The Seven Weeks' War
Page 55
On the evening of the 21st, the king assembled twelve hundred of the generals and principal officers who had served in the campaign at dinner in the schloss. In the later part of the evening the town was illuminated. Directly after dark the whole city was lighted up. The schloss was surrounded by rows of lamps, which stood out bright against the heavy and indistinct background of the massive building, while circlets of coloured lights, high up in the dome, seemed as if suspended in the air without support Opposite the schloss bright blue lights burnt, and, raised high upon lofty poles, glistened like stars of dazzling brightness above the museum. These cast a fitful and almost mysterious glow upon the restless crowds, who, notwithstanding the rain, which began to fall early in the afternoon, thronged every street, and clustered in thick swarms around the fountain in front of the museum, where gas jets, introduced among the pipes, from which the water played, glistened through the sparkling cascade.
Every house was illuminated. On public buildings and in many private residences were fiery copies of the national arms, or names of victories inscribed in flame. Down the Linden Avenue and round the statue of Frederick the Great large basins raised on bronze stalks contained blazing flambeaux, which blew about wildly in the breeze. In many places words of welcome to the returning soldiers or mottoes recording victory were traced in lamps, which burnt with coloured flames, but nowhere was to be seen a single signal of congratulation for the return of peace. Every fiery inscription, every device of flame, told the fierce joy of the people for victory and conquest, and to the minds of many men foreboded that thirst for further war and for military glory was taking a strong seat in the heart of Prussia.
Where the exterior of the houses was not decked with lamps, or where burning gas did not trace the outlines of the national eagle or the names of victories, inside of the windows were fringes of candles. Everywhere there was light. No window was dark, no house not illuminated, except where the Austrian or some of the neutral embassies broke, by a gap of darkness, the brilliant aspect of a lighted street There were few carriages. The people moved through the city a restless, feverish crowd, from which rose a loud continuous hum of approbation and of triumph, that here and there swelled into a cheer before the residence of a minister or the palace of the king.
A long list of promotions and military advancements was published that day, and it was also notified that a cross of bronze cast from the metal of the captured cannon was to be given to every officer and soldier who had passed through the campaign.
An amnesty, dated the 20th June, was published the same morning, which remitted any punishments not yet completed, or any fines which had been decreed by courts of justice against persons convicted of offences under the 87th to 93rd paragraphs of the statute-book inclusive, and under the 97th to 103rd, or under the law for the control of the press.
In the evening special performances were given in all the theatres in honour of the triumphant termination of the war. Prologues were delivered which detailed the glorious deeds of the army, and the plays, which were written for the occasion, dwelt upon the actions and personal adventures of the late campaign, and recalled the memories of the concluding wars of the first French Empire.
CHAPTER 5: Peace With the South-German States
On the 2nd August, armistices between Prussia and Bavaria, Baden, Würtemberg, and Hesse-Darmstadt, were established, which were to endure until the 22nd August The terms of these armistices were similar to those made with Austria; by them stipulations were also made for the delivery of the fortress of Mainz to the Prussians, and for the unimpeded departure of the South-German contingents from the other Federal fortresses.
By the 22nd August, peace was definitely concluded between Prussia and the governments of all those countries except that of Darmstadt.
The treaty of peace with Bavaria was signed at Berlin on the 22nd of August, by Count Bismarck and Herr von Savigny for Prussia, by Herr von der Pfordten and Count Bray Steinburg for Bavaria. By it Bavaria agreed to pay Prussia thirty million gulden as a war contribution in three instalments, the last instalment to be paid within six months of the exchange of the ratifications; to abolish the shipping dues on the Rhine and Maine; and to give up the telegraph stations on the north of the Maine to Prussia. The ratifications were exchanged within twelve days. Peace with Würtemburg was concluded at Berlin on the 13th August The text of this treaty was as follows:—
Their Majesties the King of Würtemberg and the King of Prussia, actuated by the desire of securing to their subjects the blessings of peace, have determined to come to an agreement as to the clauses of a Treaty of Peace to be concluded between them. For this purpose their Majesties have appointed as plenipotentiaries—The King of Würtemberg, his Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baron Karl von Varnbuler, Grand Cross, &c; and his War Minister, Lieutenant-General Oscar von Hardegg, Grand Cross, &c.; and the King of Prussia, his President of the Council and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Otto von Bismarck-Schönhausen, Knight of the Black Eagle, &c., and his Privy Councillor, Chamberlain and Ambassador Karl Friedrich von Savigny, Grand Cross, &c. These plenipotentiaries having exchanged powers and found them sufficient, have agreed upon the following clauses:—
1. Peace and friendship shall henceforth subsist for ever between His Majesty the King of Würtemberg and His Majesty the King of Prussia, their heirs and successors, their States and subjects.
2. His Majesty the King of Würtemberg engages to pay His Majesty the King of Prussia the sum of 8,000,000 fl. within two months, towards covering part of the costs incurred by Prussia in the war. By payment of this sum the King of Würtemberg fulfils the compensation obligations undertaken by him in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the armistice convention, signed August 1, 1866, at Eisingen and Würtzburg.
3. As pledge for the payment of this sum the King of Würtemberg will deposit 3½ and 4 per cent. Würtemberg State bonds to the amount of the sum to be guaranteed. The bonds to be deposited will be calculated at the quotations of the day, and the guarantee sum will be increased by 10 per cent, accordingly.
4. His Majesty the King of Würtemberg retains the right of paying the above-mentioned compensation in part, or wholly at an earlier date, at a discount of 5 per cent, per annum.
5. Immediately after the guarantee being given, ,in accordance with Article 3, or after payment of the war contribution has been made, the King of Prussia will withdraw his troops from Würtemberg territory. The provisionment of the troops daring their withdrawal shall be according to the hitherto existing Federal dietary scale.
6. The apportionment of Federal property belonging to the former Germanic Confederation is reserved for a special agreement.
7. The high contracting parties will enter into negotiations for the settlement of the Zollverein relations immediately after the conclusion of peace. In the meantime the Zollverein Union Treaty of May 16, 1855, and the conventions connected therewith, which have been rendered inoperative by the outbreak of the war, shall again come into operation from the day the ratifications of this present treaty are exchanged, with the understanding that it remains reserved to either of the high contracting parties to allow them to lapse after a notification of six months.
8. Immediately after the restoration of peace in Germany the high contracting parties will cause the assembly of commissioners to agree upon bases calculated to further passenger and goods’ traffic upon the railways as greatly as possible, especially to regulate the relations of competition in a suitable manner and to oppose the efforts of individual companies disadvantageous to the public interests of traffic While the high contracting parties are agreed that the establishment of every new railway line conducive to the public advantage is to be permitted and supported as fully as possible, they will also have the principles demanded in this respect by the general interests laid down by the aforesaid commissioners.
9. His Majesty the King of Würtemberg recognises the arrangements made by the preliminary treaty concluded between Prussia and Austria at Nikolsb
urg on the 20th of July, 1866, and acceded thereto upon his part also, so far as they affect the future of Germany.
10. The ratification of this present treaty shall take place at latest by the 21st of August of this year. In token whereof the above-named plenipotentiaries have executed the same this day in duplicate, and appended their signatures and seals.
Done at Berlin this 13th of August, 1866.
Varnbuler,
Hardegg.
Von Bismarck,
Savigny.
Peace with Baden was concluded at Berlin on the 17th August.
The first, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth articles were the same as those of the treaty with Würtemberg; the tenth and eleventh the same as the ninth and tenth of that with Würtemberg, By the second, third, and fourth articles, Baden agreed to pay Prussia six million gulden within two months, as a war contribution. By the ninth article, Baden agreed to abolish the shipping dues on the Rhine.
Peace with Hesse-Darmstadt was only concluded on the 3rd September, to which day the armistice was extended. The text of this treaty was, exclusive of the prologue, as follows:—
1. Peace and friendship shall exist between the Grand Duke of Hesse, and on the Rhine, &c, and His Majesty the King of Prussia, their heirs and successors, for eternal time.
2. The Grand Duke of Hesse engages to pay to the King of Prussia within two months the sum of 3,000,000 florins, to cover a part of the expenses caused to Prussia by the war. By the payment of this sum the grand duke is released from his obligation to pay the war contribution which he undertook by the Treaty of Armistice on the 1st of August, 1866.
3. The grand duke provides guarantees for the payment of this money by depositing bonds of the Grand Ducal Loan, when the 4 per cent. bonds will be accepted at 80 and the 3 per cent, at 70.
4. The grand duke has the right to pay the above contribution either in whole or in part at an earlier date, and if he does so will be allowed a discount at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum.
5. Immediately after the deposit of the guarantees mentioned in Article 3, the King of Prussia will withdraw his troops from the Grand Ducal territory. The supplying of the troops in their return march will be conducted in accordance with the supply regulations of the late Bund.
6. The regulations for the disposal of common property which belonged to the late Bund are reserved for special agreement.
7. The high contracting powers will enter into negotiations directly after the conclusion of peace for the reform of the Zollverein Treaty. In the meantime the Zollverein Treaty of the 16th of May, 1865, and the agreements connected with it, will come again into force on the day of the exchange of the ratifications of the present tre.ity. Each party reserves the right to annul the same after six months’ notice.
8. All other treaties and stipulations concluded between the high contracting powers previous to the war come again into force.
9. The high contracting powers will, immediately after the establishment of peace in Germany, cause commissioners to meet, in order to establish rules to facilitate as much as possible the railway transport of passengers and goods between the two States, and to oppose the pernicious effects of individual administration in favour of common interests; and as the high contracting powers are agreed that the establishment of a new railway communication based on their common interests should be allowed, and, as far as possible, furthered, they will cause the plans thereof to be settled by the above-mentioned commissioners.
10. The Grand Ducal Government declares itself agreed to the conventions which Prussia has made with the princely House of Taxis for the abolition of the Thurn and Taxis postal monopoly. In consequence the whole postal administration of the Grand Duchy of Hesse is to be given over to Prussia.
11. The Grand Ducal Government binds itself to allow no other than a Prussian telegraph station in Mayence. In like manner the Grand Ducal Government cedes to Prussia unlimited power to construct and to use telegraph lines and telegraph stations in the other districts of the Grand Duchy.
12. The Grand Ducal Government will completely discontinue to levy navigation tolls on the Rhine, and also navigation dues (Tariff B in the Convention of the 31st of March, 1831), as also dues for lading (Supplementary Articles to the Convention of the 31st of March, 1831), from the day on which the same measure shall be adopted by the other German States on the banks of the Rhine. The high contracting parties undertake to do the same with regard to the still existing navigation tolls on the Maine.
13. The Grand Duke of Hesse recognises the Definitions of the Preliminary Treaty concluded between Prussia and Austria at Nikolsburg, on the 26th July, 1866, and also on his part enters into the same as far as the future of Germany is concerned.
14. His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Hesse cedes to the King of Prussia with all rights of sovereignty and dominion—
(1)the country of Hesse-Homburg, inclusive of the district of Meisenheim, but exclusive of the two demesnes Hötensleben and Oebisfelde belonging to Homburg, which lie in the Prussian province of Saxony.
(2) The following portions of territory which belong to the province of Oberhessen:—(1.) the district of Biedonkofp; (2.) the district of Vöhl, including the enclaves Eimelrod-Höringhausen; (3.) the north-western part of the district of Giessen, which includes Frankenbach, Krumbach, Königsburg, Fellingshausen, Biber, Haina, Rodheim, Waldgirmes, Nauheim, and Hermannstein, with the ground within their landmarks; (4.) the district of Rödelheim; (5.) the part of the district of Nieder-Urfel which is under the Grand Ducal Sovereignty.
15. The Grand Duke of Hesse enters into the North German Confederation on the basis of the reform project of the 10th June, 1866, with all his territory lying north of the Maine, while he binds himself to cause the elections to Parliament to be in proportion to the numbers of the population. The Grand Ducal contingent from the territory separated in consequence of this and belonging to the Northern Confederation passes under the supreme command of the King of Prussia.
The King of Prussia cedes to the Grand Duke of Hesse, in lieu of the territorial cessions in the province of Oberhessen the following districts, with all rights of sovereignty and dominion—
(1) The formerly Hesse-Cassel district Katzenberg, with the places Ohmes, Wolkenrode, Ruhlkirchen, Leibelsdorf.
(2) The formerly Hesse-Cassel district Nauheim, with all rights of property, the bath establishments and salt works in Nauheim, as well as the places Dorheim, Nauheim, Schwalheim, and Rödchen.
(3) The district of Reichelsheim which lies to the east of the above, and formerly belonged to Nassau, with the places Reichelsheim and Dornassenheim.
(4) The enclave of Trais on the Lunda, which formerly belonged to Hesse-Cassel.
(5) The woodland demesne formerly belonging to Hesse-Cassel which lies between the Grand Ducal districts of Altenstadt and Bönstadt.
(6) The districts of Dortelweil and Nieder-Erlenbach, which formerly belonged to Frankfort.
(7) The district of Massenheim, which formerly belonged to Hesse Cassel.
(8) The district of Haarheim, which formerly belonged to Nassau.
(9) The portion of the district of Mittel-Gründau, of about 1,700 acres, which formerly belonged to Hesse-Cassel.
These districts enter into the province of Oberhessen. In the next place, the district of Rumpenheim, which formerly belonged to Hesse-Cassel, lying on the left bank of the Maine, is ceded to the grand duke, with all rights. The descriptions of the boundary lines lie over.
16. Agreements between the contracting powers with reference to the archives, officials, military stores, &c., of the ceded districts will be concluded by special commissioners.
17. The books, manuscripts, and other articles which were in the library of the Cathedral of Cologne previously to the year 1794, and are now in the Grand Ducal museum and library, are to be handed over to the King of Prussia that they may be restored to Cologne, to which the different volumes and articles belong. There shall be one commissioner of either
side, who in case of dispute are to choose each an impartial referee, to whom the case shall be referred.
18. The Grand Ducal Government agrees to prolong the present contract between a number of bathing-house proprietors in the town of Kreuznach and the Grand Ducal salt work of Karl Theodor Hulle, for the supply of lixivium and salt water at the present rate, until the Prussian Government shall find itself able to acquire this salt work.
The Grand Ducal Government will also lay down pipes for the supply of this to Kreuznach.
19. The ratification of the present Treaty shall take place at the latest on the 15th of September.
(Signed)
Dalwigk
Bismarck.
Hofman
Savigny.
A supplementary convention with reference to Articles 14 and 15 was to the following purpose:—
Prussia enters into all rights hitherto possessed by the Hessian Government in the ceded districts, and pays pensions in the hitherto existing way. Officials and servants are guaranteed to be allowed to remain in their present situations if they will enter the Prussian service; if they, however, return to the Hessian within three months after the close of this treaty, they are to be paid up to the time of their return by the Hessian Government. The same rule applies to the districts ceded to Hesse, which formerly belonged to Nassau and Cassel. Soldiers who are of the rank of officers in the ceded districts shall be sent to their homes; and their time of service in the Hessian Army will be reckoned as if in the Prussian service. Officers and military officials ranking as officers are to be allowed to choose into which service they will enter.
1. The commissioners chosen by Article 16 of the Treaty will settle all matters of detail which are connected with the present negotiations.