THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2361, 26 October 1870, Page 3

THE WAR IN EUROPE.

TEUMS OF PEACE. A correspondent of the San Pmu cisco yewe of the World telegraphs as follows Count Bismarck telegraphs to Berlin as follows , T . , “ Ycndres, September 3.—1 have spoken with the Emperor Napoleon about the peace but he answered, as a prisoner, that he had no power, ami that all depended on the Regency at Paris. 'lhus the capture of the Emperor has no influence on the continuation of the war.” The Tribune correspondent had an interview with Bismarck at the King’s headquarters on tne 2nd. In response to the inquiry what were likely to he the cnmlitions of peace demanded by King W ilJiain, Count Von Bismarck replied : “ There are three ways of stopping an attack on the Rhine Provinces ; “ First --We might make Alsace and Lorraine a neutral State like Luxembourg or Bclmum, extending from the former country to Switzerland, and separating France and Prussia by a Government of neutral States, but 1 confess that it appears to me that th neutrality of existing small States is already so difficult to protect, and is at every moment capable of so much, and so many dan* gerous complications, that I do not think it would be worth while to make any more neutral States, with new duties and dangers. ‘•Secondly—We might annex Alsace and Lorraine and hold them ».s conquered territories, but I am sure that this would not be looked on favorably by the majority of my German countrymen. We are anxious to com pi te our unity, but wc do not want any people among us who are unwilling members of the German Nation. That the Alsatians would he the most disloyal subjects of tbc Kin" of Prussia, in spite of tbc great majority of them speaking the German language, and being of Teutonic origin, tuere can be no doubt. . “ Thirdly—There then remains to us the third course — to take Metz and Mrashounj, and to hep them ; this ?« what ice shall do. Strasbourg, particularly, is absolutely needful for the protection of South Germany, which is at the mercy of the hrench aimy. So long as Franco possesses Strasbourg there is nothing to stop a French invading army. It would lie very unfair if we were to leave our South German brethren unprotected after they have fought so bravely and w 11 by our side in this campaign. Then, again, by holding Strasbourg we could always prevent any movement on the Rhine ; v e should be able not only to march our army by the Valley of the Marne, on Paris, but to take a French army marching on Mayence or Coblentz in the flank and rear. So we have beseiged Strasbourg vigorously, and when we have goi the old German town back again we shall nuke a Gibraltar of it.”