The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-29

the mobilization of the Prussian army, and
hence it is am forced to reject q responsi-
bility which in no respect falls upon me. 1
will only state that had with me as military
attache Baron Stoffel, colonel of artillery, an
officer of great merits, whose duty it was to
attend to the orders issued by the War Minis
ter at Berlin, but in bearing testimony to the
distinguished manner in which he always per-
formed his duty l prefer laying before the
public official documents, where those de-
sirous of knowing the truth will be able to
find it, and be surprisedlat their having, per-
haps, believed statements SO utterly unwor-
thy their confidence.
NOTHING OF THE PRETENDED TREATY.
You will observe that 1 have said nothing
on the subject of the pretended treaty, which
/ had taken upon myself to submit to the ap-
proval of M. de Bismarck. have already
given explanations on this subject, and will
return to it once more in the publication
which l have announced. If instead of sue
cesses the Prussians had met with reverses,
the reputation of the Chancellor of the
North would not have outlived
an act SO outrageously. disloyal. But
victory covers all eccentricities or excuses
them. But fate has not yet spoken its last
word, and if fortune should again smile on
us, if the controversy with Russia should be-
come complicated, certain embassies, such as
those of London OF Brussels, would appear
less prudent than they are deemed to be at
present, and you would perhaps find strong
proof that the design to unite Belgium to
France, as 1 have affirmed, is entirely Prus
sian conception.
THE sCHEMING OF BISMARCK.
After all what does the scheming of M. de
Bismarck prove? Only this, that in entering
into relations with him one was exposed to
mistakes which could not be foreseen, and
Oct xuhi Will
damaging ones reputation. But have the
chances of war been in any way lessened?
Was the attitude of the other powers in any
way affected? Assuredly not. To speak
only of England, is it not broadly asserted
that she blamed our resolution from the day
on which we declared war, and before know
ing anything of the piece the principal part
in which was reserved for the journal of the
city? l should never finish if 1 were to say
all wished to say, SO / stop. Excuse these
details. shall enlighten you more fully
when the time comes for giving an explana-
ton TO the public. BENEDETTI.
THE SECRET FRANCo-PRUssIAN TREATY-IM-
PoRTANT EVIDENCE AGAINST NJ. BENEDETTI.
The recent statement of M. Benedetti, late
French Minister at Berlin, published in the
London Standard, regarding the authen-
ticity of the famous secret treaty, and the
part he had III the same, renders the opinion
Of Mr.. Bancroft on the subject very inte-
resting. Concerning this notable matter, he
wrote to Secretary Fish as follows
AMERICAN LEGATION, BERLIN, July 81, 1870.
-Sir:-To day l have to send you an au-
thentic cory of one of the most remarkable
documents ever framed by a European states
man. Some time ago (the exact date is un-
certain) M. Benedetti, the French ambassa-
dor, proposed to Count Bismarck, at time
when France was in profound peace with
England and with Belgium, to enter into an
offensive and defensive alliance for the pur-
pose of gaining the. consent of France for
the unicn of Germany on the one side, and
the consent of Germany to the annexation of
Belgium and Luxemburg to France on the
other. You may rely implicitly on the au-
thenticity of the document of which 1 en-
close copy, for have seen the original, in
the handwriting of Benedetti, which hand.
writing is very well known to me. AS an ex-
preston of contempt for the restraints of in
ternational law, the document may rank with
the late declaration of war by the Empero,
against Prussia; but it has, moreover, the
character of defiance of Great Britain.
|
] remain, sir, yours sincerely,
| GEORGE BANCROFT.
HAMILTON FISH, Esq, Secretary of State