The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-13
WEDNESDAY,, JULY 1S, 1870.
THE TREATY or PRAGUE.

Prince Leopold has telegraphed to Madrid
declining to accept the throne of Spain, and
that consequently there is probability that
the war cloud may blow over, provided France
does not insist upon the observance of the
treaty of Prague by Prussia. 1t was evident
from the first that the nomination of Prince
Leopold to the Spanish throne was merely
used by France as pretext for bringing
about long-desired conflict with Prussia.
Not only does the increased power and inn
portance of the last-named power, under the
aggressive policy of Bismarck, threaten the
supremacy of France and render col
lision with her liable to occur at
any time, but the French Emperor
has been steadily losing ground with his own
people of late years; and he is we'll aware that
a successful foreign war is almost the only
way by which he can regain his prestige and
establish the empire on firm basis Having
every reason, therefore, to seek quarrel
with Prussia it is of course not extremely
difficult to find bone of contention, and the
treaty of Prague will answer for something to
fight about quite as we'll as the nomination of
Prince Leopold In the controversy, thus far,
Prussia has apparently acted entirely on the
defensive, and has succeeded in throwing the
whole onus of the quarrel on France. The
probabilities are, however, that Bismarck is
quite as ready to fight as Napoleon; and as
the attitude and tone of the latter have been
particularly dictatorial and insulting, the
national pride of the whole Prussian nation
will undoubtedly be aroused to such an extent
that they will give most enthusiastic sup
49,
accede to the demands of France.
The treaty of Prague, which has thus be-
come the important feature in the contro-
versy, was concluded on the 30th of August,
1866, between Austria and Prussia, after the
signal defeat of the former at Sadowa and
Koniggratz. By this treaty Austria withdrew
from the German Confederation, recognized
the North German Union, with Prussia at its
head, and yielded up to Prussia her rights in
the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, with
the proviso that if the people of the northern
districts of Schleswig should by free vote
elect to unite with Denmark, they should be
ceded to that power. Prussia for her part
consented to recognize a union of the
German States south of the River Main,
under the auspices of Austria, if any such
should be concluded, and various other
matters of detail which have no reference to
the present controversy In the organization
of the North German Confederacy, Prussia
endeavored to grasp as much and to yield as
little as possible. France obtained from her
a promise to destroy the fortress of Luxem-
burg before she would consent to Prussia
taking possession of Hanover, and France
has also claimed that the abandonment of
BIayence was agreed upon under that section
of the treaty which ceded the territory south
of the River Main to Austria.
Prussia has not only neglected thus far to
carry out her agreement with regard to
Schleswig- Hostein, but she has endeavored
to maintain her control of the two strong
strategic points named. Her garrison holds
Mayence and is standing threat both to
Austria and France, and although the troops
have been withdrawn from Luxembourg and
tne dismantement of the fortress commenced,
there has been no disposition to hurry the
work, and Luxemburg remains to-day really
as strong as it ever was. France now de-
mands that the Schleswig Holstein affair shall
be settled by Prussia, that the liberties of
the South German States shall be guaranteed,
and that the fortress of Mayence shall be
evacuated. Luxemburg does not come into
the controversy at present, because Prussia
has, nominally at least, kept her agreement
with regard to it, but in case of hostilities
breaking out the instant occupation of this
strong position by Prussia will demonstrate
her estimation of its value and the reason fol
not wishing to hasten its destruction.
La aI IF 10 ha
as that which brought about the majority o!
the wars in which France and the Germln
powers have been engaged. France has ever
been eager to include in her territory the
whole of the west bank of the Rhine, but ha'
never yet been able to accomplish it. II this
object of Gallo ambition could be gained the
whole of Germany would be at the mercy o.
France, whereas, under existing circum
stances, the Rhenish provinces form sort o
neutral ground which serves to maintain th'
balance of power. The preponderating in
huence of Prussia in these provinces has beer
source of annoyance to France ever sine
the treaty of Prague, and as the Empero
has both national and personal reason fol
precipitating conflict, the withdrawal o
Prince Leopold is not likely to affect tn,
situation materially
JOHN BULL, by way of revenging himsel
l. 4.