Schnäbele affair
The Schnäbele affair was a diplomatic incident between Germany and France in 1887. On April 20, 1887, the French customs officer (possibly also station master in Pagny-sur-Moselle ( Département Meurthe-et-Moselle )) Wilhelm Schnäbele , French Guillaume Schnæbelé , (* 1831 in Eckbolsheim near Strasbourg ; † December 5, 1900 in Nancy ) arrested by German officials at a service meeting on German soil and imprisoned in Metz . This was justified with suspicion of espionage. The French Minister of War, Georges Ernest Boulanger , the center of the Boulangists , used the incident to again demand a retaliation for the defeat against Germany suffered in the Franco-Prussian War . A crisis arose in Franco-German relations , which could only be resolved after the release of Schnäbeles on April 30, 1887, ordered by Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck .
prehistory
In France, disputes over the deletion of the sub-prefectures for reasons of economy had led to the formation of a new government under René Goblet in 1886 . The conditions for the entry of Defense Minister Georges Ernest Boulanger and Navy Minister Hyacinthe Aube were additional funds for rearmament. On December 18, the corresponding budget was partially approved by the French National Assembly . In France, the government and parts of the press began to speak of a threat to France, which gave rise to a certain war fever. The French Minister of War reinforced the troops along the Franco-German border and prepared the mobilization of some army corps .
On January 14, 1887, the Reichstag rejected the Septennat , the defense budget provided by the government. When it came to the Reichstag election in Germany on February 21, 1887 and then the approval of the septnate, enthusiasm for the war initially subsided, despite continuing tensions.
Arrest of Schnäbeles
According to the Reich Court, Schnäbele had spied for France during the increasing Franco-German tensions. The court had therefore issued an arrest warrant against Schnäbele.
Without knowing about the arrest warrant, the police commissioner asked Gautsch Schnäbele to attend an official meeting in Novéant . On April 20, 1887, Schnäbele accepted the request, but was arrested on the way there at the border, citing the arrest warrant, and imprisoned in Metz.
Consequences of the arrest
The arrest initially led to violent protests in parts of the French press. Supported by these protests, the Minister Georges Boulanger, with the support of the Prime Minister, introduced the demand to the French cabinet that Germany should be given an ultimatum on release. If Schnäbele should not be released, a declaration of war should follow. A war against Germany also has a chance of success. In the cabinet u. a. the Minister Émile Flourens against the war. The request for such an ultimatum was ultimately rejected by 5: 7 votes.
On the German side, Schnäbele was released on April 30, 1887, officially on the grounds that Gautsch's invitation had implied the assurance of safe conduct.
Web links
- France (history since 1880) . In: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon . 4th edition. Volume 17, Verlag des Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig / Vienna 1885–1892, p. 339.
supporting documents
- ↑ Although the place had been in Germany since 1871, it was able to keep its French name.