The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-10
Repulse Of the French with Heavy
Loss on Both Sides.
The City Quiet and still
tt Determined.
TELEGRAM 70 THE NEW york HERALD.

1890" - ~. -" 'S"N "s""sss
Letter from tho Prussian Minister to Earl
Granvtno-The shipDent Of Arms to France
Cepsidsrsd-Ceans Bsrnsforr Iasists that
the British Govsrnment has Power 60 Pre-.
vent IS-wAas Germany Expects from
sNeutraIs - Germany Casnot Appreciate
British Neutrality.
LONDON. Oct. 0. 1870.
have received information for transmission to
the NEW YORK HERALD that Count Bernstorn, the
PTussian Minister to Great Britain has addressed an
exhaustive reply to Lord Granville on the subject Of
British neutrality, which win be published to.mor-
row morning by the papers Of this city. He says
that hopes OF peace delayed an answer to Lord
Granvilies letter Of the 18th Of September as the
Psussian Ministers much preferred to discontinue
the controversy. These hopes having disappeared
for the present necessity stll. exists Tor resumins
the subject
THE CONDUCT OF GREAT BRITAIN CRITICISED.
Count Bernstorfr reviews the questions at issue
from the origin Of the correspondence, critictsing
Lord Granvllle's publication of his reply without
allowing him time correct certain evident miscon-
cepuons and before the correspondence could be
considered closed. He shows conclusively that
when the attention Of Lord Granville was first
called to the open and clandsstine consignment OF
arms and ammunition to France no pretence had
been made by ner Majesty's government that they
regarded the tran1c as contraband OF war or not
compatible with neutrality, or that they could not
interfere with it, On the contrary, when the Prus.
sian Embassy was invited to give proofs OF this
jlegitmate tralc 1t promptly instructed the agents
Of the North German Confederation in the
United Kingdom to investigate the mat
ter, and when these, with great la
bor collected the evidenoe-the position OF
Lord Granville beng that IL was impossible 10 in
serfere unless positive proofs were adduced that
consignments had really taken place-when this
condition was fulfilled ana the proof laid before
Lord Granville various delays took place and quib
bes made, until finally her Majesty's government
shifted their ground and declared the traffic in
arms, which had been quite openly carried on, to
be legitimate and that the customs authorities had
no power to stopit.
GERMANY ASKS NO FAvORs.
Continuing, Count BernstorfY says that the Prus.
sian government never asked for q neutrality in
favor Of Germany and to the detrlment Of France
It only wished return from q lax neutrality
whereby one party benefited, to o strict and
really impartial neutrality He Is unable to
admit as compa tible with strict neutrality
that French agents should be permitted to
buy In this county, under the very
ayes and with the cognizance Of the British govern
ment thousands ofbreech leaders and rcvolvers and
Enc requisite ammunition In order to arm the French
end make the formation OF fresh army corps posi-
Die AFTER the regular armies OF France had been de-
feated or surrounded.
NUMBER or ARMS SHIPPED TO FRANCE
According to the information in the hands OF the
Embassy since the memorandum OF September so
10000 firearms have been shipped from England to
France. number OF manufactures especially in
Birmingham and London, are working day and
night for French agents and "theIr men OF straw y
The Embassy is IN possession OF authenticated copies
al contracts between the French government and
English contractors. The events OF the war have
quite recently put 1T In possession OF an Official
message from the present French Minister OF War.
dated September Is, and addressed to an officer of
the French Embassy in London mentioning 26. 600
Snider rlnes WHICH are expected to be promptly
despatched from England. Reference is also made
TO payment out Of funds at the disposal OF the French
Change d'Ansrss fer the purchase OF arms In gene
raL Authentic proof is alss in possession of the
Embassy Of tile export OF arms and ammunition 10
france by companies regularly organized In British
ports.
GREAT BRITAIN HAS THE POWER TO PREVENT THEIR
ExPORTATIoN.
Count Bernstorn proceeds to show that the British
government has the power, under existing laws,
70 prevent tho expectation of conrraband OF
war. 1t only needs an order OF the Council to nut
shis power In force. This was done In 1s4, duripo
the sh-German complications, when the t,ustom
hsuse omcers were ordered TO prevent the exporta-
lion of arms ana warlke stores Intended IA he used
against the Danish government. On the other
0and, when The British government, on the sth OF
september last. instructed the Custom House officers
10 ascer ain what arms aud ammunition were baIpr