Year: 1870

bassador returned to town he went to the Minis
formed, he is said to have affirmed most positively
that he had never known the nature OF the motives
which may have decided Prince Leopold to re-
verse his previous decision; he added that in
this delicate question his Government had left him
in the most complete ignorance-a fact which pre-
vented him from furnishing the slightest explana-
tion calculated to enlighten the French Cabinet In
presence OF such positive assertions the Duke who
point, addressed himself to Baron de Werther, am
bassador Of Prussia, who declared that he knew
only what the journals had made him acquainted
with; but, appreciating the importance which
France attached to the matter he offered proceed
to his sovereign at Ems to lay before him the gravity
OF the situation and receive instructions 1t is,
therefore, the return OF this diplomast that light
will be thrown on this mysterious affair." and that it
bility which mounds on the conrt of Berlin.


The Due de Gramont and Baron Won Werther


Diplomatic Ignorance-The "Menace of


Wars


The Journal dc Paris gives some details relative to
a conversation which is said TO have taken place
between the Due de Gramont and Baron Won Wer-
ther:-


According to what has transpred, the Prussian
dplomatst is understood to have declared to the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs that he was not at all
aware Of the projects relative to Prince Leopold OF
Hohenzollern, and that he, like every one ese had
the first news of them from the kilograms in the
journals. However, from the information which he
had been able to obtain, he believed he could state
that the matter in question was serious and far
advanced. The Duke having pointed out all that
the installation OF Prussian prince on the throne
the interests and dignity of France, the
Baron replied that the Prussian Government
could have no influence on the resolutions of
Prince Leopold, who belongs to branch of the
Hohenzollem family completely independent Of that
on the throne. In reference to this matter he re-
minded his nterocutor that in 1866, just before the
war between Austria and Prussia Prince Charles,
the younger brother had left for Roumania without
consulting the Cabinet of Berlin, and abandoning
his grade and rank in the Prussian army. The AM
bassador is reported to have added that it, at that
period, any government had exercised influence on
the determination of Prince Charles it was not that
OF Prussia but of France.


A Paris letter in the Independence Beige gives the
following version of the NATTER


The Duke de Gramont added that Napoleon III
hopes that King William will not only forbid his
near relative from carrying out the project of the
Spanish Cabinet but will also prevent him from
leaving Germany. II that expectation should not
be realized, ana his Majesty should decide other
wise, there would be reason to fear catastrophe.
Baron de Werther requested the Duke, in conse-
quence OF the gravity OF the circumstances to give
the word catastrophe" pronounced by him, its
real slgniication. The Prussian Ambassador wished
to know whether, by that expression, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs meant menace of war. At that
moment the Minister Of Justice, who was listening
in silence made the following declaration :-In the
name Of the Emperor and his Government, l reply,
Yes, there is menace OF war!"