The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-19 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROJI PARIS.

(ram OUR OWN OORRLSPONDINT.)
PARIS, THURSDAY EVRNINO.

The Debuts contains a crushing reply to the
Moniteur du Soir on the great-little Monaco ques-
tion, proving conclusively that the " privileges,
favours, and immunities" conferred in the matters
of navigation upon the " state" of Monaco do
legally under tae most favoured nation clause
" instantly" admit Italy, Holland, the Hanseatic
Towns, Sweden, Norway, and (to a certain extent)
the Zollverein to the enjoyment of the like favours,
privileges, and immunities. The Debuts com-
pletely pulverises the flimsy pretext that because
co-exiatently with the grant of these favours,
privileges, and immunities there is a " customs
um

ion" between France and Monaco, therefore the
other nations are ousted from the benefit of the
most favoured nation clause. Before 1860 there
might have been room for cavil ; but all the com-
mercial treaties made by France since that date
have been worded in the most absolute and uncon-
ditional manner. No matter how or why naviga-
tion privileges may be granted to any " state"—
and Monaco is expressly described as a state in the
treaty which gives rise to the present discussion—
all the other states above mentioned are en-
titled at once to the same privileges. Argu-
ment is, however, of little use because DL
Behic, the Minister of Agriculture, Commerce,
and Public Works, has addressed a circular to the
Chambers of Commerce in the principal ports of
the French empire, for the purpose of explaining
the true bearing of the convention concluded with
the principality of Monaco in November last,
and which some persons had regarded as giving
the vessels of those nations, having treaties of
commerce and navigation with France, the
right of carrying on a coasting trade from one
port to another of the French empire without
paying differential tonnage dues. The minister
repeats what has been already said by the Nola-
tear du Soir, namely, that the convention is
merely a customs union, extending the French
frontier to all the limits of the principality so far
as regards commercial and maritime operations,
and completely assimilating the flag of Monaco to
that of France. When a great power thus decides
to put a false construction upon plain language,
nothing but war can reverse its decision. War the
powers concerned will not make for such a cause.
The Presse says that at the ball at the Tuileries
last night the intention attributed to the Emperor

to announce in his speech the evacuation of
Mexico for this year was favourably received by
all the political company. The belief in this news
greatly contributed to the firmness of the Bourse
to-day. At the same time there are people stand-
ing in a good position to be well-informed who
maintain that the news is not true, and that the
Emperor caunot make up his mind to a step which,
however explained, must make it patent to all the
world that the Mexican expedition, the darling
pet personal conception of his own brain, was
a mistake, and is a failure. It is certain
that orders yet unrevoked, and which
are preparing to be acted upon in Toulon,
prescribe the sending out of 2,000 or 3,000 more
troops. This does not look like evacuation.
The doors of the Theatre Francais are at this
moment besieged by a crowd patiently waiting for
hours in the hope of getting a place for AL
Poniard's play, Le Lion Amcnireux, which is to be
performed for the first time to-night. The Em-
peror and Empress will be present.