New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-11-13
THE FRANCo-GERMAN CONVENTIONS.

PRINCE BIsMARCK's EXPLANATION OF THE COM
MERCIAL AND TERRITORIAL CLAUSES.
Prince Bismarck, in his recent speech in the
German Parliament on the new Conventions with
France gave the following explanation Of the parts
dealing with the tariff Alsace Lorraine manufactures
and the retrocession of territory to France:
When first we entered upon egotiations with France
the Asace Lorraine manufacturers wished to for
themselves exceptional position for tive or six years
Their Views supported by the representatives OF
the manufacturing Interest in our own country II the
e 'stssss y:
them out from the German market until prepared ior
political IessonA II would have been nnwiss 70
nce Ssy Ond the npersvey required for the pro
| the date up to which Alsace manufactures were
Epet % that IL the new Convention have been Obliged to
consent to shor,enps Of this term by SIX months But
na Arrangement In way unacceptable to u.s. and as NJ
when he took # 70 s ba s
Justify this conduct at home we could not but adopt
been iPRpruden to indors the vote the Naoua As
sembly Is obvious BY demanding privileged
si@ iGn to that conceded to AsStan manufactures
in France, 1t aimed at constituting Alsace sfps;
have belonged " France rather than to Germany Had
we entertained this proposal we should have been
tier Of the province and to preserve 1t for some
time to distinct country This was clearly not
tive adopted will reconcile conflicting interests much
as can be expected in matter Of the kind Where po-
Itic and commercial financial and industrial interests
clash 1t lie always difficult to mud an expedient equally
agreeable to all parties
AZ to three villages cede in the COnventionAvri
court and the RaOns-their possession Is Of i'm
pOrtsnce to us. They the Luxembourg frontier,
and belong those localities which the French Govern
ment wished to after the frontier had been
definitely xed Versailles Another place Of the
category and which has been likewise mentioned again
In the negotiations large iron foundry known
as Moyevre but the mine belonging 10 II, under the
DrODOAed ARRANGEMENT, WOul0 nave la0 10 Dc
divided into two parts, the one German, the other
French, with o CUSTOM House under ground, we did
not think 1t practicable TO obge ncighbOrs In this
particular. The three villages, however, are OF no
special use to They inhabited by Frenchspeskng
peOpe and lying the western decvity Of the DonOn
Hills give us no better frontier than we have without
them We therefore considered them from the out
set as something which, in return Tor counter conces-
sion, might be given up with good grace, and
we have, now that the occasion Offers, acted
upon this conviction and parted with them. We
have likewise resigned Q small strip OF land
south Of Avrlcourt, which concession viii give the
Inhabitants Of this village railway Communication with
France on French territory. AS an equivalent the
sequence require side Of the frontier. Some
valuable forests situate In these communes have
not given up. They Crown lands and worth money.
In recommending 70 You to confirm the Convention,
am ready to answer any questions that may be put
respecting the nature and bearing OF the agreement
The financial and territorial portions Of the agree
form indivisibe whole and It Is very desirable
that shOnd be in postion TO inform the French
Government OF our wish to exchange Publications.