No. 107.
Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish.
Paris, March 21, 1873. (Received April 9.)
Sir: You will have seen by the newspapers which I have sent you that the report of the commission of thirty was adopted; all the articles were voted by very large majorities. The opposition was composed of the extreme right and the extreme left. I do not think that the extreme left cared very much about the matter, but there was great violence among some members of the extreme right, who attacked M. Thiers with much bitterness.
The great event of the past week has been the signing of a supplementary treaty between France and Germany, regulating definitely the complete payment of the war indemnity as stipulated by former treaties, as well as the evacuation of the French territory. The news of the signing of this treaty at Berlin on Saturday last was received by M. Thiers at seven o’clock that evening, and after the adjournment of the assembly for that day. It was therefore made known the next morning in the “Journal Officiel,” and was immediately telegraphed over all France, causing great joy. The next day, Monday, it was announced in the national assembly by Count de Rémusat, and was received with tremendous demonstration by the greater part of the assembly, some members of the extreme right alone maintaining a sullen silence. The left was particularly jubilant, as it gave them a chance to say that this great feat had been accomplished by the republic. In the evening of Monday Count and Countess de Rémusat gave a grand reception at the ministry of foreign affairs. Great crowds flocked there to tender their congratulations and felicitations on the event. Everybody seemed happy and jubilant, and the utmost good feeling prevailed.
M. Thiers gave a large diplomatic dinner last evening at Versailles, which I attended. I presented to him the congratulations of my Government, as well as my own personal felicitations, upon the conclusion of the new treaty between France and Germany, and the speedy prospect of the evacuation of the French territory by the German troops. M. Thiers seemed very well and in good spirits, though he showed some trace of his recent slight illness.
I have, &c.,