PRINCE BISMARCK AND M. GAMBETTA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6507, 4 January 1882, Page 5

PRINCE BISMARCK AND M. GAMBETTA.

The Paris correspondent of the Times sends a long private letter, which reached Paris recently, “ written by a man at Berlin in a position to be well informed,” corroborating what M. Oambetta said about the supposed interview at Yarzin when lunching with the Prince of Wales. The writer says:—“As to M. Gambetta’e visit, I have it from Prince Bismarck himself that he has not seen him, and that this depended on M. Gambetta, the Prince being quito ready to give him a good reception. I even think that in his heart the Prince must have been surprised at his non-appearance, for M. Gambetta made a tour which took him pretty near Yarzin.” The Germans are quite aware not only that Prance at bottom hopes for revenge, but that she regards M. Gambetta os personifying it. “ But, despite our perfect consciousness of the real feelings of France and her great tribune, it is quite natural that the Chancellor" should have now seen no objection to receiving M. Gambetta, to freely discussing with him political contingencies, and to consolidating the already tolerable and even almost friendly relations of the two countries, because, from our standpoint, either with or without M. Gambetta, we have for a long time to stand in fear of France. . . . . We are watching attentively here the tendency which is developing in France, and the symptoms which are manifested. Well, her conrage, patriotism, and just pride have remained unaltered, but what is called in France and elsewhere the military spirit, has greatly diminished since the war. We know very well it would be reawakened to an intense degree by any insult or aggression; but, apart from these two improbable contingencies, it has abated considerably, and neither lust for conquest nor the prospect of an immediate revenge would suffice to revive it.” This is due to many causes, more especially to the new military law, the principle of which France has borrowed from Germany without keeping in mind the difference in the organisation, tendencies and social conditions of the two nations. The Germans have large families, and when there are four or five able-bodied men in a family they belong to different levies, and do not serve at the same time. In France families are small, and if a war broke out, or only threatened to break out, most families would he in danger of remaining without an heir or losing their only son. Moreover, during the last ten years comfortable circumstances have become general throughout France, whereas in Germany “ millions of men live on nothing bat potatoes and alcohol. For them a war, especially with France, gives better and more attractive food, and that coveted beverage wine. With such a prospect before him a man goes to war with alacrity, whereas in France the man who lives worst at home is better off there than in the army.” Lastly, the war in Tunis has shown with how much distrust the French Government set in motion the great military machine imitated from Germany.