The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-29
BENEDETTx.

THE SPANISH THRoNE-No RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE PRESENT INSTRUMENTATION OF THE
PRUssIAN ARMY--BIsMARoKs scHEMING.
The following is translation of an inte-
resting communication from M. Benedetti
late French Ambassador at the Court of
Berlin
FROM THE YEAR 1860.
In 1860 1 was suddenly ordered
to Turin to expedite the reunion tc rrance
of Savoy and Nice, as unforeseen obstacles
had occurred to it. Switzerland reclaimed
Chablais and Faucigny, and it may be recol-
lected that the press of England, speaking
on behalf of the public and of the Govern
ment gave its unanimous support to this
claim. Piedmont, on its part, trusted that
those complications, which it sought to aggra-
vate for its own object, would lead us to give
up to the county of Nice the country of Carl
baldi and a portion of Italian territory
Leaving Paris on March 20, 1 signed on the
oath the cession treaty with M. Cavour, who
was not unconscious of the difficulties which
this act would create for him.
CONFERENCES WITH BISMARCK.
On the 9th of July, 1866, six days after the
battle of Sadowa, was ordered by telegraph
to rejoin the Prussian headquarters, and do
all could to persuade the King of Prussia
to agree to an armistice. At the Prussian
headquarters in Moravia Ibad several confer
ences with Nj. de Bismarck, and after these 1
went to Vienna, which place l reached on the
18th. On the 20th the plenipotentiaries of
the two belligerent powers, by my endeavors,
signed under the walls of that capital prelimi-
naries of peace, upon the basis of the inte-
gritty of the Austrian empire
SENT TO EMS.
Finally, when was semitic Ems, what were
my instructions? They were to obtain the
renunciation of the Prince of Hohenzollern
to the crown of Spain, which he had accepted
with the full consent of the King of Prussia.
Was 1 successful in my representations, which
on this occasion were addressed personally to
a powerful monarch, proud, and Justly so, of
his success Yes, most assuredly. l was
engaged four days in negotiating and in
soothing susceptibilities, and carried out the
duty which was entrusted to me.
THE PRINCE OF HoHENZoLLERN AND THE SPANISH
THRONE.
Prince Antoine had intimated to the Cabi-
net of Madrid the remuneration of his son.
and the King, in informing me of it, was de-
sirous that | should be made aware of it, and
that should communicate to Paris that he
had given his acquiescence as sovereign and
head of the family. Deeming these conces-
sions insufficient, some members of the Legis-
lative Body wished to question the govern
ment, asserting that it was necessary to OBJ
tain from Prussia an engagement that no
Prince of the House of Hohenzollern should
for the future consent to mount the throne
of Spain. The question was in truth post
poned; but the purport of it was made known
from the tribune, and the Minister, thinking
it indispensable in the excited state of the
public mind to carry out the view which he
had suggested, sent me fresh instructions to
act in that sense.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESENT WAR.
Was such guarantee necessary? Was the
agitation which pervaded all classes OF the
people earnest and sincere? Gould not the
national feeling be restrained or appeased in
some other way? These are questions which
must be cleared up some time or other, and
then it will be seen whether the opposition
members were justified in declining to take
their share in the responsibility of the present
war. What / can affirm beyond fear of con-
tradiction is, that / successfully carried out
my first instructions, and protected peace
from the danger with which it was threatened
by the candidature of Prince Leopold, al
though new demands were made which led us
fatally into war. That will be shown by the
reports which 1 sent from Ems to the Gov
ernment of the Emperor, and which will close
the series Of papers which propose to pub
lish.
NO ONE INSULTING OR INsULTED AT EMS,
During this mission, as well as during
those which preceded it, l received instruc-
tions exclusively from the Foreign Minister,
according to which I shaped my conduct and
my language. / never had the honor of q
private correspondence with the Emperor,
and, contrary to positive assertions, his Ma
jesty always abstained frem addressing his
demands directly to me. You may not be
inclined to believe it, but solemnly assure
you of the truth of what / say, and my pro-
posed publication will clearly show it. l will
add, since you wish it, that at Ems there was
no one either insulting or insulted, and that
the King himself was surprised when he was
made acquainted with the unfounded state
ments in several journals which were mis-
takenly supposed to have been made by eye
witnesses.
TRUST NOT BETRAYED.
In giving you these details do not seek tc
deceive myself, or hope to convert preju
diced people or to disarm political opponents
1t is not likely, after having overturned the
empire, that they will show themselves Jas
and true to one of its most devoted servants
/ will prove to them, you will see, that il
good faith or in bad faith they have pu
error in the place of truth. Nevertheless
they will cease to assert that / have betrayed
the trust reposed in me by the nation. Blu
there will still be honest and impartial peopl,
in the world, and history happily is not made
by contemporaries. The next generation o.
writers will exhaust every source of informa
tion-will scrutinize all opinions; and it il
fitting that materials should be prepared 70
them by opposing authentic statements ant
undeniable facts to interested and deceptive