Bancroft to Hamilton Fish, January 7, 1871

Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish

Sir: The new year opens a new era; North Germany disappears and Germany rises into being. To the December address of the North German Diet, inviting the King of Prussia to accept the title of Emperor of Germany, offered him by the princes and free cities, the King wisely answered that he would wait for the decision of the people of South Germany, through their respective legislatures. The concurrence of all the legislatures, except Bavaria, has been given. The constitution of the United States of Germany went into effect on New Year’s day. There was no ringing of bells, no salvo of artillery, no military parade, no proclamation, and the revolution which makes of United Germany the strongest power on the continent of Europe came in as still and noiselessly as the falling of dew on a summers afternoon. The German Union has at this moment but four and twenty members, but no one doubts that Bavaria will join within a few days. The young commonwealth comes into being with every wish to maintain the most friendly relations with the United States of America. I am sorry to see that this disposition troubles British statesmen. As signs of the times, I inclose a letter from Earl Russell, of December 19, to the Times, in which he cavils at the Prussians for treating us “as blameless friends,” and also an extract from the Times, of December 31, 1870. * * *

The relations between the new empire and Austro-Hungary involve questions of the highest political importance. On the 14th of last month Count Bismarck, through the North German minister at Vienna, announced to Count Beust the impending change in the most conciliatory manner, deduced its rightfulness from the peace of Prague, and opened the way for establishing the most friendly relations between the two powers. I annex Count Bismarck’s dispatch to the German minister in Vienna, in German and in English. The answer of Count Beust was awaited with the greatest interest. Now, that it is published, it excites universal satisfaction that the Austrian chancellor, in his dispatch of December 26, to the Austrian minister at Berlin, putting aside all consideration of the peace of Prague, treats the union of Germany, under Prussian lead, as a fact of the first importance in the modem development of Europe.

He gives assurances of the sincerest wish of all influential circles in Austro-Hungary to cultivate the best and most friendly relations with the mighty state whose establishment approaches its completion. He joins the German government in the wish that Germany and Austro-Hungary may extend to one another the hand for the advancement of the welfare and prosperity of both countries. In this he sees a pledge for permanent harmony between the two empires, and for Europea guarantee of permanent peace. The emperor, he adds, recalling the ennobling recollections which united his dynasty for centuries with the destinies of the German people, promises to cherish the warmest sympathies for the further development of that people, and expresses his unreserved wishes that its new form as a body-politic may give genuine securities for its own happiness and the welfare of the ancient imperial state with which it is in so many ways connected by tradition, language, manners, and laws.

The Pontus question is still talked about, but no one apprehends immediate war, which Russia and Turkey are both desirous to avoid. The Black Sea is the great interior sea of Europe, draining a far larger and more fertile part of its soil, and receiving larger European rivers than the Mediterranean. The only good issue to the present strife must be the declaration that that sea is one in which all the commercial powers of the world have an interest, and which, therefore, must be unreservedly free and open to all. Russia shows no sign whatever of yielding any longer its natural right to fortify its coast, and to maintain ships of war in the Black Sea. The insinuation of a connivance between Prince Gortchakoff and Count Bismarck is to be rejected; no such connivance existed.

I remain. &c.