Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-11

What Prussia Wanted-Eudeav0rs to
Arrange for Acquisition Of
TERRITORY.

can Englishman," writing from Paris July
., to the London Telegraph, gives the following
account OF the interview with Napoleon III.
already briefly referred to in a cable telegram:
Experience has warned me that authoritative
expressions of opinion emanating from the pro-
tagonists in a great political crisis rarely lind
their way into foreign newspapers. 1t is with
the purpose OF enabling your readers to form
their own judgment upon the views now ex-
pressed by the Emperor Napoleon that
venture 10 repeat the words which he yes
terday employed while speaking to a friend
and to myself during an interview with
which he honored us at the Tuilleries. 1
must begin by remarking that L have known
the Emperor for many years and have seldom
seen him looking better. When last 4 spoke
with him, five months ago, he looked care-worn
and haggard, with a complexion more than
usually sallow and ash-colored. Yesterday his
face looked fuller, his eve bright his cheek ;
healthy. l wish in addition to premise that
after ne had spoken, | inquired whether We
were st liberty TO repeat his words a haut roi1.
He answered, al wish nothing better than that
should be represented to the people of England
as holding these views"
The Emperor, after speaking with his usual
quiet Kindness upon some private matters,
turned suddenly to the political situation of
france ardof Europe. He said, Zone fortnight
before the uttrance of the Due de Gramtnont in
the Corps Legislatif-whch utterance has as
IT seems TO me, been so unjustlv reflected upon
by the English presS-I had no notion that wa y
Wa AT hsnd, nor am l, even at this moment,
oy any means prepared for il. | trusted
That, when the Due de Grammont had set me
straight with France by speaking manfnIIv in
public rs to the Hohenzoliern candidature,
should De able so TO manipulate aud handle
the controversy as &c make peace certain Rut
France has slipped out OF my hands. 1 cannot
rule unless lead. This is the most national
Esf mat IN my time rance has Undertaken and
/ have no choice but to advance a. the head of a
public opinion which 1 can neither stem nor
check. In addition, NJ de, Bismarck althouch
a very clever man, wants too much. and wants
II too quickly. After the victory of Prussia in
1886 L reminded him but Ter the friendly
aud self-denying neutrality of France he
could never have achieved such maryeIs
Il ! pOlnted out 10 INN that had never moved a
FRENCH soldier near to the Rhine frontier dur
ing the continuance OF the German war
quoted to him from his own letter in which he
thanked me for my abstinence, and said tia
he had left neither a Prussian gun nor Prus-
san soldier upon the Rhine, but had thrown
Prussias whole and undivided strength against
Au,tlla and her allies. / told him that, as some
Shghtreturn for my friendly inact witty though
he might surrender Luxembourg and one or
two other little towns which gravely menace
our frontier, to France. / added that in this
way ne would, by trihing sacrifice, easily for
gotten by Arussia, in view OF her enormous
successes and acquisitions, pacify the French
nation, whose jealoasies it was so easy to arouse
so difficult to disarm.
mi. De Bismarck replied to me, after some
delay, Not one foot of territory, whether Prus-
san or neutral, can / resign. But perhaps, If
lwere to make come further acquisition, | could
make some concessions How, for instance, If
want as a sop for HOlland?'
81 replied" said the Emperor, ''that if he
attempted to take Holland it meant war with
france; and there the conversation, in which
NJ. de Bismarck and VI. de Benedict were the
lnteri0eutors, came 10 an end.
have repeated this conversation as nearly as
possible in the Emperor's words. While we
were speaking the Dnc de TrevIse brought
dispatch to his Majesty, which the latter read.
which was TO the effect that ''the eleventh CORPS
OF the Prussian army were at that moment
trooping into Treves." / have little sir to add
to this recapitulatiOn. These words, which /
have faithfully endeavored to interpret, must
speak for themselves