The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-29
FRANCE.
Opinions of a French Minister.
Peace lnadmissible on Terms
now Proposed.
A French View of European
Affairs. .-.i- .s-

Spondent has had an interview, at
Bordeaux, with Count De Chaudourdy,
Minister and Delegate for Foreign Af.
fairs, whom he represented as grave
and reserved man, but free talker. lin
reply to the inquiry of the correspondent
the Minister thus gave his views in re
gard TO the chances of peace At present
peace seems to be distant lamentable as
this war is, peace on dshonorable terms
would be inadmissable, it would
change France into a third rate power
Prussia made great mistake
in not concluding peace with
Favre at Feriers. The civilized
world will condemn her Tor her refusal
~ propose terms which might then
have been arranged in a manner that
would have been honorable to Prussia
without being humiliating to France
Not cnly might guarantees against fu-
ture attacks by France upon Germany
have been exacted, but the feelings Of
hatred and revenge now sure to prevail
in the future might have been changed
to esteem. All that is now impos-
sible. No Ministry or Constituent
Assembly or Government could for
a moment treat for peace under
the conditions now imposed by the
Prussian government, although there is
hardly a man in France but laments the
war, but yet there is scarcely one will
ing 10 allow the government to give up
the territory. Rich and poor unite in
the opinion that the only thing left is to
fight out the war, if in so doing France
is financially ruined, there will be less
for Prussia to take. The minister told
the correspondent he had great hopes
that the Prussians would be driven out
of France before long. The present
government, he said, are not fighting
with obstinacy for political motives,
but really with fair chances Of
obtaining an honorable peace. Paris
is able to hold out for considerable
time; the whole nation is armed or arm
ing. Three months ago it was difficult
to inspire the people with courage, but
now the Government is obliged to re-
strain and direct rather than excite
patriotism. We need army and artillery,
It is true, but these are coming in every
direction. We have offers of more than
we want from England alone. Happily
all political parties are practically de-
termined to allow the present Govern
ment to do their best for the national
defense and have patience to wait.
They do not raise revolutionary cries
because events do not move quickly.
I, Chaudourdy does not think that the
defeat of the army OF the Loire seri-
ously altered the complexion OF affairs.
1t is much lamented, but it is not to be
expected that raw troops will prove
victorious on all occasions, Moreover,
the troops Of the army Of the Loire
have gained confidence and invaluable
experience to prepare them for better
things.
The Count then spoke Of the present
status OF England, which he does not
think has elevated herself in the scale
of nations in her recent action on CONT
mental matters She is now committing
the same mistake that France commit
ted in 1866 In order to have her
neichbor chastised she has allowed her
to be humilated beyond endurance, and
even allowed her territory to be vlo-
lated
The correspondent askei--But can
England afford war?
Chaudourdy replied, there are other
means besides drawing the sword by
which a great power like England can
make ber influence felt Those means
were neglected with the United States
and she now finds herself insulted by
Russia. The delay in the meeting Of the
proposed congress only gives Russia
time to make her preparations surer IN
the coming spring Prompt action
would have been Englands true policy,
and with Austria reauy to join her, the
moral and material support of England
would clear France of the invaders
in the effort and might show
the rest OF Europe that there
is a limit which the most powerful
armies must not pass. Such an aIll-
ance would be approved by the civilized
world, for it would prove that 1t was
not an alliance Of conquest. AT first
France was to blame for seeking a
Quarrel and making an aggressive war,
although the people were not response
HE for thai, but now Prussia has re-
nsed an honorable and lasting peace
cso H,Ae sentiment of the world has un-
c,Ne.vp changes. France is struggling
colntr,stence. If she is crushed England
"Tteel the loss more than any country
talngland cant dream of the conse,
st.lences if she should allow France to
ur, exterminated. Russia will then do
SShat she peases in the East and Prps-
sia in the West England without a
single ally, will cease to belong to the
family of European nations and Will
be reduced to a third-class power
The Minister then spoke in terms
of deep Indignation Of the ingrat-
/ itude OF Italy and intimated that day
Of reckoning would surely come for that
cowardly nation. He closed by stating
that the new levies in the South and
Southeast were proceeding with success
beyond expectation.
LoNpox, December 2S.-General
Chausy conn plains bitterly of the con-
duct of the Prussians. He denies hav-
ing been defeated and avows his inten-
ton of taking revenge for the acts OF
vandalism of the enemy.
St Calais, in the Department OF
Sarthe, twenty-six miles from Lemans,
has been visited 10y the Prussians, who
J left the town, however, after making a
requsition upon the inhabitants.
I 1t is said that General Bourbaki is
moving with his army to the eastern
portion of France to operate against
General Werder
MUNICH, December 2S.-The Bava;
80