Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-08-26
T1sE EUROPEAN WAR.
Behind ille Royal Curtains.
THE ORIGIN OF THE TREATY.

L III OINiblN VI IIlI htIA 1 i
A Parisian, writing to the Ddiy
NcOS, gives an explanation of the
treaty, which he has obtained fIom a
gentleman whose official position has
given him AN opportunity, of know
ing Il good deal about the negotiations
of which this document is said TO be
the csult:-MdnchcStc (EHg.) Times.
When Count Bismarck was the Prus-
sian representative at the Germanic
Diet in 1854, he paid visit to Paris,
and proposed to the Emperor n scheme
of alliance between France and Prus-
sia. On condition that the former
would allow the latter to annex Han
over and the Duchies of Mecklenburg,
he offered the Emperor the Rhine
Provinces, and promised, if Belgium
were attacked, that Prussia would re-
main neutral. When the Emperor
discovered that this offer was made by
Count Bismarck on his own authority,
he regarded him as visionary, and
declined to discuss the question seri-
ously.
In 1865, Count Bismarck, who in
the meantime had become Prime Min
lister of Prussia, returned to FRANCE,
and visited the Emperor Mt BiarritZ.
the Italians to form an alliance with
the Prussians against Austria, the
result of which was TO be a war, which,
if successful, was to bring about the
cessiOn of Nenetia TO Italy, and the
consolidation of Northern Germany
under Prussia. As the price of his
good offices and his neutrality, the En-
peror was promised LuXemburg and
the Rhine Provinces. The treaty be-
tween Prussia and Italy was made at
Paris under the auspices of the En-
peror. The war took place; the battle
OF Sadowa was won; Nenetia was cedcd
10 Italy, and Prussia ruled in North
Germany. The Emperor called upon
Count Bismarck to fulfil his pledge,
but ho was told that the national seu-
timent in Germany had acquired such
force, owing to the brilliant success OF
the campaign, that it had become im-
possible to cede to France a single Ger
man village. Negotiation and recrim-
ination ensued. The Emperor of the
French was unpreparcd for war, and
vet he wanted to obtain some increase
of territory TO coWtcrbalnuce the pow
er of Prussia. Count bismarck talked
again vaguely of Belgium, and hinted
that France might indemnify herself
i'm that quarter. He had several con-
versations with NJ. Benedotti, the rep
resentative at Berlin of the French
Government, and the confidential
agent of the French Emperor. In the
latter capacity NJ. Bencdeuti drew up
tho minutes of a treaty, submitted
them To Count Bismarck, and forward
ed them, not TO the French Foreign
Office, but TO the Emperor. Count
bismarck, who saw what might, un-
der certain circumstances, be made Of
this incautlous document, Kept IL, and
drew up II project Of treaty, puttingin in
Official form the minutes. Having
done this, and having shown the pro-
iect TO NJ. Bencdetti, lac gradually
backed out of the advances which he
had made, and the Emperor discover
cd that all he had gained 10y the nego-
tiation was TO place in the hands If
Prussia most compromising proposal.
Tho Emperor was atill hankcrng after
an accession of territory, and as he
found that he was not likely 10 get
anything either from Germany or Bel
gium, he turned his attention to Lux
omburg. Count bismarck was sound
ed, and replied that the first step in
the matter must Ice TO obtain the ces-
sion of the Duchy from Holland. This
was done, but then Count Bismark
again drcW back, and said that the
Germans felt that LuXemburg was