The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-21 00:00:00

!lENING, NOVEMBER 21, 1865.

BELGIUM.

BRUSSELS, Nov. 19.

Two subjects of considerable interest occupied the
attention of the Chamber of Representatives yester-
day—the one related to the cattle disease and the
means taken to prevent its extension, and the other
had reference to the policy of allowing Belgian citi-
zens to form a portion of the imperial army in
Mexico. The following is a brief summary of the
proceedings :
M. Du Bois D'Aische asked whether it was the
intention of the Government to increase the number
of veterinary surgeons, observing that the present
staff was wholly inadequate to superintend the cattle
that were diseased or suspected of being so at the
present crisis. There were only 23 veterinaries for
the whole province of Antwerp. If a veterinary
were required during the prevalence of the plague
to inspect the cattle once or twice. a week, they
might afterwards give the &eat without fear, and
the responsibility of the burgomaster's echevins
would be perfectly covered. The greater part
of the transactions to which the Government
had called the attention of the burgomasters
were connected with foreigners who introduced
into the country- cattle from Holland. Now, if
there had been a veterinary at the Communal House
at such and such hours, he could much better than
the communal authorities testify to the health of
the beasts so introduced.
The Minister of the Interior—l do not wish to
enter at length into the subject of the bovine disease.

report upon this matter. It does not depend upon
the Government to augment the number of vete-
rinaries, who have to qualify themselves by a certain
school course and to obtain a diploma when success-
ful in their examinations. There are two classes of
veterinaries, namely, those of the State and those of
a private character. The Government never required
the burgomasters to certify as to whether cattle were
sick, but only to declare whether or not the infection
was produced in their communes. In case of doubt
they were entitled to call to their assistance the in-
telligence of a professional man. So long as it is
thought possible for the Government to destroy the
disease, it is its duty to order the slaughter of sus-
pected beasts rather than encounter the risk atten-
dant upon an attempt to cure the infection. The
Goiernment pays to the owners two-thirds of the
value of the beasts thus killed. If they gave any
more they would perhaps be opening the door to
fraud. Already it is thought that this allowance
by the Government has given rise to unfair specu-
lations. The energetic measures which the Govern-
ment have taken in relation to this matter hare re-
ceived the approbation of all the agricultural com-
mittees, and have already borne good fruits, inas-
much as we have only lost 300 or 400 cattle, whilst
in a single province of a neighbouring country there
was a loss of more than 6,000.

M. Kcrvyn de Lettenhove—There ought to be a
difference made between cattle really diseased, which
are killed with a view to the public interests, and
the suspected beasts that are killed as a simple mea-
sure of precaution. There should be a larger indem-
nity granted to the owners of cattle ordered tZs be
killed from mere suspicion of their being diseased.
There was no fraud to be feared, for their destruc-
tion was generally ruinous to their owners, and the
indemnity given was to them but a poor compensa-
tion.

The Minister of the Interior--There exists already
a great destruction, inasmueh as the really diseased
cattle must, when killed, be immediately buried,
whilst the meat of suspected cattle might be sold.
There were not more than 100 beasts killed from
mere suspicion of being diseased.
M. Mervyn de Lettenhove thought that the sani-
tary cordon established in the case of the infection
ought not to extendaround the particular commtme,
but only around a certain radius from the centre of
the epizoo tie.
The_Minisktr of the Interior—As to the sanitary
cordons, the law requires that they should extend to
the p articular parish or commune.
The subject having dropped,
A petition from certain military men, asking for
permission to enrol themselves in the Mexican regi-
ment Imperatrice Charlotte, gave rise to a smart
conversation.

M. Bouvier asked whether the Government had
received any recent information on the subject of
the exchange of prisoners in Mexico ?
The Minister for Foreign Affairs—l have always
taken care to keep the families of the Belgian sol-
diers in Mexico au courant with the news which I
received. Up to the date of the last despatches
received from Mexic' no exchange of prisoners had
taken place. Our agent in Mexico continues his
measures, and I take this opportunity to render
homage to his zeal.
M. Coomans--I do not doubt the activity of the
Government in endeavouring to procure the libera-
tion of our unfortunate compatriots, and so far to
repair the enormous fault to which they have been
parties.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs—that is only
your opinion.
M. Coomans—lt is my opinion, and it is one in
which a large portion of my countrypeople share. I
confess I have little hope for those poor prisoners
since I have seen the sad and humiliating decree by
which the Emperor Maximilian has ordered all the
Juarist prisoners to be shot. The Minister for
Foreign Affairs will perhaps use his influence to
induce Maximilian to withdraw that decree, for I
fear that it will result in reprisals, of which our
compatriots will be the first victims. For my part,
I will never agree to the granting of the permission
asked for in the petition. In the first place, Ido
not think that we have anything to revenge in
Mexico ; and in the second place, I do not consider
that it would be made more glorious to serve the
Emperor Maximilian than the King Leopold. I now
demand formally tnat the Government should pub-
lish in one of the coming numbers of the Moniteur
the names of the Belgian military who have de-
serted since Ist Jan., with the titles of their batta-
lions, their regiments, and their companies.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs—l regret that
the hon. member has cast blame upon the gallant
sub-officers who have prayed to be allowed to re-
venge their brethren who have fallen in Mexico.
According to my notion, they are only acting in
obedience to a noble sentiment.
Mr. Coomans—Then we must grant them the
authority asked for.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs.—We cannot
give such authority any longer.
M. Coomans—Since when ?
The Minister for Foreign Affairs—Since the de-
claration which the Government made to the
Chamber. It is that which doubtless induces so
many soldiers to desert. Ido not think that my
colleague, the Minister of War, is bound to give to
M. Coomans the satisfaction which he claims by
publishing in the Moniteur the names of the officers
and sub-officers who have deserted. The Belgian
prisoners in Mexico are far from complaining of
the manner in which they are treated. I have con-
fidence in the sentiments of humanity of the
Emperor Maximilian as well as in those of Juarez.
I do not know what interest the lion. M. Coomans
has in raising questions of this sort.
M. Coomans—My interest consists in disengaging
the Legislature of this country from any responsi-
bility in respect to the consequences of the expe-
dition from Belgium to Mexico. That object is the
more important in the presence of the inhuman
decree of the Emperor Maximilian. I cannot under-
stand why the Government should refuse me the
statistics of the deserters which I ask for.
Mr. Vlemirackx—if we wish a brave army, we
must applaud the sentiments of solidarity and frater-
nity which exist there. We must applaud the spirit
of self-devotion which we ourselves will very soon
need, if we have any faith in one of the most dis-
tinguished authorities of the Right.
M, D'll. Stenhuyse was of opinion that they could

PRICE 4d.17
STAMPED bd.;

not calculate upon the stability of the new Govern-
ment in Mexico.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs--You predicted
the same thing last year.
M. D'll. Stenhuyse said he was persuaded last
year, as he was at the present moment, that when
the French Government withdrew their troops, the
Mexican Government could not subsist long by
itself. lie proposed to pronounce the order of the
day upon the petition instead of depositing it in the
bureau (lex renseignements.
This proposition, having been put to the vote,
was rejected by a majority of 43 against 20.
The petition was then disposed of in the ordinary
way.