The discussion which had been broken off so suddenly at Nikolsburg was continued at Berlin; during the interval the matter had been further discussed in Paris, and it had been determined firmly to demand compensation.  Benedetti had warned the Government that Bismarck would not surrender any German territory; it was no good even asking for this, unless the demand was supported by urgent and threatening language.  The result of the considerations was that he was instructed categorically to require the surrender to France of the Palatinate and Mayence.  Benedetti undertook the task with some reluctance; in order to avoid being present at the explosion of anger which he might expect, he addressed the demand to Bismarck on August 5th, by letter.  Two days he waited for an answer, but received none; on the evening of the 7th, he himself called on the Count, and a long discussion took place.  Bismarck adopted a tone of indignation:  “The whole affair makes us doubt Napoleon and threatens to destroy our confidence.”  The pith of it was contained in the last words:  “Do you ask this from us under threat of war?” said Bismarck.  “Yes,” said Benedetti.  “Then it will be war.”  Benedetti asked to have an interview with the King; it was granted, and he received the same answer.  This was the result he had anticipated, and the next evening he returned to Paris to consider with the Government what was to be done.  Bismarck meanwhile had taken care that some information as to these secret negotiations should become known; with characteristic cleverness he caused it to be published in a French paper, Le Siecle, that France had asked for the Rhine country and been refused.  Of course, the German Press took up the matter; with patriotic fervour they supported the King and Minister.  Napoleon found himself confronted by the danger of a union of all Germany in opposition to French usurpation, and his own diplomatic defeat had become known in a most inconvenient form; he at once travelled to Paris, consulted Benedetti, returned to his former policy, and asked that the demand of August 5th might be forgotten; it was withdrawn, and things were to be as if it had never been made.

Were they, however, still to give up all hope of some increase of French territory?  The demand for German soil had been refused; it was not at all clear that Bismarck would not support the acquisition of at least part of Belgium.  In conversation with Benedetti, on August 7th, he had said:  “Perhaps we will find other means of satisfying you.”  Goltz was still very sympathetic; he regarded the French desire as quite legitimate in principle.  It was determined, therefore, now to act on these hints and suggestions which had been repeated so often during the last twelve months; Benedetti was instructed to return with a draft treaty; the French demands were put in three forms; first of all he was to ask for the Saar Valley, Landau, Luxemburg, and Belgium; if this was too much, he was to be content with Belgium