The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-09-26
The Interview between Bismarck and
Favre-What was Said.

LONDON, Sept. 22.-I am enabled by spe-
cial authority TO communicate TO you the
following details of the meeting between
NJ. Jules Favre and Count Bismarck at
Ferrieres, sent forward by permission OF
the Prussian Government from Meaux.
NJ. Jules Fayre reached the chateau of Fer
rieres in a post-chaise from Meaux, es-
corted by Prussian cavalry. He was re-
ceived with great courtesy by Count Won
Bismarck, the King being absent at Yer
sailles, and almost the first words of the
Prussian Premier were to assure ID. Favre
that he would have been received with the
greatest pleasure at any time since the pro-
clamaton Of the Republic, and that it
was quite unnecessary to have sought the
interview through the interposition of any
other power. Count Won Bismarck then
went on to say that Germany had not the
slightest wish, certainly he knew the King
had not the slightest wish, to humiliate
France by the foTcible annexation Of Alsace
and Lorraine as conquered provinces. Lam
guage looking to such result could only
be used, and had only been used, by eX-
cited and irresponsible persons in Germany,
who would not have the least influence in
deciding the action of the Kings Govern
ment. But, said Count Won Bismarck, it is
clear that Germany has right to expect,
as an essential condition Of peace. some
material guarantee against future attacks.
| TO this NJ. Favre replied that he could not
| think any material guarantee against such
attacks at all comparable to the moral guar
antees OF an honorable peace and friendly re-
| lations between the two peoples, and he re-
| minded Count Won Bismarck that he and
the party which he represented had always
opposed the war. Count von Bismarck re-
piled that he, on his part, had not less earn
estly opposed it that he regarded it with
horror and distress, and would gladly see
stop put to its calamities at the earliest mo-
ment possible. He asked, however, whe-
| ther M. Favre and the Provisional Govern
ment could bind the Constituent Assembly
to ratify treaty should treaty now be
made. Nj. Favre replied that certainly he
could not undertake to do this; but he
added that, as the Provisional Govern
ment was now recognized throughout
| France that Government could put
| Prussia in possession of such material qua
rantees as would make it certain that she
could lose nothing by the effort after peace,
even should the Constituent Assembly re-
| iect such treaty as might now be pro-
posed. Count Bismarck thereupon said
| that NJ. Favre, he was sure, would under
stand the importance Of giving the Prus-
| sian Government proofs of his ability to put
| it in possession Of such material guarantees.
M. Favre replied that the proofs would be
| forthcoming as soon as the terms OF treaty
could be agreed upon. Count Won Bis
marck then asked, by way Of illustration
merely, whether NJ. Fayre was sure that
| the commanders at Strasbourg and at Metz
| would obey any orders which the proyi-
sional Government might give them. To
| which NJ. Favre made answer that most
certainly he was sure of this. Count Won
Bismarck then asked whether the day for
the election of the Constituent Assembly
had been fixed as he had understood, and
NJ. Favre replying that it had been, the
conversation ended.