New-York tribune., 1870-10-22

THE RUyORED PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
Var;ous and much varied rumOrs of tho
successful negotiation of peace between Ger
many and France yesterday ngitated the city
even beyond the confines of Wall-st, for
which market they were doubtless designed.
Certain circumstances, insignificant in them
selves, gave the reports some color and sub
stance : and a dispatch from Minister Motley,
though very indefinite, seemed for time to
confirm them But we are forced to conclude
that there is no truth whatever in the state
ments The unofficial conference OF prominent
Americans at Brussels upon which one report
WAS based, had nothing to do with peace nego-
tiations, further than tho mere discussion OF
those which had failed. Another was founded
on the appearance at Versailles OF an envoy
from Bazaine but the propositions which he
carried were purely military, and related only
10 the surrender of the army at Metz.
Offers of peace, originating with Count Bis
marck, were carried to Paris lately by Gen.
Burnside, but these proposals were rejected at
once by NJ. Favre. The failure OF this mis-
sion. Yesterday declared by some Journals 70
have been successful, was distinctly and un-
emiyocally announced in THE TRIBUNE OF last
Monday. Later dispatches from Berlin confirm
this statement, and quote Gen. Burnside as
admitting that his mission was unauthorized
by the United States Government and unsic-
cessful with the authorities of Paris. The
nature Of the propositions carried by nm IL
unknown, though several statements OF the
terms offered have been made. Certainly no
other negotiations have been announced IA
undertaken since this failure; and our special
dispatches declare that no fresh attempts are
likely to be made for some days.
The mission of Gen. Boyer to Versailles has
been misrepresented, and ridiculous story
has been based upon it without any warrant
of fact. According to this rumor Bazaine had
prOposed to the Germans that if they would
retire west of Metz he would march to Paris,
reGstablish the Empire, and make peace on
the condition of restoring Alsace and Lor-
raine to Germany. lf Bazaine had been stu
Did enough to make any such proposition he
would not have found an enemy simple
enough to listen to it, Peace on the basis OF
the restoration of the Empire would be no
peace to France; and well Bismarck knows
that an Empire thus restored could offer no Sc
curity to Germany.
The facts in regard to Gen. BOyer's nego-
tiations are clearly dvulged in the dispatches
published this morning. Gen. Bazainc offered
through him to surrender his own army on
the conditions offered McMahOn's at Sedan,
the City of Metz to be held, however, by its
usual garrison. To this proposition Gen. Won
Moltke, who has confidence in the strength of
Prince Frederick Charles's army, returned
negative reply. Metz proper can be held as
securely by ten thousand men as by one
hundred thousand. The Germans expect to re-
duce the position by starving out the garrison
and the larger the number the sooner the sup
plies will be consumed. The mission of Gen.
Boyer, therefore, had nothing whatever to do
with peace directly, but its military signifi-
cance is great. 1t indicates clearly that the
work of starvation is nearly complete, and
Bazane must soon surrender, camp, garrison,
arms, town and all. The French ought then to
recognise the hOpelessness of their cause, and
submit in time to save Paris from destruction,
and France from further devastation.