The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-27
THE WAR FEELING In WASHINGTON.
Excitement in the Capital Over the Secret
Franco-Prussian Treaty-An Old Treaty Re-
suscitatod-Pretext for English Interven-
tion-The United States to Remain
Neutral-Letter from Secretary
Fish to Baron Gerolt.

WASHINGTON, July 20, 1870.
The reported secret treaty proposed by France to
Prussia, with view to securing an alliance Ofren-
slve and defensive and increased slice Of terri.
tory on the part OF both Powers, has created @
wonderful amount OF excitement here, considering
the little real interest this government has In Euro
pean questions Last night 1t seemed TO swallow up
all other subjects OF discussion, and to-day the nte
rest displayed concerning it Is uot less marked.
The apparent genuineness of the document and the
serious manner In which 1t has already been treated
by the British government and newspapers would
seem to point to an intention to make the basis or
pretext for English Intervention In the Franco Prus
sian difficulty.
hint was thrown out here to-day, which may be
worth something as explaining the very sudden
hullabaloo and newspaper howl In Great Britain.
It is related TO me by gentleman whose relations
with our own government and the foreign Ministers
Is such as to enable him TO keep we'll posted on most
subjects OF public interest," that the treaty published
with such an immen Sc parade by the London Times
Is document some three years old, which was con-
sidercd by France and Prussia at the time the latter
Power was about to measure swords with Austria,
and that 1t was mutually rejected at that time. Who
the author OF the treaty really was, whether Napo-
leon or Bismarck, does not appear but Its publica-
tiOn now is supposed to be for certain pur-
pose. England was furnished, con6dentialiy, with
copy ct the time OF the Austrian difficulty, and it
10 believed that Earl Granville supplied the document
to Mr. Delano, OF the London Times for the purpose
OF firing the British heart, and in that way getting
up war fever against France to furnish an excuse
for intervention In Continental matters. Delano IS
said to be very intimate with Earl Granville as he
was likewise with the late Lord Clarendon at whose
place he used to spend great deal OF his time
Clarendon Is known to have used the Times news
To-, xtIoc
to feel the British pulse in extraordinary emergen.
cies. Therefore, 1t Is asserted that Granville is the
real prOmpter at the bottom Of the whole business
lie it is who is said to have given the treaty to the
Times, although 1t Is now his little game to simulate
great surprise and Indignation. This is a curious
explanation but II correct, 1t only serves to show
that Englands protestatons Of intended or desired
neutrality are all Cannon.
On the other hand, ! am informed that the late
Lord Clarendon many times expressed the opinion
before his death that English statesmen had come to
the conclusion long ago that the true policy Of Great
Britain was to avoid all intermeddling in CONT
mental difficulties. Clarendon Is reported to have
observed that "never has England In modern times
gained an advantage by taking part in the CONT
mental strifes and wars Of Europe. In the Crimean
war she spent millions and gained neither credit nor
advantage OF any sort. Hereafter England's true
policy must be to attend 10 her vast commercial In
teress In peace and seek to develop her immense
colonial resources" Granville and Gladstone
however, may differ on this point with Clarendon.
M. Berthemy. the acting French Minister, pro.
fesses to know nothing whatever about the subject
and appears 10 regard the thing as some very Dig
hoax perpetrated on Napoleon, Bismarck and the
Times. Baron Gerolt also seems TO be first class
know nothing on this point. Both Of these diplo-
mats called at the State Department to-day and had
interviews with Mr. J. c. Bancroft Davis, the Acting
Secretary OF State What the object Of their visits
was has not transpired.
The story which comes oil the way from Europe
representing that President Grant has instructed
Minstersat Paris and Berlin to tell Napoleon and
King william that he hopes that the neutrality OF
Belgium will be respected creates O great
deal OF fun here. The fact is, our gov
eminent has not expressed single opinion