INTERVIEW BETWEEN JULES FAVRE AND COUNT BISMARCK.

Southland Times, Issue 1347, 13 December 1870, Page 3

INTERVIEW BETWEEN JULES FAVRE AND COUNT BISMARCK.

It was with much satisfaction we learm tbat M. Jules Favre had actually gone to meet Count Bismarck, and it was witl equal regret we heard they had failed t( come to terms. The report of th< French Foreign Minister is an interest ing document. The first point in th< discussion related to the power of the Provisional Government to make peace, "If in a few days Paris is not taken,' 1 said the Count, "it will be overthrow! by the populace," . As to the Assembly already convoked, it might hare designs which could not be foreseen. "If if listens to the sentiments of France, if will desire war. You would no more forget the capitulation of Sedan than that of Waterloo, or that of Sadowa, which did not affect you." Further, the Count maintained strongly the determination clearly expressed by the French nation to attack Germany and deprive her of a portion of her territory. The report proceeds : — - "The j3onveraatian_was prolonged on :this-«ubject, the Count maintaining his opinion, and I defending mine, and, as I pressed him hard as to the conditions, he replied distinctly that the security of his country demanded that he should retain the territory which euaranteed it. He repeated several times, ' Strasbourg is the key of the house ; I ought to have it.' I requested him to be more explicit. *It is useless,' he objected ; 'we cannot come to terms ; it is a matter which must be decided later.' I requested him to do so immediately. He then told me that the two departments of the Bas and Haut Bhin, a part of that of the Moselle, including Metz, Chateau Salins, and Soissons were indispensable (to him, and he could not recede from these conditions. I remarked to him that the consent of the people whom he thus disposed of was more than doubtful; that ;he public rights of Europe would not permit him to disregard it. * Oh, yes, indeed,' he replied to me, * I am 'perfectly aware that they do not desire it. We shall have some hard work cut out for us by them, but we cannot dootherwise than take them. I am certain that at a future time we shall have a fresh war with you, and we wish to undertake it under every advantage.'" When the question of an armistice came up, Count Bismarck asked as [ guarantees Strasbourg, Toul, and Phalsbourg: Fort Yalerien was mentioned, but not insisted on. M. Favre protested against the idea ot — uurronaoring i Strasbourg. "To sacrifice an heroic I garrison whose 4>ebavior has been adj mired universally, and more particularly by us, would be cowardice." But on, ; this point both the King of Prussia and ibis Prime Minister were firm. The I garrison must surrender as prisoners of i war. " I was perfectly exhausted," writes M. Favre in his report, "and I feared for the moment that I should ! faint. I turned away to hide the tears | which suffocated me, and asking to be excused for my involuntary weakness, I took leave with these few words : — ' I made a mistake, M. le Comte, in coming | here, but Ido not regret it. I have I suffered sufficiently to excuse myself in my own eyes, but in any case I only yielded to a feeling of duty. I will report to my Government all that you nave said, aud should they consider it fit again to send me to you, however cruel the task for me, I shall have the honor of returning. I am grateful for the kindness you hare shown me, but I fear all that can be done is to let events take their course. The inhabitants of Paris are courageous, and resolved to make every sacrifice, and their heroism may change the course of events. If you have the honor of conquering them, you will never subjugate them. The whole nation is possessed of the same sentiments. As long as there can be found one element of resistance among us, we shall fight you. This becomes an interminable struggle between . two nations who should extend their hands to each

other. I had hoped for a different solution. I leave, most unhappy, bat never* theless full of hope.' " v - -7'