The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-26
PRUSSIA AND HER TERMS OF PEACE.


From Ehe N p. TTtbvne.
Count Bismarck has written a circular to
the German ambassadors at the various Eu-
ropean Courts, in which he announces in of
fetal terms, so plain and positive that they
cannot be doubted, the principal condition of
peace which Germany will insist upon. She
may demand other and greater guarantees;
certain it is, however, that she will not be
content with the dismantling of Metz and
Strasburg, as M. Jules Favre has suggested;
but means to take and to keep both.
This condition was resolved on long ago.
il was indeed, duly considered and deter
mined upon soon after the war began, and
was announced unofficially soon after the bat
tie of Gravelotte. On August % correspon-
dent of the Tribune held long conversation
with Count Bismarck upon the subject of the
conditions of peace to be demanded. This
conversation was reported in full in the Iri-
bune of September 6. After declaring that
he opposed the organization of Alsace and
Lorraine into a neutral State like Luxem-
burg or Belgium, and did not desire to hold
them as unwilling members or conquered
provinces of the German nation, Count Bis
marck said:-
"There remains to us, then, as a third course, to
take Metz and StrasbuTg and to keep them. This
is what we shall do Strasburg particularly is abso-
lutey needfu for the protection OF South Germany,
which is at the mercy OF q French army. so long
as France possesses StrasbUng there is nothing to
stop French invading army. Now, 1t would be
very unfair If we we're to leave our South German
brethren unpro ected, after they have fought so
bravely and well by our side In this campaign. Then
again, by holding Strasburg we could always prevent
any movement on the Rhine. We should be able
not only to march an army by the valley of the Main
on Paris, but to take French army msrching on
MayeDce or Coblentz In flank and rear. So we have
besieged Strasburg vigorously, and when we have
got the Old German town back again we shall make
a Gibraltar OF It,"
The circular of Count Bismarck now pub
lished simply reiterates these statements, and
gives additional arguments by which he seeks
to establish the justice of the demand to be
made. The right of the Germans, as the VIC
tors in the struggle, to insist upon these
terms no one will deny, and no neutral
nation is likely to dispute, though it would
seem from the nature of the circular that
Count Bismarck fears as much. Its avowed
purpose is to thwart the efforts making by
NJ Theirs to influence the neutral powers to
intervene, and it cannot but have powerful
effect in restraining them, if any restraint be
needed.
Count Bismarck also announces that with
the domestic affairs of France Germany will
with any responsible Government authorized
and strong enough to carry out the treaty
which it makes. But in the matter of the
future security of Germany from invasion he
evidently does not intend to rely on parch-
ment promises. To the occupation of Metz
and Strasburg by Germany, France will
eventually be forced to submit, for upon that
depends the security of Germany and, as
Bismarck strongly and rightly insists in his
circular, the peace of Europe.