New-York tribune., 1907-08-02
THE ElIS TELEGRAM.
Count Nigra's Account Of Bene-
deth's Famous Interuie7c.
From the Rome Correspondence Of The LondO!

rom the Rome Correspondence of The London
Times"
The GiornaIe d'ItaIia has published extract
from unpublished memoirs Of the late Count
Nigra which is of some interest In 1876 his
way 10 his new post at St. Petersburg, TO which
ne mad Just been transferred Count Nlgra made
a short stay at Ems, where he was received by
the Emperor William I In the course of a con-
versation which took place on the spot of the
historic meeting between the Emperor and the
French Ambassador, Count Benedetti, in 1870
the Emperor gave Count Nigra account of
what had passed on that occasion, which the
latter soon afterNard committed to writing. The
following is. therefore, the narration Of the
Emperor himself far Count Nigra could
remember his words:
"On the morning of July 13. 1870 while l was
walking, after having drunk my first glasses of
water. was aborde by Count Benedetu IN TINS
very spot where you see the commemOratiOn
stone The French Ambassador, after informing
me that a telegram from the Duke of Cramont
had announced to him the remuneration by the
Prince Of HOhenzollern of his candidature for
the crown of Spain. told me that the Emperor
Napoleon had received this news with satisfac-
tinn. that he hoped that this act would put al
end to the incident. but that he wished to obtain
which had Just been withdrawn, would not be
reproduced in the future. l answered Count
Benedetti, have no reason to give the En-
peror Napoleon the assurance which you ask in
his name The renunciatiOn of the Prince of
HohenZollern, which you announce to me and OF
which did not know until this moment, does
not concern the King of Prussia But you can
tell the Emperor from that 1 know the
Prince Of HohenzoIlern. my cousin, and his son:
that they are honest people, and that if they
have withdrawn the Canddature ii will be with
no arrihre pensee Of reproducing il later NJ.
Benedict insisted insisted in my turn, on
my refusal to give the guarantee which was
asked Of me. declaring to the Ambassador that.
with the best will in the world, could not aC-
cept demand which he had right to make
Of me, in view Of the fact that Prussia ought to
remain entirely outside all this question. L
added that l. on the other side. must wait, be
fore anything else, for a communication from
my cousin. who would certainly not have failed
10 inform quickly possible Of his
resolution. He insisted a third time and then
said: NJ. TAmhasSadeur. ! have given you an
answer. and as l have nothing to add 10 il. You
viii permit retire / made two steps
backward, cor1in;e "a nais sans lui tourner le
dos (here. says Count Nigra. the old monarch
and then I walked away
NJ Benedett had been tres-insstant For
my part L had been firm, but our conversation
had been maintained on both sides within the
limits OF strict politeness. Soon afterward re-
ceived the message OF the Prince Of Hohen-
zOllern, who announced 70 me his remuneration
had the French Ambassador informed by my
aide de-Camp, Prince RadziwiH. and told him
that he could make known to the Emperor Ma
poleon that I gave my approval - the decision
taken by my cousin. l hoped that this would
close the incident But in the course of the day
II. Benedetti sent to ask another audience Of me.
sent answer that, as ! imagined he wished 10
speak 70 ne about the guarantee for the future.
which had already refused and as had no
need to repeat my answer OF that morning
thought fresh conversation between US would
he useless. The following day. July H. had 10
he AZ COhlenZ. Count Benedett sent 70 tell ne
that he also was leaving Ems that evening, and
asked If he could salute ma before his departure
sent answer that l would receive him at the
station. He came then. and. in bidding him
goodby I said that. If he thought il necessary
u renew our discussion. he must go 70 Berlin.
where l hoped in any case 10 see nm again
soon
AS you see. there was nothing desobltgeant
in nv refusal 10 receive Count Benedict after
our rather long conversation OF the morning
and after nv having received him many times N
the course OF the preceding days. l had not the
least intention 20 offend the French Ambassador.
and he could not have had for single instant
the feeling that he had suffered an affront ON
the evening Of the 18th had informed Prince
bismarck by telegraph Of what had taken place
al Enls-tfat is 10 say, Of the demand forTnu-
lated by the French Ambassador which l had
refused, and also Of my refusal 70 give MIN 4
second audience in the course Of the day, author
fzing the Prince 70 inform my representatives at
the German and foreign courts of the matter II
he thought proper. In consequence Of this com
rnunication Bismarck sent 4 telegram 10 the
Pr7Issan embassies and legations containing
+ha substance Of what he had received from me.
although modified in its form. This telegram
a--i,-sd thar night in Paris The French govern
ruerlt thought itself authorized 10 see, IN tIae
manner IL which the telegram announced the
refusal Of an audience an Insult diFecl1", diFecle" 10
France: and. without awaiting further eXplana-
ton. the Emperor Napoleon declared war
Count Nigra ADDS in his memoir that. though
the Emperor William was then seVentE-Ihe
years Of age. and speaking six years after
the event. his memory seemed perfectly c1ed'
II ,,IT be seen that the account given by
William I substantially agrees with that given
-. C-7rInr T2enedetti in My Mission 10 Ems.
published in Paris. 1873. Also that II IS not
contrary 70 the truth Of Count BenedelIs :tS~''
-ion that Prince Bismarck deliberately for' Il
tho question into another and more hostile chan-
mel hv altering the sense Of the Kings telegram
and giving il a meaning it did not possess repre-
senring the French Ambassador as haFlhg beeil
shown the door and suggesting a Illumination
inflicted on the French government.