Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-08-10
Bismarck's Expose OF the Secret Treaty.
Heavy Skirmishing and Results.
BIsMARCK's CIRCULAR.

BIsMARCKis CIRCULAR.
BERLIN, July 31.-The Anzeiger publish
es a circular addressed by Count Bismarck
on the 18th instant to the representatives
of Prussia at the courts of neutral powers.
The document gives the following expose
of the negotiations between France and
Prussia
Before the Danish war, saws Count Bis
marck, the French legation at Berlin urged
an alliance between France and Prussia
for the purpose of mutual ACKNOWLEDGMENT
France, anticipating war with Austria as n
consequence of the Danish war, made
overtures relative to the restoration of the
Luxembourg frontier of 1914, the acquisition
of Saarburg and Landon, while the broader
settlement of the boundary question, on the
basis of language, was not to be excluded.
These instances in May, 1866, took the
form of proposition for an alliance, otien-
sive and defensive, the manuscript original
of which is in the foreign Office here. These
propositions are as follows: - ~
First Should congress of the powers
assemble, Italy to have Nenetia and ,Prus-
STA the Dutchies. ~
Second. Should congress disagree, an all
lance offensive and defensive to be made
between France and Prussia
Third. Prussia to open neutrality-suspicious.
Austria within ten days after the dissollI-
ton of the congress.
Fourth. Should no congress meet, Prus-
STA to attack Austria within thirty days af-
ter the signature of the present treaty.
Fifth. Napoleon to, begin hostilities
against Austria rs soon as Prussia, des-
patching 500, 900 men.during the first month
across the Rhine.
Sixth. No separate treaty shall be made
by either of the powers with Austria, when
the joint treaty is made
The following are the conditions:
First. Nenetia to go to Italy. 1 y
Second. Prussia 70 select German tprri-
tory at will for annexation, the number of
inhabitants not to exceed S,O00000 souls.
The territory thus acquired to become part
of the kingdom of Prussia, without federal
rights
Third. France to have Il liberal share of
the Rhine provinces.
Fourth. A military and maritime alli-
ance TO be made between France, by which
Italy may be party should she so desire,
This programme, the circular states, was
rejected in June, 1866 in spite Of the threat
ening urgency of France.
Proposals were necessarily renewed, with
notifications, sacrificing Belgium and
South Germany, but were never seriously
entertained by Prussia. For the sake OF
peace, however, it was thought best to leave
Napoleon to his decisions. No word inn
plying approval was returned. Time was
counted ON to revolutionize France and eX-
tinguish the scheme Hence the long de-
lay and silence.
The attempt against Luxembourg fail
ing, France repeated her former PROPOSE
tons, making the specifications clear in re-
gard to the acquisition of Belgium by
France, and South Germany by Prussia.
These last propositions were formulated by
Count Benedict himself, and it is most
probable that he wrote them without the
authority of the Emperor, as they are the
same which We're made four years ago, un
der the threat of war as the alternative o.
4
these antecedents must have known thai
had Prussia acquiesced lin the seizure 81
Belgium, France would have found anoth
er Belgiunlin Prussian territory. zee
Once rejected by Prussia, there is no pro
liability that its terms will ever be accept
ed hereafter. Should France gain decisive
victories over Prussia, and Belgium moi
observe Il strictneutrality, il may be hel
fate to be absorbed by France! and should
Prussia master her great antagonist, she
too, may take Belgium upon some preteN
or other The ultimate destiny of Belgium
would seem to be to be deVoured by one o.
the other of the ambitious military powers
on either side of her. 1T matters little t.
Europe or to the world who gobbles her NJ
and least of all does it matter to England
whose true policy, as her wi7est statesmen
affirm is to Keep clear of all European
questions.
PARTICULARS OF THE sKIRMISH.
Inc heaviest SklrllllSn inal mas lthcl
place in this district (Saarbrueken) was lie
ported this morning. A party of Frencl
infantry had crossed into Prussian terrific
ry, about half way between this and Saar
Louis. Forty men of the garrison at Saar
Louis and some infantry went out to NEE
them, and were coming up with them be
tween the villages of Ludweiller and Gels
alanierm, about six miles west of thi
place, when squadron of French cavalr.
suddenly appeared. The Prlssians fire
away as hard as they could at the cavalr.
with needle guns, and disposed of them be
fore the infantry could come up. Fl.
Then am infantry fight followed, whic
ended in the French throwing off thei
kits, and running away, leaving one Office
and eight men dead on the field. Thre
Prussians were severely wounded. AccorC
ing to report, no less than three Frenc
companies of infantry We're engaged.
THE enormous price to be paid to Nilsso
for her notes reminds us that art and literi
ture are better paid in the present day tina
ever they have been. The ancient pnctiC
xuau. Ly,.I1ocoo fron1 tba piaI and upxvnrfiI