The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-12
BISMARCK AND NAPOLEON.

Negotiations Between the Premier and tho
Empcror-How the Minister May Avoid a
DiHlcuIty-Peace Terms Said to be Signed
Already.
The London Times publishes lengthy editorial
on the above subject, from which we reproduce the
following interesting passages:-
The uncertainty OF the present military positions,
ton OF the Germans would be full Of embarrass-
meat. even should they soon succeed In
against them IN the field. naturally occa-
sions much speculation as TO Count Bismarck's
cane from the dcaities that Seset him, and rom
specializing on his plans Is an easy step 60 framing
G az the Is rs @
we must also acknowledge that It i Just possible
that they may be true: 1t y confidently declared
notion OF slipping out Or his position ana Of
putting the emperor into u. The report af-
firms that terms OF peace are settled, If not
signed. between the King Of Prussia and
the captive at WihelmshUhe and the fact OF which
there Is trustworthy evidence that the Empress mas
the plot. The Emperor cedes Strasbourg and Metz,
and, accompanied by his Marshals puts himself at
placed at Mayence, and reinforced by the 800, 900
prisoners In Germany or by as many as may be trust
ca 10 support tne empire, retleves tne eram guard
cept such part as may pc necessary to keep under
the coded provinces. Those who affirm this tale to
berue ask what reason is there why 1t should not be
believed. There would be civil war in France of
course but the German Chancellor may view this
consequence with some equanlmity. Civil war IN
France would give him time to consolidate
the administration OF Alsace and Lorraine.
On the other hand the Imperial Marshals may
be well content 10 close with the plan. Bazaine
would try whether he could not be more success
fu WIN Napoleon LII. against Trochu than
with MaXimillan against Juarez. We must ac-
knowledge the pausDility Of these arguments,
yet there counter considerations. The right in
stlnct OF the Empress instantly rejected similar
plan when 1t first mooted TO her, and II the EN-
Peror has consented to il the last lingering belief in
his political sagaclty must be torn away. Whatever
else might betlde the plan would be fatal to him.
Despite MS Marshals aud the Imperial Guard the
army he could BRING back from captivity would melt
away before an infurated people, The siege OF Paris
would be instantly raised, and the armies Of the
South ana West. marching towards the northeast
frontier, would receive the accession Of wholesale
deserters frem the forces supposed To he hostile
TO them The Emperor would be compelled to fly
back to his friends, and the original war between
France and Germany wond be renewed on the bor-
ders OF Lorraine. These results would certainly
follow that 1t is very difficult TO believe that the En-
peror and Count Bismarck would not both foresee
them, and that, forcseeing them, the would pro-
pose and the other would accept the scheme we
have described Yet as we have sad, the deGictti-
ties, present ana pJ0Specye OF the actual position
may nave impelled Count Bismarck TO promote
anew the plan ke certainly once entertained and the
high contracting parties may have resolved upon 1t,
either careless Of consequences Or bindly overlook
Inc them.