The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-24 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 24, 1870.

THE negotiations for peace between M. JULES
FAVRE and Count BISMARCK have not at present
that promising appearance which the whole world
must anxiously desire. It is, of course, scarcely
likely that the French Foreign Minister would
remain three or four days in conference without at
least some hope of a satisfactory result ; it may be
that good news is even now on its way here ; but it
is certain all the same that the attitude of the
German leaders, so far as it is revealed to the outside
world, has not been of a character to encourage
great expectations. If Count BISMARCK had been
particularly anxious to make terms he would not

have haggled for two or three days, as he has done,
on the cinestion whether the Provisional Government
can give a guarantee that its decisions will be re-
spected by the rest of the nation. What other per-
sons or party in or out of France can give any such
guarantee? The EMPEROR is evidently in no posi-
tion to answer for the people over whom he lately
reigned. Very little prospect is there that if he
made a peace he would be allowed to establish him-
sell in Paris to carry out its terms. To
whom, then, can Count BISMARCK look—to
Marshal BAZAINE, or General UHRICH, or any other
magnate whose dictum is much less likely to be
endorsed by the voice of France than the treaty
which may be signed by General TRo CHU'S Ministry ?
If the German Ministers invented a Government of

their own, it would be open to precisely the same
objections As those now urged against M. FARE and
his colleagues. The votes of the Constituent As-
sembly, which will be elected on the 2nd of October,
will doubtless be looked upon as decisive ; but
surely King WILLIAM and his advisers will not de-

liberately prolong the horrors of war untilan assembly
shall have met, settled what the government of
France is to be, of what persons it is to consist, and
then set this Ministry, which in all likelihood would
be the same as that now wielding power, to make a
peace. The risk of terms made by the
Ministry of Defence being disowned by the Con-
stituent Assembly is so slight, that if the Germans
are really anxious for peace they will not regard it.
It is urged that if a treaty were afterwards
disowned the French would be the gainers by
delay. It must, however, be remembered that were
the policy of the present Government to be thus
condemned, it must retire, and another take its place.

But where is another to be found ? And even should a
Ministry in harmony with the Assembly be forth-
coming, surely the confusion of such internal division
and strife would more than repay the Germans for
the loss of a few days' time.
That Count BISMARCK should hesitate on such
flimsy pretences goes to prove that the council at
German headquarters finds itself in a position of
e )me embarrassment ; and the absurd proclamation
of tho KING at Rheims,.about his intention to restore
the EMPEROR, and the remarkable fluctuations of
opinion in the German press, tend to the same con-
clusion. The conquering army has won more than
its chiefs intended. The easy establishment of the
RePublic is a kind of triumph to which King
WILLIAM laid no claim, and which is exceedingly
distasteful to him.
lie is well known to be so
strongly opposed to Republican principles as
.to be
very willing to go some length rather than I that a