The New York herald., 1870-09-14
Tho Situation In Eurepc-PresVccts d
Peace Growing Fainter.

feaco Growing Fainter
We regret to say that the telegrsphic intel
ligence from Europe does not tend to strengthen
the hopes of an armistice and treaty Of peace
between France and Germany. No definite
statement has yet been ventured ON Of the
willingness of the King Of Prussia to propose
or accept terms, until, by the capture and
occupation of Paris, he shall be.in condition
to dictate them from the Tuileries. That is
the Prussian programme, and we see no pros
pect Of its being departed from. The repub-
lican government of France evinces the most
anxious desire for the restoration of peace,
and appeals, but apparently in vain, to the
other neutral Powers of Europe to step In
and mediate. M. Theirs, the most respected
public man in France, arrived in London
| yesterday, on a mission to the English govern
ment, and is reported to have been in con-
! sultation with Earl Granville, the British
specially to London to meet him. M. Theirs
is represented rs giving out that he knows
nothing of the republic in France, but
that he is deputed by the Committee Of
National Defence--a somewhat remark
able statement if true. He is au-
peace to the English Cabinet and to solicit the
Intervention Of that government to have the
plan adopted by France and Germany. The
programme is said to embrace three points
first, pecuniary indemnity to Germany; Sec
ond, destruction Of the fortresses in Alsace
! md nd fho tor,
patton by the Germans of the fortresses of
Metz and Strasbourg until after general cleo.
ton in France has duly authorized the ratifica-
ton of the treaty of peace by the constituted
authorities of the nation.
These terms may appear hard and humiliat-
ing to France; but they are probably the best
that can be obtained. And if the rumor of the
unconditional surrender of Metz, which was
believed at the German Embassy in London
yesterday, Is well founded, they are nothing
more than the Germans have it in their power
to exact. We hope, therefore, that the mis-
sion Of NJ Theirs may prove successful and
that oil the neutral Powers may combine to in
sist on the acceptance of those terms by the
King Of Prussia. 1t is probable, however,
thatthe annexation to Germany of the provinces
OF Alsace and Lorraine will be insisted upon
as condition of peace; and the French people
arr apparently accustoming themselves to take
q seusible view of the situation, for Louis
Blanc, in newspaper article the other day,
goes 30 far as to propose that the question of
''Under which King, Bezonian ?" shall be sub
mitted to, and finally decided by, the people of
those two provinces. AS we indicated, how
ever, in the opening of this article, the pros
poets for peace are not very cheering, and the
siege OF Paris will probably have to be carried
on, with all its carnage and horror.
There is little new to be said in regard to
the movements Of the armies. The Germans
are expected to be in position to-day in front
OF Paris; and the chateau of the Rothschild |
family in that vicinity is to be the headquav-
ters Of the King, having been offered for that
purpose with the view of saving it from
destruction. The investing army ia snp-
posed to number four hundred thousand men,
which, probably, exceeds by one hundred thou
sand the force inside the walls and fortresses.
We have no positive information as to whether
armies are being raised by France in the great
cities and departments that are free from
invasion, but we cannot suppose that the mill
tary spirit of the nation is go paralyzed as to
permit Paris to be invested without the rest of
! the country making grand and heroic effort
to relieve the capital. We are also in sus-
pense as to the fate of Metz, Strasbourg, Toul,
Verdun, scissors and the other besieged
places, not being inclined to place much credit
in the rumor of the capitulation of Metz and
the consequent surrender of Bazaine's army.
AS to the prediction that Strasbourg will
capitulate soon, that is of piece with much
of the nonsense which the telegraph brings.
1t is stalled that the French fleets in the Baltic
and North Seas, blockading the German ports,
are withdrawing and returning home, the
crews having cheerfully accepted the repub-
lie, and Fourichon, the Admiral of the squad
ron, having accepted the appointment of
Naval Minister under the new government
The blockade does not appear at any time to
have been very effective, and it will
probably cease altogether very soon.
In the meantime the people of Paris are
sternly preparing for the evil days that
threaten to come upon them. 1t is said that
the approach Of tho Germans seems only to
arouse the military ardor of the Parisians and
that defence will be made worthy of the
military renown of France Great reliance is
placed on General Trochu, and he will doubt
less prove himself entirely deserving of it.
The Paris correspondent of the London
Post reports that all hopes for sus-
pension of hostilities have been abandoned
by the officials and the people of Paris; and
an edct has been issued by the proper
authorities absolutely prohibiting any person
leaving the city after six o'clock tomorrow
morning.
In an interview which one of our cor