New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-03


same translated by Ms. Angus Hall. with fOG-
traits $40, PIP. 327. G. F. Putnams sons
The fourth volume of 1alleyrands Memoirs
covers the years 1s3O-'32, and consists in reia-
tion illustrated by correspondence, OF the Irlnce
diplomatic proceedings Ambassador 10 Inc
Court Of St James's The most stirring and I'M
posing portion Of Tallcyrand's career was by inns
time passed but he found ample scope at London
for his most sSful diplomacy, and the course
followed by his own Government was such as
made additional frequent and heavy demands
upon his patience, adroitness and ingenuity. Inc
problem 10 which these two years were devoted
was, in the opinion of the veteran statesman, oil
paramount importance IL WAS nothing less than
the prevention of a great European war Inc
position of France was still unstable The Revolu-
ton of 1880 was yet fresh in mems minds. Louis
Philippe found or thought it necessary TO treat
Jacobinism tendery Paris in n chro1ically
ebulcnt state. All Europe had learned TO re-
gard the position of any and every French Gov
eminent uncertain. II resulted from these
general conditions that the diplomatic influence
and prestige Of the country were diminished, ana
in the Conference of the great Powers which mad
been called to determine the future OF Bclgium
it required the very highest powers and the coolest
Judgment on the part Of the representative OF
France to bring about the success of the plans
which Talleyrand had formed.
. II nav well be doubted whether any other
man in Europe could have achieved the triumph
which he against perpetual difficulties ana
constant unforeseen changes in the circumstances.
But for the naturalization of Belgium. which was
his suggestion and of his master-strokes, IL
is indeed questionable whether war could have
been aVcred in the end; but that measure re-
moved at once some of the most formidable diff
~. tl,or fOrc ,bspo
dpl macy One fact crops ont continually IN
these Memoirs and it does not say much for the
progress of real civilization. Every Government
concerned in the Conference was clearly dominated
rot only by selfshness, which was TO he cX-
pected, but by setshness narrow and short
sighted that il commonly missed the points most
necessary for an enlightened defence or protection
Of State interests. The present volume brings
this out very clearly, and at the same time 1t
affords material for Judgment upon lalleyrand
himself which cannot but be favorable TO his repl-
tation. For, strange it may appear T. those
who OILY know him by the estimates OF his enc
mics he figures here the most clear-slghted,
laree-minded and unsclfSh statesman concerned
in this Bellan affair. Ills own Government, CON
trasted with him, shows petty and purbhnd, and
above all far too timid and too ready TO nehd
before ignorant popular clamor, and far too Will
ing to subordinate the best Interests OF france
10 the unreasoning vanity of noisy minority
All through the negotiations we find lalleyrahd
hndered and embarrassed. not only by the s'uplul-
ties of men like Sebastian, who had neither the
experience knowledge or Judgment to lit nm Tor
the conduct of foreign affairs, but by the Ming
himself. who was constantly interfering dis
patches which reflected the uneasy tetchiness o.
the Revolutionary party, and which make him APP
,INoI eOs
overt or covert slight to the dignity Of France
might grow out Of this or that protocol or
proposition.
The Kings letters and naturally also Sebas-
tiani's. are very curious in this respect. Talley-
rand had gone to London 10 promote the peace
of Europe in the name OF France, whose plain
est interest it was to pursue such policy in her
unsettled and precarous condition But all the
time the Conference lasted, Louis Philippe even
more than his own Government seems To have
done his utmost to retard, if not 20 prevent, the
success of the programme which bis Ambassador
was developing theoretically ana with Skill so
mastery During the tedious deliberations over
the fate of the Belgian fortress's. LouS Philippe
repeatedly came near 10 bre9king up the ncgO-
tiations and endangering war by refusing his con
sent tire demolition of couple of useless f0r'Ih-
cations on the fantastic ground that, since they
had once belonged to France Though they had
passed from her hands. her dignity would some
how be hurt if they were RACED. Against such
unstatesmanlike views Tallcyrand contended with
characteristic persistence and tact but almost IN
vain. lie tried thanking movement, by com
promises. but Louis Philippe with all his reputcd
astuteness, could not be made 10 see the situa-
tion in its broader aspect, and he even went so
far as to talk of going to war for this fad"
TalleVrand had bn,ypVPr much more q contend
with The most serious embarrassment he
countered consisted in the disneenuOus course of
the King and Sebastian. who. while the Ann
bassador moving heaven and earth TO in
spre the Powers with renewed confidence in the
peacefulness OF France, Published, through diplo-
matte and other agents al Brussels and elsewhere,
letters and declarations which ran directly counter
10 Talleyrands positions. and which must in
evitably raise the damaging inquiry whether he
guilty of deceit or really kept in the
dark as to the designs OF the Government he
represented
TalleySnd demonstrated encrcctically these
occasions and Louis Philippe with his own hand
wrote him explanatory and soothing letters. But
unfortunately the Kings explanations did not en-
plain. They merely ehutied, and evaded the real
issue, and when the King tried TO persuade the
diplomatist that his d6ube-faccd proceedings
in truth examples OF the most brilliant statccraft.
Taleyrand must have realized that further dis
cussion Of the question had become quite useless
But he allowed nothing 10 discourage or stop
him Belgium itself at that time very
difficult TO handle. The population was strongly
impregnatcd with the Revolutionary spirit, and
pending the filing of the throne the agtators did
all they could to promote rioting and anarchy. or
course there were several candidates for the
crown, but one only of them at all promising.
and that was Leopold Of SaXe-COburg GOtha
The Belgians themselves wanted the Due de
Memoirs, and actually chose him: but all the
world could see that with his French connections
he was an impossible candidate Here again the
pervorsencss of Louis Philippe raised new danger.
Talleyrand represented that it was of the utmost
importance for the King to repudiate this nominal
ton promptly. But though he had never enter