The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-20 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

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PARIS. THURSDAY EVICTING.

M. de Bismarck's circular on the Salzburg inter-
view is a reply to that of the Marquis de Moustier,
and it stands out in strong contrast to the latter
document by the clear and unmistakable manner
in which it declares a policy. It ironically accepts
as perfectly true and candid M. de Moustier's de-
claration that Napoleon lll.'s only motive in going
to see the Emperor of Austria was to condole with
him on the death of his brother Maximilian. It re-
peatedly expresses the great satisfaction of Prussia
at this declaration, because it is one exemaively diffi-
cult to get the public to believe ; and because, if the
two sovereigns had presumed to talk about the
affairs of Germany, and to act upon any resolutions
to interfere in any way whatever in their settle-
ment, there would have been a unanimous deter-
mination to resist them in Fatherland. As things
happily stand, M. de Bismarck plainly tells the
French Emperor that they shall be very good
friends as long as he minds his own business ; but
that, whether Prussia, by an arrangement with
her allies, the southern states of Germany, shall
extend her influence south of the Main or not is
no business of his, and that he n ill not be heard
to put a construction upon the treaty of Prague.
There is nothing substantially new in this. Every
politician in Europe knew before that this was
Prussia's irrevocable determination. The only
novelty is the diplomatic form in which this reso-
lution is now, not for the first time, promulgated.
Rouher well knew all this when he talked the
other day at Nantes of a lasting peace. If the
Emperor has really made up his mind not to in-
terfere with Germany, he would do incalculable
service to his country by plainly saying so, and by
backing up his words by a reduction of his army.
M. Rouher's words are of no use at all, as the state
of the Bourse and the paralysed state of trade too
plainly show.
At the Bourse M. de Bismarck's circular pro-
voked sales in the Bente, which lost the turning
point of 69fr. and closed, for account, at 6fifr.
90c., with a fall of 10c. Credit Mobilise went
down to 227 fr. 50e., but recovered at the close to
232 fr. 20c., with a fall of but 3fr. 75c. from the
lowest point of yesterday's depression. It seems
to be yet doubtful whether the assistance of the
Bank of France, even to the limited extent pro-
mised, will be made available. A hitch is said to
have occurred in consequence of the Mobilier
directors hesitating at the last moment to pledge
their private fortunes efficaciously to the extent
that the Bank directors require. M. Mires, in the
Prase, and other journalists, write eloquent
articles, showing that Messrs. Pereira and Co-
are in honour bound to bring forward
their last franc for the protection of their share-
holders. This is all very fine, but when it comes
to a matter of almost unheard-of millions, the pre-
sumption is that the Mobilier directors will keep
whatever they are legally entitled to. As to their
legal liabilities, there is considerable doubt. Ac-
cording to a recent decision of the Appeal Court of
Metz, their responsibility would be very deeply
engaged ; but this decision is said to be at variance
with another of the Court of Cassation. M. Mires
estimates the private fortune of the Messrs.
Pereiro at 120 millions of francs, and of course
it is not credible that they will allow that
enormous sum to be made ducks and drakes of
for the benefit of the unfortunate Credit Mobilier
shareholders from sentimental considerations.
Another reason assigned for the assumed rupture
of the negotiations between the Credit Mobilier
and the Bank of France is that the latter insists
upon an inspection and a winding up. This
arrangement would have such a terrible re-
semblance to a bankruptcy that the Mobilier
directors cannot make up their minds to come into
it. Credit Foncier fell sfr. ; Comptuir d'Escompte
sfr.; and Italian, 12Ifr.