The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-22 00:00:00

E THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1871.

LATEST INT EL LIGENC

SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M.

THE ARMISTICE.

The Ltberte of the 20th, published at Bordeaux,
announces authoritatively that Count Bismarck will
chew his esteem for the new French Government by
granting a prolongation of the armistice until the sth
of" March.

VERSAILLES, February 21 (7.40 a.m.).
In consequence of the representations of the
French Deputies the German authorities have re-
duced the contribution of the Department of the
Oise to two million francs.

No day is fixed for the entry of the troops into
Paris, nor is any programme yet known at the head-
quarters of the Prince Imperial.
Peace is considered to be nearly certain.

3.35 p.m.

M. Thiers has received from England, Austria,
Italy, and Spain official recognition of the new
Government.

He is expected here immediately.

The Crown Prince has returned from his tour o:
inspection.—Times 7elegrains.

NEWS PROM BRUSSELS.

BRUSSELS, February 21.

The troops of Faidherbe's Army continue to em-
bark at Dunkirk for Cherbourg. The German Envoy
has presented to the King of the Belgians the letter
of the Emperor William, notifying his acceptance of
the Imperial dignity.
The Echo du Parlement states positively that
negotiations are taking place between the leaders
of the Belgian Catholic party and Rome for the
transfer of the Papal See to Belgium.—Daily News
Telegram.

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

PARIS, February 21, Evening.

M. Thiers has left for Versailles, in order to have
an interview, on the conditions of peace, with Count
Bismarck.—Standard Telegram.

THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE.

BORDEAUX, Tuesday, 6 P.M.

The Journal de Bordeaux says that it can state
without reserve that the reaty of Peace may be
considered as signed. The territorial question will be
definitely decided in a manner more favourable
to French interests and the national honour than
might be anticipated. M. Thiers was to have an
interview with the Emperor on Tuesday.
The German army will make a short march
through a portion of Paris. Rented, 64f. 20c.

DISAIIBSAL OF THE REPUBLICAN
PREFECTS.
BORDEAUX, Tuesday Night.
The Government has deposed all the Prefects
named by the ex-Dictator.

HEALTH OF THE KING OF SWEDEN.

STOCKHOLM, Feruary 24.
The daily bulletin of the King's health states that
the improvement continues.
During the last few days the fever has entirely
abated, and his Majesty has slept well, and is regain-
ing his appetite.

THE ARMISTICE AND PEACE PROSPECTS.
The following special despatches are forwarded by the
Telegraph correspondents :

PARIS, Tuesday, February 21 (1 p.m.)
General Trochu has written as follows to the Liberte :
—" You ask what are my sentiments with regard to the
report which is gaining ground of the approaching entry of
the German army into Paris. I will give them frankly.
After four and a half months of siege, after eight combats
and battles commenced by the besieged, after a bombard-
ment which made so many victims, in accordance
with a conviction which famine alone could dictate, the
enemy owes to Paris the honours of war. She should
have no anxiety for traditions and rules. In public
opinion, vouchers of the nobleness of conquerors and
conquered are the honours of war for Paris, re-
spect for the enceinte, and for her mourning. The
enemy wishes to enter Paris, not having forced
any point of the enceinte, taken by assault the
detached forts, or carried the exterior defences.
If thus the government of the city be given up
to him, he should alone bear the odium and responsibility
of such violence. As a speechless and solemn protest, the
gates should be shut ; let him open them with cannon.
Disarmed, Paris will not reply, but will leave to the
truth and justice of history the task of judging." The
police fear that the publication of this letter will excite
difficulties. Three thousand bombs have been siezed by
the authorities. The Journal Officiel publishes a list of
the new Ministry, which has not been favourably
received. The appointment of General Leflo as
Minister of War is temporary. He is too old for the task
of reforming the army. The nomination of De Larcy at
the Public Works is not understood. Lambrecht, the
Minister of Commerce, is a Protectionist. Admiral
Pothuan's presence at the Marine will probably be only
temporary. The new Finance Minister is not yet named
the post is likely to be offered to M. Buffet.

2 P. m.

It is expected here that the selection of the Ambas-
sadors to Foreign Courts will satisfy them, and destroy
the hopes of the Reds. The Due de Broglie goes to
London, Count Melchoir de Vogue to Constantinople, M.
de Remusat to Vienna, and the Duke de Noailles to St.
Petersburg.

IMPERIAL HEAD-QUARTERS, VERSAILLES,
Tuesday, Feb. 21(2 p.m.)

Peace is now considered all but certain. M. Favre, M.
Picard, and the Minister of-Finance are expected here to-
morrow. Count von Moltke has submitted for the
approval of the Emperor the plan of operations to be un-
dertaken should peace not be assured before noon on Fri-
day, the 24th. The. Second, Third, and Fifth Armies will be
at once thrown upon, the South; and Prince Frederick
Charles is looked to at head-quarters for the execution of
a great enterprise which, in case of need, is to complete
the subjection of France. All the German troops remain-
ing around Paris are being exercised in the parade march,
and the military bands are practising the music they will
play during the triumphal entry. The word " Republic "
has been struck out of all public acts, and " La France "
has been substituted.

AMIENS, Tuesday, February 21 (5.30 p.m.)

The troops of the First German Army are ordered to
hold themselves ready to concentrate at once on the
Somme. No movement has yet taken place, as final
orders are awaited from Versailles. Should peace not be
concluded, the offensive will at once be vigorously com-
menced. Yesterday morning a rumour got abroad' that
the representatives at Bordeaux were assuming a
warlike attitude ; and groups of people collected
in the streets, but were dispersed by German
patrols. General Chanty has addressed the following pro-
clamation to the Second French Army :—" Officers and
Soldiers of the Second Army, a new 'blow strikes us,
but cannot overthrow us. After a heroic stuggle, which
has lasted near five months—after sufferings and priva-
tions nobly endured—at the moment when all resources
were exhahsted at Paris, the Government of
the National Defence has been obliged to con-
clude, on the 28th of January, at Versailles, a
convention with the enemy, the consequence of which is
an armistice of twenty-one days, expiring on the 19th of
February. However painful may be for us the situation
created by this measure, at the moment when, confident
in your good right and animated by your patriotism, you
were about to make new efforts, the pledged word of the
Government must be loyally accepted. Hostilities
are suspended ; an Assembly is convoked which will
know how to affiim that France intends that her
honour should remain intact as her territory. Your duty
is to put this time of forced rest to profit—to prepare
yourselves for resuming the struggle if arrogant claims
render an honourable peace impossible. Without any
other idea than that of saving the country, you will remain
the Army of Order and of the National Defence ; prepared
for all sacrifices, and animated by a single desire—that
of fighting d outrance, until you achieve the triumph
of one single sentiment—that of vengeance, if the
purpose of Germany is to oppress, to lower, and to
humiliate us.—CHANzY." A division of the French Army
of the North embarked yesterday morning at Dunkerque,
to march southward from its point of debarkation. Eleven
millions of the Paris war contribution were delivered to-
day to the war-chest of the Ist German Army at Amiens.
M. Thiers is reported to havegone to Versailles.