The New York herald., 1870-11-08
international Duties and Ri3bts-NOrth-
German OmcinI Opinion.


International DutIe, and Riahts-Norih-
German OmciaI Opinion.
Another interesting document connected with the
war and just dvuiged Is circular note OF the
North-German Foreign Ofce on certain breaches OF
international law alleged to have beeea committed
In the war
BERLIN. Oct l, 1870
In the sitting OF the Corps Legisatf OF Septem-
Der the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince
Latour d'Auycrgne read two circulars in which the
German troops were charged with sundry violations
OF the law OF nations, as well as OF treaty rights
German troops, the Prince stated, had attacked
French ambulances, and more particularly taken
prisoner the Baron de Bussiere, while employed in
an ambulance organized by himself. They had
the Prince went on, fired explosive rne bullets,
compelled peasants ron the envronS OF StrasbOurg
10 WORK III me trencnes eAposel 70 sne nIe " lhe
fortress, and deceitlully marked provision, amnu-
milton and money wagons witn the red cross OF the
Geneva Convention. NAY, one Prussian soidier had
killed q French doctor while he was dressing MS
wounds. However firmly convinced was Of the mus
tice OF these accusations yet, considering the name
appearing under the notes In question | would not
conne to the mere assertion tnat such things
were Impossible, but nave caused inquiries 10 be in
situated whether anytling has happened which by
unreliable or malicious persons could be distorted
into the alleged cnornitles. These inquiries were
very difficult, the assertions OF the French Minister,
both with regard TO detail and authentic testimony,
being preferred In such vague terms are
rarely with in Official utterances OF serious
ture. In no instance did he make complete state
ment respecting names, time and locality. III most
cases the only proof alleged was the notoriey OF the
been related in the French press-a press on whose
veracity 1t would be useless to lose d word Two OF
his charges, tnose referring to explosive bullets and
the employment 0l peasants In the trenches, are IN
deed supported, as he says, by the testimony Of in
dividuai witnesses. Yet in neither has he
v0uchsacd us the names ol his witnesses, or the eX-
act contents OF their evidence The inquiries have
caused to be ret on FOOT have led 10 the DIS
covery OF one single circumstance which, nsstatcd
ana perverted, may have gwen rise 10 complaint.
II Is perfectly true that the Baron dc BEsslere was
arrested, and that he had something TO 40 with the
not occur IN the ambulance ITSELF aud 1t was occa-
stoned py the suspicion thar he kept mp intercourse
with the garrison Ill Stra sbourg. Like his subse.
qnent detention, the arrest was executed with the
regard due to his position and his reputa-
measures taken against him were TO last could De
decided only on military grounds. As TO the oner
assertions OF the two Circulars am compelled TO
declare that they are mere inventions. II remains
to De seen whether the French government will
recognize the duty devolvng upon 1t Of substantial
ing the accusations preferred, and whether 1t will
do so In manner which, after our ample expert
ence respecting the trustw0rthlness OF French oll-
clal statements may claim TO be noticed. Out OF
respect for the other Powers which have signed the
Geneva Convention and the st. Petersburg Declara-
ton Of November 20 december ~ 1868, | VIII
give positive assurance that this convention
mas been most carefully observed by the Ger
man troops and that explosive ride bullets. less
than four hundred grammes IN weight do not exist
IN the German army. cannot however, but advert
TO the numerous and perfectly authenticated facts,
OF the most astonishing nature. proving beyond
doubt that the French goyernment-whch,
Prince Latour rightly observes, took such earnest
interest in the conclusion oil the Geneva Convention
has not carried out this convention, The German
doctors wno after the battle OF Wissembourg. III the
laZareites under the superintendence OF the phys
clans General Wins ana Bdger, treated the French
wounded, soon perceived that the latter were totally
ignorant OF the signiicati0n Of the white band with
the red cross. Head surgeons OF the French. army
VINO subsequently came 10 these laZaretteS 10 look
after their conntrymen, distinctly assured Prince
Putbus. the delegate of the Jonannltes that the
French War Olice had neither supplied their mill
tary surgeons with THESE bands nor directed them
to put them The said head surg ons had
been Obliged 10 improyise bands out or the nrst ma
unanimously stated that the Geneva Convention,
and the rules prescribed by H respecting the treat
ment OF ambnlanccs, physci ans and wounded are
entirely unknown TO the French army; and yet the
French government were under a twOfold obligaliOn
to acquaint their troops with these stipuialons
II the humane sentiments which the circular or
AUGUST 10 prompted their interest In the Geneva
Convention permitted their marshalIng against Us
those Tnrco mercenaries the refuse or the popula-
ton OF the North African towns, they ought 70 have
taught them. at least, To spare doctors and
wounded. shall take another occasion 10 prove by
Official evidence. the evil results OF the negligence OF
the French government on TINS hand. Alter all 1
have SAID, the two circulars or August 81
appear to have no other object than To meet our
protest OF August 26 touching the Migrant violation
OF flags OF truce well as the other protests which
the French must have known might bc justly
brought against their condnct III the field. For this
purpose a number Of improved accusations were
raked together from unreliable newspapers. re-
quest your ExcelIency 10 deliver copy or trans.
lation OF this circular to the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs.
For the Chancellor OF the Coniederacy TITLE
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