The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-24

|
ment at versaiIIes-The Germans Prepar-
ing to Return and Reoccupy.
We print this morning cable despatch,
special to the HERALD which leaves us little
room to doubt that the crisis in France which
has so long been foreshadowed, and which for
some time has seemed inevitable, is now i'm
minent. Great excitement, it is said, prevails
at Versailles, and no such activity has been
witnessed among the various political parties
for many months past. Germany, in conse-
quence, has taken alarm; the army is being
put on a war footing; two picked corps are
ordered to hold themselves in readiness, and
| generally on the German side of the frontiers
things look as if fresh invasion Of France
was meditated. Our special despatch in
forms us that there is every probability Of an
early and radical change in the French gov
eminent, and that the Prussian government
reserves to itself the right, in the event OF the
new French government revealing any indica-
tons of inability or unwillngness to observe
the terms of the Treaty of Peace, to march
its troops across the frontiers and reoccupy
the recently evacuated territory. The news
has created considerable excit ement, not only
throughout France but in all the political
centres of Europe.
This piece of intellige nee confirms, and
more than confirms, the views which we ex-
pressed yesterday We gave 1t as our opinion
that the anomalous state of things existing In
France could not by any possibility last.
Sooner almost than we had ventured to ex-
poet, the words are flashed across the seas
| which leave us no room to doubt that poor
| France stands once more on the 'perilous
edge" Ofrevolution. II anything were wanted
to convince US that things are not as they
| ought to be at Versailles, we should find it in
the fact that the Berlin authorities are thus
preparing for the emergency and adopting
decided course for the conservation of their
rights. To some it does seem hard that the
German sword should be held 80 mercilessly,
IN tervOrem, over the heads Of the French
government and people. 1t ought not to be
! forgotten by such that Germany, equally with
France, has rights solemnly guaranteed by
the Peace Treaty. When, some months ago,
France paid in advance a certain portion of
the war indemnity, Germany was magnanimous
enough to retire large portion of her forces
from the territory which she occupied and
held as q material guarantees; but in retiring
these troops the right was reserved by
the German authorities to reoccupy if the
remainder of the indemnity was not promptly
paid, or if in any way their interests were i'm
ii - H. Iol t.
tain circumstances, therefore, Prince Bismarck
has perfect right to advise his master to Or
der the German army to cross the frontier and
establish themselves in some of the fairest
portions of France. 1t is natural and proper,
such being the agreement, that the government
of the Emperor William should preserve to-
wards French affairs watchful attitude. 1t
is all the more natural that there is large
body of men scattered over France, some of
whom have places in the Assembly, who cling
to the opinion, and who have never been
backward to express it, that France was be-
trayed by M. Theirs and the Assembly in the
matter of the Peace Treaty, that the war in
demnity should never have been paid, and
that, even now, it would be more noble for
France to unsheathe the sword and spill her
best blood, II need be, than pay another
| franc to the Unsuitable German. It is notewor-
thy that the latest attempt made by the French
| government to raise loan for the purpose of
paying the remainder of the war indemnity,
and thus Kidding the country at once of
the presence of the hated German, has
been but feebly encouraged, for the
reason that there are hundreds of thou
sands in France who believe that there is an
other and more satisfactory way of arriving
at the same end. Such being the state of the
case, it is not permitted us to wonder that the
shifting scenes at Versailles and the move
ments of the actors on the political stage
should be SO attentively observed by the gov
eminent leaders at Berlin.
| 1t would certainly be most humiliating for
France if the Prussan hosts should again
| cross the Rhine and declare themselves mas
ters of some of her fairest provinces. Humil-
iating as it would be, it is not by any means
| to be regarded as one of the impossbilities of
the not distant future. Most assuredly if
Prince Bismarck feels that the circumstances
Justify it, the second invasion will be made
without the slightest regard to the feelings Of
the French government and people, and, in
deed, without any regard to the public feeling
of mankind What are the chances that such
circumstances will present themselvesp This
question will best be answered by looking al
the present condition of the political parties
in France. 1t is reasonable, we think, to say
that, should the government of President
Theirs fail, the result would be the republic,
probably with Gambetta at its head, or the
monarchy in some form, headed, possibly, fol
time by the Due dAumale, or the restored
empire, with regency. 1t is by no means
| A. - l. l.