With this perhaps Bismarck himself had some sympathy.
The King would, of course, only assume the new title if it was offered to him by his fellow-princes; there was some danger lest the Reichstag, which had been summoned to ratify the treaties, might ask him to assume it before the princes did; had they done so, he would probably have refused.

The Crown Prince, who was very eager for the new title, and the Grand Duke of Baden used all their influence with their fellow-princes.

The initiative must come from the King of Bavaria; he was in difficulty as to the form in which the offer should be made.
Bismarck, who throughout the whole negotiations worked behind the scenes, smoothing away difficulties, thereupon drafted a letter which he sent by special messenger to the King of Bavaria.

The King at once adopted it, copied it out and signed it, and at the same time wrote another letter to the other princes, asking them to join in the request which he had made to the King of Prussia, to assume the title of Emperor which had been in abeyance for over sixty years.

So it came about that the letter by which the offer to the King was made had really emanated from his own Chancellor.