The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-24 00:00:00

LOX BUBO.

The Times traces back the miseries of the present crisis
to the paltry acquisition by France of S►voy arid Nice.
It was th►t which gave rise to the luckless scheme of
" observant neutrality" in the summer of last year, that
laid down the rule about " territorial compensation " and
the " rectification of frontiers." It is still time for the
Emperor Napoleon to show his faith in the generous
instinct of his own people. The only real point is the
ev►cuation of the Luxemburg stronghol I. and that, however
loudly the Germans may talk about it, can safely be left
to the deliberations of diplomacy. But, in the meanwhile,
we have no hesitation in asserting that it is for the
Emperor Napoleon to allay a storm of his own raising.
We should expect him to have the courage to deny that
there can be a casus bri i even in the refusal of the Prue-
signs to withdraw their garrison from Luxemburg.
Nothing has been taken, nothing has been demanded of
France. It is not the dread of a parliamentary tirade by
M. Thies, or of a shrieking article by M. de Girardin that
should shake his wise and humane purpose.
It is observed by the Daily News that the silence of
governments is one of the least supportable symptoms of
the crisis. It is surpriping how little is authentically
known of the diplomatic basis of the dispute. If it is true
that Lord Stanley has been called upon to express the
opinion of England, the public will believe, until other-
wise informed, that he has endeavoured to minimise our
intervention. It would be next to impossible for the
Emperor Napoleon to recede from • claim which England
and Russia assure him is legitimate. The real grounds
of the contest cannot in truth be referred to
neutral powers; for what has really to be settled
is the relative rank of France and Prussia in
Europe. Both are straining their energies to place their
armies in • formidable position, and they may well be
earnest in preparation, for the war which must then ensue
will be one of the most terrible on record. Two great and
warlike races will meet, not as in Italy, to settle a limited
strife, or, as in the Crimes, far from the centres of their
power, but to oppose one another face to face, in the ful-
ness of their strength, and to determine in a supreme
struggle the condition■ of their national existence. Until
the last irrevocable word has been said, it is our duty to
believe that some means may be found for preventing a
conflict so tremendous.

The Berlin correspondent of the Sidle writing
. on April 21, says :
The hopes of peace diminish here front day to-day and
from hour to hour. To-day (Easter day) the excitement is
great in consequence of the rumour, which is seriously
credited, that an order for the mobilisation of the Prussian
army will be published in the course of this week. The
aid of Roasia is here reckoned upon. Many flatter
themselves even that England will intervene in
favour of the policy of Count Bismarck. I can affirm
it to be certain that in official quarters the pressure of
Prussia upon Holland is no longer denied ; all that is said
is that there are no written proofs. The celebrated convex,
cations of the English ambassador at St. Petersburg in 1854
were not printed ; nevertheless, Europe placed faith in
them. It may be the same with regard to the revelations
of the diplomatic agents of Holland. War is always
repugnant to an immense majority of the Prussian nation,
but in case of necessity it will, as it did last year, make it
aquestion of public safety.