The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-29
SPAIN.
Baron Mercier's Interview With the Foreign
Minister -NapoIeon's Demnnds-Tho Spanish
Reply-Au Exciting Scene.

Baron Mercier's Interview With the FOREIGN
Minister poIeon's nds-Thc Spanish
Reply-Au Exciting Scene.
MADRID, July IL, 1870.
The important question OF the new Prussian candi.
date, Prince Observation-Disclosures still keeps
the Spaniards In the utmost state OF excitement not
only the capital. but throughout the country gen.
orally Friends in the provinces tell that In
the Prussian candidate be elected the general
opinion is that French invasion OF Spain will i'm
medlately follow.
warm discussion has taken place between Baron
MERCER. the French Ambassador. and Senior Sagasta
the Spanish secretary of State fer Foreign Affairs
particulars OF which l beg leave to lay before
the readers Of the HERALD just as have received
them from an important parsonage.
The following relates how the French Ambassador
hauls the Minister Of State over the Goals and how
that able diplomat defended himself. Baron Mer-
cier, who knew nothing whatever Of Prm's "smart''
movements till the thing was done and he read 1t
the Spanish press. at once bowled or in o most
ch0leric state of excitement to the Foreign ONCE,
where, without any difficulty. he was ushered into
the presence of Sagasta. The Secretary looked up
from his work and at read In the Ambassadors
rufed countenance the OBJECT of his VISIT The ordi-
nary courteses were brief indeed. The angry French
diplomat at once touched the important question at
fused any other than the willy and self-pOssessed Sa
gasta who for the last two years having been bated
in Congress- both when Minister Of the Interior and
afterwards Secretary Of State has too often faced
the fire Of his opponents there to finch from the
attack of Frenchman In his own ONCE 5g l. f.
al am come here sir" said the French Ambassa-
DOR s.not only to express my own surprise but also
that Of my government that the Spanish Cabinet
should have fixed upon Prussian prince as a can
didate for the throne Of Spain and more so at hav
ing done so without consulting previously with me
and my government. l have now to ask your Elk
cellency II the rumors respecting the said candida
trre have any foundation, or, in other words, II
Prince Hohenzollern-S igmaringen be In reality, as
rumOrs state, the government candidate for the
vacant throne OF Spain.
Sagasta merely nodded In the Affirmative and
begged his visitor to proceed. "We, then,n ex-
claimed the Ambassador In an angry tone, 1.-THE
object of my visit IL soon told. have only to say
that the French government Will never consent to
the solution sought proposed and patronized by the
Spanish Cabnet.o
THE SPANISH MINISTER'S REPLY.
The compressed lips and the peculiar sparkle in
the flashing eyes of the spanish statesman bespoke
the tempest That was gathering within his breast.
He rose. and, after directing penetrating glance at
his visitor satd:"Senor Ambassador, have to make
known to your Excellency that Spain has the right
TO constitute herself In the manner and form she
may consider the most convenient Reiteratlng the
loyal sincerity with which the Spanish desire the
friendship OF their neighb0rs, the French to whom
now and always they have given repeated proofs Of
OF the impOssibility OF the Spanish government to
continue accedinG TO the exigencies OF the French
Cabinet, that have rejected all and every combine
ton hitherto proposed. showing themselves support