Year: 1871

for incorporating the provinces of Alsace and
Lorraine in the German empire. While this bill
was under consideration, Prince Bismarck made
the following speech:-


Respecting the fundamental principle involved
in the bill there appears to be no difference of
opinion, 1t can only be a question as to the form
in which the incorporation can be brought about.
On this point you have to come to a determine
tion, and you will find the allied Governments
ready to give prompt consideration to diverging
opinions. As to the principle, repeat, there is
no difference of opinion; there was nothing of
the kind year ago, and none has appeared since
that time. Let us review the last ten months:
Germany was united in the love of peace; there
was scarcely a German who desired
breach of peace with France.
There were some sickly minds,
enemies of their own country, who desired its
defeat, but they were of no account. They are
not worthy of the German name. 1 do not
count them among the Germans (Applause)
Germany unanimously desired peace, but it was
Just as unanimous in the determination to pro-
tect the German Fatherand with arms; and if,
after manly conduct of the war, God should
give us peace, they were determined to obtain
guarantee which should make renewal of the
French attack more difficult and facilitate our
power of resistance. / believe that for 800
years there was scarcely generation in the
German FatherlaDd which was not obliged to
draw the sword against France. And every
time that the Germans were the conquerors it
was said that the opportunity was neglected of
obtaining better boundaries. That was because
the victory was won by the help of the allies.
Now that the victory has been won, after we
have independently fought, everybody said, in
all earnestness, he was determined to secure to
his children more peaceful future.


France obtained q geographical, military
boundary full of temptations-full OF menaces.
This position, especially as opposed to South
Germany, cannot be more strikingly characte-
rized than by the remark of the King of Wur-
temberg at the time of the Eastern war, where
the Western powers urged Germany to war by
which German interests were neither endau
gered nor involved. The King referred to the
south of Germany (Which was inundated with
Frenchmen in order to exert an influence upon
the King), and said, as long as Strasburg was
not in German hands he could not come to
decision. Now affairs otherwise formed.
In that projecting corner near Weissenburg,
which LA, almost as Sors esffeeGtually separated
political line of the Main, the in
habitants, Notwithstanding the menaces
of the French army, came together with one
accord, and without moments hesitation, on
the side of the North. That France was often
subjected to the temptation to acquire posses
sion ofthat advanced bastion is shown by the
last decade. After the 9th August 1866, 1 saw
the French Ambassador enter at my place with
an ultimatum in his hand to give up Mayence
or to await an Immediate declaration of war.
(Hear.) did not hesitate a moment to answer,
"Good, then we will have war" This was re-
ported to Paris; there people reflected a little,
and then it was said the instructions that the
French Minister had received were wrested from
the Emperor during his sickness. CLaugnter)
r
for example, are well known.


The question now arises what guarantees
shall we have against the recurrence OF such
demands? They must be territorial guarantees.
The guarantees of foreign po0 0ers cannot help
us. To my regret have been obliged to have
the remarkable experience that such guarantees
often have experienced modifying declarations.
(Laughter) ] will not say an attempt was
made, for nobody went SO far as to exercise q
pressure, but peculiar method was adopted of
advising us to be satisfied with the payment of
the expenses of the war and the demolition OF
the fortresses. / was not satisfied with this. L
always regarded it as impractical and not har-
monizing with the interests of permanent
peace, if fortresses should be demolished.
Thereby feeling of independence suffers, and
/ am convinced that cession would not be
SO severely felt as the prohibition to
erect a structure upon ones OWL
proper territory. know that the
demolition of Huningen, for example, has occa-
stoned more effect as a means of agitation thar
would have been produced by loss OF territory
This measure has no value for me. That would
not have removed the advanced basttons further
from Stuttgart and Munich, and that was neces
sary. AS far as Metz is concerned, the topo
graphical confguration of the place is of tha
kind that, for purposes of strength, art has little
to do there; and if the artistical works there
should be disturbed they could be rapidly recon
structed This plan of demolition was not salts
factory. 1t was proposed to make neutral ter
Titory of Alsace and Lorraine, and we would
then be separated from France by chain of neu
trail States from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps
There was no possibility that we would attacl
France, for respect treaties of neutrality
But that would not prevent France from send
ing a fleet with troops to be landed upon ou
coasts; and as our fleet Is not of equal birth will
that of the French, they would in that way, b.
enabled TO attack us. We would not be pro
tected at sea, and would only be protected OF
land so long as the neutral States should be de
termined TO respect the treaties of neutrality
and TO defend the neutrality of their land witt
arms in their hands, as we have seen in the cas-
of the Belgians. With Alsace this regard fo
the treaties was not to be assumed. In tina
place are strong French elements, whose inte
rests and sympathies belong to France, an
which, in case of war with France, would un
doubtedly make themselves heard to the advan
tage OF France. Thus the neutrality would b
injurious.


We will give Alsaee and Lorraine the powe
of selfadministration and, with German Inst
tutions, they will arrive at the boundaries
that ideal toward which they could never striv
under a French Government. OF one thing
am sure-that German patience and Germa
benevolence will succeed in winning over th
people in a short time, perhaps in shorter tim
than many imagine Many elements will in a
probability, still remain there which can find n
indemnifcation for the destruction of the bond
that have hitherto existed. The end which W
strive to attain will not be reached very rapidly
but we must not despair on that account. w
shall still live to see il.


This law shall, by no means, anticipate th
future, shall not bind us for the future, shall la
down no course of action for all time. hay
no firm opinion how the case will stand SON
years from now. The circumstances are abnol
NAL and must be so, and likewise their regulf
tion must be abnormal, as the case was nev,
before known in history. In the mean time v
must accept the circumstances as they are, al


not as Il appears to many desirable they shou


be. You must surely have the will in this wa


with German patience and German love for oil


new oOuntrVman. To reach that end unOn Whi(