The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-26
THE TREATY BET WEEN FRANCE
AND PRUSSIA

early edition.
THE TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE
AND PRUSSIA.
THE latest development of the European
complication is secret treaty between
France and Prussia, which was published yes
terday morning by the London Times, and
which has created the greatest excitement and
indignation in England. The Times guaran-
tees the authenticity of this remarkable
document, but does not state how it came
into its possession, and Mr.. Gladstone, when
interrogated on the subject last night in the
House of Commons, was obliged to confess
himself bewildered by the disclosure, and to
acknowledge his inability to give any infor-
nation in regard to it. In addition to the
points of the treaty all the information fur
nished with regard to it is that it was sub
mitted by France to Prussia about the time
of the Luxembourg affair.
By the terms of this treaty the Emperor of
the French agreed to acquiesce in the late
acquisitions of Prussia, and for her part
Prussia was to agree to facilitate the acquisi-
tion of Luxumburg by France. More i'm
portant however, than this accommodating
arrangement, was that by which France con-
sented to Prussia annexing all the South
German States with the exception of Austria,
while out of spirit of reciprocity Prussia
was to agree to assist France in absorbing
Belgium if she should find it expedient or
necessary to do so. This little arrangement,
if it had been carried out, would have given
both to France and Prussia exactly what they
profess to desire most in the way of territory
1t would have almost realized the Prussian
dream of great united German Empire in
which Prussian ideas would predominant, and
it would very nearly have given France the
control of the west bank of the Rhine, for
which she has been sighing for centuries.
Among the difficulties, however, in the way
of the consummation Of such treaty is the
fact that the Rhenish provinces which France
wishes to annex are intensely German, and
their surrender under any circumstances by
Prussia would involve loss of prestige that
great gains in another direction would scarcely
.counterbalance. 1t was probably this, COM
bined with a general distrust of Napoleon
and an indisposition to lend any aid what
ever to his schemes for extending the French
dominions or increasing his own power, that
induced Prussia to decline entering into
the proposed scheme. Bismarck, who has
from the first shown himself Napoleon's mas
ter in statecraft, most likely felt strong
enough not only to hold his own and push
his plans without assistance, but to grapple
with the Emperor, if the latter should at
tempt to interfere.
The principal interest which the proposed
treaty has at this moment is in the exhibit it
makes of the secret Vaccinations of France
and Prussia. The English are particularly in
dignant, and there was an exciting discussion
on the subject in the House of Commons last
night Mr.. Disraeli said that England would
never submit to any such arrangement, and
he declared that the extinction of the king
dom of Belgium would be calamity to
Europe. In this he probably represented the
average public sentiment, for not only is
England largely committed as the supporter
of the independence of Belgium, but it is felt
that any combination for plunder be-
tween France and Prussia is not only insult
ing to her dignity, and that, if carried out, it
would certainly throw her. back even further
than she is at present to the position of a
second or third-rate power.
OF course all that can be said about the
probable consequences of the publication of
the treaty in the present contest between
France and Prussia must be mere conjecture
If, as is stated, the treaty was the proposition
of Napoleon, it will aid in maintaining the
moral advantage which Prussia now enjoys as
the non attacking party in the war which has
last commenced, and if Bismarck can convince
England and the other powers that he is inno-
cent of any regeneration in the matter, he
may be able to consolidate the opponents of
France in a manner that will seriously inter-
fere with the plans of the Emperor
IRISH SYMPATHY FOR FRANCE.
FyAoTry why Irishmen should have an affec.