"A SCRAP OF PAPER."
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I have just seen the paragraph in your issue of June 7th dealing with my part in the recent discussion in the Times as to the origin of the phrase " a scrap of paper." While I have never had any doubts in my own mind as to the authenticity, in general, of the version given me by the late Sir Edward Goshen within a short time of the outbreak of War, I should like to point out how strongly this is corrobor- ated by a statement made by Dr. Hubert Hall in one of his letters to the Times.
Sir Edward Goschen told me that the conversation with the German Chancellor took place in German ; that Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's exact words were "ern Stiickchen Papier " ; and that he (the Ambassador), in rendering this by " a scrap of paper," may have had in mind Sardou's play of that name.
I was under the impression that Sir Edward was referring to some recent revival of the play at a London theatre, and I still have an idea that a Sardou play was resuscitated in the West End some time in the spring or summer of 1914. But Dr. Hall has come forward with the information that a private performance of A Scrap of Paper, had been given at Sir Edward Gosehen's country seat. The Ambassador never mentioned this private performance to me, and. I learnt of it first from Dr. Hall's letter to the Times. This disclosure makes it perfectly clear to me that the conver- sation, or at any rate that part of it which is under discussion, did take place in German and that Sir Edward Goschen, when sitting down to pen his despatch to the Foreign Office, found lingering in his mind the recollection of a pleasant family event, destined to bequeath to history the phrase which will make the name of William Edward Goschen immortal.
On the other hand I am quite prepared to admit that, with regard to the Chancellor's actual words in German, the Ambassador's memory may have been at fault. In a con- versation of such moment conducted in a foreign tongue his mind may well have retained the sense of Herr von Bethmann Holiweg's cynical allusion to the Belgian neutrality treaty but not the exact phrase. Anyone who knew Herr von Bethmann. Hollweg and can appreciate the niceties of the German language, will agree that, rather than "ern Stfickelten Papier," "ein Fetzen Papier" is precisely the sort of vigorous colloquialism that, in a moment of stress, would have risen to the lips of the Squire of Hohen Finnow. But the German Chan&MY'S words, its repo-Tied to me by the late Sir Edward GOSChen,' were -"-ein•Stikkeiert -Papier."—I am, Sir, &e.,
VALENTINE WILLIAMS.
Chtitel Guyon, Puy-de-DOrne (hotel Printania).
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