Ten Years Near the German Frontier: A Retrospect and a Warning

In Short

This book serves as both a historical account and a cautionary tract written by the United States Minister to Denmark during the decade leading up to the First World War. It details the geopolitical maneuvering of the German Empire, the plight of Slesvig, and the eventual sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States. Through the lens of his diplomatic post in Copenhagen, the author dissects the expansionist philosophy of Prussia, arguing that Germany’s relentless pursuit of dominance made global conflict inevitable, and offering an urgent warning about the durability of such autocratic ideals.

The Story

The narrative begins with an exploration of Denmark’s historical tragedy: the forced annexation of Slesvig by Prussia in 1864. The author contends that this act was the foundation of the German Empire and the necessary precursor to its naval ambitions. As a diplomat stationed in Copenhagen—a city he describes as a nervous, intellectual crossroads—the author spends ten years observing the encroaching shadow of Prussian influence. He details the intricate social and political life of the Danish capital, where royalty from across Europe gathered, often under the watchful, anxious eyes of police and detectives tasked with protecting the Romanoffs and the British royal family from anarchist threats.

As the years pass, the author notes the growing arrogance of German propaganda, which sought to convince citizens of neutral countries that Germany was a model of democratic efficiency. He documents the efforts of German agents to influence American opinion, noting that even his own countrymen residing in Germany often fell under the spell of the nation’s rigid, orderly social hierarchy. The narrative shifts toward the practical realities of diplomacy, focusing on the delicate, secret negotiations required to secure the Danish West Indies (now the United States Virgin Islands) for the United States. Despite the reluctance of Danish politicians—who were more concerned with domestic power struggles than international strategic interests—the sale is eventually concluded, a transaction marked by intense secrecy, whispered meetings on the "Long Line" promenade, and the inevitable leakage of rumors to the press.

The arc of the book reaches its climax as the "military party" in Germany begins to act with increasingly reckless abandon, ignoring diplomatic norms and treating international agreements as nothing more than "scraps of paper." The author describes the failure of neutral diplomacy to restrain this tide, illustrating the transformation of the European landscape from a place of royal tea parties and intellectual debate into a theater of war. He reflects on the entry of the United States into the conflict, framing President Wilson’s ideals as a vital corrective to the cynical power politics of the old world. The book concludes with a sobering assessment: even with the defeat of German military might, the fundamental, aggressive ideology of the Prussian state remains a lingering threat. The author insists that while the world has been forced to adopt some of Germany's own methods to defeat it, the true work of peace lies in ensuring that Germany is held to the rule of international law, as the world cannot rely on a change of heart within the German state itself.

How It Unfolds

The historical foundation The author establishes that the seizure of Slesvig was the pivotal moment that allowed Prussia to construct the Kiel Canal and build the fleet necessary for its eventual global aggression. He argues that this early theft set the pattern for all subsequent German policy, proving that the state viewed international treaties as mere inconveniences to be discarded.

Life in the diplomatic circle The narrative moves to the daily reality of the legation in Copenhagen, where the author navigates the social requirements of a neutral country filled with competing spies and royalty. He contrasts the graceful, traditional diplomacy of the British and Danish courts with the growing, humorless intensity of the German representatives.

The battle for American opinion The author provides a sharp critique of the "propaganda of efficiency," detailing how German intellectuals and titled Americans sought to sell the German model as superior to Western democracy. He expresses his personal disdain for the servile imitation of German academic methods in American universities and the false promise of German societal order.

The negotiation of the islands The focus narrows to the high-stakes, clandestine purchase of the Danish West Indies, highlighting the absurdity of domestic Danish political infighting during a time of global crisis. He describes the stress of maintaining secrecy while surrounded by a suspicious press and political opponents looking for any opportunity to topple the ruling ministry.

The onset of war and final warnings The book concludes with the collapse of neutral pretense, as U-boat aggression and the violation of diplomatic passes make the shift toward war irreversible. The author offers a final, somber reflection on the resilience of the German "mind" and the absolute necessity of enforcing international law to keep such imperialistic impulses in check.

The People

Maurice Francis Egan, the author and diplomat, serves as the steady, observant protagonist. He is a man of principle who holds a deep-seated distrust of Bismarckian politics and a firm belief in the American democratic experiment. His primary desire is to protect the interests of the United States while navigating a web of European intrigue.

King Christian of Denmark emerges as a figure of quiet strength, representing the small, heroic nations forced to survive in the shadow of a giant. He is contrasted with the German military leaders and the Kaiser’s representatives, who are portrayed as arrogant and single-minded. The author also features his wife, who provides a grounded perspective on the life of an American diplomat’s spouse, and various Danish ministers like Erik de Scavenius, whose political survival often depends on the very international deals the author is attempting to facilitate. Finally, there are the "Germanophiles"—Americans living in Germany who have traded their democratic heritage for the security and status afforded by an autocratic hierarchy—who act as cautionary examples of how easily liberty can be surrendered for order.

In Its Own Voice

The rape of Slesvig and the acquisition of Heligoland--that despised 'trouser button' which kept up the 'indispensables' of the German Navy--are facts that ought to illuminate, for those who would be wise, the past as a warning to the future.

The author uses this passage in the preface to frame the entirety of the book as a necessary history lesson for a world that ignored the precursors to global conflict.

'If you ask me,' says the Protestenblatt, Number 18, 'how shall I build up the kingdom of God,' my answer is: 'Be a good German! Stand fast by the Fatherland.'

The author cites this quote to demonstrate the chilling, perverted fusion of religious duty and nationalist fervor that he encountered in the German press during the war.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an inquiry into the nature of power and the fragility of peace. It explores the question of whether a nation’s foreign policy is dictated by its internal social structure; the author argues that a country organized on rigid, autocratic, and "efficient" lines will inevitably seek to expand its borders at the expense of its neighbors. He questions the value of neutrality in the face of absolute aggression and examines the moral responsibility of an intellectual and diplomatic class to recognize the "germ of tyranny" before it matures into a world-ending conflict. It is a work that challenges the reader to look past the superficial appeal of order and efficiency to see the authoritarian principles that often underpin them.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in early 20th-century history will find this an invaluable primary account. It captures the specific, heightened anxiety of the period—the feeling of a world sliding toward a precipice that its inhabitants are both aware of and yet unable to stop. The prose is warm, conversational, and often bitingly witty, particularly when the author recounts the social absurdities of the diplomatic corps or the colorful anecdotes of court life.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the author’s period-specific attitudes, particularly his views on race and colonial subjects, which reflect the conventional, often prejudiced, wisdom of his time. The book is not a dispassionate history; it is a polemic written in the heat of the First World War, and the author’s bias against Germany is pervasive and unapologetic. Those looking for a balanced, objective account of German foreign policy will likely find the author’s intense, personal animosity toward the Prussian state—and his skepticism of socialism—to be a significant limitation. Yet, for those who value the perspective of a man who watched the "Great War" approach from a front-row seat, the book offers a rare, intimate look at the human cost and the diplomatic failures that defined the era. It remains a powerful reminder of how easily democracy can be lulled into complacency by the deceptive promises of an efficient, organized autocracy.