Office of the Historian

No. 126.
Mr. Bliss to Mr. Fish.

American Legation,
Berlin, December 28, 1872. (Rec’d January 18, 1873.)
No. 440.]

Sir: I send herewith the text of the decree of the Emperor relieving Prince Bismarck from the presidency of the Prussian ministry, and transferring [Page 275] the duty of the presiding to the “senior minister;” also, the text of the notification of the change to Parliament by Prince Bismarck, stating that Count von Boon will accordingly, from date, assume the presidency.

I also append an article of the semi-official organ, the “Provincial Correspondenz,” which interprets, it is supposed, authoritatively, the meaning of the change. It must be admitted that the measure is one that, without interpretation, would not explain itself, and that, even thus elucidated, leaves the construction of the Prussian ministry anomalous.

I am, &c.,

ALEXANDER BLISS.
Chargé d’Affaires.
Berlin, December 24.

A decree, dated the 21st instant, of His Majesty the Emperor and King to Prince von Bismarck, reads thus:

In accordance with the suggestion contained in your report of the 20th instant, I hereby relieve you of the presidency of my ministry of state. You will still report to me concerning the affairs of the empire and foreign affairs, and, in case of your being prevented from taking part, personally, in a session of the ministry of state, you will have the right to cause your vote to be given, on your own responsibility, by the president of the office of the chancellor of the empire, Minister of State Delbruck, in matters concerning the interests of the empire. The presidency of the ministry of state will be transferred to the senior minister of state. I have brought this matter to the knowledge of the ministry of state.

Berlin, December 21, 1872.

  • WILLIAM.
  • PRINCE VON BISMARCK.

To the President of the Ministry of State, Prince von Bismarck.