, 1875-08-25
The "a s"
THE INFLUENCE OF GERMANY
AT VERSAILLES.
IS PUBLISHED
EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.
From tie SpsctatOr.)

of the French Government which has oc-
CURED within the last fortnight has again
aroused the suspicion that it may be act
ing under pressure from Berlin. Three
weeks ago it seemed certain that the
Republic would be constituted, aud con-
stituted honestly. NJ. Buffet had appar-
emily accepted the situation, had made
a distinctly Liberal speech, and had shown
marks of readiness to follow any course
which the country might seem cordially
disposed to accept. On a sudden all this
was changed. The Conservatives raj
lied their forces. NJ. Buffet, by defending
Bonapartists, provoked NJ. Gambetta to
an indiscreet speech, and the Government,
by suggesting a long recess and claiming
the right to refuse dissolution II lneXpe-
dent, postponed the Constitution to an
indefinite date. M. Buffet seems even to
take pleasure in haunting the late MAORI
Nv, and his hot remark to NJ. Chrlstophle
that he had not been his friend hitherto,
aud should not be his tliend hereafter, is
accented as a sort of declaration OF war
to the Left Centre. So sudden a change
reused suspicion it was noted that Prince
Hohenlohe was a most asSlduous atteh-
dant on the debates, and 1t was asserted
that he had suggested or approved the
Cabinets role, face. AS the German EN-
E,Tassv at Versailles would be a most I'M
nortnnt factor in the calculation, and as
i is one very often left out OF the account
it NAV be worth while to study a NIUE
the probabilities as to its action,-pro-
liabilities in no way affected by the ao-
scnce of dispatches or hints III German
semi-oficiaI newspapers. Prince BIS
marck is not likely to be too rough THIS
time. He does not want q second eA-
plosion of European opinion, even II inc
first. as MANY observers think, strength
ened his hand, and he is quite aware that
overt favour from him to any course would
weaken the friends Of that course III
French eyes. He has, too, IN PrlQce no
henlohe an agent of the elder ana more
gcntlemanly school Of diplomacy VINO pre-
ters q whisper to a roar and a hint 10 Il
mental kick, and it would be dlttlcult TO
make of him an instrument tor a poIlcy
either of buster or OF loudIy-uttefed hen-
ace. Nevertheless, we may be quite sure
that the Ambassador is watching every
thing, that Prince Bismarck is keenly
alive to all events, and that he is not neu-
trail MS between parties in France IL
is a habit of Englishmen to suppose thaC
foreign Powers always abstain from inter
ference in internal affairs, but even IN This
country there is not a frst-class ambassa-
dor without party alliances and procliVl-
ties, and on the Continent Ambassadors
frequently have the influence, not al
ways occult, of Ministers OF State IN
Versailles, in particular, the opinion OF
Germany is discussed even too asslduous-
ly, and if we fancy Prince Bismarck does
not express one, we mistake both his
character and the range OF his influence
The only point is the direction OF his
Opinion, and on this, though something Is
becoming obscure, much also remains
patent.
Nothing whatever has occurred in the
past few months to modify the impression
confirmed by the Arnim correspondence
that Prince Bismarck, on the whole,i ap-
proves some kind Of Republican govern
ment in France He likes no kind OF
gosesnment that would favour the Ultra