New-York tribune., 1870-10-04
AN APPEAL FOR FRANCE.

SACRIFICE OF HIS DYNAsT1-"hf'"A-'. ......,,
,,ovr INTEREST IN AN ALLIANCE Win
yp.NCr THAN IN HER RUN-wHf MAJ
EAvmoUs POLICY SHOULD BE PUhs0LD'
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNkl
LONDON Monday, oct s, 1870
In Situation. an Imperialist organ IN Lonuon'
Ill nrbrsh fbe following tomorrow, under
,be heading. 1.-The Ideas OF the Ei"peioi'
Immediately after the failure OF negotiations
with Fayre. Bismarck sent to Wllhelmshohe
An exact report of the interview. The Empe-
,o, upon receiving this, shut himself up in his
cabinet The same evening Castelnau set out
for the Prussian headquarters with the follow
ing note. wholly in the Emperor's handwriting:
wnHEIMsHoHE, Sept. &c, 1870
In sending me news every day of the events
which have happened since the hour when
Providence compelled me to surrender my
sword. the King has to ask the opinion of his
prisoner on the trials which the Prussian
armies impose upon France in what he be-
heves to be the interest of Germany. The
Counts (Bismarck's) communications confirm
me in this opinion.
But is the time indeed come for me to re-
spond to this twofOld expectation 10y the ex-
preston of my thoughtsf Until the 4th of
September the reserve, to which have adhered
since Sedan, was due to my firm resolution TO
leave the Empress at full liberty to act in ac-
cordauce with the purposes of the country.
Since the 4th of September | could not but
wish that France, even at the sacrifice of my
i. 4 4 h
beyond her natural frontier. There is proba-
bly, an omission here. "They," in the next
sentence, refers to the Provisional Govern
ment.-ED.l
In approaching the Count as they did, in
way the result of which was easy to fOresee,
they misrepresented the real character of the
war; thinking thus TO be rid of responsibility
for o general impulse to the influence of which
my Government had felt bound to submit The
result was to destroy the effect of the motives
which they have to refuse the conditions Of
fered: il was, above all, to paralyze the ma
tiOnal defense at the very moment when it
was about TO assume proportions worthy of
France.
The Count appears to be unaware that the
armistice refused was necessary to the recon-
structiOn of a regular government, and he is
astOnished that no one of the Powers legally
existing should have given its opinion upon
what he considers "a proof of the Kings
moderation No one could blame a French
man for having repaired an imprudent step
by refusing TO accept proposals little in
accordance with our glorious past. A duel
like this which is being fought between France
and Germany can only be brought to an end
bv the complete ruin of one of the two adver-
saries. or by their close and honorable
reconciliation.
First of ALL then, the Count ought to ask
himself whether Germany has more interest in
the ruin than in the alliance of France. If
admitting the former hypothesis, Germany
does not believe that France is able to find
safety in despair-even though Europe should
consent to remain an Indifferent spectator of
an invasion that has no fixed limit
My interview with the King authorizes me
to think that he much prefers an alliance with
France to her ruin; that he is not without
anxiety as TO the results of a struggle carried
to extremities, and that he estimates at their
true worth the rights which a perfect knowl-
edge of the sentiments manifested during the
war by the different nations of Europe would
give TO the two countries once closely united.
If such were in reality the Kings opinion, 1t
would only remain TO point out the means of
giving it effect. But does it indeed belong to
the conquered so to define the obligations of
the condueror that his generosity may not
seem more burdensOme than his demands7
can only remind the Count that mag
unanimous policy never appeals IN vain to the
heart of the French people, while nothing is
ever attained by AN effort TO touch the cords
of egotism OF of fear, which will remain un-
excited whatever reverses Providence may IN
fict upon us.
France. if a generous line of conduct should
incline her toward a close and honorable ALI
ance with Germany, would be the first to
agree that there was no longer reason for
the existence OF line of defense commanded
by fOrtreSses between the two empires. AS t0l
the sacrifices France would have to endure
beside, she would not agree to make them
were she not permitted to understand the I'M
mense advantages which would accrue to the
two nations from peace of which their own
will would henceforth be sole arbiter.
In this view, the Powers obliged to hold
themselves completely aloof so long as France
shall preserve a hope of success would have a
serious reason for intervening.
The frank and clear statement of the truth
which / always made established between
France and myself a current of sympathy
which nothing will ever be able to destroy.
Were ] TO affirm that our honor has no stain
TO fear from a reconciliation based on the dis
armament of fortresses then become useless,
and on the principle of a war indemnity to be
flQ6 hly I Ill. hQ