The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-27
The Declaration Of War.
The Scene i'm the French Chambers
Enthusiasm on the Boulevards
THE PROPOSED TREATY.

Goutemporaneous Testimon y-NRpoIeon's De-
are for "Uompensation'' In 1S66-The Lux.
ernburs Imbroslio In 1861.
Just at present public attention, In the New
World as well as in the Old. has been diverted
In measure from the theatre of war, by the
publication in the London Times of the 25th of
the proposed treaty between France and Prussia,
by which the veXatiou5 question of the Rhine
frontier was to have been settled in the most
summary and reckless manner There can be
but little doubt of the fact that proposition
substantially the same as that given to the world
by the Times was actually made, although as
vet the exact time at which it was made and
the source from which the proposition ema-
mated are involved in doubt. While all Europe
is naturally excited over the exposure of the
scheme, England is particularly affected by it,
since the proposition embraced in it for the ex-
tinetion of the kingdom of Belgium would, il
carried out, have been regarded by all England
to use the expressive words of Mr.. Dlsraeli, as
"a calamity to Europe" For the thorough un-
ravelling of the mystery, therefore, we may look
to E gland, although the inquiries and answers
thus far made in the two Houses of Parliament
do not throw much light upon the subject
France says a London despatch OF last night
denies the authenticity of the alleged PROPOSE
ton, but opposed to this rather indefinite and
unreliable denial is the statement made in the
House of Lords last evening by Earl Granville,
the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, to
the effect that the French Ambassador
had told him that the treaty originated with
Bismarck, that 1t never had serious basis, and
was rejected by both parties" Here we have
a direct acknowledgment that the proposition
was entertained at least, by the representatives
of the two powers. Mr.. Gladstone, however
informed the House of Commons that the Bri-
lI4x;at Of ha6 ali pha6 fbott tl,o
despatch containing the original propositions of
Napoleon embodied in the treaty existed in
Count Benedettis own handwriting.
From these two statements there can be no
reasonable doubt that either Napoleon or Bis
marck entertained the scheme, but time alone
will develop the source from which it originated.
The period at which the proposition was dis
cussed was probably about the time of Prussia's
ACKNOWLEDGMENT at the expense OF Austria in
1866. Napoleon confidently anticipated the de-
feat of Prussia in the conflict of that year, and
thought TO profit by the result by stepping in at
the last moment to prevent her utter prostration,
in return for which he calculated upon such
concessions on the part of Prussia as would
enable him TO push his frontiers to the coveted
Rhine. The battle OF Sadowa, which was fought
on the Sd of July, upset all these calculations,
placed Prussia at the head of Germany, and i'm
while it seemed to postpone indefinitely the
hopes of France in reference to her Eastern
frontier Against this serious disturbance of
"the balance OF power" Napoleon protested at
the time and demanded something by way of
compensation. This demand was thus ex-
pounded in the Opinion Rationale of Paris, of
July 2S, 1866
1--WE consider ourselves in our right and in our
duty when we ask, and even demand, Just compen-
q when "
tied TO our prejudice"
A few days later, on August 8, the Paris cor
respondent of the London Times wrote as fol-
lows
at is useless to deny that the expectations will
not say the hopes, of every man In France have
been sgnally disappointed. Few, II any supposed
tnat the russians; Win al she aSVantages OF the
Italians, were match for the Austrians. The En-
peror was so confident that with all his habitual
obtain the Rhine provinces without the cost OF q
single man or single sou; 1t was to him that
Austria is placed, would turn and to his media
tion she would trust to guarantee her territories
what might remain OF them."
Then, on August IL, cable telegram from
Paris to the journals of this country stated
Napoleon has demanded OF Prussia the rectidca-
tio OF the French frontier by its extension TO the
Rh ne, as 1t was marked prior 10 its disturbance in
lsl4 The military and naval preparations which
are going on in France induce the belief that the
Emperor viii make war II his demand is not peace
fully complied with"
On the 10Th OF August cable telegram from
Paris to the following effect reached this coun-
try;-
'sThe Emperor Napoleon received the Prussian
Ambassador to-day at an audience at the ruileries.
The Minister delivered TO his Majesty the reply OF
the King of Prussia to the French note demanding
an extension OF the frontier OF the French empire
70 the Rhine. This state paper declares that the
demand is inadmlssble, and that Prussia will not
acGede TO it. Napoleon replied that he had made
the demand in order 20 satisfy public opinion in
France on the subject OF the rectidcatlOn of the
frontier. He deemed IL Just demand, but at the
same time, acknowledged the fairness OF the argu-
nlent used by the Prussian Cabinet in the reply OF
Tefnsal He said that the relations existing at pre-
sent between France and Prussia should not be dis
furbed in any case, and hoped Prussia would not
oVeretep the line"