The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY,..NOVEA

/GERMAN CUSTOMS' UNION.
The Aagsburgh Gazette of the 14th publishes the fol-
lowing diplomatic document :
" NOTE OF THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT ON THE REFUSAL
OF ITS ACCESSION TO THE GERMAN CUSTOMS' UNION,
ADDRESSED ON THE 29TH OF OCTOBER TO THE CORPS
DIPLOMATIQUE AT THE,LIAGITE AND TO TILE GOVERN-
MENT OF THE STATES OF THE UNION.
" The Privy Council, charged with the affairs of the
Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, after submitting to his
Majesty the King Grand Duke the Report remitted by
Count de Lottum, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of
Prussia, by order of his Government to the said Privy
Council, is authorised by his Illustrious Master to make
the following communication to Count de Lottum. His
Majesty is grieved to, behold a wrong interpretation of
his acts, the scle end of which is the prosperity of his
Duchy of Luxemburg, by attributing to the non-ratifi-
cation of the Treaty of the Bthof August a political end
which it has not. Peace reigns in Europe, and nothing
exists from which we may argue it will be troubled.'
Thus every Sovereign may conclude commercial treaties
according to his own will and interest, and without com-
promising his friendly relations with other Sovereigns.,
The Duchy of Luxemburg has three neighbours.; if it
accede to the Customs' Union, it will no longer be' free
to enter into commercial relations with France or Bel-
gium, which has been proved by the refusal of the Prus-
sian Commissaries on the Ist of August, of the King
Grand Duke's demand for a diminution of the tariff re-
lative to Belgium, but such a one as should assure to
Luxemburg the advantages accruing to her by virtue
of the law of the 6th of June, 1839, and which are
vital to the Grand Duchy. M. de Scherff. in conse-
quence, received from his Sovereign the order sent from
the Hague on tho 7th August, and which arrived at Ber-
lin on the 10th of the same month, declaring that, until
such advantages were conceded to the Grand Duchy the
Treaty would not be ratified ; to which the Prussian
Commissaries answered, Ratify ,first, and then we will
negotiate.' But had the King so acted lie would have
altered his independent position as a Sovereign for that
of a Member oUthe Customs' Union ; and being before-
hand hound, could not have treated with Belgium other-
wise than through the medium and with the consent of
the Union, which position he could not accept. The
Report also is incorrect, inasmuch as it states that in the
Grand Duchy one party only refuses the Union, whereas
one party only has declared in favour of it, and the grand
majority of the country is opposed to it. This is the
conviction which his Majesty attained during his stay in
the country, and which has not arisen from the explana-
tion of the Luxemburg Commission assembled at the
Hague at the period of the new signature. of the Treaty
of the Bth of August, and this conviction was further
borne out by the. number of addresses of thanks for the
non-ratification sent in daily to the King from the
Grand Duchy. ..
" The King declares that he cannot ratify the Treaty
of the Bth of AuguSt, but he does not think he is acting
against any right, which.cannot exact that a Sovereign,
being persuaded that a treaty signed by his' plenipo-
tentiaries is contrary to the interests of those for whom
the negotiation is effected, believing as he does, his sip
nature to be merely a matter of form. In this case the
refusal to ratify is an act of conscience, and the King
would be weak to sign a treaty .which he considers con-
trary to the welfare of his subjects. The King Grand
Duke is ready to conclude a treaty with Prussia or with
the Union, as also especially with Belgium and with
France, but the King, regulating his commercial
interests with Belgium and with France, does not
intend to adhere to a Customs' Union which would
change the independent position of Luxemburg,
and compromise its relations with the Germanic Con-
federation. His Majesty merely intends to assert his
rights as a Sovereign in negotiating commercial treaties
with his neighbours, so that the material interests of
his subjects, which need facilities, especially with the
Grand Duchy incorporated with Belgium, and separated
from the actual Grand Duchy in 1839, only may be taken
into consideration.
"These two parts of the country are absolutely in
want of these facilities, as their interests are, reciprocal,
and they have never been, separated for centuries ;
and the treaty concluded by the Great Powers for the
Low countries has separated these interests by a supe-
rior force. However this commercial position will in no
way interfere with the political system of the King
Grand Duke, who will continue to remain faithful to his
opinions and duties as a German Prince.
" Another circumstance is deserving of particular at-
tention, viz., the private correspondence between the
King Grand Duke and his Majesty the King of Prussia.,
This correspondence is not couched, it is true, in. the
usual forms of diplomacy, but the very first letter which
was sent by the King Grand Duke to his Majesty the
King of Prussia, an which was delivered to him by a
General, who brought back the answer from his Prus-
sian Majesty, had for its object to solicit at least the tacit
assent of the King of Prussia to the non•ratification
before he adopted any resolution whatsoever, and laid bare
with unreserved candour the euibarrassments which the
signature of the treaty would' haVe caused the King
Grand Duke. The answer of theliing of Prussia could
not possibly be viewed in any !other light than as per-
fectly acquiescing in the wishes of the King Grand
Duke, and then, and not till then, did he take the despe-
rate resolution of not ratifying the treaty. It was not
until several weeks after this, and when the official rati-
fication was notified to the Cabinet of Berlin, that the
King Grand Duke received a second letter from his
Prussian Majesty, explaining away the contents, and
modifying the expressions of his first.letter..
" Another observation remains to be made. It is
frequently reiterated in the Prussian document, that
the Low Countries desired the accession of the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg to the Union. In the amicable
relations which have so long existed between Prussia,
the Low Countries, and the Customs' Union, no. change
whatever has been effected; and other expressioni, which
prove beyond a doubt that Prussia was well aware that
ever since 1839, negotiations concerning Luxenibiirg
had been carried on for Luxemburg, but without any
knowledge of the inhabitants of that Duchy that her
fate had been decided by Strangers. The King Grand
Duke has deemed it his duty to his subjects to put a
stop to this state of things, and has called upon them
to co-operate in the regulation of their affairs. This
change in the state of things has greatly contributed to
change the- opinion of the Icing Grand Duke on the
wants of the Grand Duchy. The Chamber of Com-
merce, amongst others recently instituted at Luxemburg,
has just shown its gratitude to the King Grand Duke
for his non-ratification, in an address signed by two-
thirds of its members. (Signed) " STIFF."