Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-09-30
Failure Of Peace Negociations

The following cable dispatch from
Tours France, dated Sept. 9th,
gives Jules Favre's account of his
interview with Bismarck and it's un-
successful result in obtaining from
the Prussian premier honorable
terms Of peace:
Jules Favre to day made special
report to the government here ofhis
mission to the Prussian headquar-
tiers in behalf Of peace. He says
that a great many different solutions
Of the difficulty had been proposed,
and rejected, and he determined to
make-a direct movement therefor on
the tenth of September. He deman-
ded of Count Bismarck a categori-
cal reply as to whether he would en-
ter upon negotiations for peace.
Bismarck's reply was unfavorable,
though he subsequently asked what
guarantee France could offer. A
foreign minister who was acting as
an intermediary advised Favre to
see Bismarck, and make his demand
in person. Accordingly Favre saw
Bismarck, and expressed to him his
love of France and liberty, and his
determination to accept no condition
which would render peace only a
menacing truce. Bismarck replied
if he thought peace were possible
he would sign Immediately, but the
actual government was too precarious
and likely to be overthrow. France
would not be any more able to for
get Sedan than she was to forget
Waterloo and Sadowa. She would
soon attack Germany again.
Being pressed for conditions, Favrc
was explicit, but Bismarck asserted
that the security of his country de-
mamded retention of a part of the
territory the Germans now occupi-
ed,and mentioned in that connection
the departments of the upper Rhine,
lower Rhine and the Moselle, with
Metz and the chatcaus of Salines
and scissors. TO the objection of
Favre, that the people of France
would not agree to that, and that he
could not act without their sanction,
Bismarck replied that he felt con-
fidcnt Of that before, but as another
war was certain, he wished to make
it with all advantage possible.
Favrc then intimatcd that Europe
might find the prctensions of Prus-
STA exorbitant, and he was certain
that France would never accept
them; she might perish as nation,
but she would not be dishonored.
The country alone could decide up
on the question of territorial ces-
sion, and Favre could not doubt
what that decision would be. Bis
marck would not listen to any pro-
position for an armisticc.
The second interview occurred at
Terriers, the 10Th. On this occa-
sion Bismarck seemed to accept the
idea of an armisticc. Favre asked
for fifteen days. Bismarc k handed
Favre his conditions, rcmarking
that the Germans must have the
forts commanding Paris, more es-
pecially Fort Mont Valcricn on the
western boundary. Favre replied
that it would be more simple to
demand Paris at once. Bismarck
said if these terms were not salts
factory the French must seek an
other arrangement. Proposed a
meeting of the constituents of the
assembly at Tours. Bismarck made
condition that the garrison at
Strasbourg should surrender as pris-
oncrs of war Upon Favrc indig-
nantly refusing, Bismarck consulted
the King, who insisted upon the
surrender Of Strasbourg.
Wcaricd with his useless efforts,
Favre retired, expressing his con-
viction that France would fight to
the last Favrc concludes, from the
manner in which all his efforts for
peace have been met by the Ger
mans, that they are determined up
on conquest. He says the inter-
views were not altogether useless,
as they prove that Notwithstanding
| Prussia declared she warrcd only
against Napoleon and his army, she
is really fighting the nation, which
must arise en- massc, either to dis
avow the provisional government
or resist the enemy to the last.