New-York tribune., 1870-09-20
DD,,ss1A,s ULTIMATUM TO FRANCE.


pRIssIAs ULTIMATUM TO FRANCE.
.,vpr supERsFDRs ENGLISH EFFORTS BY HIM
s,,,p ARRANGING AN NTERvIEw-GRAN-
,y,,r D1sCOURAGEs THE EFFORTS OF LYONS
no .scFRTAIN TERMS OF PEACE-INTERvIEw
BETWEEN A BRITISH SECRETARY OF LEGA-
TIoN AND BIsMARCK-PARIs TO BE BURNED
If YECEsSARY-RUssIA's ATTITUDE.
lrY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUNEl
LONDON Monday, Sept. 10, 1870.
The special correspondent of THE TRIBUNE
at Berlin telegraphs "The Foreign Office has
communicated to the American Minister ad-
vices received from the headquarters of the
King stating that Favre, without awaiting the
results of Granvilles steps to procure for him
an interview with Bismarck, applied to Bis
mack direct, and received prompt permission
for an immediate conference"
Mr.. f. d. Malet, the Second Secretary to
the British Embassy in Paris, finally succeeded
in making his way to the Prussian headquar-
ters, and returned on Friday, bringing an
answer from Bismarck to Lord Lyons. Before
this answer, Lyons had asked Favre whether,
If England requested aTmistice, the French
Government would welcome her intervention.
When this became known to Earl Granville,
Lord Lyons was politely rebuked for his
pains.
Bent on improving the situation, Lyons then
sent Maet on an informal mission to Bis
.narck, sending notification of the fact to
Granville after Malet had gone. Granville
forthwith directed Lyons to summon Malet
back. Lyons obeyed, but his messenger took
failures, succeeded in making his way through
the cloud of Uhlans and reached the head
quarters of the King; but of all this succession
of cross purposes there grew up considerable
GOODNESS between Lyons and Granville.
Malet's talk with Bismarck was frank and
to the point. lie asked for an ultimatum.
I'VE must have Metz and Strasbourg," said
Bismarck.
"Dismantled 7" asked Maet.
Mop replied Bismarck, stronger than
ever"
"Then, suppose the French Government finds
your terms impossibleT
1--WE shall invest and starve Paris; if that
does not succeed we shall try sharper means"
Would you lombard the cityT
Certainly; and burn it, if forced. The
necessity is sad but how is it to be escapedf'
Bismarcks observations about Gladstone and
Granville, and their timid message carrying,
was the reverse of respectful and he did not
hesitate to let it be seen that he cared nothing
for the efforts of outsiders, and was resolved
10 settle all questions with France alone.
For Lord Lyons himself, Bismarck prOfessed
respect and good win, and cordially advised
him to "get out of Paris while he could"
He had informed Granville that when the siege
is once begun he will allow no communication
between foreign Governments and their en-
1,assies inside the city. The written answer
sent by Bismarck to Lyons was confidential,
and has not been disclosed; but Lyons init
mates that he thinks Bismarck means to have
Paris in his hands before concluding peace,
as the most effectual means of enforcing his
demands.
Nor is the French Government confident of
defense. Trochu told Lyons that he should
do his best, "but there will be a massacre, and
that will be followed by anarchy" The Min
listers, however, in public, still utter brave
words.
Russia's attitude is still one of reserve. II
is now ascertained that when GOrtschakOff was
asked by England to join in fresh guarantee
for Belgium, he answered, Yes, if yOu will
include Holland" G. w. s.