Thiele to Friedrich von Gerolt, August 10, 1870

Mr. Von Thiele to Baron Gerolt.

My telegram addressed to the envoy of the North German Union in London, (communicated by Earl Granville in the session of the House of Lords of the 28th ultimo,) in relation to the draught of a treaty published in the Times of the 25th, has led Count Benedetti to give an account of the origin of said draught, in the Journal Officiel de 1’Empire of July 30; and after I had spoken more at length, in my written dispatch of the 29th of the same month, with regard to the draught and its connection with the policy of the empire, the circular dispatch of the Duke de Gramont, of the 3d instant, was published. While alluding to these two publications, I have no intention to make any reply thereto. The abundant material which they furnish for criticism has already been used by the press of all countries, France not excepted. The object of this most respectful communication is rather to furnish some additional evidence to your

and to have the same brought to the knowledge of the high government to which you are accredited.

I have not made use of this sooner because I did not wish, even in a state of war, to bring the person of the monarch into a discussion of official acts of his representatives and ministers, and because, during the existence of the system of government which, as is understood, existed in France previously to the 2d of January of the present year, I could not be prepared for the assertion that an act like the submitting of that draught of a treaty to me, and the other propositions mentioned in my dispatch of the 29th, had taken place without the previous knowledge of the Emperor Napoleon. The assurance of the French minister of foreign affairs that the Emperor Napoleon never proposed to Prussia a treaty to take possession of Belgium, and the statements of Count Benedetti that the proposition for the treaty came from me; that he, in order to obtain a clear idea of my combinations, consented to put them on paper in a manner under my dictation, and that the Emperor Napoleon did not receive information of this draught of a treaty until afterward; these assertions force me to make use of a means which is at my command in order still further to confirm my supposition concerning the business relations between the Emperor and his ministers, envoys, and agents, and my statement of the French policy. Among the papers of the Foreign Office is found the note (a copy of which is annexed) from Count Benedetti to me, dated August 5, 1866, (A, 4,867,) and a draught of a treaty sent with the same, (Ad. A, 4,867.) The originals, from the hand of Count Benedetti, I submit to the inspection of the representatives of neutral powers. I shall have the honor to send a photographic fac-simile of the same to your. I would remind you of the fact that, according to the statement of the Moniteur, the Emperor spent the days from July 28 to August 7, 1866, in Vichy. In the official interview which I had with Count Benedetti in consequence of his communication, he backed the demands therein contained by a threat of war in case of refusal. The refusal which I nevertheless expressed was followed by a demand for Luxemburg, and the failure to gain this was followed by the greater proposition, embracing Belgium, which is given in Count Benedetti’s draught of a treaty, published by the Times.

I most respectfully request your to read this dispatch to the minister of foreign affairs and to hand him a copy or translation of it, together with a copy of the annexes; also to show him the fac-simile of the latter which will hereafter be sent.

For the chancellor of the Union,