The Germans of the Weimar Republic were awed and startled
by Lord D'Abernon. It seemed unbelievable to them that the Ambassador of a victorious Power should appear completely unaware that any victory had been won ; it seemed extraordinary that an aristocrat of such lavish elegance should scribble notes upon his evening shirt. He would stride about his panelled study at the Embassy, dictating to his secretary Mr. Whelan, telephoning to Ministers, asking the Chancellor to modify some note to Poincare or to appoint Schacht as Governor of the Reichsbank, telling statesmen, bankers, journalists exactly what they ought to do and say. Their gratitude to him was sullied by the grub of jealousy which lurks in every German rose. Stresemann alone was great enough to appreciate D'Abernon's high spirit. " It is strange," remarked Stresemann to his Cabinet in 1927, " it is strange that you gentlemen should have so few ideas now that Lord D'Abemon has left." I asked the man who told me this story how the other Ministers had taken so acid a phrase. " We thought it unkind," he said, " but true."
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