Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-09-30
RLSMARCKS LETTER.

The second letter issued by Bismarck to
neutral ambassadors is part OF the his
tory of the war not to be omitted. 1t is
an assertion of the right of Prussia to have
guarantees for the future peace in the ar
rangement of new boundaries, and so that
Prussia has this Bismarck seems to care
but little what sort of government he deals
with ut Paris.
"Your Excellency 10 familiar with the cir
cular which Jules Favre has addressed to
foreign representatives in France, in the name
of men for the present holding power in Paris,
and who call themselves lie Government de
la Defence Rationale have learned stimuli
taneously that M. Theirs has entered upon
confidential mission to foreign courts, and
may presume that he will endeavor, on one
side, to create a belief in love for peace of the
present Partisan Government, and, on the
other side, a request for the Intervention of
all neutral powers in favor of peace which
shall deprive Germany of her victories, and
to prevent every basis of peace which would
make the next attack of France on Germany
more difficult. We cannot believe in the sin-
cerity of the desire of the present Partisan
Government TO make peace, so long rs it con-
tinues by its language and its acts at home to
excite the passions of the people, and to in
crease the hatred and bitterness of popula-
ton, stung by the sufferings of war, to repu-
date in advance every basis acceptable to
Germany and unacceptable to France.
By such a course it becomes impossible to
make peace, for which the people should be
prepared by calm words and in terms cores
ponding to the gravity of the situation.
If we were to believe in that negotiations
for peace with us are honestly intended, the
demand that we should conclude an armistice
without any guarantees for our conditions OF
peace could be meant seriously only on the
supposition that we lack military and politi-
cal Judgment or are Indifferent to the interest
Of Germany. Moreover, the hope entertain
ed by the present rulers in Paris, of diplo-
matte or material intervention OF the neutral
powers in favor of France prevents the French
people from seeing the necessity OF peace.
When the French nation become convinced OF
having wantonly conjured up war alone, and
of Germany having to fight it out alone, and
that they must also settle their account with
Germany alone, they viii soon put an end to
their resistance, now surely unavailing. 1t
would be an act of cruelty to the French peo-
pie by neutral powers to permit the Prussian
Government to nourlsh among the people
hopes of Intervention that cannot be realized,
and thereby strengthen the contest.
We are far from any inclination TO mix in
the internal affairs of France. 1t is imma-
teriai to us what kind of Government the
French people shall formally establish tor
themselves.
The Government Of the Emperor Napoleon
has hitherto been the only one recognized by
us. Our conditions of peace, with whatever
government we may have to negotiate, are
wholly independent of the question as to how
l,,xy In, Erop,.l, marian ia ynynrnpI
They are prescribed to us by the nature Of
things and by the law Of selfdefence against
Il violent and hostile neighbor. The unani-
nous voice of the German Government and
the German people demands that Germany
shall be protected by better boundaries than
we have had hitherto against the dangers and
violence we have experienced from all French
Governments for centuries.
As long as France remains in possession of
Strasbourg and Mentz so long is its Often
sive stragetically stronger than our defensive,
so far as all South Germany and North Ger
many on the left bank of the Rhine are con-
cerned. Strasbourg in the possession OF
France is a gate way wide open for an attack
on South Germany. In the hands of Ger
many, Strasbourg and Mentz obtain defen-
sive character. In more than twenty wars,
we never have been the aggressors on France,
and we demand of the latter nothing else thar
our safety in our land, so often threatened by
il.
France, on the other hand, will regard any
that may be made now as an armistice only.
and in order to avenge the present defeat, will
attack US in some quarrelsome and wanton man
ner, as in this year, as soon as II feels strong
enough for il from its own resources, or from
foreign alliances. In rendering it difficult for
France, from whose initiative alone, hitherto
the disturbances of Europe have resulted,
TO resume the offensive at the same time
act in the interest of Europe, which is that OF
peace. From Germany no disturbance OF
European peace is to be feared. After hav-
ing had this war forced upon us. which for
four years, by our care and by restraining our
feelings of national self respect, so incessant-
~ outraged by France, we had prevented, we
mean now, for our future safety, TO demand
tlse price Of our mighty efforts. We shall de-
rsand only that which we have for our de-
fence. no one will be able TO accuse us for
a want of moderation if we insist on this just
and equitable demand.
Your Excellency will make these views
YOUR own, and advocate them 10 discussion.
(Signed) BISMARCK"