Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-13 00:00:00

SAXONY

On the 3rd instant, a debate of some importance took
place in the Upper House of the Saxon Parliament. The
question before the house was the prohibition of the export
of horses. A general debate ensued on the foreign policy of
Germany as regards the war in Italy. Baron de Beust, the
Minister 'of Foreign _Affairs, expressed himself, at Con-
siderable length,. speaking in the
.name of the Middle
States .of Geftany. If :the opinion expressed by Baron de
Beust •is to be taken as that of the Middle States of Ger-
many, those states arc averse to the Germanic Confederation
taking any steps of a-nature to implicate the Confederation
in a war to which it is a stranger, and wish to restrict
Germany to purely defensive, measures, until the German
Confederation or territory is threatenedby foreign aggres-
sion. M. de Beust said:—

The point to be considered was the duty of the Bund and
the, interests of Germany, and _it was, the opinion of all
German Governments that the Confederation should assume
a more decided position. Cases like the present were pro-
vided forby Articles 46 and 47 :of the final act of the
Treaties of Vienna. As regards Prussia, negotiations were
actually on:foot between that Power and Austria as to the
proper:time for such measures to be taken as circumstances
might rendernecessary.
. Baron Friesen said :

That all Saxony must rejoice at, beholding the Salon
contingent °Utile 9th Federal army dorps so fully: equipped
and prepared. France was bringing all her power.against
Austria, one of the members of the Confederation, and. he
was for • decisive and energetic measures. The defensive
character of the Bund' did not imply that it was to put up
with insults and threats. It 'must come to blows at last.
Public opinion had spoken. Germany was ready.
'The other members all spoke in a patriotic spirit, and the
decree of prohibition was passed unanimously.

LORD MALMESIgBITRY AND THE WAR

The following are extracts from a despatch of Lord
Malmesmbury' s, dated Jan. 12, printed with the various papers
just presented to parliament :
Lord Malmesmbury says :—" It appears. indeed, to her
Majesty's government that the existing between
the two imperial courts has its origin not so much in any
real and' patent cause of disagreement, as in mutual distrust
of each other's views and intentions, and the consequent
disposition to give an unfavourable construction to every
measure to which either party may have recourse. There
are are no questions of territorial claims or occupation, none
of commercial injury, or of disregarded rights, which can
be alleged on either side as justifying the coldness and
reserve, not to say suspicious irritability, which characterise
their present intercourse. Yet it appears to her Majesty's
government that neither party evinces a sincere disposition
to come to a frank understanding with the other, or to
make any sacrifices, however unimportant, to bring about
so desirable a result.
" Her Majesty's government, therefore, desire your
lorship, while there is yet time, to place before the imperial
court some considerations which they hope may not be
without influence at the present crisis.
"It is impossible to deny that a war once begun in Italy
would soon assume the character of a revolutionary contest ;
and no human foresight can perceive what results would
remain to Europe when, after a long and desperate contest ;
the combatants had an from exhaustion into peace, Such