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Sir,

No. 189.

Earl Granville to Mr. Odo Russell.

Foreign Office, January 24, 1871. I APPROVE the letter addressed by you to M. Jules Favre, copy of which is inclosed in your despatch of the 18th instant, informing him of what passed at the first meeting of the Conference, and expressing the hope that a French Plenipotentiary would be able to be present at the next meeting.

No. 190.

I am, &c.

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(Extract.)

Earl Granville to Lord Lyons.

Foreign Office, January 23, 1871.

I HAVE heard from Mr. Odo Russell that the military authorities at Versailles will not permit any one either to enter or to leave Paris before it shall have surrendered; and, moreover, that Count Bismarck has now declined to furnish M. Jules Favre with a safeconduct which has been since the 28th ultimo at his disposal, to enable him to reach England, which makes Her Majesty's Government the more regret that his Excellency did not make application for it to the quarter from which he was given to understand that it would be granted to him.

My Lord,

No. 191.

Earl Granville to Lord Lyons.

Foreign Office, January 23, 1871.

M. TISSOT called on me to-day to complain of the answer which Count Bismarck had given to M. Favre's application for a safe-conduct, as appeared by an announcement from Berlin in the newspapers. He thought it was injurious to France and insulting to England.

I replied that it was not for me to defend Count Bismarck's proceedings in this particular; that I had complained both of M. de Bismarck and M. Favre sacrificing a question of European interest on matters of form, but I repeated to M. Tissot the substance of what I had telegraphed to your Excellency yesterday, and I pointed out that M. Favre had never availed himself of the offer that had been made to him nearly three weeks ago; that it was perfectly open to France to condemn the Conference, and in any case to decline sending a Representative to it; but after the expression of opinion in favour of the Conference, and the advantage of France being represented there, M. Favre, while appointing himself to be the Plenipotentiary, had never taken the exact means which were suggested to him to obtain a safe-conduct, and had never declared his readiness to avail himself of it; and by declaring in a public document that he only came in order to show that the Provisional Government was officially recognized, and then applying for a diplomatic instead of the military safe-conduct which he had been promised, he gave M. de Bismarck at all events the technical round for a refusal.

I then informed M. Tissot of what we proposed to do in the Conference to-morrow, and I obtained from him an approval of the continuance of the European Commission of the Danube, and the statement that France would not object to Austria undertaking, at her risk and peril, the improvements to be made at the Iron Gates, after submission of the plans and estimates to the European Commission, with a toll to be levied on passing vessels which, within a certain number of years, would repay the interest and capital of that which was expended.

I am, &c.

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My Lord,

No. 192.

Lord Lyons to Earl Granville.—(Received January 24.)

Bordeaux, January 20, 1871. SINCE I had the honour to address to your Lordship my despatch of the 16th instant, I have received your telegrams of the 15th and 17th instant, respecting the Conference. On the arrival of each of them I lost no time in communicating its contents verbally to the Comte de Chaudordy.

I informed him, in the first place, that, much as your Lordship would regret the absence of M. Jules Favre, you found on consultation with the other Plenipotentiaries that the opinion was general that, after the long delay which had already taken place, it would not be possible to defer the opening beyond the 17th instant. I said that your Lordship earnestly hoped that M. Favre would arrive before the second sitting; and that you thought that it might be desirable, with a view to obviating misconstruction, that authority should be given to the French Chargé d'Affaires in London to attend on the first day. I added that your Lordship informed me that on that day no specific questions relative to the Articles of the Treaty of 1856 would be brought forward.

To this M. de Chaudordy replied that it was, as he had often told me before, impossible for him to authorize any one to appear at the Conference in the place of M. Favre. I may observe also that, in fact, owing to the length of time (nearly thirty hours) which the transmission of your Lordship's telegram had occupied, it would have been hardly possible that any further instructions from this place could reach London before the Conference assembled.

On the receipt of your Lordship's telegram of the 17th I informed M. de Chaudordy that the first sitting had been held, and that your Lordship had made M. Tissot acquainted with all that had passed; and I begged him, on his part, to communicate freely to your Lordship, through M. Tissot, the views of the French Government respecting all matters relative to the Conference. I told him, moreover, that the second sitting had been deferred to the 24th instant, in the hope either that M. Favre would himself be present on that day, or measures would be taken to substitute for him another French Plenipotentiary.

M. de Chaudordy said that he felt bound to refrain from any further steps, and even from making any observations, until he should receive instructions from Paris.

In the newspapers published here on the 18th and dated the 19th instant, telegraphic summaries were given of a Circular of M. Jules Favre said to have been published at Paris in the "Journal Officiel" of the 13th. One of these summaries represented M. Jules Favre as saying that, although furnished with a safe-conduct, he would not quit Paris until the situation of the town admitted of his doing so; the other made him say that he should set out for London as soon as he should receive a safe-conduct, and as soon as the state of things at Paris should allow of his doing so.

I took an early opportunity of asking M. de Chaudordy what conclusions he drew from these summaries. He said that it would be impossible for him to come to any definite conclusion until he should receive the text of the Circular, and thus learn what were the exact words which M. Jules Favre had really used. He could, however, assure me positively that M. Jules Favre was sincerely desirous of going to the Conference. There were only two circumstances which could, in M. de Chaudordy's opinion, make him hesitate about leaving Paris. He might have some difficulty in opposing the strong feeling in Paris and in the country generally against his presenting himself in London before official relations were established between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of National Defence. He might also feel a natural reluctance to withdraw from Paris at a moment when the bombardment was adding to the dangers and sufferings of those who remained.

I have seen M. de Chaudordy again this afternoon. He tells me that he is still without any knowledge of the text of M. Favre's Circular, and without any fresh instructions from Paris. He repeats, however, his positive assurance that M. Favre sincerely wishes to go to the Conference, and he adds that he shall instruct M. Tissot today to beg of your Lordship that, if M. Favre should not be present at the second sitting, time may be given before the third to admit of his arriving for it.

I have the honour to inclose copies of the summaries of the Circular as they appear

in the "Moniteur Universel" of the 19th instant.

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Inclosure in No. 192.

Extracts from the "Moniteur" of January 19, 1871.

CIRCULAIRE DE M. JULES FAVRE.-On adresse de Lille à l'Agence Havas la dépêche suivante :—

Lille, le 16 Janvier, soir.

"Le Journal Officiel ' du 13 contient une Circulaire de M. Jules Favre, dans laquelle il annonce que l'invitation d'assister à la Conférence que lui avait adressée Lord Granville le 29 Décembre, lui a été remise le 10 Janvier, par l'intermédiaire du Ministre des Etats

Unis.

"Cette invitation implique de la part de l'Angleterre un retour à une plus juste appréciation de notre situation politique, et consacré avec l'autorité du droit public ce changement de régime

La France doit donc accepter l'invitation et être représentée à la Conférence. Mais M. Jules Favre, quoique muni d'un sauf-conduit, ne quittera Paris que lorsque la situation de cette ville le lui permettra."

Londres, sans date.

(Depêche reçue le 17.)

Une Circulaire diplomatique, adressée par M. Jules Favre aux Puissances, en date du 12 Janvier, constate le grand intérêt qui consiste dans la France dans la solution de la question d'Orient qui, sans la participation de la France, serait entièrement nulle.

La Circulaire ajoute que M. Jules Favre partira pour Londres quand il aura reçu le

et que

sauflordement continuera, M. Jules Favre ne saurait quitter Paris. Le

que

rapport militaire du 13 Janvier constate que le bombardement qui a eu lieu depuis dix-sept jours n'a causé que fort peu de dommage, et que les pertes sont petites. Ce rapport reconnaît que les sorties faites jusqu'ici n'ont pas abouti, mais il constate en même temps que, de leur côté, les Prussiens ont été repoussés.

(Translation.)

CIRCULAR OF M. JULES FAVRE.-The following despatch is addressed from Lille to the Havas Agency:

"Lille, January 16, evening. "The Journal Officiel' of the 13th contains a circular from M. Jules Favre, in which he announces that the invitation to attend the Conference which Lord Granville had addressed to him on the 29th of December, was delivered to him on the 10th of January through the medium of the Minister of the United States.

"This invitation implies on the part of England a return to a juster appreciation of our political situation and sanctions with the authority of public law this change of Government.

"France should, therefore, accept the invitation and be represented at the Conference. But M. Jules Favre, although provided with a safe-conduct, will only leave Paris when the state of things in that city will allow of his doing so."

(Despatch received the 17th.)

London, without date.

A Diplomatic Circular addressed by M. Jules Favre to the Powers, dated the 12th of January, records the great interest which is felt in France in the solution of the Eastern Question which, without the participation of France, would be entirely null.

The Circular adds that M. Jules Favre will leave for London as soon as he has received

the necessary safe-conduct and the situation of Paris allows of his doing so.

As long as the bombardment continues M. Jules Favre could not leave Paris. The Military Report of the 13th of January states that the bombardment which has been going on for seventeen days has occasioned but little damage and that the losses are small. This Report acknowledges that the sorties made hitherto have not been successful, but it establishes the fact that the Prussians have, on their side, been repulsed.

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My Lord,

No. 193.

Earl Granville to Lord Lyons.

Foreign Office, January 25, 1871. THE second meeting of the Conference took place yesterday, and ended in an adjournment until Tuesday the 31st instant. I trust this will enable some of the Plenipotentiaries to refer to their Governments for instructions.

Late in the evening I received from Major-General Walker a telegram dated Versailles, January 24, 12:35 P.M., stating that M. Favre had arrived at Versailles in the course of the previous night. It is to be hoped, therefore, that his Excellency will now reach London before the third meeting of the Conference takes place.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

GRANVILLE,

No. 194.

Mr. Odo Russell to Earl Granville.-(Received January 28.)

My Lord, Versailles, January 23, 1871. WITH reference to my despatch of the 18th instant I have the honour to inclose herewith copy of the letter I have just received from M. Jules Favre in answer to mine of the 18th instant.

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Monsieur,

Inclosure in No. 194.

M. Jules Favre to Mr. Odo Russell.

Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Paris, ce 23 Janvier, 1871.

J'AI reçu la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire le 18 Janvier courant et vous remercie des communications qu'elle renferme. Je ne puis vous enumerer, mais vous le devinez sans peine, les raisons nombreuses et puissantes qui me font regretter de ne pas pouvoir représenter mon pays à Londres. Je me fais cette illusion que ma présence n'eut pas été indifférente à ses intérêts. Je ne me résigne à renoncer à ce grand devoir que pour en remplir un plus grand encore et devant lequel toute considération s'efface. J'aime à croire que Lord Granville comprendra les raisons qui ne m'ont pas permis de profiter de ses bons offices. Je ne lui en suis pas moins reconnaissant, et je vous prie, en lui transmettant cette assurance, d'y joindre l'expression de mes sentiments de haute considération.

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I HAVE received the letter which you did me the honour to write to me on the 18th instant, and I thank you for the communications which it contains. I cannot recount to you, though you will divine them without difficulty, the numerous and cogent reasons which cause me to regret being unable to represent my country in London. I flatter myself that my presence would not have been immaterial to her interests. I only make up my mind to renounce this great duty in order to fulfil one still greater, and before which every consideration vanishes. I trust that Lord Granville will understand the reasons which have forbidden me to profit by his good offices. I am not the less grateful to him for them, and I beg that, in transmitting this assurance to him, you will add to it the expression of iny sentiments of high consideration.

I have, &c. (Signed) JULES FAVRE

My Lord,

No. 195.

Lord Lyons to Earl Granville.-(Received January 29.)

Bordeaux, January 23, 1871. 1 HAD this morning the honour to receive your Lordship's telegram of yesterday; and, in obedience to the instruction contained in it, I stated to the Count de Chaudordy that Her Majesty's Government hoped that M. Jules Favre would apply for the safeconduct to the Prussian military authorities, who were alone empowered to grant it. Her Majesty's Government were, I said, informed that M. Favre had applied for it to Count Bismarck, and had been referred by him to the military authorities. Her Majesty's Government were, I added, of opinion that it would be very much to be regretted that any misunderstanding or difficulty on this point should prevent M. Favre from joining the Conference.

M. de Chaudordy said that he could not but observe that if M. Jules Favre was not already in London the fault lay with Count Bismarck, who had not complied with your Lordship's request that a safe-conduct should be sent into Paris, and who had all along interposed futile pretexts, obstacles, and delays.

Later in the day, M. de Chaudordy told me that since he had seen me in the morning he had received a letter from M. Favre, dated the 14th instant, from the whole tone and tenor of which it was apparent that M. Favre himself desired to go to the Conference. M. de Chaudordy added, however, that the latter expressed a fear that Count Bismarck was designedly withholding the safe-conduct.

I have already communicated the substance of the present despatch to your Lordship by telegraph.

I have, &c.

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I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith, extracted from the "Moniteur Universel" of this day, a Circular from M. Jules Favre to the French Representatives abroad, respecting his acceptance of the invitation to attend the Conference in London.

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Inclosure in No. 196.

Extract from the "Moniteur" of January 25, 1871.

Circulaire de M. Jules Favre, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères de la République Française aux Agents Diplomatiques de la France à l'étranger.

Monsieur,

Paris, le 12 Janvier, 1871.

LE Gouvernement a jusqu'ici cru de son devoir de rester dans une grande réserve en ce qui touche les négociations engagées sur la révision des Traités de 1856. Qu'une telle révision, si elle est nécessaire, appartienne exclusivement aux Puissances signataires de ces Traités, c'est là une vérité si évidente qu'il est inutile d'y insister. Elle ne pourrait être mise en doute. Aussi, dès que l'une de ces Puissances a réclamé la modifica tion des Conventions obligeant également tous les dignités, l'idée d'une Conférence dans laquelle la question serait discutée a-t-elle été adoptée sans difficulté. La place de la France y était marquée. Mais pouvait-elle songer à l'occuper quand elle était tout entière absorbée par la défense de son territoire. Telle est la grave question que le Gouvernement a dû examiner dans les circonstances que je vais sommairement rappeler.

C'est par une dépêche en date de Tours, 11 Novembre, reçue à Paris le 17, que le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères a été informé par M. de Chaudordy de la Circulaire de M. le Prince Gort chakoff. Cette nouvelle lui était transmise par un télégramme de notre Ministre à Vienne, ainsi conçu :

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