Bismarck and the foundation of the German empire . y for the last extremities, imperviousto the counsels of reason, so violent and sacred werethe sentiments by which he was governed. Bismarck remained obdurate ; he would surrenderneither Metz nor Belfort. Then Thiers cried out: Well, let it be as you will ; these negotiations are apretence. We appear to deliberate, we have only to passunder your yoke. We ask for a city absolutely French,you refuse it to us ; it is to avow that you have resolvedto wage against us a war of extremity. Do it ! Ravishour provinces, burn our houses, cut the throats
Bismarck and the foundation of the German empire . y for the last extremities, imperviousto the counsels of reason, so violent and sacred werethe sentiments by which he was governed. Bismarck remained obdurate ; he would surrenderneither Metz nor Belfort. Then Thiers cried out: Well, let it be as you will ; these negotiations are apretence. We appear to deliberate, we have only to passunder your yoke. We ask for a city absolutely French,you refuse it to us ; it is to avow that you have resolvedto wage against us a war of extremity. Do it ! Ravishour provinces, burn our houses, cut the throats of theirunoffending inhabitants, in a word, complete your will fight to the last breath ; we shall succumb atlast, but we will not be dishonoured. It was a burst of passion, all the more admirablethat Thiers knew his threats were vain ; but it wasnot ineffective. Bismarck was troubled ; he said heunderstood what they suffered ; he would be gladto make a concession, but, he added, I can promisenothing; the King has commanded me to maintain. LOUIS ADOLPHE THIERS. 1871] War with France. 373 the conditions, he alone has the right to modify them ;I will take his orders ; I must consult with Mons. deMoltke, He left the room ; it was nearly an hourbefore he could find Moltke; then he returned togive the answer to the Frenchmen. You had re-fused that we should enter Paris; if you will agreethat the German troops occupy Paris, then Belfortshall be restored to you. There could be no doubtas to the answer, and some hours later the assent ofthe King was given to this alteration in the condi-tions. Before this the indemnity had been reduced tofive thousand million francs ; below that all the effortsof the French were not able to bring it. There weremany other exciting scenes during the progress ofthe negotiations ; on one occasion Thiers threatenedBismarck with interposition of the neutral Powers ; If you speak to me of Europe, I will speak of theEmperor, was Bismarcks answer. He th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbismarckottofrstvon1
