No. 151.
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish.
No. 118.]
American Legation, Berlin, July 27, 1870. (Received November
10.)
Sir: To-day I have to send you an authentic
copy of one of the most remarkable documents ever framed by a European
statesman. Some time ago (the exact date is uncertain) M. Benedetti, the
French ambassador, proposed to Count Bismarck, at a time when France was
in profound peace with England and with Belgium, to enter into an
offensive and defensive alliance for the purpose of gaining the consent
of France for the union of Germany on the one side, and the consent of
Germany to the annexation of Belgium and Luxemburg to France on the
other. You may rely implicitly on the authenticity of the document of
which I inclose a copy, for I have seen the original, in the handwriting
of Benedetti, which handwriting is very well known to me. As an
expression of contempt for the restraints of international law, the
document may rank with the late declaration of war by the Emperor [Page 199] against Prussia; but it bas,
moreover, the character of a defiance of Great Britain.
From the best that I can learn, the Germans, although they were taken by
surprise, have already a larger force on the Rhine than the French.
I have just received from an American lady at Paris five hundred thalers,
to be devoted to the relief of suffering German soldiers. I shall hand
it over to one of the many benevolent societies for wounded soldiers and
for the widows and orphans of those that fall in battle.
I remain, sir, yours sincerely,
Hamilton Fish, Esq., Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Translation.]
His Majesty the King of Prussia and his Majesty the Emperor of the
French, deeming it useful to draw closer the bonds of friendship
which unite them, and to consolidate the relations of good
neighborhood happily existing between the two countries, and being
convinced, on the other hand, that to attain this result, which is
calculated besides to assure the maintenance of the general peace,
it behooves them to come to an understanding on questions which
concern their future relations, have resolved to conclude a treaty
to this effect, and named in consequence as their plenipotentiaries,
that is to say:
His Majesty, &c., &c.
His Majesty, &c., &c.
Who, having exchanged their full powers, found to be in good and
proper form, have agreed upon the following articles:
Article I. His Majesty the Emperor of the
French admits and recognizes the acquisitions which Prussia has made
as the result of the last war which she sustained against Austria
and her allies, [as also the arrangements adopted
or to be adopted for constituting a confederation in North
Germany, engaging at the same time to
render his support for the maintenance of that work.]
Article II. His Majesty the King of Prussia
promises to facilitate the acquisition of Luxemburg by France. To
that effect his aforesaid Majesty will enter into negotiations with
his Majesty the King of the Netherlands, to induce him to cede to
the Emperor of the French his sovereign rights over that duchy, in
return for such compensation as shall be deemed sufficient or
otherwise. On his part, the Emperor of the French engages to bear
the pecuniary charges which this engagement may involve. [In order
to facilitate this arrangement, the Emperor of the French engages,
on his part, to bear accessorily the pecuniary charges which it may
involve.]
Article III. His Majesty the Emperor of the
French will not oppose a federal union of the confederation of the
North with the Southern States of Germany, with the exception of
Austria, which union may be based on a common parliament, the
sovereignty of the said states being duly respected.
Article IV. On his part his Majesty the
King of Prussia, in case his Majesty the Emperor of the French
should be obliged by circumstances to cause his troops to enter
Belgium, or to conquer it, will grant the suceour [coöperation] of his arms to France, and will sustain her
with all his forces of land and sea against every power which, in
that eventuality, should declare war upon her.
Article V. To insure the complete execution
of the above arrangements, his Majesty the King of Prussia and his
Majesty the Emperor of the French contract, by the present treaty,
an alliance, offensive and defensive, which they solemnly engage to
maintain. Their Majesties engage, moreover, and specifically, to
observe it in every case in which their respective states, of which
they mutually guarantee the integrity, should be menaced by
aggression, holding themselves bound in such a conjuncture to make
without delay, and not to decline on any pretext, the military
arrangements which may be demanded by their common interest,
conformably to the clauses and provisions above set forth.
