St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-06-28
Saint John de CreYeceur.
[By S. o. Todd, St. Johnsbury Centre, VT
U

[By S. O.. Todd, ST. Johnsbury Centre, VII
V.
Sieyes, the man who had rivalled
Mirabeau in the early days OF the Revolu-
ton came to his place in the Directory at
Paris, from Berlin in May, 1899, leaving
M. Otto, his first secretary as charge
d'affairs. The latter remained at his
post until some time after the coupd Etat
of the 18th Brumaire 10Th of November,
1899 when he was transferred to Lon
don. NJ. Theirs, an authority of the best
kind, has left on record his estimate Of
the superior diplomatic qualities of this
son.in-law of Saint John. "We had at
that time at Berlin discreet and able
agent, M. Otto, who since that time has
been so fortunate as to attach his name
to the most important acts of the epoch"
But it was in London in 1900 and
1901, that M. Otto was enabled to
achieve the crowning success of his life.
His work related to negotiations prelim-
mary to the signing of the celebrated
Peace of Amiens. The first steps were
taken in September, 1900, and retaken
in April, 1901. Full powers were grant
ed to Otto by the First Consul, Bona
parte, and he was able to obtain for
France, for the first time in ten years,
peace on land and sea. In one of M.
Otto's dispatches to the First Consul he
observes, "obtain one or both OF these re-
suits, and you will have the most splendid
peace the world has ever SEEM" The
crux of the situation was Malta, which
both powers, England and France, desir-
ed to control. Bonaparte declared that
on no condition would he surrender
Malta. To this proposition England
replied that she would evacuate Malta
only when France had consented to
abandon Egypt, but at the last moment
it was agreed that Malta should be re-
stored to the order of St. John of Jerusa.
lem, and the troops of both nations
withdrawn from Egypt. Let us follow the
glowing words of NJ. Theirs in his
account of this important work.
Such were the consequences of this
peace, the most splendid and glorious
ever concluded by France, at
last on the evening of the first day of
October, the last day allowed by the First
Consul, M. Otto had the qualification of
afixing his signature to the preIiminaries
of peace, deep and unequaled grati6-
cation. for no negotiator had ever had
the happiness of securing by his signature
so much greatness to his country" The
three consuls were holding a government
council at Malmaison when the courier
arrived bringing the dispatches announc-
ing this fact. An extraordinary scene
was then and there witnessed; the three
men threw away all reserve in their access
of joy. $50 many results obtained in so
short time-victory, peace and order re-
stored to France"
The news was instantly sent to Paris,
where popular demonstrations proved
the universal satisfaction.
The First Consul added his signature,
and the treaty was returned to London
where the popular joy was we'll nigh
delirious. "Peace with France" was
written in large letters upon many
vehicles leaving the city.
When the preliminary treaty with
Bonaparte's signature attached was
known to have arrived in London, the
excited populace hurrying to M. Otto's
house, found him in his carriage with
Colonel Lewiston, Napoleon's aid, about
to 60 to Lord Hawkesbury to exchange
the first notifications. In frenzy of de-
light they detached the horses and
dragged the carriage containing the two
Frenchmen from house to house of the
government ministers, an incident to
which we have referred in our first arti.
Gle.
The final treaty to, which M. Otto's
negotiations had so skillfully led, was
signed at Amiens on the 9th of March,
1902, Joseph Bonaparte signing for
France, and Lord CORVALLIS, the ill fated
commander of the British forces in Ameri-
ca, signing for England.
If the reader has access to and the
leisure to read, in Theirs Consulate and
Empire, (from which we have drawn
the foregoing account) the splendid
story of this notable event, we are sure
ofindulgence for our long DEPRESSION.
The reader will also derive from M.
Theirs recital, some knowledge of the
skill and finesse required in the great
game OF European diplomacy. The First
Consul was so grati6ed with M. Otto
that he ordered the sum of thirty thous.
and francs to be sent him as a mark OF
his appreciation. For some reason un-
explained Otto was soon withdrawn from
London, and sent to Munich. He
was much disheartened for time, but
hic q ctp,- h n r.