The New York herald., 1870-11-23
GERMANY AND THE TREATY
OF 1915.

The North Geyntdn Corresponding, Count Bis
mack's organ, publishes the subjoined remarkable
leading article on the basis OF the German claim
for territorial compensation. The reader viii find
1t very significant and Instructive in the light Of
events occurring Mt this moment. Treaty revision
Is evidently, the order OF the day.
We have In previous number adverted to the
apatnetlc csldness with which European diploma
lists In 1915 listened TO the just claims of Prussia ana
Germany aaa 70 ne secured, by material guarantees
ness. Alter the fall OF Napoleon ir Was pro.
posed that europe should be divided INTO q
none Of them should possess decided
preponderance Precautionary measures were
taken TO guard England ana Russia against the ever
restless ambition Of France; bnr, strange TO say,
nothing was done to provide for the security OF her
nearest and least protected neighbors. The king.
uon OF the NethcrandS was erected at rlle instga-
tion anu III the Interest Of England and Prussia saw
herself necessitated to surrender her Old territory
OF Guelderland anu retire rar behind the Meuse her
province OF LAST Fresland was added, in spite OF
lhe pr0testatons and opposition of the Inhabitants
20 rhe Brilisn m Kingdom q Hanover and Russia In
tween Prussia and Austria.
As France was allowed TO retain Metz ana Stras-
bourg, two points from which she threatened and
commanded Southern Germany and the line or the
Maine, the defence or central Europe, on the south
mne was cn,eny dependent on austria retaining
being put into the hands 0f the King or Sardinia
supposng savoy Ike Switzerland to be declared
neutral territory; al arrangement which would pre-
clude an attack on Germany from the direction of
the Lake Of Geneva. On the north the Kingdom
OF the Netherlands offered position from which
France might he held in check. but it would have
been only available for the defence OF Gcrmany in
case England and the Netherlands desired war
with France. 10 weaken Germany still farther the
German confcderacy was founded. with the conse-
gu NJ rivalry ot Prussia and Austria and the jea-
Ing from her losses soon again raised the cry OF the
Rhine frontier ana conquered Algeria, from which
enc began to exercise powerful pressure on Italy,
The July revolution came. and was quickly followed
by the revolt Of the Belgians. which France, Of
course, In her own interest, Zealonsly prOmoted
Europe, and rhus the most vulnerable point Of
France was effectuay protected from the danger OF
e sposa c Enrss tSu. segn .n
gradually gave iise in Holland, 10 a very decided
counterfecing IN favor Of France. fe
Few years after the revolution OF 1913 came the
Cnmean War, and In 1859 the Italian campaign, In
consequence O1 which the position OF Austria IN
Nice and savoy, with the south shore OF the Lake
OF Geneva, were ceded TO France. It now became
doubly necessary thar south Germany should be
protected, NOT menaced, by the guns OF Strasbourg
During the Schesnig- -Holsteln war, In 1864, Louis
Napoleon declined to join England In her by no
mean, friendly de isns against Germany, and that
Tor double reason. First, he had the gratlncation
OF exposing the military weakness or Great Britain,
anu secondly. he hoped 70 obtain. as the reward Of
his discretion. the coal basin OF Saarbrucken. In
1865 arose the cry OF "Revenge for Sadowa;" then
came the Belgian railway affair and the Luxenl-
beurg complication, all preliminarles to an attack
on North GERMANY ~ way OF Belgium, In spite OF
her guaranteed neutrality. When Prussia spoiled
the French intrigue, and avoided imminent war by
withdrawing her garrison from Luxembourg, Euro
pean diplomatis;s, with England ut heir head,
stepped IN to nenralize the Luxembourg territory,
and thus pushed back the German line Of defence to
the Rhine.
AS compensation for what has been taken from
MS suce 1875 Tor our diminished security by reason
OF the declaration OF Belgian neutrality and the with
drawal OF our troops from Luxembourg, France aud
Europe must make up their minds to leave us IN
quiet possession OF Elsass and Metz for we have
long ceased re- repose any confidence In the "moral
guarantees OF 1915. H