The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-13 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND BELGIUM.

Before proceeding to the orders of the day, -
Mr Gladstone said that he wished to make • abort state-
ment to the House In view of the approach of the proroga-
tion. The Government were not Cot in a position to lay
further papers on the table of the House, bat knowing well
the anxiety which the House felt he would notate exially
that which the Government had ilone, or had endeavoured to
do. He wished to confine himself strictly to fact., leaving
explanathms or comments to stand over until the proper
opportunity. On Saturday, the 30th July, the Govern-
ment mode a proposal to the 0 ,vernmente of France
and Paiute separately, in identical terms, and the proposal
was that an engagement should he cmitracted with each of
them, that if the armies of either liAligerent should, in the
course of the (meeations of the war, violate the neutrality of
Belgium, Great Britain would co-operate with the other belli-
gerent for the defence of the Belgian territory (cheers). It
was epodeed in the document then transmitted that Great
. Britain should not by Met engagement, or by acting upon
that engagement in case of need, be bound to take part in
the general operations of the war, and of course the other
contracting party was to enter into a similar under-
. taking to use force for the defence of the neutrality
of Belgium against the offending Power. That treaty
or engagement was proposed— for it had now taken
the form of a treaty, to hold good for 12 months after the
ratification of a treaty of peace between the belligerents
and the existing obligations of the treaty of 1139 were re erveii
so that alter the erpiretion of the special treaty, the Powers
should then fall back upon those obligations of the treaty of
1839. Briefly stated, and divested of technical language that
was the whole contents of the treaty. On the same day—
vie., last Saturday week—two days before the discussion took
place in the House of Comm)ns, the whole proposal wao
made known by the British Government to Austria
and Russia; and although the extraordinary pres-
sure of the time hid made it requisite to pro-
ceed at once, and had forbidden complicated intercom-
munteationv, yet the British Government felt confident that
the proposal would be approved by those Powers, and that
they would be ready to adopt a similar curse With regard
to the reception of the proposal, solar as the Government had
been made aware of the view taken of the matter by Austria
and Russia, it had bem decidedly favourable. With reopect to
the two belligerents On Friday, the sth, Count Benotorff
Informed Lord Greenville that Count Bismarck bad left Berlin
for headquarters, and in conseimence the communication
from Lord A. Loftus had been delayed. Count Bismarck had
telegraphed to Count Bernstorff in answer to his messages
that he had not yet received the proposal from Lord A. Loftus,
ut that he was ready to agree to any measure that would
Continue to strengthen the neutrality of Belgium. As. boa-
ever, the proposed instrument was not at that moment before
him, what he stated was that he would only give a general
assent. Later in the same day • second communication was
received by the Prussian Ambissador in London from Count
Bismarck, to the effect that he had then received the sum-
mary of the treaty, and Count Bernstortf was authorised to
agree to it on the part of the Government of Prussia Later
on the same day he again telegraphed to say that the treaty
itself had arrived, and he auth.need Count Benistorff to sice
the treaty. Count Berostortf hail not yet received his full
instructions, but he expected to receive them in the cour.e
of the day : and he (Mr. Gladstone) thought that the engage-
ment might be considered as complete on the part of Prussia.
With respect to Femme he was able to state that France
had accepted the treaty in principle, but the Government
of France were destroue to introduce sem 3 modifications of a
nature which would not interfere with IN Wotan..
The House vmuld perceive that as the Government had made
an identical proposal to the two Powers, it was impos-
sible for them to undertake to alter the wording of the
instrument for fear of 'insetting the whole treaty. Toe
object for which the modirc dims were asked was simply to
prevent misunderstanding and although the Government
were neable to make modifications in the treaty, yet they
had no difficulty in giving certain explanations of what they
considere Ito be its simple and clear interpretation. Toat
interpretation was sent to Paris on Saturday, and perhaps
the premiere of affairs might account for the fact that the
answer hat not arrived by return of post. He believed that
the explanations were likely to remove all ddliculty on the
part of the French Government with respect to the pro-
posed treaty, and if it were in his power he wont,' make
Ins-oer communication to the House before the prorogation
',cheers,. . . . . .

,-..._._
Mr Disraeli inf.rred from the statement which had been
made that her Majesty's 0 visrnment had taken decided
steps, on their part, to defend the neutrality and bade-
pendence of Belgium (hear, hear!. He would not that moment
give any opinion as to the peculiar diplomatic course which
had been pursued by the 0 wernment. It was too abstruse •
question to decide in that off hand and almost converse-
tional manner. When there was • treaty. to his mind, so ex-
plicit as that of bay, the wisdom might be questioned of
founding upon that an.ther treaty which involved this
country in engagements, the nature of which he did
not at present precisely understand. lie did not un-
derstand, for instance, if we joined one of the bel-
ligerents, to vindicate the neutrality of Belgium agsinst
the other belligerent who might have violated it, what
limit there would be to that interference ; for it would
appear to him that in that case we should have to share the
fortunes of war with the belligerent with whom we might
have joined, and it would be quite impossible for its to
limit our co-operation with that belliterent to merely the
frontier of the neutralised country, therefore, upon these
p,ibts he would not venture to give an opinion, but he
impressed noon the House the great importance that during
the brief period of existence which this session would possess
they would lose no opportunity of obtaining legitimately
from the Government a clear account of the new en-
gagements In conclusion, he expresso I his wish that t.iis
country might retain the friendship and alliance of both
France unit Pruss'a, and he looked forward to those events
that were now occurring as giving opportunities to • power
like England, whose friendship could not be doubted by
either France or Prussia, to come forward to give those
counsels of moderation which would tend riot only to the
peace of Europe, but which would respect both the dignity
and the feeling of both belligerent. ',Cheers )
Mr. Gladstone added a few words in explanation that the
Treaty of 1e39 was hot considered fully effective, and the
subject then dropped.

In answer to Mr. Whitwell, Mr. Chihien said that, in view
of recent events, the Admiralty had changed their minds,
and meant to make progress this year with the works at
Chatham Dockyard.
Mr Cardwell stated that it was his intention gradnally to
arm the Volunteers with the Snider, but, as it was a valua-
ble weapon, rules for its sustody would have to be carefully
framed.
The Militia Acts Amend-nent Bill was passed through all
Its stages, and sent back to the House of Lords unamended.
The Lords' amendments to the Census Bill were considered,
and the provision for taking a religious census, inserted by
the Lords, was struck out.
Mr. Bruce moved the committal of the Jndlcial Committee
Bill, which, however, wan afterwards withdrawn
The Lord.' amendments to the Clerical Divabilities Bill
were agreed to, Mr. Bereaford Hope, who opposed them,
being only supported on a division by 9 against 41.
Sir P. Burrell withdrew Ms Divine Worship in Licensed
Buildings Bill.
The Lord.' amendments to the Foreign Enlistment Bill
motto several other bill, were agreed to, mid the House ad-
journed.
- • .

In the House of Lords, Angust 9, the Royal assent was
given by commission to the following bills, aux. :—The Gun
Licences Bill, the Paupers Conveyance ( Expense.) Bill, the
Evidence Farther Amendment Act 80, Amendment Bill,
the Medical Officers Superannuation Bill, the Siam and
Straits Settlement Jarisdiction Bill, the Wages Arma-
ment Limitation (Scotland) 818, the Settled Mates
Bill, the Dublin City Voters' Disfrat(chisement Bill, the
Shipping Dues Exemption Act (194;7, Amendment Bill,
the Vesttles ( Isle or Man) Bill, the Extradition Bill,
the Sanitary Act 1966) Amendment Bill, the Passengers'
Act Amendment hill, the Curragh of Kildare Bill, the
Magistrates, .tc., Election (Scotland) Bill, the Life
Assurance Companies Bill, the Factories and Workshops
Bill, the Forgery hit', the Each Indian Contract gut, the
Brokers (City of London) Bill, the Married Women's Pro-
perty Bill, the Petty Session. Clerk 'lreland, Act (1S(8)
Amendment Bill, the Larceny (Adverthementa)
the Britiah Columbia Bill, the Army Enlistment 11111, the
Absconding Debtors Bill, the Juries kill, the Tramways
Bill, the Elementary Education Bill, the Post Office Bill,
the Census (Ireland) Bill, the Meeting of Parliament Bill,
the Canada ;Guarantee of Loan) Bill, the Public Schools Act
11868) Amendment Bill, the Sheriffs, Scotland, Act (18591
Amendment ; the Annuity Tax Abolition, Minburrh
and Montrose, arc., (1868) Amendment Bill, the Telegraph
Acts Extension Bill, the Foreign Enlistment Bill, the
Queen Anne's Bounty Superannuation Bill, the Militia
Acte Amendment (No, 2) Bill, the Clerical Disabilities
Bill, the Turnpike Ada Continuance Bid, the National
Daht Bill, the Statute Law Revision Bill, tile Pedlars' Certi-
ficates Bill, the Gas and Water Facilities Bill, the Sewage
Utilisation Supplemental Bill, the Drainage ant improve-
ment of Lands (Ireland) Supplemental (No. 2) Bill, the Pier
and Harbour Orden Confirmation 11111, and a few private
hills. The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Camicellor,
the Duke of St. All 1119, and the Earl of Cork.
A number of amendments were made in the standing
orders.
The Stamp Duties Bill, the Stamp Duties Management Bill,
the Int ind Revenue Acts Repeal Bill, 111 Local Government
Supplemental (No. 2, Bill, the Greenwich Hospital Bill. the
Et 1111i011. Commutation Act (1869) Amendment Bill, the Oaths
of Allegiance on Naturalisation Bill, the Expiring Laws Bill,
the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill, the Joint Stuck
Companies Arrangement Bill, the Truck Commission Bill,
and the Sanitary Act Dtibilia) Amendment Bill, were read a
third time and passed.
The Earl of Morley read the Commons' reasons for disagree
hag to their lordships' amendments to the Census Bill. The
principal of thens related to the (emus of the relied" pro-
fession of the people to which the Commons were understood
to disagree on the ground of moire. Ills liylsltlp moved
that the amendments should not be insisted upon, and the
motion was agreed to
After some oth,r Wanesa had been disposed of, their

_ ..... _
lordships adjourned.
In the lib use of Commons, Mr. W. II Smith gave notice
that early next session he will call attention to the o, eratlon
of the Poor Law in London, and move an address for a ii pal
Commission of Inquiry.
Mr. Jacob Bright wished to refer to what took place
yesterday in the House with regard to the new treaty, by
which this country had inc.urred further obligati... It
had been said tba the Government had pursued a wise
and spirited iyolloy, hut ho had a very strong opinion that
there was no wise policy for the House or the Government to
pursue hut that of keeping entirely free from Continental en-
tanglement& He believed the Government wu desirous to pre-
serve peace, but he objected to the course which had been
pursued. It would be a thousand UM'S more serious for this
Country SO become ineolved to waz Maalox any other nation,