The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-24 00:00:00

COUNT BISMARCK'S VIEWS AND
INTENTIONS.

Clint Wsmarck's candour is as remarkable as his
bllOnesp. A long conversation between this very
capable Minister and a correspondent of the standard
was plblisned a few days ago, end it is not improbable
that in the following passage we have a full and faith-
ful revelation of the ciurse that Ilion:tack and Germany
are roolvtd upon, and the reasons which determine
that emirs,:

The portent Is the twenty-flflh time M the space of a
hundred years that France ha, made war on Germany on
some pretext or other. Now, at least, our terrible disease of
divided nnity being cured, we have contrived, by the help of
the bend of God, to beat her down. It is idle to hope to
propitiate her. She would never forgive us for beating her,
Inca it we offesed the easiest term, to the world, and forbore
from asking for the expeosee of the war. Sae could not
ferrety e you fir Waterloo, mid It was only by accident that
the did not make war upon you en account of it. She could
not forgive Sado wo, though it was not fought agalmit her,
and she will never f orglve Sedan. She must therefore he
made harmless. We must have Strasburg, and we must have
Mets, even if in the latter ca e we hohl merely the
garrison, end whatever else is necessary to improve our
striate& position against attack from her. We do not want
the territory as territory, hut as a elects between licr and us.
At the commencement of this war hail the Emperor dis-
played energy, he might have attacked Southern Ceramic),
before we could have done anything. Why he did tot do it
we to not know to this day. Ile had an army of 150,0C.0 men,
ready to be moved ins day. We cannot do that—we are too
poor. Ent France can afford it, and having missed doing the
energetic and daring thing once, she would know letter next
time, and would do it If we do not take precautions
-and make It Impossible by improving our frontier. Had the
attack been made at once on South Germany, we should
have Mat its assistance ; not because the South G ermaos are
not well disposed, but because they would hare boon crushed.
Thu late -.ging of Wurtonherg said to me one day, "You are
always very frank w ith me; I will be track ulth yon. If
the French were to pumice upon Icy people, and I were
e..ting a soldier's breast in your camp, how should I feel?
11 y people, oppressed with Inactions, would beg of me to
come home and make terms will the caoqw.rors. The
shirt is nearer to the skin than the coat, mid I should
have to do it." Those were the words of the late King of
Wurtemherg to me, and they describe the situation such as
it must always remain if we do not make ourselves strong
against French attack on that side. That Is why we must
have Strasburg, and an improved frontier. We will Ugh'
ten years sooner than not obtain this necessary security.
NVhen the terms of peace come to be diecassed, it is
doubtful whether it will Ise found easier to turn Ger-
many from this determination than to answer the
arguments by which Count Bistuarck vindicates it.
Another passage from the same conversation illustrates
still further the attitude of Count Bismarck's very
candid mind :
M. Fevre is anxious to know if! shall receive communica-
tions from him, and if It will be possible to open negotiations
for peace on the basis of the integrity of the French
territory. To the first question I can only say that
everything that comes from or through Lord Granville will
receive my best attention, though I cannot at present recog-
nise N. Jules Fevre as Minister of Foreign Affairs for France,
ores capable et binding the nation. and, as to the second fill.).
Mon, lane only surprleed that he did not ask if Cerium y e ould
not defray all the expenses of the war. Tice position of the
French Is worse than ever. Had the Emperor been still at
the head of affairs, he and his system bail friends hi Austria,
in Italy, and even in 'tussle. An are strati to catch the con-
tagion of Republicmism, and consequently Use Republic, if
it iota be, will be wiihout friends.