Editing Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg (section)

=== Appointment and reactions ===
[[File:Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.jpg|thumb|Emperor Wilhelm II in 1904|265x265px]]
Emperor [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Wilhelm II]] appointed Bethmann Hollweg Reich chancellor on 7 July 1909. He had been deputy to Chancellor von Bülow during his time in office, and the Emperor knew Bethmann Hollweg's willingness to compromise in order to calm the rivalry between parties. His modest appearance and successes as an advisor to Wilhelm had also put him in the Emperor's good graces. Bethmann Hollweg's appointment had previously been suggested in political circles, including by [[Friedrich von Holstein]] in the Foreign Office.{{Sfn|von Vietsch   |1969|p=99}}

Overall there was a positive response from all parties to the appointment, although the Catholic [[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre Party]] had reservations, and for the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) Bethmann Hollweg represented just another chancellor loyal to the Emperor. But the benevolent neutrality of the overall party spectrum resulted from Bethmann Hollweg's many facets. He was not a Junker in the true sense of the word, which the leftists took as a positive sign. His family history made him appreciated by the [[National Liberal Party (Germany)|National Liberals]] and the Centre, and his activity as an administrative official had created trust among conservatives.{{Sfn|von Vietsch|1969|p=101}}

The response from abroad was exclusively friendly. The French {{Lang|fr|Journal des Débats}} spoke of a "reassuring sign" for Franco-German relations. The French ambassador in Berlin, [[Jules Cambon]], sent the new Reich chancellor an official letter of congratulations, something that had never happened before. The German Embassy in London under [[Paul Wolff Metternich]] wrote that British [[Edward VII|King Edward VII]] considered the new chancellor an "important partner for the maintenance of peace".