The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-01-12
A PIECE OF SECRET HISTORY
ST. James Gazette.

back to the time of the Franco Ger
man war, which has hitherto been
entirely unknown outside certain
select official circles, and which is ex-
tremely interesting as showing to
what straits France. was reduced dur
ing the conflict. The heroes of the
episode are General Prim and Count
Keratry, who, il may be remembered,
had been a member of the opposition
in the corps IeQiSIdtf in the last year
of the empire, and who was project of
police in Paris from the 4th of Sep
tember to the 18th of October, 1870.
Upon his resignation of this latter po-
sition he was commissioned by Nj.
Jules Favre, who was then foreign
minister in the government of national
defence to proceed to Madrid, there to
endeavor to obtain assistance for sorely
pressed France.
General Prim was, as president of
the provisional government, at that
time master of the destinies of Spain.
Count Keratry's instructions were, if
possible, to arrange an offensive and
defensive alliance between the two
countries, and to persuade the Spanish
regent to Immediately place corps of
from $4,000 TO 10000 men at Frances
disposal. The transportation and
feeding of the troops were to be pro-
vided for by the government of
national defence, and, in return for the
assistance, France offered, upon the
conclusion of the war, to lend a hand
in the specification" of Cuba, and in
the furtherance of scheme of Iberian
union which was then much favored
by certain section of Spanish politi-
clans. Count keratry, in pursuance
of his mission, left Paris on the 14th
of October. 1870, in the balloon
"Godefroy Cavaignac," starting from
the Orleans railway station. There
was a west wind, which threatened to
carry the balloon towards Germany !;
and Count Keratry was, in fact,
obliged to descend within the German
lines, near Barbecue. He escaped,
however, to Chaumont, where he
found dispatch from Gambetta, who
begged him to go at once to Tours.
The count did as he was requested,
and after seeing Gambetta, hurried on
to Madrid. In the Spanish capital he
was warmly received by the Republi-
can leaders, and especially by Emilio
CASTELAR,, who, in the name of his
friends, authorized the French ennis
sary to tell Prim that, if he would
help France as requested, he might
count upon being made president of a
Spanish republic.
A few hours later Count Keratry
called on Prim, laid all the advantages
of the proposed alliance before him
and recalled the numerous good offices
which in the past France had rendered
to Spain. Prim listened silently and
courteOusly, and then replied that he
failed to see how Spain, power of
the third rank, crippled in resources
and in state of transition, could give
useful help. Count Keratry answered
by citing the case of Italy, which,
though then a weak state, had joined
Great Britain and France against Rus
STA, and had since taken her place
among the European powers. He
pointed out, too, that Prussia, herself
had not always been q great power
and that she had only won the posi-
ton by asserting her right to be heard
in the councils of Europe. General
Prim, the count suggested, might put
Spain in the way of following along
the path which had been 30 success
lively trodden by Italy and Prussia.
He might be Spanish Cavour or Bis
marck, If only he would take the
trouble. Let him declare Spain to be