New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-07
Was Willing to Offer
Good Offices if Wei
coined by All.
PLAN BLOCKED
BY PRUSSIANS
Bismarck Stood Out Against
Interference of Foreign
Powers.

'hFhlilb lullf b'pNs W. ! ut ItNtHb
peace discussion prompted by the visit
to the White House and State Depart
ment of Cardinal Gibbons recalled to
several of the older officials and diplo-
mats of the capital to-day the attempt
made by the United States and Pope
Plus TX TO bring France and Prussia
TO an agreement in 1870.
1t was France that first asked the
United States to use its good Offices to
secure an expression from Prussia, but
the North German government, with
victory in sight. refused to discuss
peace terms. repulsing the mediation
Of the American government as it had
a month before repulsed the offer Of
the Pope.
At that time the United States
adopted the same attitude it has main
tanned in the present wsr-of being
ever ready to offer ~ services toward
promoting an understanding when as
sured that advances would be welcome.
The American Minister at Berlin was
instructed to profer the good Offices
OF the government only il he could be
certain in advance that they would be
accepted.
Pope Appeals to King.
On July %, 1870, when the war had
been in progress only three days. Pope
Plus TX sent the following message to
Wilhelm /, King of Prussia, the grand
father Of the present German Emperor:
your majesty: 1t will perhaps seem
strange to your majesty to receive a
communication in my own handwriting
at this important junc.ure, but as the
vicar on earth Of the God of Peace |
cannot avoid Offering my mediation,
DESTROYS OF seeing the array of war
disappear and to prevent the evils
with are its inevitable consequence.
My mediation is that of sovereign
who cannot awaken jealousy in his
quality of king by reason of the very
limited extent of his territory, but it
may well merit confidence by reason
of its moral and religious character.
MAY God grant my prayers. espe-
cially those which relate to your maj
esty, with whom | desire to be united
by the bonds of love and charity"
To this appeal the Prussian King,
who. aided by Bismarck, had Just sue
ceeded in trucking Louis Napoleon into
declaration of war. sent the follow
ing reply:
Most August Pontiff: was not
surprised. but profoundly moved. on
reading the touching words written by
your hand in order to cause the voice
of the God of Peace to be heard. How
could my heart avoid listening to so
powerful an appeal? God is my wit
ness that neither | nor my people have
desired or provoked war.
"Obeying the sacred duties which
God imposes on soveregns and ma
tions. we take UP the sword in order
to defend the honor and the indepen
dence of our country, and we shall be
ready 10 lay il down as soon as these
blessings can be secured.
IF your holiness could offer me. on
behalf of him who has so unexpectedly
declared war. the assurance of sin
cerely pacific inclinations, and guaran-
tee against the repetition of such dis
turbance of the peace and tranquility
of Europe. | should certainly not re-
fuse to receive them from the veneer
able hands of your holiness. united as
am to you by the bonds of Christian
charity and sincere friendship"
French Sought United States Aid.
Five days later the defeat at Sedan
caused the overthrow of the French
Empire and the institution of the Com
mune. On September o Jules Favre,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
rev government, requested United
States Minister Washburne TO enlist
the good Offices of his government for
peace with Prussia. To this request
Washington returned the following an |
swer on September 8:
Request of Favre to instruct you
to join other powers in efforts for
peace received. II Is not the policy !
or interest of the United States to act !
Jointly with European powers in Euro
pean questions. Have instructed Ban
croft to ascertain whether Germany |
desires good Offices of United States,
but not to tender them without as
surances that they will be accepted.
president strongly desires to see
peace restored between two great
powers now at war, with each of whom |
the United States has so many ira /
ditions of friendship"
Secretary Of State Fish transmitted
the request TO Minister Bancroft at
Berlin. and received prompt and brief
reply:
''No time now for America TO inter ,
vene. Germany rejects all foreign in
reference Every other power holds /
back. America would stand alone and +
unable to accomplish anything. Our
interest, duty, dignity require US for
the present 10 stand aloof."
In spite of the failure Of his first /
attempt, Jules Favre did not lose hope /
that peace might be restored. He made I
repeated attempts to secure the un-
official mediation Of Minister Wash /
burne, who was ready and willing to
do what he could, but reported TO
Washington that he could not clearly
distinguish between his official and un-
official capacity.