The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-20
VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Indignant Protest of Prince de Ia Four

Indignant Protest of Prince de Ia Four
dAuverEne.
Prince de la Tour dAuvergne, the French Minister
for Foreign Affairs has addressed the following let
ter to the European courts;
PARIS August &c, 1870 Sir The Prussian govern
ment has alleged in documents OF which we have
had information, that our soldiers have deviated
from international law by deliberately firing on am
balances and persons sent for parIey Before ever
advising the Minister of War of these allegations
protested in the name OF the traditions of army,
and as soon as my colleague was informed of them,
he energetically endorsed the language had held.
Mistakes may happen In the heat OF conflict more
just than our adversares, we admit that neither of
the two armies is certain not to commit such errors
but, thaG our soldiers have of set purpose disre-
garded the sacred privilege of ambulances and the
rights Of pdrlementaires Prussia will persuade no.
body, and we have no need to defend ourselves
against such accusations.
1t seems, moreover, that the Prusslan Government
has shown all this eagerness in turning to its ad-
vantage deeds to be regretted but not yet proved to
have been committed, and, at any rate, isolated
cases, only as preteXts to justify itself for much
more serious acts which have to urge against it,
and which involve much more directly the response
bility Of the commanders of corps.
Everybody knows OF the so-called "press" ambu-
lance, seized with its attendants and material,
which had to traverse q part OF Germany LuXem-
burg. and Belgium in order to re-enter France. The
same thing has been recently repeated in the
environs OF Metz. Near Strasburg Baron de Bus
siere was made prisoner in the midst of the ambu-
lance which he had organized, and to which he was
devoting himself. 1t is equally notorious that
Prussian soldier while in the act OF stanching SOL
diers wound. 1t appears, moreover, from the depo-
witnesses, whose declaration has been received at
the Ferneh vice-consulate at Base. that explosive
balls have been employed against our troops, and
discovered in the wounds of some Of our wounded
These are so many violations not only OF the usages
OF all armies in modern times but also of the formal
stipulatiOns OF diplomatic conventions to which
Prussia was contracting party.
Finally the newspapers have announced that some
peasants OF the neghborhood of Strasburg had been
impressed to dig the trenches opened by the Prus-
SLAMS before the place. We at first refused to give
credence to these rumors. We could rot admit as
possible act OF violence not less contrary to the
rules OF war than to the laws OF humanity. The
certain testimonies which have since reached us
leave no more doubt of the complete accuracy of
these informations The Prussian authorities have
not recoiled from measure which forces the de-
tenders OF Strasburg to fire on Frenchmen
We protest in the name of universal conscience
against such abuses OF strength and in begging you
to bring them before the special attention of the
Government to which you accredited, am conf
dent that public opinion will visit them with just
reprobatiOn,
This circular was read in the French Senate on
the 1st inst, and was much applauded.