Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-07-20
ABOUT THE WAR
The Commanders of the French and
Prussian Armies---Spain and
the Crisis.
Baron GeroIt on the Situation
German and French Steamers
Italy and The Pope.
Duration of the Struggle Origin of
the War---Benedetti and the
King of Prussia.

THE PRUSSIAN MINISTER AT WASH
INGToN ON TIE SITUATION.
From the New York Herald, I6thl
Baron GerOlt, the Prussian Minis
ter, has received quite a number OF
dispatches from his government since
the commencement OF the difficulties,
and has communicated copies to Sec
rotary Fish. The Baron belongs to
the old school of red tape diplomats,
who have a holy horror of newspaper
men, and fear to say n word lest
their government should consider it a
breach of official etiquette. 81 have
nothing TO communicate TO the news.
paDels,' said the Baron tonight.
Nv government has not instructed
me to furnish dispatches to the news
papers, and 1 cannot give them OUT
Notwithstanding the punctiliOus
style of the venerable Baron and his
refusal to make public the contents OF
his dispatches, it is asceFtained thai
among the recent communications
from his government is one instruct,
ing him to direct all the Prussian
COnsuls in this country to warn then
cOuntrymen of the necessity of taking
some steps to secure their vessels
against depredations Of the French
navy. The PruSsian Government ad-
mits its inability to protect its COM
merce on the high seas, and as a pre-
cautiOnary measure has thus warned
its subjects at home and abroad.
Baron Gerolt has prepared Instructions
to all the Prussian C~Onsuls, in accord
ance with this dispatch, and will send
them away tomorrow.
The Baron is of the opinion that
the first attempt of the French will
be To cross the Rhine, and hopes that
all who do so will never return. He
does not pretend to predict the length
of the war or the complications to
which it may lead, but seems conf
Gent that Prussia will lose nothing by
the contest. He regrets that Congress
adjourned without adopting the re-
commentators contained in the
Presidents message regarding the ne
cessity of s~uspending the navigation
laws for a year, and considers that the
American people will soon regret this
omission on the part of the National
Legislature. He believes the Ameri-
can people will wakeup in a few days
and realize that a very great mistake
has been committed by its Congress
in the haste and confusion Of the clos
ing hours.
The Baron was at the Senate for
several hours to-day in consultation
with a number Of Senators, urging
legislation with a view to protecting
Prussian vessels pending the war be-
tween his government and France.
The feeling manifested was eminently
favorable TO Prussia, and had there
been more timethere is no doubt some
action would have been taken.
SAFETY OF GERMAN AND FRENCH
SEAMsHIPs.
The next interview took place at
the handsome chamber of the Prus-
sian Consul General, and the reporter
was politely shown into the presence
of that courteous gentleman. He
that he had good reasons for
not believing the cable dispatch an
nouncing the opening of hostilities be-
tween France and Prussia. He had
that morning received atelegram from
the Prussiam Embassy at Washing
ton, TO caution German vessels against
this port until further orders.
The Consul General telegraphed back
10 ask If hostilities had yet com
menced, but up to that time five
PM he had received no re-
ply. With regard to the German YES
sels now on the ocean, or about to sail
rom this port, he felt no uneasiness
whatever. He did not think the
armed vessels Of France would take
an unfair advantage of German mer-
,hantmen. Such semi barbarous acts
were practieed by England when she
was able to claim supremacy on the
ocean, but that was many years ago,
md her bad example would not be
by the more enlightened ma
lions OF the European continent, who
are now strong enough to make inter-
national law on this point more hu-
name and civilized than England did
n her day Of supreme power. France,
he felt bound to say, had taken a yery
advanced position in the treatment of
7essels engaged In trade and COM
nerce, and he did not think the
french Emperor would now recede
rom so ereditable a stand on this
question. He hoped the time was not
when merchant vessels would
lot be molested under any circum-