OPVL Text of the Ems Telegram

OPVL Text of the Ems Telegram

Origin:

The Ems Telegram was sent by Heinrich Abeken. It was sent on July 13, 1870. to the Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

Purpose:

The purpose of the original Ems Telegram was to report an encounter between King William I and Count Benedetti. This encounter concerned the succession to the Spanish throne, in which Count Benedetti demanded that a member of King William’s family pursue the Spanish throne. The purpose edited version of the Ems Telegram was to make the encounter appear as a disagreement.

Value:

The unedited Ems Telegram is a primary source and can be used to gain information about this encounter. However, because it is a primary source there will also be bias on the information. This source is also biased because Wilhelm was instructing Abeken on what to write. The edited version of the telegram does not have as much value as the original does. Because it has been edited, significant bias was added to the document.

Limitations:

There are significant limitations with a primary source such as this one. Because it was written from the view of one person, there is significant bias on it. This is problematic because without background research the whole event cannot be understood. The other version of this document that was edited by Bismarck also has limitations due to the fact that similarly it is from one side. However, while using both of these documents, it is possible to see the different viewpoints on one event.

Ramifications:

The edited version did end up offending France. As a result of this published version, France went to war. This war led to the downfall of the French Second Empire and the creation of the German Second Empire.