New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-11
INTERVIEW WITH BISMARCK.

New YORK. September 6-The Iribune's
correspondent had an interview with Bis
marck at the Kings headquarters, near Sc
dan, on the second. In response to his IN
quiry of what were likely to be the condi-
tons of peace demanded by the King of
Prussia the Count replied:
There are three ways of stopping an at
tack on the Rhine provinces.
"First-We might make Alsace and LOr-
raine a neutral State. like Luxemburg or
Belgium. extending from the former coun-
try to Switzerland, and SO separating
France and Prussia bya group OF neutral
States; but confess it appears to me that
creating and maintaining the neutrality OF
small States is already SO difficult to pro-
tect. and is every moment exposed to so
MANY dangerous complications, that do
not think it would be worth while to make
more neutral States, with new difficulties
and dangers
Secondly-We might annex Alsace and
Lorraine, and hold them as conquered ter
ritory, but am sure that this would not be
looked on favorably by a majority of my
German fellow-countrymen. We are all
most anxious to complete our unity, but we
do not want any people among us who are
unwilling members of the German nation;
and that the Alsatians would be most dis
loyal subjects Of the King of Prussia, in
despite Of the great majority of them
speaking the German language and being
Of TeutOnic origin, there can be no doubt.
"Thirdly-There remains to us, then, as
third course. to take Metz and Strasburg
and to keep them. This is what we shall
do. Strasburg, particularly. is absolutely
needful for the protection of South Ger
MANY, which is at the mercy of the French
army. So long as France possesses Stras-
burg, there is nothing to stop French i'll
vading army.
"Now it would be very unfair if we were
to leave four South lGerman brethren I'M
protected after they have fought so de-
votedlv and SO well by our side in this cam
paign. Then, again. by holding Strasburg
we could always prevent any movement on
the Rhine. We should be able not only to
march an army Iby the valley of the Main
| on Paris. but to take French army march
| ing ION Mavence or Coblcntz i'll flank and
rear SO we have bcsicgcd Strasburg vlgo-
rously, and when we have got that Old Ger
man town back again we shall make a Glib
| ralter Of it."
"But allow me to suggest" | said. g that
the cession of Strasburg is not It thing to
which France will be easily reconciled, all
| the more because it is, as you say. the key
! of France on the east
my dear sir" was the reply, "you have
been with rs, certainly. since our entry into
France. have heard you constantly talk
| CGtllcu. NOW, nave you noJ
seen that it would be difficult Tor the French
to be more angry at us for our victories
over them than they already are
"No, not If We We're encampcd in the Bots
de Boulogne itself; and just because they are
and will be for many a year to come. very
sore against us, we must take care not 70
leave i'll their hands the means of doing lis
mischief. When you meet drunken man
in the streets, what Go you do! If he is
mischievolls, call Il policeman. don't YOU
Well, Strasburg and Metz will have to bt
our policemen, and good, and stout ones
too"
I remarked, how much the French dc
hate the Prussians, and what stories they
tell and believe about you. | have lived
GREAT deal in Paris and | know there arr
told there as facts, some fables which are
all but incredible.
ave have taken the place of the Englisl
thirty years ago, but they have come to for
get their hatred Of pertidious Albion; 81
they will have to find some day or othe
that there is some good in lis also. 1t seem
as if the French nation stood in constan
need of bug-bear to vent their wratl
upon. For the moment we are Their pu'
bears"
/ ventured then to say, III see that tn
people are in a great fright in England, les
your excellency should cast covetous ey'
upon Holland"
Eyes, am aware that is an English idea,