Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-02
TIE QUARREL BETWEEN

The Berlin correspondent of the New
York Tribune processes to have derived
Information tlsfrom persons who, to say
the least, assist in forming the foreign
policy of the Pmssian Government,
which throws good deal of light on the
quarrel between France and Prussia.
After stating that Bismarck has for long
time been apprehensivc Of hostile COM
binations between France and Austria
against Prussia, the Tribat,ae's corres-
pondent goes on to say:
s'To provide for the contingency OF
war with France, this Government, Tor
over a year, has been looking to Spain for
the purpose of obtaining an ally when
would serve TO distract the attention OF
France. I'VE can no longer depend upon
Italy, was said to me yesterday; pc
sides, her geographical position to France
is not what it was to Austria IN $500
Spain is to be the Italy Of the future
mar Considerable stress was laid upon
the part in italics; it was reported to me
two or three times. Subsequently, IN the
course of our conversation, began 10
understand its import better. Ian
p1ape to the effect that Prussia was very
desirous of gaining the friendship Oh
Snain was used by the Prussian Minister
at Madrid year ago, and subsequently,
/ in the fall of last year, used to the span
i ish Minister at this Court. In consequence
of these expressions, negouations Weie
commenced between Prim anu frlnce
Leopold, for two reasons; he was no
benzollern and he was Cathohc: ~,
tboucb these negotiations were conducted
with the knowledge and appreciation Oh
l the Government in Berlin, from pruden-
4 hal considerations it did not actively par
ticipate in them. !"
The programme, as laid down by Bis
/ mark, was that the act should be regarded
/ as that of Prince Leopold himself. If
France demanded explanations she was to
1 be told that as the Prince was not mem
Der of the royal house of Prussia, neither
/ the Government nor the King OF Prus-
| sia-as King-had any right todictate his
course of conduct or to interfere with
him. The writer then makes this state
| ment: a1-s g.
sSThe present contingency was partially
foreseen by Prussia. 1t was anticipated
that when it became known IN France
that a Hohenzollern was likely to become
| King of Spain, the Duke de Gramont
| would protest against it, but merely In q
diplomatic way, and that his interference
might be used to excite the Spanish peo-
/ nle arainst France. The conduct of the
French Minister IN so openly defying
l Prussia + was very unexpected,
for while it was regarded as certain that
| the hostility of the Duke de GraInont to
| Prussia would lead him TO commit some
indiscretion, the course he adopted is re-
| parded as rash and unstatesmanlike, and
| for this reason not to be anticipated as
| within the limits of possibility"
| IF this statement is true-and it comes
| from one who is avOwedly friend to
| Prussia-it establishes the fact that Count
| Bismarck has been endeavoring for a
| long time past to bring about rupture
between France and Spain; that TO this
end he sought the friendship of the lat
| fer. and as the result of the closer rela-
lions thus established Prince Leopold was
rendered the Spanish crown. 1t is also
| admitted that the Prussian government
| was cognizant of the negotiations with
Prim and countenanced it, while affect
| ing to take no part in it. From the be-
| ginning the intrigue appears to have been
| carried on with the greatest secresy.
| Neither NJ. Beneditti, the French Minis
| ter at Berlin, nor N. Mercier. at Madrid,
bIew any urEus aU0uo II, aud the eVlden'
intention was not to spring the matter
upon France until after Spain was fully
committed to the support of Prince Leo
pold, and to an alliance offensive and de-
fcnsiyc with Prussia. Up 10 the very
point Of contamination the secret was
well kept. Then came unexpectedly the
| explosion, and Count Bismarck's scheme,
| not being fully ripe for execution, failed
most signalIy on the very point on which
its successful execution depended. Ac-
cordiDg to the TriJlme'S correspondent,
the theory of Bismarck seems to have
been that when Prussia, on being chal-
lenged by France, disavOwed having taken
any part in promoting the candidature OF
Prince Leopold, France would turn an
grily upon the Cortes and demand his re-
lection; that Spanish pride would take
fire at the indignity; that majority of the
Cortes would promptly resent the French
demand by voting to place Prince Leo
pold on the Spanish throne; that war would
then ensue, but that the theater of war
would be Spain, and France, after having
committed herself to the conflict, instead
of finding herself confronted by one enc
my, would suddenly discover that she
was beset by two. The aim of BismarcB
was to fight the battle of Prussia inSpain.
1t is thus the Baltimore Gazette inter
prcts the remark that "Spain is to be
the Italy of the future war" In thi;
| he has been foiled; not, perhaps, through
any error in judgment, but because the
secret of the Hohenzollern candidature
leaked out prematurely. Instead OF
holding Spain responsible, France has
demanded pledges of Prussia. Spain de-
clares her neutrality, and SO, after all this
plotting and scheming, the battle is to be
fought single-handcd between the two
great bclligcrents who have so long been
girding up their loins for the tremendous
struggle.