The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-21 00:00:00

GOSSIP AMONG THE BESIEGERS.

An occasional correspondent of the Standard, thus
writes from Versailles, January 16 :—The latest on dit
is that Jules Favre has accepted the " sauf conduit".
offered him by Bismarck, and has also asked permission
for his two daughters and son-in-law to be allowed to
accompany him, has a more important business in
Versailles than in London. If the . Neutral
Powers really wish for peaee, now is the time to strike, for
the iron policy of the Federal Chancellor is never
likely to be more malleable than at present. The French,
though their words are hopeful, in their hearts despair.
Even Chanzy must have lost all hope now that his
entrenched camp at Conlie has fallen into the hands of
the Prussians, who have inflicted another disaster on
that portion of the Army of the Loire which retreated on
Laval. Whatever the fate of Franca may be, that
of the French Republic is doomed. What, after all,
has resulted from the bombastic effusions and
professions of Gambetta and his colleagues? Where are
the strong young saplings that were wont to spring at his
magic voice from the long-buried root of Republicanism ?
Let any impartial observer of the late battle-field say who
have really stayed the tide of invasion —gentlemen with
the blue hood of old France flowing in their veins, rem-
nants of the regiments which formed the standing
army, and sailors and marines of the late Imperial navy,
commanded by Generals, Legitimists, Orleanists, or Im-
perialists ? It is a mistake to think that because I ssy has
not been occupied by the Prussians it is notibsilenced. The
approaches to all the forts around Paris are undermined,
and it is not likely that the besiegers will attempt to storm
Issy or any of the outlying defences of Parisi. They will,
in all probability, • content themselves with advancing
their parallels, until they can reach all parts of
the city with their guns. The . damage already
done to Paris may be inconsiderable, but the ultimate
result must be obvious to all: The question is—is
the glory of holding out a week, even a month longer,
worth the ultimate misery it must entail? There is but
little doubt that both besieged and besiegers are kept
well-informed of what is going on in the ranks of the
enemy. Spies who have known the environs of Paris from
their childhood can now carry on their nefarious traffic
almost with impunity. It has been already proved that
men are not wanting among the defenders of the
capital who are willing to sell the parole and countersign
for a five-franc piece; while among the besiegers the
Bavarians and others, not so strictly disciplined as the
soldiers of Prussia, are apt during these cold nights to
foregather round a fire and. forget their duties in the glass
they love. When peace is concluded between
France and Prussia another conflict will commence, and,
although carried out on paper, it will probably be pro-
tracted with firing, and England, to whom walking-sticks
are of as much use as weapons of' war, will probably sac-
rifice her taxpayers for the benefit of other nations—the.
battle of the guns.. For and against every gun and rifle a
hundred instances deducible from the present war will
be forthcoming, not one of which should be relied
upon as affording satisfactory data. The fact is, the
merits of a firearm rest more in the man than in the
weapon itself. For its wounding properties the Prussians
have the greatest respect for the &Lidera, but I believe
they, as a rule, consider that the " Wendels," used by the
Bavarians, has less defects than any other weapon of
the merits of which they have had an opportunity of
judging.

THE FOREIGNERS IN PARIS.-NOTE
COUNT BISMARCK.

BERLIN, January 20 (10 p.m.)

On the 17th inst. Count Bismarck addressed a despatch
to Dr. Kern, the Swiss Minister in Paris, in answer to a
letter addressed to Count Bismarck, under date of the
13th inst., and signed by the American and Swiss
Ministers and Representatives of other foreign
States. These diplomatists asked that their com-
patriots should now be allowed to leave Paris.
Count Bismarck replies that this claim is not well founded,
from the point of view of international law. He reminds
the Foreign Ministers of the Prussian Notes of the 26th
of September and 4th of October, pointing out the danger
of remaining in Paris, and says that neither law nor
custom obliges a beleaguering force to give notice of
operations which it intends carrying out. People
ought to have prepared to see Paris bombarded,
if it prolonged its resistance, and no right or
justifiable pretext can be urged against the course
the Germans have pursued. For months the neutrals in
Paris had the option of leaving the city, and certAinly as
far as the German commanders are concerned, there is no
foundation for the statement contained in the letter of the
Foreign Ministers of the 13th, that neutrals had been pre-
vented escaping from the dangers of the siege through
the obstacles placed in their way by the belli-
gerent parties. The facilities allowed to the
members of the Diplomatic Body will be con-
tinued as an act of international courtesy, although
even this is difficult, and disturbs the operations of the
German army ; but there is now only one way in which
their numerous compatriots can be released -fr)m the
dangers connected with the siege, and that is the capitu-
lation of Paris. Count Bismarck, in conclusion, observes
that, of course, buildings in which there are women,
children, and invalids are not intentionally fired at, but
that from the cmstruction of the fortress, and the
great distance of the German batteries, the damage which
is accidentally inflicted cannot be avoided--Reuter's Tele-
gram.

THE WORKING CLASSES AND THE WAR.—On
Thursday evening a meeting of the Workmen's National
Peace Association was held at the Bell Inn, Old Bailey,
for the purpose of considering what course shall be recom-
mended by the association to the working classes
to take in reference to the agitation now going
onamong certain political parties, which, in the
opinion of this association, is likely to involve this
country in foreign difficulties. The chair was taken by
Mr. Galbraith. Mr. Cremer said there had been several
large meetings in the provinces, namely, at Bolton, Pres-
ton, and other places--at which resolutions against any
war policy had been carried by large majorities. A long
discussion ensued as to the best way of counteracting
the war advocacy now going on. On the motion of Mr.
Lucraft, it was resolved to • call a public meeting at the
Freemasons' Hall, after the opening of Parliament
namely, the 14th of February—to protest against
that movement. It was then resolved that a
deputation of three— namely, Messrs. S tainsby,
Pratt, and Cremer—be asked to represent this asso-
ciation at the peace meeting at the Lambeth Baths.
On the motion of Mr. P. Dean, seconded by Mr. Babbs,
it was resolved,—" That this council, feeling assured
that the views of the working classes are not in favour
of the war policy now being advocated by a section of our
countrymen, expresses its regret that such extreme views
and demands should be put forth in their name, being
convinced that the realization of such demands would
be detrimental to liberty and the best interests of
the people." Several otner speakers addressed the
meeting, who, while expressing strong sympathy with
France and all suffering by the present war, yet advo-
cated a strict policy of neutrality and non-intervention.
Mr. Evans next called attention to the propoSed Jules
Favre demonstration, at which it is intended to carry the
Union Jack bespattered with mud. He deprecated that
act as degrading the working classes themselves, and he
was quite sure the larger part would have nothing to do
with it. Mr. Osborne, one of the Jules Favre demon-
stration committee, said that a very large section of their
own committee was also opposed to this use of the flag,
and many were trying to get it omitted.