The Mission of Vincent Benedetti to Berlin 1864–1870

313 Pages·1965·11.154 MB·English

by  Willard Allen Fletcher (auth.)

THE MISSION OF
VINCENT BENEDETTI
TO BERLIN 1864-1870
THE MISSION OF
VINCENT BENEDETTI
TO BERLIN 1864-1870
WILLARD ALLEN FLETCHER
SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V.
ISBN 978-94-017-0018-4 ISBN 978-94-015-7547-8 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-015-7547-8
Copyright I965 by Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Martinus Nijhofl. The Hague. Netherlands in I965
All rights reserved. including the right to translate or to
reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form
TO JEAN, IAN, COLIN, HILARY AND BRIAN
PREFACE
The historical significance of the period 1864-1870, epitomized by
the establishment of Prussian hegemony in Gennany, has been per
petuated in numerous studies. The diplomatic history of these decisive
years has proven especially fascinating, for the fundamental changes
in Gennany's political frame had a momentous influence upon the
course of European history. The war of 1866 destroyed the last vestiges
of Austrian supremacy in Gennany and inaugurated a reorganization
under Prussian domination. The international repercussions of this
transfonnation in the heart of Europe are fully reflected in the diplo
macy of the period, in view of the disruptive effect upon the existing
power equilibrium. The manner in which Napoleon III and his govern
ment reacted to the events was of crucial portent for the future of
his empire. An inquiry into Ambassador Benedetti's mission to Berlin
contributes materially to an understanding of imperial diplomacy,
primarily as related to Prussia, in this critical period.
The present study was suggested by Dr. Lynn M. Case and began
to take shape in his seminars on European diplomatic history. Bene
detti's constant association with French diplomacy between 1864 and
1870 seemed to warrant a detailed and critical examination of his
mission. Despite the advent of the telegraph diplomatic representa
tives continued to fonn an important part of the diplomatic appa
ratus and Benedetti was no exception. Past studies based exclusively
on his career are very few. Frensdorff's Preussische Jahrbucher article
appeared shortly after the outbreak of the war in 1870. The superficial
and biased treatment of the subject and the totally inadequate docu
mentation place his account outside the rank of scholarly inquiries.
Luise Schoeps' Gra! Vincent Benedetti, which appeared in 1915, had
been written as a doctoral dissertation sponsored by Richard Fester.
This work is of only limited value today, since the author was unable
PREFACE
VIII
to draw upon the vast documentary collections in the European diplo
matic archives. The beginning publication of the French diplomatic
correspondence permitted her to consult but the first few volumes of
this primary source material, hence making a definitive study of Be
nedetti's mission impossible. An attempt by Charles Saurel to write
a detailed study of Benedetti was cut short by the author's death
after he had completed a monograph entitled Juillet I870. Le drame
de la depeche d' Ems. Benedetti's own accounts, in M a mission en Prusse,
Essais diplomatiques, and in the Revue de Paris of IS September 1895,
are highly subjective and inaccurate versions. Evaluations of the am
bassador's record are often quite incidental in form, based upon an
isolated diplomatic event rather than upon the entire career. It is
thus not surprising that Benedetti is mainly remembered in connection
with the Ems episode, cast in the role of a bungling diplomat. That
his historical reputation should rest upon such a brief moment is a
deplorable fact.
As one in a series of inquiries directed by Dr. Case into European
diplomatic history of the second half of the nineteenth century, this
study is sharply focussed upon Benedetti's activities. No attempt has
been made to present a detailed history of diplomacy between 1864
and 1870, although the wider historical background needs to be borne
in mind. Benedetti's mission falls into three distinct phases. The first
of these, from his appointment to Sadowa, was characterized by a
rather favorable disposition of France vis-a.-vis Prussian ambitions in
Germany. The second phase, extending to the London conference, was
marked by repeated French efforts to redress the balance of power
between Prussia and France and by the gradual disenchantment which
followed the frustration of these efforts. The final phase, ending with
the outbreak of war in 1870, witnessed the fatal progress from an
uneasy modus vivendi to a clash of arms which obliterated the empire
of Louis Napoleon. Benedetti's words and actions reflect the changing
moods of imperial diplomacy toward Prussia, and a study of his per
formance between 1864 and 1870 makes it possible to view his role
in proper perspective. Use has been made of a wide variety of manu
script and printed sources. The author has relied principally on the
diplomatic archives of the Second Empire, but supplemented by ap
propriate files in Prussian, Austrian, Dutch, Belgian, British, Luxem
burg and other archives. A vast literature in the form of printed source
collections, memoirs, biographies, monographs and articles eased the
task of ferreting out details about Benedetti's activities. The author
PREFACE IX
profited from the labors of many historians, but he wishes to cite in
particular among recent contributors Bonnin, Dittrich, Case, Steefel,
Pflanze and Halperin.
The author wishes to express his deep appreciation and sincere
thanks to all those who have helped him in his task. He is especially
grateful to his teacher and mentor, Dr. Lynn M. Case, whose untiring
help, constructive criticism and valuable aid cannot be adequately
acknowledged in words. Many thanks are due the Graduate Council of
the University of Pennsylvania which made possible the research in
archives and libraries abroad. Two grants from the Council on Re
search and Creative Work of the University of Colorado made possible
the acquisition of microfilms and the preparation of the manuscript
for pUblication. Among those who contributed of their time and effort,
the author wishes to thank the staff of the University of Pennsylvania
Library. He is especially indebted to the late Mr. Hans Burckhardt.
Acknowledgment is made of the unfailing courtesy and help of the
staffs of the Bibliotheque nationale and the Archives du ministere des
allaires etrangeres in Paris, the British Museum and Public Record
Office in London, the Rijksarchief in The Hague, the Archives du
ministere des allaires etrangeres in Brussels, the Bibliotheque nationale
and the Archives de l'etat in Luxemburg, the Haus- Ho/- und Staats
Archiv in Vienna, and Norlin Library of the University of Colorado.
The author is most appreciative to Dr. C. Vincent Confer and Dr.
Daniel H. Thomas for the timely loan of their manuscript guides to
the French and Belgian foreign office archives. The kind interest of
Count Benedetti of Paris and the friendly help of Dr. and Mrs. Clarence
King of London, Professor and Mrs. Alphonse Nies of Luxemburg,
Mrs. Robert Buchholtz of Luxemburg, Mr. Guste Scharle of Buenos
Aires and Mr. Willy Metzler of Luxemburg are gratefully remembered.
The author is deeply grateful to Dr. Howard L. Scamehom and Mrs.
Phyllis Groves for their ready and untiring help in the final prepa
ration of the manuscript. To Mrs. Virginia Grieder who typed the
manuscript under unusual circumstances go very warm thanks. To his
wife, whose encouragement and devoted help made this work all the
more worthwhile, the author owes a lasting debt of gratitude.
Luxembourg-Ville, I964 WILLARD ALLEN FLETCHER
CONTENTS
Preface VII
List of Abbreviations XIII
I The Man and his Mission I
II From Vienna to Gastein 7
III Prelude to Sadowa 38
IV Mediation at Nikolsburg 80
V The French Compensation Proposals !O7
VI The Luxemburg Compensation Project 141
VII A Search for a Modus Vivendi 184
VIII The Hohenzollern Candidacy 221
IX Diplomacy of Distortion 264
X Ambassador in Retrospect 270
Appendices 282
Selected Bibliography 287
Index 299
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
itD itrchives di~~iq~.
itHR itm erican Historical Review.
APP GERMANY. HISTORISCHE REICHSKOMMISSION.
Die auswlirlige Politik Preussens.
BAECP BELGIUM. MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES lhRANGERES. AR-
CHIVES.
serle generale. Correspondance. politique.
BGW BISMARCK-ScHONHAUSEN, OTTO, FURST VON.
Die gesammelten Werke.
FAECC FRANCE. MINISTERE DES AFFAlRES ETRANGERES. AR
CHIVES.,>.
Correspondance consulaire.
FAE CP FRANCE. MINISTERE DES AFFAlRES ETRANGERES. AR-
CHIVES.
Correspondance politique.
FAE MD FRANCE. MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES. AR
CHIVES.
Memoires et documents.
FAE PR/A FRANCE. MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES 1hRANGERES. AR-
CHIVES.
Papiers de Cer~ay. Fonds: Rouher/Allem.agne.
Fb~G F orschungen zur iwandenburgischen und ~reussischen Ge
schichte.
HHStA AUSTRIA. HAUS- HOF- UND STAATS-ARCHIV.
Politisches Archiv.
HVi H istorische V ierleliahrschrift.
HZ Historische Zeitschrift.
LAEH LUXEMBURG. ARCHIVES DE L'ETAT.
Regime constitutionnel.
XIV LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
LAEL LUXEMBURG. ARCHIVES DE L'ETAT.
a
Secretariat du Roi Grand-Due La Haye.
MMP BENEDETTI, VINCENT. Ma mission en Prusse.
ODC FRANCE. MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES ETRANGERES.
Les ol'£gines diplomatiques de la guerre de I87o-7I.
PJ Preussische J ahrbucher.
PROFO GREAT BRITAIN. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. FOREIGN
OFFICE. ARCHIVES.
Foreign Office Correspondence.
QDPO Quellen zur deutschen Politik Osterreichs.
RBZ THE NETHERLANDS. RIJKSARCHIEF. MINISTERIE VAN
BUITENLANDSE ZAKEN. ARCHIEF.
Correspondentie.
RH Revue historique.
RHM Revue d' histoire moderne.
RHMC Revue d' histoire moderne et contemporaine.