No. 109.

Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish

No. 373.]

Sir: The treaty of peace between France and the new German Empire to be ratified hereafter by the National Assembly at Bordeaux, was signed at Versailles on Sunday afternoon last. It has not yet been published, but the principal conditions are well understood. The news of the signing of the treaty was received in Paris on Sunday evening, and it created, as you may well understand, a very profound impression. The condition that a portion of Paris is to be occupied by thirty thousand German troops until the ratification of the treaty has produced an intense feeling, but I am in hopes the city will pass through this trying ordeal without any scenes of violence. It was generally supposed that the greater part of the German army about Paris would make a triumphant entry into the city, marching through its principal avenues, but without quartering in any part of it. The change in the proposed programme, by having a smaller number of the troops enter and remain here until the peace is ratified at Bordeaux, would seem to indicate that this partial occupation of the city was intended as a pressure on the National Assembly to hasten its action. The government has made a strong appeal, counseling forbearance and moderation, and the press has, with great unanimity, seconded such appeal. Indeed, by a slip which I cut from one of the journals and inclose to you herewith, you will see that the publication of all the newspapers of Paris is to be suspended during the Prussian occupation. Our legation is situated in that part of the city which is to be occupied by the German troops, and it is in this part that the greatest number of American residents have their apartments. There has been a great deal of alarm felt by our countrymen lest the German troops might be quartered upon them, but I yesterday wrote Count Bismarck on the subject, and called his attention to the correspondence between Mr. Bancroft and Mr. Thiele in regard to the protection of American property in the event of the entry of German troops into Paris, to the end that such orders might be given by their military authorities as would secure protection to all American property in the city. I will say there can be no reasonable doubt of the ratification of the treaty by the assembly at Bordeaux. You undoubtedly will have the full text of it by telegraph long before this dispatch will reach you, and you will be able to form a judgment upon it, and determine in your own mind whether the peace now to be secured will be a lasting one. It is impossible to tell what will be the influence of time upon the French people, but I think it is safe to say that to-day there exists all over France such a feeling of hatred toward the Prussians as is almost without a parallel in the history of nations. The article which I send you herewith from the Siecle, one of the oldest and ablest of the French journals, will give you a pretty good idea of the prevailing sentiment in France upon this subject.

The principal negotiators of the treaty on the French side were Messrs. Thiers and Favre. A more cruel task was probably never before imposed on patriotic men, and it was only during the final hours of the armistice that the treaty was signed. I am advised by the most reliable authority that the great “hitch” was in regard to the cession of the Fortress of Belfort. That was persistently demanded by the Germans and equally persistently refused by the French negotiators, and at last [Page 302] M. Thiers declared absolutely that he would sign no treaty which ceded Belfort, though the Germans were willing to agree that they would not important fortress by France will do much to reconcile the Parisians to enter Paris if they could have Belfort. I think the retention of this the entry of the Germans into their city. Some of the American residents of Paris have already returned here, and as soon as peace shall have been definitely made, and the railroad trains shall be running regularly for passengers and baggage, I shall expect to see them all back. There has been considerable alarm expressed as to the future health of the city, but I believe it is without any reasonable foundation. The number of deaths per week is decreasing. Provisions are now plenty and cheaper than before the siege. The great want here now is the means of locomotion, the greater number of the horses having been killed for food during the siege, but as soon as peace is made that want will be supplied. Paris has already become again quite Parisian, and during the last few pleasant days the streets have been filled by the same bright-hearted population, presenting that cheerful aspect which so peculiarly belongs to this historic city. But when you go outside the walls the destruction and devastation of war can hardly be described. The most fearful and complete change is at St. Cloud; that beautiful village, with its magnificent palace, rich in the associations of centuries, is literally one mass of ruins. Bois de Boulogne, stripped of its trees, is a sad sight, recalling to mind the fate which befell it under somewhat similar circumstances in 1815. The interior of Paris is not much changed. A great many large and beautiful trees, on many of the avenues, have been cut down, but the smaller trees are left standing, so the alteration is not so great as to be much remarked.

I have &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.