of charge el sans arriere-pensee [and
without any ulterior motive]. It was to become a serious and
decent paper.
He thanked me,
finally spoke about Nuri and Tahsim. I said that perhaps
êm ought to be won over it y aurait pour tout le
^tonde [there would be something for everybody]. He gave a
ly smile, but said Tahsim would not like the idea of Nuris
Kwnething too.
Then I called on Mme. de Newlinski and went over her husband's books with her. The assets even less than I had anticipated.
The whole Correspondence seems to have been a swindle. A
dozen subscribers, el tout finissait par du chantage [and it all
ended in blackmail]. Roughly the same sort of impression as
when one uncovers a counterfeiters press in a cellar.
And yet the man was useful to us. His greatest service was to
teach me not to have any respect for pashas.
April ii, evening
I have just received a telegTam from Ixindon giving the subscriptions up to now as 228,000 shares. I could not beliese ray
eyes and wired back whether it was really two hundred and
twenty-eight thousand with down-payments. If so, the subscription is a success, for in the remaining 18 days we are sure to raise
an equal amount.
It would be a success such as I myself did not dare to hope for.
April ij
Those 228,000 turned out to be a bubble .* In reply to my
inquiry there came a correction with different figures. I sent a
sharp telegram criticizing this way of doing things. (Hcymann's?)
Fortunately I didnt fall for it and didn't put it in the Welt.
So the question of the subscription's success remains open.
Yesterday afternoon Resmy Bey came to see me. After a few
words of mourning Newlinski he came out with his true view:
Notre pauvre ami avail set defauts [Our poor friend had his
faults]. He was a dubious individual." The dead ride fast.**
He very much likes the idea of my supervising and running the
Correspondence. We parted friends.
* In FngUih in the original.
Translator*! Not*: Die Toten rriten 1 thntll, a line from C. A. Mrg*r **
braird ballad Ltnore.
April 13
The Graf-Stern blackmail affair has now been cleared up. I
informed Bergmann and Stem. The latter went to see Graf with
Dr. Wemer. Graf declared after the greeting that he didn't know
Dr. Herzl at all. He claims never to have seen me!
With this the case is settled.
April 14
We are now undoubtedly in a state of being boycotted by the
big bankers, a state that Seligmann predicted to me last October
in London. If the subscription is a success, we shall later boycott them.
April 17
The following joke is making the rounds in Vienna now. The
German Kaiser is supposed to have said to me: "Zionism is a
splendid idea; the only thing is, it can't be carried out with Jews."
April ti
The incompetence of the I>ondon Bank Office exceeds all
bounds. Or is it disinclination, laziness? Today, during the last
week of the subscription, they give me the subscription agencies
for Russia, to put in the issue of the Welt that appeared yester which means, too late. The Rumanian ones are still missing!
Tomorrow I go to Cologne for discussions about the Bank. I
would have wanted to enter in this Book Six as an important
chapter heading whether or not the subscription has been a success.
This way the Book ends with a big

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The Complete Diaries of

July 22, Carlsbad

his umbrella as if to strike, saying, "It is scandalous the way one

Very interesting. Bismarck advises him not to be afraid of Eng.

From Rothschild's negative attitude I must salvage everything

440 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HFR7 L

pills I am given to swallow and the obstacles that are placed in

Letters sent on Julv *7:

Letter to the Grand Duke of Baden:

I have been to Constantinople and explored the ground there.

I remain Your Royal Highness' respectful and grateful servant

demic discussions. This does not mean that I reject refinements

Dr. L. Ernst, the author of a book about secret remedies for

In the afternoon at Newlinski's.

THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 451

Gave Newlinski 184 guilders for Whitman's expenses.

I am including Ncwlinskis charming letter here as a souvenir.

Daily Chronicle, in which my trip to Iondon is connected with

Newlinski today sounded me out by inquiring whether in

In the Allgemeine Israrlitische Wochemchrift of July 17 one

456 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL

Izzet (and myself) the possibility of pulling our heads out of

letter to Zadoc Khan:

I telegraphed Hechler, who has gone to Horitz for the peasant

to the duel between Schrader and Kotze: gossip which I wasn't

Hechler went to see Prince Gunther yesterday afternoon when

the latter returned from the parade ground. Unfortunately one

Poor Hechler had tough luck. He left Horitz without giving

September 16, Vienna

I believe that we are at a great turning point in our history.

468 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl

I immediately went to see Newlinski and told him the m

THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL 469

Newlinski wrote to Izzet and spoke with the local ambassador,

In the meantime the following happened: Glogau came to me

Letter to Zadoc Kahn:

Hechler has been here a few times already to ask whether I

Today Rabbi Dr. Leopold Goldschmied of Mieslitz came to see

etc., to create a great organ. In reply to this I said that I would

I declared categorically: I shall get to the bottom of this. In

want to separate me from Newlinski, i.e., from Ko/mian as

In Austria, particularly Vienna, I have a few adherents. Of

said. "For two weeks I have heard nothing from Constantinople.

Yesterday I sent Hechler the Russian translation of my pai&

An item from the Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung of October 18,

** rr * Ikum uuxit, ri>- rrfc.

Facsimile of part of a letter by Herd to Professor Richard Gottheil, Sn

Facsimile of a letter written by Herd to Professor Richard Gottheil dated

news for the Jews, with authorization to make it public. What?

Last night I attended a gala party of the Kadiinah. A series of

492 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZl

Later Dr. Griinfeld brought Dr. Gustav Kohn, an attorney

Professor Singer, whom I had annoyed by a reference to the

out. And we shall no longer be dependent on the good grace* d

Levin -Epstein, the administrator of the Rehovoth colony in

He said: Things are beginning to clear up. You no longer go

I am embarrassing, if there it any reason to fear the slightest indiscretion on my part.

498 THE COMPLETE DIARIES OF THEODOR HERZL

be a Russian annexation of Turkey, similar to the protectorate

Now, there is a method of straightening out the Turkish

The Danish literary light Georg Brandes acknowledges re

I am sending him an ironical reply: I had expected a difierent

could beroroe great the moment we had a million for purposes