The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-10 00:00:00

GREAT LUXEMBOURG.

In the House of Representatives ef the Belgian Le-
gislature of the sth of February, Mr. Tesh called the
attention of the members to a grave and important fact
which had been stated at a meeting in London of the
shareholders of the Great Luxembourg Railway.
Mr. nuns said,-1 take this opportunity of calling the
attention of the Government to some important facts
which were stated at a meeting of shareholders of the
Luxembourg Railway, held at the end of December last.
These facts compromise not only the company, but like-
wise the interests, and even the honour of our country.
At that meeting it was affirmed thatithe Luxembourg
Company had created a fund of 10,000 shares to be dis-
tributed to the press, and to influence persons in Belgium.
Although the Government and Administration are both
put out of the question, yet these allegations are,
notwithstanding, of a very grave character, and
are a scandalous violation of the statutes of the company.
There is no article in them which could authorise a dis-
tribution of 10,000 shares in order to corrupt public men
in this country. Now, what would be the result of such
a distribution ? If the funds were really distributed in
this way, the morality of the country would be destroyed,
and the undertaking itself would be deeply compromised.
dad, on the other hand, if those who are assumed tohave
charge of such a distribution keep it to themselves, they
then rob and plunder the company. In both cases it is
• highly improper, and it requires that the Government
should fully investigate the matter. lam not disposed
to give any credence to this pretended liberality of giving
10,000 shares to the press or to influential persons ; but
the public assertion of such a fact is apt to create doubt,
and therefore it is the duty of the Government to inves-
tigate the subject, and to show to the country the worth-
lessness of such accusations. I will quote one fact
among many others. The chairman and the engineer
have had the concession of a line called the "Grand
Junction." It is quite evident that the obtaining of
this concession has not cost them a single shilling. They
may, perhaps, have had to pay for plans and so forth,
but nothing more. Well, it has been ascertained at the
meeting in London, that the persons who obtained this
concession had brought it to the company, and bad re-
ceived 25,0001. for it ; and it was likewise stated that
this sum was destined to pay the costs of engineering,
and other charges of a similar kind. But there never
has been anything to pay to the official engineer, nor
have there been any other costs of a like nature incurred.
I say, then, that these facts are of a grave character,
because they concern the honour and probity of the
country. It is well known that Belgium is a country
where the Governments, and the administration of
public affairs generally have been hitherto free from
any such acts or charges of corruption and pre-
varication. Notwithstanding this consideration, after
such assertions as there have been made in London,
foreigners might entertain a very different opinion ef us.
100,0001. for the press, and 25,0001. for a concession
which cost nothing, are facts which would induce people
to believe that we are a nation of robbers. But the real
truth is, the interest of the Luxembourg Company have
never required the least expense to obtain the advan-
tages which have been conceded to it. The Grand Junc-
tion has cost them nothing at all ; and the secret of the
affair is, that certain persons enrich themselves at the
expense of the shareholders, and at our national reputa-
tion. These things cannot be tolerated, and I protest
against them. I advise the Minister to do what he can
to clear up the affair, and to take proper measures in
order that the like should not happen again.
The MINISTER of PUBLIC WORKS made the following
reply : " I am happy to hear the observations made by
the Hon. Mr. Tesb. lam as deeply convinced as he is
that it is important both for the morality of the Admi-
nistration, and the dignity et the country, that the
statements made at the London meeting in December
last should be completely elucidated. It is quite true
that in the discussion which then took place the direc-
tors, who are still in power, declared that in respect to
the sums in question no portion of them whatever had
been given to any public functionary or agent of the
Administration, of whatever, grade or rank. I think,
however, that such a declaration is not sufficient, and
that it is of moment to the Government to follow up
with serious attention the inquiry now going on in Lon-
don. Mr. Tub is aware that from the beginning I have
net lost sight of this affair, and that a very detailed and
minute account of all the facts has been given to me.
Another meeting is to take place in London on the 13th of
February inst., and another at Brussels on the 24th. At
both meetings there must necessarily be discussions as
to what has been asserted, and the facts, if true, would
be of the most momentous gravity to all the persons in-
volved in the transaction. As matters have turned out,
I am almost glad of the difficulties which have always
existed between the Luxembourg Company and my Ad-
ministration. When, not long ago, the Hon. Mr. De
Moor asked how I intended to act with the Luxembourg
Company I declared that when I shall have to treat with
them I will take guarantees to prevent the works being
again retarded or stopped. What has prevented the
inspection from being more active and searching towards
the company is that in its statutes it seems that there is
no mention made of any paid agents. At this moment
the company stands in a new position before the Govern-
ment. From the let of January their contract must be
partly renewed. The delays for the execution of the
works are long ago elapsed, and the company has not
fulfilled its obligations to finish the half of the works on
the line of Namur and Arlon before the Ist of January.
If the Government ultimately submit to the Legislature
a project of law to allow them further delays for the exe-
cution of the works, we shall take proper guarantees,
for which we are the first to acknowledge the necessity:
and of which the house will be the judge."
Mr. MALON said, that the question interested the
House under another point of view, as the law of 1851
states that the Government i.s answerable for the pay-
ment of part of the works which the company have to
execute. He likewise asked the Minister of Public
Works to lay upon the table the translation of the report
of the London meeting of December last.
The MINISTER said he would do so on the next day.