

BISMARCK, COUNT YON. 



BOLIVIA. 



81 



governments, concerning the future Consti- 

 tution of the German Empire. Notwithstand- 

 ing the differences of opinion which were found 

 to exist on some points, the treaty providing 

 for the incorporation of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, 

 Baden, and Hesse, with the new German 

 Empire, was soon concluded, aiid on January 

 18, 1871, King William of Prussia assumed 

 the title of Emperor of Germany. It was 

 acknowledged on all sides that Bismarck was 

 in fact the restorer of a united Germany; and 

 the new Emperor and the German Reichs- 

 rath did not delay to give expression to their 

 feelings of gratitude. By a Cabinet order, 

 dated March 22, 1871, Bismarck was created 

 an hereditary prince of the German Empire ; 

 thus receiving the highest rank, next to the 

 sovereigns of the German States. After the 

 Constitution of the German Empire had gone 

 into operation, Prince Bismarck's title of Chan- 

 cellor of the North-German Confederation was 

 changed (May 12th) into Chancellor of the 

 German Empire. By an order of June 24th, 

 the Emperor transferred to Prince Bismarck a 

 large estate in the duchy of Lauenburg, which 

 the Diet of this duchy had presented to him. 



As regards the foreign relations of Prussia 

 and Germany, Bismarck cultivated with par- 

 ticular attention the friendship of Russia, and 

 the outspoken sympathy of the Russian Gov- 

 ernment with Germany, at the beginning of 

 the Franco-German War, was considered as a 

 result of this policy. At the close of the year 

 1870, he succeeded in gaining the full consent 

 of Austria to the reunion of the South-German 

 States with the North-German Confederation, 

 and the reestablishment of the German Em- 

 pire. The relations of Germany and Austria 

 remained throughout the year 1871 of the 

 most friendly character. 



Toward the French Government, which was 

 particularly anxious to shorten the time of oc- 

 cupation of several French departments by 

 German troops, Bismarck showed a very con- 

 ciliatory spirit. But, when the French courts 

 repeatedly acquitted the assassins of German 

 soldiers, Bismarck, on December 7, 1871, ad- 

 dressed to the German ambassador in Paris, 

 Count Arnim, one of the most remarkable 

 notes which he has issued during his long 

 diplomatic career. He remarks that, if the 

 principles which caused the acquittal of French 

 assassins by the courts of Paris and Melun 

 were adopted in Germany, the killing of 

 Frenchmen within the jurisdiction of Ger- 

 many would cease to be liable to punishment. 

 But such a retaliation was repugnant to the 

 moral ideas of the German people, who, how- 

 ever, on the other hand, were not willing, in 

 case of the repetition of such crimes, to accept 

 the plea of the independence of the French 

 courts as a satisfactory explanation. The Ger- 

 man generals, in the occupied departments, 

 have therefore been instructed to declare a 

 state of siege in order to subject the crimes 

 committed against the German troops to mili- 

 TOL. XL 6 A 



tary jurisdiction. Should those who murdered 

 German soldiers within the territory occupied 

 by German troops escape, and the French 

 Government refuse their extradition, as had 

 been done in the case of Tonnelet and Berlin, 

 the German Government would order French 

 hostages to be arrested and carried off, and, if 

 necessary, would have recourse to even more 

 stringent measures. In view of the hostile 

 disposition toward Germany, as revealed by 

 these acquittals in Paris and Melun, the Ger- 

 man Government, during the future negotia- 

 tions with France, would have to think, not 

 only of securing the execution of the condi- 

 tions of peace, but also of strengthening its 

 defensive position in the departments occupied 

 by the German troops. The note produced an 

 extraordinary sensation throughout Europe. 

 President Thiers, in addressing the National 

 Assembly on December 29th, branded the act 

 of Tonnelet and Berlin as criminal, and re- 

 marked: "Such deeds bring down upon us 

 harsh words, with regard to which silence is 

 the best answer." The Assembly applauded 

 his remarks. 



BLAKE, Commodore GEOEGE S., U. S. N., a 

 gallant and accomplished naval officer, born in 

 Massachusetts, in 1801 ; died at Longwood, 

 Mass., June 24, 1871. He was appointed a 

 midshipman in the U. S. Navy at the age of 

 seventeen. In 1827 he was commissioned lieu- 

 tenant, and in 1829 was attached to the West 

 India Squadron. He was occasionally con- 

 nected with the Narraganset Bay Survey, and 

 detailed for duty at the Philadelphia Navy- 

 yard. From 1837 to 1848, he took part in the 

 Coast Survey. He was commissioned as com- 

 mander February 27, 1847, and was fleet-cap- 

 tain of the Mediterranean Squadron from 1850 

 to 1852. For two years thereafter he was in 

 the Bureau of Construction. He was com- 

 missioned as captain on the 14th of Septem- 

 ber, 1855, and detailed on special duty until 

 1858, when he became Superintendent of the^ 

 Naval Academy. This position he held until 

 1865, when he was retired from active duty,, 

 having been, in the mean time, commissioned 

 as commodore on the 16th of July, 1862. He 

 was a man of fine culture, a graceful and ele- 

 gant writer, of good executive ability, and ge- 

 nial and affable address. 



BOLIVIA, a republic in South America^ 

 President, Colonel A. Morales, elected provi- 

 sional President, for the term of one year, on: 

 June 20, 1871. The ministry of the provi- 

 sional President was composed as follows : Dr. 

 C. Corral, Minister of the Interior and Foreign- 

 Affairs; Dr. T. Frias, Minister of Finances;; 

 Dr. L. Mendoza de la Tapia, Minister of Jus- 

 tice and Public Worship ; Dr. M. Reyes Car- 

 dona, Minister of Public Education and Indus- 

 try; Colonel N. Carnpero, Minister of War: 

 Mr. L. Markbreit is minister resident of the- 

 United States at La Paz, and I. M. Mufioz con- 

 sul-general of Bolivia at New York. The 

 area of the republic, which was formerly estir- 



