The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-17

give French vanity temporary qualification
He decided to base his action on the cesslon o
Venetia and then to offer his services ns medi
ator. not only to tho Italian. but also to tn
Prussinn Government. md thus assume tn,
offco of umpire In tho affairs of Europe Tit
publication of his intentions In the Mopiter o
July had precisely the desired effect on thu
Parlslans. provoking q mighty flush OF patri
otto pride. general waving OF flags by dnl
and tho brilliant illumination OF tho citl
in tho evening. Unaware that their En-
reror's secret plans had oil boon brought
to naneht at k0niggratz, tho vainglorous
Parisians imagined that tho adjustment oil
Europe depended on tho will OF France. As II
turned out. the publication OF the mediation
scheme was fatal blunder But for this
France would havo acceded to Gortschakofrs
proposal that Russia. France. and England
should send to tho Prussian Government d
Joint note affirming the indissolubilIty OF the
German Confederation. Had that note been
sent, tho victory at Koniggratz would have
boon relatively fruitless. for Bismarck would
have been forced to content himself with some
moderate territorial acccssions at the hands OF
defeated Austria, after which all parties would
havo resumed their old places in the Frank fort
Diet. II is for this and other reasons. some OF
which will soon be stated. that German unity
has been attributed less to the Prussan vcto-
rlcs OF 1896 than to the fatuous diplomacy OF
NAPOLEON I'LL The French Emperor's refusal
to sign the proposed Joint note-a refusal inev-
table after his assumption OF the role OF mcdi-
| ator-made the worst impression on the courts
of London and st. Petersburg. It made them
both fall back on an attitude OF reserve and re.
fuse to second Napoleon's efforts to exert nm
influence ut the Prusslan headquarters.
III.
Tho impression made on tho King OF Prussia
by Napoleon's despatch-a purpose Of media
tion-was disclosed In his first indignant OK
clamation =" Incredible" His second thought
was that 1t would never do to refuse in round
terms the oiiclous offer. SO. Selling q slip Of
paper. he asks. What shall we demand and
proceeded to answer his own question.
Here we should remind tho reader that
Prussia had begun the war with the
resolve to bring about confederate re-
| form and to assert her rights in Schlcswig-
Holstcin. but with no thought Of any further
annexation. Even now. after K0niggrltz on
learning OF Napoleons intention to interfere,
| oil that King William jotted down for the
| fruits OF his tremendous victory were annex
| alton OF Schlcswig Holstein. German confed-
crate reform under Prussian leadership. re-
| imbursement Of tho expenses of tho
Hanover. Hesse- Casse Nassau. and Mein-
ingcn in favor of their hoirs apparent, the Co.'S
sion perhaps OF n strip Of the Bohemian border
| and OF East Friesland and recognition OF the
Prussian claim Of Inheritance for Brunswick"
There was at this time in the mind OF William
/. no thought Of further additions to Prus-
sian territory or the dethronement OF any
German prncely dynasty. 1t was Napoleon
Ill. who by his misdirected opposition forced
bismarck to sock other means. namely. the
Strengthening OF the Prussian house itself, in
order to gain for King William the position OF
power which he believed essential to tho
interests OF Germany.
1t is true that In adopting these means Dis
marck was forced TO abandon for the moment
the idea OF including the South German States
IN his new confederation. 1t is. however
affirmed with confidence by DR.. Won Sybel
that Bismarck never contemplated q perma-
nent division Of Germany Although 70. the
sake OF getting rid OF French interference he
limited his avowed plans to the firm CONSOLE
datton Of the States north Of the Main. ho cor
tainly didn not lose sight for an instant Of tho
naturally close connection Of all Germany and
the eventual embodiment Of that connection
In fixed constitutional form. 50 anxious in
deed was Bismarck to avoid French mediation,
and so indignant was he at the attempt Of Ma
poeon I'LL to reap where he had not sown,
that X Austria had consented to treat directly
md solely with Prussia no would have
given her better terms than she actually OBJ
tanned. 1t seems that he sent Baron Herring
OF Drum on an informal mission to Vienna
with an otfer to conclude peace upon the
following conditions. viz. that with the ex-
ceptlon OF Venctia the territorial possessions
OF Austria should remain intact. that no war
indemnity should be eXactcd. that in Ger
many the Main should form tho boundary OF
Prusslan am bition. that South Germany should
be LETT quito free. and that Austria might enter
into such connection with the latter as she
chose. all this. however. under the stipula-
ton that any Intervention or mediation on the
part OF France should be percmptorily ex-
cluded. II Baron Herring. bearing the re-
sponse OF Francis Joseph to this overture. had
reached the Prussan headquarters an hour
earlier. Bismarck would have treated d.
rectly and exclusively with the court OF
Vienna. and the blow to the prestige
of Napoleon I'LL would have been deadly 1t
would have boon. however. n fortunate stroke
for France. whose interests wero by no means |
identical with those of tho Second Empire. and
who would never have plunged into the fatal
war OF 1870 II the present Austro- Prussian
alliance had been formed in 1869. 1t was
lucky for Napoleon ILL., that on July 10 Bis
marck had finally decided to accept his media
ton. Tor during the preceding fortnight he had |
been subjected to calling humiliation. Italy. |
which he had regarded as his own creation,
had refused to accept Nenctia at his hands.
and declared that sho would tako 1t from her
ally Prussia. or not at all. and Or |
dered her forces to press forward into |
Austro-Lombardy. and thus compelled |
the Archduko Albert to leave por.
tion OF his army in Italy instead OF carrying |
the whole to tho defence of Vonna Napoleon |
had. therefore, rendered no service whatever |
to Austria. and had established no claim to her |
gratitude. Ho had irrcmediaby alienatcd |
Italy. and was actually reduced to beg the |
RUSSIAN Ambassador to permit him to go |
through tho Dretcnco Of mediation lest no |
should be made the laughing stock OF his own |
subjects. He would have been brought to tho |
extremity of modification but for Austrla's |
hesitation to accept Eismarck's offer of direct
and exclusive negotiation with Vienna. and |
had NOT Bismarck feared that Napoleon Ill |
might In his desperation mass Il largo army
on tho left bank Of thu Rhipe