The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-14
BISMARCK.

TRANCE.
BERLIN, Nov. 1850 P. M.-The follow
ing is the text of Prussian Cabinet circular,
which has just been addressed by Count Bis
marck to the diplomatic representatives of
the North German Confederation serving at
the seat of foreign governments This State
paper is dated at Versailles, Nov 8, and reads
as follows
Your Excellency-You will learn by this
that M. Theirs. on the part of the French
people, expressed a desire to be admitted to
negotiate with the Cabinet representatives of
his Majesty the King at headquarters, after
having previously entered into communica-
tions with the different members of the gov
eminent of national defense at Tours and in
Paris. In compliance with orders from his
Majesty declared my Willingness to grant
the interview which he sought. NJ. Theirs
was, in consequence of this decision, allowed
first to proceed, to Paris, which he did on
the 30th ult., returning to the royal head
quarters next day, the 3lst of October. This
was the first time that statesman enjoying
such distinction and importance as NJ. Theirs
does had accepted plenipotentiary powers at
the hands of the Paris Government. This
fact induced me to hope that proposals would
be submitted to us by him or the part of
France, the acceptance of which would be
possible, and in the interest of the conclu-
sion of peace l received M. Theirs with that
respectful attention and official demeanor
and conduct to which his distinguished posi-
ton, not to speak of any former relations,
entitled him.
During the interview M. Theirs declared
that France, induced by the express desire
of the neutral powers, was ready to accept
an armistice. Thus his Majesty the King
had, in the face of the first declaration of NJ.
Theirs, to consider the fact that any or every
armistice concluded during the war would in
itself bring to Germany all the disadvantages
which are connected with the prolongation of
campaign, and which come during such
moments OF delay in the operations to every
army which receives its supplies, particularly
its supply of provisions, fro Al distant sources
Besides this we took upon ourselves the obli-
cation to leave the German troops, which had
become fully available by the capitulaton
of Metz, in the positions which they occupied
on the day the armistice was signed, and to
renounce the occupation of further territory
of the enemy, which at present we might
achieve without any, or certainly very little
resistance. The German armies could not
expect much in the way of renforcements or
succor during the next few weeks. On the
other hand France would, by the conclusion
of an armistice, be enabled to develop its re-
sources and to complete the organization of
the army corps that are now forming, and
when hostilities should reopen after the ar
mistice che would be able to oppose to us
troops which at present do not exist.
Despite all these considerations, the perso-
nal desire which was felt by his Mai esty the
King to take a first step in the interest of
peace prevailed, and 1 was empowered to
make an advance to NJ. Theirs by granting
an armistice of twenty-five or, as NJ. Thiers
afterwards wished, twenty eight days, on the
basis of the simple status in quo as it existed,
on the day of signing. During the interview
proposed to NJ. Theirs that l would define,
by line of demarcation which would be
regularly agreed to and adopted, the several
positions Of the troops, and to interrupt hos
tilities during q space of three weeks, so that
France could proceed to the holding of Par
liamentary elections for the constitution Of
national representation.
On the French side this truce would have
resulted simply in etfecting the renunciation
of insignificant and, to them, always disas-
trous army sorties, as also of a useless and to
US incomprehensible waste of ammunition
from the guns of the forts around Paris
during the period of its existence.
With respect to the elections in Alsace
was in position to declare that we should
not insist on any stipulation which would call
in question the right of the claim of France
to the German departments before the con-
clusion of peace, and that we would not make
or hold any Of the inhabitants of these parts
responsible for their appearance in a French
National Assembly as the constitutional repre-
sentatives of their countrymen.
was surprised at the French Plenipoten-
iary ON. 1hiers) declining these proposals,
in which all the advantages were on the part
of France, and at his declaring also that he
would accept an armistice only in the event
Of our agreeing to an extensive provisioning
of Paris.
replied that this would include so much
more of a military concession than return
10 the status IA, quo, or indeed, to anything
reasonable, that it could not be expected.
asked him if he was in position to offer his
Majesty the King any equivalent in return?
NJ. Theirs declared, in reply, that he was
not in a position to make any military offer
in return; and that he was obliged to ask this
concession of the provisioning of Paris, with
out offering anything else than the readiness
of the Pans Government to accord to the
French nation the right of election of repre-
sentative body, which would probably consti-
tute an authority with which it would be pos
sible for us to treat for peace.
In this shape | had to submit the result of
our negotiations and conversation to his
Majesty the King and his military advisers.
His Majesty was Justly surprised at these
exorbitant military claims by France, and he
was disappointed in his expectations as to the
probable result of the negotiations into
which had entered with Nj. Theirs. The
incredible demand that Prussia should give
up the fruit of all the efforts which she had
made in the field during the past two months,
surrender the many advantages she had
gained, and thus bring the situation back to
the condition which existed at the moment
when the investment of Paris was COM
menced, could only prove that in Paris they
were merely looking for pretexts to deny the
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