New-York tribune., 1870-10-29
HYSTERICdL DIPLOMACY.

HYSTERICdL DIPLOMACR
The French diplomatic efforts during the
last three months have all failed As completely
and quickly as their efforts in the field.
Never, in the history of any great country,
have there been such frantic attempts ut ne
gotiation az those made by the special ENJOYS
who have hastencd from Paris one after anO-
thcr. and visited the different governments
which it was supposed might be induced to
listen to their appeals. AS soon as war was
declared, Prince Napoleon made his way to
Copenhagen, where the Emperor felt certain
of finding an ally in the King OF Denmark.
Thence he pushed southwark TO Florence,
where another ally was certain to be found IN
the King of Italy. We believe he had not got
any further in his diplomatic travels when the
Imperial Government broke down, and his at
tempts at negotiation came to an abrupt con-
cIusion. As soon az the Provisional Govern
mcnt was organized, it authorized M. Timers
to hasten on a special mission to all the Gov
ernments of Europe. He left at once for
London, where he had a brief interview with
the English Foreign Minister; then pushed for
Vienna, where he saw the Austrian Foreign
Minister; then for st. Petersburg, where he
met the Russian Foreign Minister, beside hay-
ing an unofficial reception by tho Car [; and
then left for Florence, where he visited the
King and the Italian Foreign Minister. We
do not know what his instructions were on
leaving Paris, but it is to be presumed that
his authority was as nearly plenipOtentiary as
it possibly could be under the circumstances.
Though possessed of ability and experience,
he seems to have succeeded no better in his
diplomatic mission than Prince Napoleon, who
was pretendcr and trickster. Then he
turned his attention. where it ought to have
been directed before, to the headquarters Of
the enemy. But he no sooner obtains the safe
conduct to Versailles which he solicited than
he Indignantly declines it because, forsooth. it
does not grant him permission to first visit
Paris and consult with the French authorities
there. Were there ever such Impracticablcs
as the present diplomatists of Franccf Then,
after refusing the courtesy of the Germans in
this ungencrous way, NJ. Thicrs rcconsiders
his decision, and we have now the informa-
ton that he is on his way to the Prussian
Headquarters.
The great difficulty of France in all attempts
at foreign negotiation just now is doubtless the
same as Bismarck found in his attempted DegO-
tiatiOns with Jules Favre, when he demanded
what authority the latter possessed and what
guarantee he could give for the carrying out
of any terms that might be agreed upon.
Suppose that M. Thicrs offered England, in
return for present assistance, new and highly
advantageous commercial treaty, with closer
alliance of amity and support, at the close of
the war suppose he offered Austria the Op-
portunity of vengeance against the enemy
IL L.l L. .,,I in l,nr
schemes of ACKNOWLEDGMENT; suppose he offered
Russia q revision of the Paris Treaty; sup
pose he offered TO Italy the possession of
Rome, which she has just taken on her own
account the different nations interested, anx-
ious az they might be to secure their ends,
would find an insurmountable obstacle in the
way " Of negotiation, in the fact that M. Theirs
could offer no guarantee whatever that the
Government hereafter to be established in
France would be either able or willing to full
fill the terms Of the negotiations to which he
was partner. 1t is impossible to form any
idea of the Government France will have
when the war is over, or of the conditions un-
der which it may be established; and, there
fore, it is impossible for any other Government
to regulate its present action by any prospects
associated with such an indefinite future.
This consideration alone would have been
sufficient to render the mission Of NJ. Thiers
failure. But we suspect there were other
reasons why all French attempts at negotia-
ton were sure to fail after the war had be-
gun. We suspect that the diplomatic prcpara-
tions of Prussia were as complete as her mill
tary preparations. Austria was quite aware of
the peril she would incur on giving the least
sign of taking side with France Italy was
permitted to know that Prussas success
would imply the Italian occupation of Rome.
Denmark was kept in a wholesome state of
lear. Russia, which was the only formidable
power whose friendship it was absolutely ne
ccssary for Prussia to retain, was, doubtless,
made the object of special consideration. and
OF negotiations whose results arc yet to be de-
veloped. In the presence of such diplomatic
preparations as Prussia appears to have COM
ploted months ago. what prospect was there
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