ire of a united Germany showed a new
Europe. The keen word of an English diplomatist expressed what was dawning
in men's minds as a new misgiving. "Europe," he said, "has lost a mistress
and got a master." Annexation wore an ugly look. Meetings to express
sympathy with France in her struggle were held in London and the
provinces. Still on the whole the general verdict seemed to be decisively
in favour of a resolute neutrality, for in fact, nobody who knew anything
of the state of Europe could suggest a policy of British intervention that
would stand an hour of debate.

One proposal favoured by Mr. Gladstone, and also, I remember, commended by
Mill, was the military neutralisation of Alsace and Lorraine, and the
dismantling of the great border fortresses, without withdrawing the
inhabitants from their French allegiance. The idea was worked out in a
pamphlet by Count Gasparin. On this pamphlet Mr. Max Mueller put what Mr.
Gladstone called the fair question, whether its author was likely to
persuade the European powers to guarantee border neutrality. "I will try
to give you a fair answer," Mr. Gladstone said (Jan. 30, 1871). "You will
not think it less fair because it is individual and unofficial; for a man
must be a wretch indeed, who could speak at this most solemn juncture,
otherwise than from the bottom of his heart. First, then, I agree with you
in disapproving the declaration, or reputed declaration, of Lord Derby
(then Stanley) in 1867, about the Luxemburg guarantee. I have in
parliament and in my present office, declined or expressly forborne to
recognise that declaration.(231) Secondly, as to the main question. It is
great. It is difficult. But I should not despair. I may add I should
desire to find it practicable; for I think it would be a condition fair to
both parties, and one on which Germany would have an absolute title to
insist. Some of the most excusable errors ever committed," he said, in
closing the letter, "have also been the most ruinous in their
consequences. The smallest in the forum of conscience, they are the
greatest in the vast theatre of action. May your country, justly indignant
and justly exultant, be preserved from committing one of these errors."
Three months later, when all was at an end, he repeated the same thought:--

The most fatal and in their sequel most gigantic errors of men are
also frequently the most excusable and the least gratuitous. They
are committed when a stro