MARSCHALL VON BIEBERSTEIN, BARON ADOLF VON (1842-1912), German diplomatist, was born at Neuershau sen, Baden, on Oct. 12, 1842. His grandfather, Karl Wilhelm, Baron Marschall von Bieberstein, ambassador of Baden in Stutt gart, represented Baden at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Adolf was educated at Frankfort-on-Main, and at the universities of Heidelberg and Berlin. He held various administrative offices in the grand duchy of Baden, sitting from 1875-83 in the upper chamber of the Baden diet. In 1883 he was sent to Berlin as minister for Baden in the Federal Council, and from I884-90 he represented the Council in the imperial insurance office. In 1890 he entered the imperial service, and succeeded Count Herbert Bismarck as State secretary for foreign affairs under Caprivi, continuing in that office under Prince von Hohenlohe; but he had incurred the enmity of Prince Bismarck by refusing his advice and the result was a fierce press campaign against him which finally obliged him to speak out when he appeared as witness at the trial of certain journalists in 1896 for lese-majeste. He was opposed by the Agrarians for advocating the reduction of corn duties, and in 1897 resigned office, being appointed German ambassador in Constantinople, where he remained for nearly 15 years. He created a commanding position for himself and a grow
ing ascendancy in Turkish affairs for his Government. To him was largely due the promotion of the Baghdad railway. During his foreign secretaryship he took a strongly imperialist attitude. After the Kruger telegram, in the drafting of which Baron Mar schall bore a leading part, it was he who declared in the Reichstag that the maintenance of the independence of the Boer republics was a "German interest." He was an advocate of a strong naval policy for Germany. In 1907 he was principal German delegate in The Hague conference, and was the exponent of Germany's resolute and successful opposition to any practical discussion of the question of restriction of armaments. In May 1912 he suc ceeded Count Wolff-Metternich as ambassador to Great Britain, but his health broke down after a short time, and he died at Badenweiler on Sept. 24, 1912.