The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 814, 18 May 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1871.

In our last issue we pointed out that the territory which France loses by the war is very considerable, even in superficial extent. But the territorial loss is even less than the military and commercial. Instead of the French territory advancing iuto Germany, the German frontier extends very considerably into France. The long line of fortresses guarding the Rhino and bordering the Rhenish Provinces have passed into the hands of the enemy they were destined to fight, and the Vosges Mountains, a second line of defence, now form the French frontier and are chififly in the possession of Germany. The one thing rescued by negotiation is Belfort, which, though second to Mctz only in point of strength, is of far less strategic importance. Metz will be held as an advanced post threatening the plains of Champagne; and ThionviUe, Phalsbourg, Neuf Brisach, and Schlestadt pass into the hands of the enemy. In other words, the three frontier Departments of the Moselle and the Upper and Lower Rhine, comprising an area of almost 9,000 square miles and a population of fully two millions, are detached from France and annexed to Germany. A sum of two hundred millions must be paid by the curtailed and impoverished Provinces of France, in order to regain possession of such districts as the Germans now occupy ; and until the last instalment is paid, portions of the curtailed territory will be occupied, and France must defray the cost of sustenance of the army of occupation. There is to be no vote of the inhabitants as to the transfer of their allegiance, but in-

dividual choice may be exorcised whether the inhabitants elect to accept their new rulers, or by emigration proserve their nationality. There are to be no requisitions, and the Departments occupied will be governed by Frenchmen under German control. Under the most favourable circumstances, the evacuation of the remaining portions of France, unless by a successful appeal to arms, is not likely to be concluded before the termination of 1874. One, of the chief manufacturing districts of Franco is contained in the ceded territory, and something like a million a year is lost to the revenue by the cession of these provinces. With the exception of the loss of life, which is, of course, irremediable, the entire losses of the war fall upon France, losses of such incomparable magnitude in a military, commercial, and social point of view, that it is well nigh impossible that she can accept such deprivations as final. However blamable France may be for the declaration of war in 1870, the present conditions of peace contain abundant grounds for the renewal of hostilities at the earliest opportunity. Whatever the distant futu-e may bring forth, the terms of peace, except in the presumed weakening of France, contain no single element of permanence. The drilling and the marshalling of immense forces, and the forging of new and more destructive implements must continue, not in Germany alone, but throughout Europe. In Eastern Europe matters are not more assuring. The success of Germany has emboldened Russia to hazard demands, she would not otherwise have at. tempted, and these demands can have no other object than to secure a stepping stone for renewed efforts to effect the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. At this very moment probably Russia is perfecting her camp and planning fresh aggressions, and on the declaration of war against Turkey it is more than likely that Germany will reciprocate the friendly offices of Russia. During the war with France Russia held Austria in check, marshalling .a strong military force upon her frontier, and Germany is now in a position to overawe France. Renewed hostilities between these two latter countries is certain, sooner or later, but the action of Russia may precipitate the movement. The present tendency of European policy points inevitably to the firm alliance of France with England or with Russia. The existence of a secrettreaty between Russia and Germany has been made known, and it must include a certain line of action to be undertaken bv Germany when the time arrives for Russia to enact her role in the programme. Prussia, however, may have decided to act with a similar deceit in the matter of this treaty as was displayed in the famed Benedetti proposals. The arrangement, then implied, if not perfected, induced Napoleon to permit the humiliation of Austria and the unification of Germany, but, this work accomplished Prussia declined to perform her portion of the contract. The respective positions of Prussia and Russia appear now to be somewhat analogous, and it is quite possible that Prussia having completed the work of German unity may repudiate, as with the French Emperor, her obligations in the compact. Such a course would be favourable to France, as likely to furnish her with an ally in Russia,and the Eastern questionhaving lost all political significance to her as compared with the disastrous result of the recent peace negotiations, the chances of Russia gaining preponderance in the East would form no bar to the alliance. We must repeat that France must sooner or later attempt to repair the results of the campaign of 1870 and 1871, and it is not unlikely that France will retract the treaty of 1856, and become allied with Russia.