Chapter XVIII: During the Negotiations Respecting the Capitulation of Paris (3)

I am called to the Minister again at 11 o’clock, and instructed to defend Favre against the rabid attacks of some French newspapers. The Chief says: “They actually take him to task for having dined with me. I had much trouble in getting him to do so. But it is unfair to expect that, after working with me for eight or ten hours, he should either starve as a staunch Republican, or go out to a hotel where the people would run after him and stare at him.”

The Frenchmen are again here between 2 and 4 P.M. They are six or seven in number, including Favre and, if I rightly heard the name, General Leflô. The Chief’s eldest son and Count Dönhoff join us at dinner.

Subsequently I despatch a _démenti_ of a Berlin telegram published by _The Times_, according to which we propose to demand the surrender of twenty ironclads and the colony of Pondicherry, together with a war indemnity of ten milliards of francs. This I describe as a gross invention which cannot possibly have been credited in England, or have created any anxiety there. I then hint at the probable source, namely, the clumsy imagination of an unfriendly and intriguing diplomatist. “That comes from Loftus,” says the Chief, as he gives me these instructions. “An ill-mannered fellow who was always seeking to make mischief with us.”

_Tuesday, February 7th._--From Bucarest despatches it seems as if the reign of Prince Charles were really coming to a speedy end. With the retention of Dalwigk at Darmstadt, the old confederacy of opponents of German unity remains firmly entrenched, and the well-known intrigues continue unhindered. A telegram from Bordeaux brings the expected news. Gambetta yesterday announced in a circular to the Prefects that his Parisian colleagues having annulled his decree with regard to the elections, he has informed them of his resignation. A good sign. He can hardly have a strong party behind him or he would scarcely have resigned.

_Wednesday, February 8th._--The Chief is up at an unusually early hour, and drives off at 9.45 to see the King. Favre arrives shortly before 1 o’clock, accompanied by a swarm of Frenchmen. There must be ten or twelve of them. He confers with the Minister after first lunching with us.

In the evening the Chief and his son dined with the Crown Prince, but first remained for a while with us. He again observed with satisfaction that Favre had not taken offence at his “spiteful letter,” but, on the contrary, had thanked him for it. The Chief had repeated to him verbally that it was his duty to share the dish which he had helped to cook. To-day they had discussed the way of raising the Paris war contribution; the French wanted to pay the greater part of it in bank notes, and we might lose in that way. “I do not know the value of what they offer,” he said; “but in any case it is to their advantage. They must, however, pay the whole amount agreed upon. I will not remit a single franc.”

_Thursday, February 9th._--Speaking again of the Paris contribution, the Chancellor observed at dinner: “Stosch tells me he can dispose of fifty million francs in bank notes to pay for provisions, &c., in France. We must have proper security, however, for the remaining hundred and fifty millions.” Then alluding to the foolish story about our wanting Pondicherry, he continued: “I do not want any colonies at all. Their only use is to provide sinecures. That is all England at present gets out of her colonies, and Spain too. And as for us Germans, colonies would be exactly like the silks and sables of the Polish nobleman who had no shirt to wear under them.”