The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-23 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS AT CHERBOURG.

A. despatch, dated the 21st, states thatlarge num-
bers of well-armed troops were at Cherbourg. Ten
thousand have already left, as an advanced guard,
to take up a position in the field. Arms and equip-
ments are coming in rapidly, and drilled men are
adding almost hourly to this new army.

THE BREACH OF PAROLE BY FRENCH

OFFICERS.

BERLIN, December 22.

A circular has been addressAd to the North Ger-
man representatives at Foreign Courts by the
Chancellor of the Confederation, dated the 14th
inst. It draws attention to the frequent escapes
of French officers from captivity by breaking
their word of honour. This proceeding, it
states, has acquired a special importance, from
the fact that the French Government sanctions this
violation of faith by giving appointments to those
who escape, and that the French army does not
refuse to receive in its ranks men who have broken
their pledged word. The German Government, it also
states, have now to decide whether the customary
alleviations of captivity shall henceforth be ac-
corded to the French officers who have been taken
prisoners, and also what amount of confidence
they can have in conventions unattended by
material guarantees, which may in future have to
be concluded with French commanders, or with
the French Government. The Chancellor of the
Confederation concludes by saying that while re-
serving to himself to make known the decisions
of the German Governments on this question at a
future time, begs to call attention to the subject,
in order that a proper judgment can be passed on any
complaints which may be made by those now in
power in France against the precautionary measures
that will have to be taken.

THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION.
EARL GRANVILLE's REPLY.
BERLIN, December 22.
In his answer to Count Bismark's Circular rela-
tive to the violation of neutrality by the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg, Lord Granville expresses
his regret that the Grand Ducal Government
should have given cause for the reclamation
made by the Government of the North German
Confederation. However, Earl Garnville adds that,
before coming to e decided opinion upon the matter,
he must await the expression of the views of the
other Governments interested, and especially the
of the Government of Luxemburg. The tone of
the English despatch is friendly and conciliatory.
The English Government entertains the hope that
Germany does not propose to renounce formally
the Treaty of 1867, and that, in any Lase, she will
be prepared to take part in deliberations in view of
arriving at a pacific solution before taking any
further steps.
The Telegraph publishes the following telegrams
received from its own correspondent :
BERLIN, December 22. -
I have reason to believe that the answer of the
Grand Ducal Government to the Prussian note
on the question of neutrality will be conceived
in the same spirit, and almost identically
the same terms, with the resolution which was
voted yesterday by the Luxemburg Chamber o 1
Deputies.

BERLIN, December 22.
If Prussia should make an appeal—though I
have considerable doubt whether she will—to an
European Court of Arbitration for the Luxem-
burg affair, I have reason to believe that the
Government which would be invited to; undertake
the arbitration would be that of the United
States. Down to this time, however, I have
good reason for believing that no official steps in the
direction of a settlement of this kind have, as yet,
been taken. _

BERLIN, December 22.

I have not yet been able to ascertain that there is
any official ground for the statement which I trans-
mitted to you the other day, that Prussia would con-
sent to submit the Luxemburg difficulty to the
arbitration of an European Court.

THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE.
IIIENNA, December 21.
The reported movement of Prince Charles is par-
tially contradicted by the Official Warren's Corres-
pondence, which says it would be advisable to give
information we received from Roumania no
greater significance than properly attaches to it.
The Presse states that the Berlin account of the
Aui4trian note on the Luxemburg Question is prema-
ture. Austria has as yet only addressed England
and Holland ; from Holland no answer has been re-
ceived. 3 telegram of the Presse states that the
Ozer has addressed an autogrankletter ;to the Sultan.
A large part of the Turkish fleet, under Hobart
Pacha, has been ordered to the Red Sea to suppress
Egyptian intrigue with Arabian revolutionists. From
other sources the reported understanding between
Russia and Turkey is denied.
VIENNA, December 22.

Accounts frpm Bucharest state that the agitation
for Roumanian independence is confined to the
newspapers, and is not supported by the Govern-
ment.
Five Turkish ships, with 5,000 men, have started
for the Red Sea. The troops will be landed to me t
the insurgents at Mecca.

INDIA.

OALOurrA, December
_21_(10

Accurate information has reached the Govern-
ment with respect to Mr. Hayward's murder, which
was completed with the sword. The body was
buried with military honuurs in Gilort Fort. The
Maharajah of Cashmere has elicited these facts, and
done his best to make a searching inquiry. All found
guilty.
Sir H. Durand's frontier expedition has examined
the rivers as sources for irrigation and for• supplying
Peshawur city and cantonments with pure water,
and also-the nature and progress of revenue settle-
in Peshawur and other frontier districts.
THE CONFERENCE.

- -
We have received advices direct from Paris, informing
us that the Provisional Government has agreed to send a
representative to the Conference on the Russian diffi-
culty, which will be held in London. M. Thiers has
been selected to represent France on this occasion.
Telegraph.