The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-02 00:00:00

AN IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION.

An official communication, it seems, was made to the
officers at Metz by their generals on the 19th. This was
made verbally, but several officers assembled together
immediately after, and compared their recollections of it.
They therefore attest the exactitude of the following
report :

" Gentlemen,--I am directed by the General of Divi-
sion and on behalf of the Marshal Commanding in Chief
to make known to you the important events which have
occurred within the last few days. The appro-
visionments of the place of Metz are diminish-
ing more and more, and Marshal Bazaine has
thought it right to enter into negotiations with the
enemy. He selected General Boyer, his first aide-de-camp,
who went to Versailles to the headquarters of King
William. The eagerness with whieh the Marshal's envoy
was received indicated that the Prussians are very anxious
to conclude the war. General Boyer having travelled by
rail from Metz to Château Thierry, the service of the
trains was interrupted, in order to render his journey
more rapid. At Château Thierry an armed carriage Jf
the King's waited to convey him to Versailles. Scarcely
arrived, the General was received by Bismarck, who
transmitted to the King his request for an audience. He
was at once introduced, and found himself in presence
of a council of war, at which the principal
leaders of the Prussian army were present, under the
presidency of the King of Prussia. General Boyer having,
explained the object of his mission, General Moltke de-
clared that in a question exclusively military, negotiations
could not be long. The army of Metz must submit to the
fate of the army of Sedan and surrender themselves pri-
soners of war. Bismarck replied that the political ques-
tion ought to precede the military question. "I should be
disposed to admit," he continued, " a convention which
should allow the army of Metz to retreat to a specified
position in French territory, so as to protect
the deliberations necessary for securing peace." This
idea was suggested to Count Bismarck by the difficulties
which the absence of all government in France creates for
the Prussian Government. In fact, the information ob-
tained by the general along the road, from the station.-
masters and other persons, and the journals which he was
able to bring back, leave, unhappily, no doubt in this re-
spect. The most complete anarchy reigns at present in
France. Paris, invested, famished, and without external
communications, must open to the Prussians in a very few
days. Civil discord paralyses the defence ; the members
of the National Defence Committee have been dispersed.
Gambetta and Klratry have left in balloons, one
has fallen at Amiens, the other at Bar-le-Duc. Disorder
is at its climax in the South of France. The red flag
floats at Lyons, Marseilles, and Bordeaux. An army of
' Breton volunteers has been destroyed near - Orleans.
Normandy, overrun by bands of brigands, has appealed to
the Prussians to restore order. Havre, Elboeuf, and Rouen
have at present Prussian garrisons,who assist the National
Guard in preserving public safety. A movement of a
religious character has been made in the Vend& ;
the north e vidently desires peace. Prussia claims Lorraine
and Alsace ; Italy claims Savoy, Nice, and Corsica.
This anarchy—the Provisional Government being dispersed,
the different towns not agreeing as to the form of the new
Government, the Orleans princes not having presented
themselves—this anarchy puts unexpected obstacles in
the way of the Prussian Government, which is dis-
posed to treat of peace. The Prussians cannot dream
of opening negotiations excepting with the Go-
vernment which existed prior to the Ist September,
that is to say with the Regency. It is not known whe-
ther, under present circumstances, the Regent would be
willing to listen to pacific propositions. But in case of
refusal they could only be addressed to the Chamber of
Deputies, the result of universal suffrage, which still
legally represents the nation. In any case, in order that
the Corps Legislatif, which was sitting until the Ist of
September, can re-assemble and can deliberate, it is ne-
cessary that it should be protected by a French army.
Such is the position that no doubt the army of Metz will
have to fill. In awaiting the return of General
Boyer, who has again started for Versailles
with fresh powers, it is imperative to let the
troops know that the painful situation in which
we are placed is but temporary. The army separates its
fortune from that of the town of Metz. In waiting to be
enabled to leave, in order to fulfil a new patriotic mission,
it will know how to support with courage a few more days
of privation. If you have, gentlemen, any more expla-
nations to ask, I will hasten to give them to you, but I
must tell you that no discussion will be allowed.

This communication was listened to in the most pro-
found silence, and the assembly dispersed.

The Independent de /a Moselle rays of it that it is beyond

criticism. The solution which it suggests to the situation
was foreseen, and prepared by a series of errors, for which
we know who are responsible. The French army is to
become again the. Imperial army, and is once more to
distinguish itself by exploits in the war of the streets. It
is to go, in conjunction with the Prussian army, to
re-establish order and shoot those odious republicans who
have the insanepretension of wishing to die for their coun-
try. Will the army lend itself to so shameful a design? Will
it again, as in 1862, become the toy of the Empire, and
lend its hand to withdraw the chestnuts from the fire ?
We cannot believe it. It knows well that the truth has
been disguised, and will not believe in the picture of
France in anarchy and the towns demanding Prussian
garrisons.