Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-03-08
THE STRESS OF FRANCE.
a BIT OF SECRET HISTORY ANENT
THE sFRANco-eERMAN WAR.

TIE NCO-GERMAN WAR.
Count Keratry's Endeavor to Secure the
Assistance of spain-Gen. Prim Could
Not BE Won by the Promise of Power
and Glory for Himself.
There has lately come to light curious
piece Of secret history. dating back to the
time of the Franco German war, which has
hitherto been entirely unknown outside cer-
tain select official circles, and which is sx.
trcmely interesting as showing to what straits
France was reduced during the conflict The
heroes OF the episode are Gen. Prim and
Count Keratry, who it may be remem bered.
had been member of the opposition in the
corps legslatif in the last year of the empire,
end who was prefect Of police in Paris from the
4th of September to the 18th of October, 1870.
Upon his resignation Of this latter position he
was commissioned by NJ. Jules Favre, who
was then foreign minister in the government
of national defense, to proceed to Madrid,
there to endeavor to obtain assistance for
sorely pressed France.
KERATRY's MISSION AND JOURNEY.
Gen. Pri!n was as president of the provis-
ional government. at that time master of the
destinies of Spain. Count Keratrys instruc-
tions were, if possible, to arrange an offensive
and defensive alliance between the two coun-
tries, and to persuade the Spanish regent to
Immediately place corps of from. 10000 to
$1,000 men at Frances disposal The trans
portation and feeding Of the troops were to
be provided for by the government Of ma
tional defense, and in return for the assist
ance France offered, upon the conclusion Of
the war, to lend hand in the qualification"
of Cuba, and in the furtherance of a scheme
OF lberian union which was then much fa.
vored by certain section of Spanish politi-
clans.
Count keratry, in pursuance of his mission,
left Paris on the l4th of October, 1870, in the
balloon "Godefloy Cavaignac. +" starting from
the Orleans railway station. There was a
west wind, which threatened to carry the
balloon towards Germany, and Count Kera-
try was, in fact, obliged to descend within
the German lines, near Barbecue He es-
capped, 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 Oh to Madrid. In the Spanish capi-
tai he was warmly received by the Republi-
can leaders, and especially by Emilio CASTELAR,,
who, In the name of his friends, authorized
the French enlissary to tell Prim that if he
would help France, as requested, he might
count upon being made president of Spanish
republic.
A few hours later Count Keratly called on
Prim, laid all the advantages of the proposed
alliance before him and recalled the numer-
Gus 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 weak state, had Joined
Great Britain and France against Russia, and
had since taken her place among the
European powers. He pointed out, too, that
Prussia herself had not always been great
power, and that she had only won the position
by asserting her right to be heard in the coun-
ellis of Europe. Gen. Prim, the count sug-
gested, might put Spain in the way Of follow
ing along the path which had been so success
fully trodden by Italy and Prussia He might
be Spanish Cavour or Bismarck, if only he
would take the trouble Let him declare
Spain to be republic, let him encourage the
idea of Iberian union, and let him afford the
desired assistance to France. .sIf you will
do this continued the count, 81 am author
lied to offer your government subsidy to
the amount Of 1000, 600 francs Tor e2 OOO, 600
sterling)." Gen. Prim's response was:
YET He SAVED FRANCE.
II am moved, NJ le Comte, by your love
of country; but 1, too, love my native land,
and, seductive though the programme which
you lay before me undoubtedly is, | cannot
accept it. ! tell you, in confidence, that I
hate Prussia and love France as my second
fatherland Part of my family resides In
France; myself have lived there during the
later years of my life, and here am known
as the Frenchman' But what you tell me-
about assuming the presidency Of Spanish
republic is a chimera. Spain will have moth
ing to do with republic. The real con-
servative party in this country is very pow
erful and it shrinks from a republic because
it has no confidence in republicans
This means, then," said Count Keratry,
that the rumor of the approaching call to
throne of the Duke of Aosta is well founded9
should, nevertheless, have expected Italy to
remember few Of the obligations which she
owes to u.s."
"Ahr' said Gen. Prin, sItaly would no
doubt move it Spain were to lead the way.
For my part, can only say that if you can
manage that Italy shall move first, Spain
will follow her."
Count Keratry begged Prim not to sacrifice
the idea Of republic, but the general re-
mained firm: With a smile he said: II have
preferred the part of monk to that of Crom-
well; and never while live, shall Spain be-
come republic. That is my determine
tion."
Count Keratry, much disappointed, re-
turned to France. On the 10th Of November
the Duke of Aosta was elected king of Spain
by the Cortes, and a little later Gen. Prim,
as he was leaving the. chamber, was mortally
wounded by Carlist assassins. He died three
days afterwards, Oh the S0th of December,
the very day on which King Amadeus landed
at Carthagena St James Gazette.
Useful Inventions.