The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-30 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Gladstone, In reply to Mr. Samuelson, saint: Upon
the first portion of the goes lion which my hon. friend has
put to me I can only say that it was not in my power when
spoke ye.teril ty, to g ye any information to the Ilb•use
which, in the view of the B mernment, would have bens
valuable to them..nr of course tile information would
have been given. With regard to the queotion itself I w ill
now state that the Governmeet have this morning teceivel a
telegram from Lord Augustus Loftus dated ye..terday. Ac-
coming to the purport of that telegram. there would be
published this day—and therefore unless the telegram was
entirely erroneoes it has been published in the Berlm papers
—the text of a document correst meting to that which has
appeared in The Times newspaper—namely, that it purports 1
to heft document which statues in five articles, the fir:4 of
which, recognising in el acknowledging on the part of the Em-
perm of the French the North Gentian Confederation ; the se- ,
cond providing for the consent of Prussia to be given to
the annexation of Luxembourg by France; the third, pro-
viding for consent to the further moon between Prussia
and the South German States 7 the fourth relating to the
annexation of Belgium by France ; and the fifth to
an offensive and defensive stilettos. That tieing so,
the document 1., we have every reason to believe, pub-
lished in Berlin at the time at which I speak. It Ls
evident that the anticipation_ formed by the G ,vernment
ye.terday has been fulti led, see —that the matter haa been
taken opal head quartdrs, and no doubt full and authentic
information will be given to os of all the circumstances con-
nected with the origin of this pamr. It is also stated by
Lord Angostus Loftus that the minute is stated to he in the
handwriting of Count Benedetti—at least, that is the tutor.
Illation conveyed to him.
Subsequently, in reply to a question by Mr. Babes,
Mr. Glad Ame said,—This day II de bimetal° celled upon
my noble friend and stated that now that war had been
declared between France and Prusda there remained for
hint but two objects in the post that he occupies at this
Court. Those were to tn,intain intimate relations between
the two Governments and to premiere the friendly feeling
which has arisen and has beet toe growth of late years,
especially between the two tiaL'oas. (('heer. ) The plan
contained lit tia Dr..noiut Treaty tublished in The Times
I newspaper was one whieh had been originated by M. de
Bismarck, and had been the subj.:ct of some conversation
with M. Benedetti, but it never ball any serious basis, and
was rejected by both parties. The liatimis de Levalette went
on to say that the G merriment of the Kinnerer had abrolutely
respected the neutrality of Belgium. even when there
was reason to complain of its cmduct. That. I inter-
polate, has no doubt reference to the time when a cause
f discussion arose last year. During this month the
Emperor hail made a declaration of neutrality to the
_

vernment of Belgium, which hsd a'so been communicated by
M Gramont to Lord Lyon., and which, M. in Lavalette
said 1 must know was absolutely binding on the honour of
the Emperor of the French, unless, Weed, neutrality was
violated by either of the other belligerents, tie then
refers to the declaration made in answer to • question with
respect to an assurance of neutrality having been received
from several Powers. This in the nature of the communica-
tion made by the French Ambassador.