The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-16 00:00:00

THE SLJi, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 16, 18

which will justify, in the judgment and conscience of the
world, a breach of the general peace. (Applause.) With
respect to the questions which the right hon. gentleman
has put to me, they are, as I understand them, these two.
He asks if I can inform Parliament what
in the opinion of the Government is the
cause of the present disturbed state of Europe.
I think, sir, that for those who have official responsibility,
and for those who have duties in relation to the foreign
powers, which official responsibility entails, it would be
better I should avoid reference at the present moment to
any cause which may have contributed to bring about
the present menacing state of affairs other than
those which have appeared. The right hon. gentleman
also asks me whether her Majesty's Government have
thought it part of their care to bring before the two great
states now engaged in communications that appear ap-
proximate to hostility—to bring before these two states
the peculiar claims of Great Britain to be heard in regard
to their disputes, and the full recognition of her title to
offer friendly offices with the view to a settlement. Sir, I
am bound to say neither of these two states has in
the present state of circumstances shewn the slightest
disposition to impatience of the representations of Great
Britain, or the slightest indisposition to allow her to
exercise whatever title she has of friendly intervention,
or to put upon us the necessity of resorting to argument
drawn from any special juncture in former off airs for the
purpose of making good that right. (Applause.) I may
say that the title of friendly offices on the part of any one
State of the civilised world towards another State
really has been placed upon a foundation by a
great Europe.an Act of recent times, which does not
admit of its being brought into dispute. I refer, of
course, to the product of the Conference of Paris in 1856,
whereby it was recognised in the most solemn manner by
an assemblage of the representatives of the great Powers
of Europe to be the duty of each of these Powers, at least
as a general rule, in case unhappily of any contro-
versy arising with a neighbour, to submit that
controversy to some friendly adjudication, before having
resort to the last, and melancholy, and horrid extremity
of arms. (Applause.) Sir, with respect, therefore, to the
question of the right hon. gentleman these are the
answers which I should give to him. Respecting the
actual state of affairs, we have no decisive intelligence to
communicate to the House, but I am sorry to say that
the tone of the communications and transactions
thus far between the two great powers has not been on
the whole favourable. The point, however, is now, sir,
very near at hand at which things must take a decisive
course, either in favour of peace or war. Any function
which we can discharge, any office that we can render,
necessarily limited, we shall rep der. But I have the hope that
when the time comes, and it probably must very soon arrive,
at which it will be our duty to explain in detail that which
it is now not less our duty to withhold, the House may be
of opinion that her Majesty's Government have not fallen
short of the obligations incumbent upon the representa-
tives of England, and likewise have not gone beyond
them. (Great applause.) .

. .
Mr. Horsman was proceeding to continue the discussion,
when the Speaker called him to order. Mr. S. Beaumont
also attempted to speak on the subject but he too was
called to order.

breathlessly for the shock —knowing not what "'a day or an
hour may bring forth.

THE MORNING POST.

The Post says the first question which was everywhere
asked last night on learning the news of war was--

" Shall we be involved in it ?" To that question
it is easy to give a satisfactory answer. The rup-
ture between France and Prussia—as matters now
stand will oblige an immediate Proclamation of
Neutrality on the part of the English Crown.
That neutrality, it need hardly be said, we shall
most scrupulously maintain. Nor is there any
prospect of our being directly or indirectly
engaged in the conflict so long as Treaty obligations are
observed and"guarantees to which we are a_ party re-
spected. The Post has reason to believe that assurances
on this head are not wanting, and that the neutral posi-
tion of Belgium and Luxembourg will in no way be
interfered with.

territories with fire and sword, impoverish their subjects,
and encumber themselves and posterity with a crushing
debt for such flimsy causes of quarrel as now agitate Paris
and Berlin. Never was war less justifiable.
WESTERN MORNING NEWS.

The Western, Morning News says it is already clear to
unbiassed minds that this precipitate resort to hostilities
is a great crime. For the due apportionment of the guilt
we must wait for a few hours. According to present
appearances, the balance is heavily against France. Her
conduct throughout has resembled that of a bullydesirous
to pick a quarrel. She has left no room for an honour-
able concession. There is too much reason to fear
that the Emperor Napoleon has rushed into war only
to evade granting a Constitutional Government. If this
he the case, the war now declared is one of the most
gigantic crimes on record. The success of any intervention
by a European congress is almost hopeless. Nevertheless,
we infer from the cautious language of Mr. Gladstone
and Earl Granville that we shall continue our mediation.
Meanwhile, or if that should fail, England must
observe a strict neutrality. We must not suffer any Lairds
to imperil peace by sending out Alabamas to involve us
in new difficulties, and bring upon us new demands.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

President Grant has sent to the Senate copies of the
diplomatic correspondence relative to the Alabama
claims, which shews that Earl Clarendon, on the 6th of
May, in response to Mr. Motley's proposition to re-open
correspondence, stated that her Majesty's Government
considered it neither useful nor expedient to continue s
controversial correspondence in which there was so little
hope of one Government convincing► the other.

:THE NEW, AMERICAN MINISTER TO
ENGLAND.

Mr. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, has
been nominated Minister to England, vice Mr. Motley.
Mr. Frelinghuysen has been Senator from New Jersey, is
a moderate Republican, but not a very.-prominent man.
The President has sent to the Senate copies of
the diplomatic correspondence relative to the
Alabama claims, which shows that Earl Clarendon,
on the 6th of May, in response to Mr. Motley's proposi-
tion to re-open correspondence, stated that her Majesty's
Government considered it neither useful nor expedient to
continue a controversial correspondence in which there
was so little hope of one Government convincing the
other.

DECLARATION OF WAR
BY FRAN CE.

ADVANCE OF TROOPS. - FALL IN THE

FUNDS.

France has declared war. The resolve was made known
to the French Chambers yesterday, when M. 011ivier
read a communication which had been drawn up by a
Council of Ministers. The declaration of war, and the
statement that troops on both sides were marching to the
frontier had an immediate effect on the funds, and Rentes
fell to 65fr. On the previous night demonstrations were
made in favour of war. Along the Boulevard, from
the Grand Hotel to the Porte St. Martin, there were
crowds of people, singing the " Marseillaise " and shout-
ing " Vive la Guerre." Hostile manifestations were also
made before the residence of Baron Werther, the Prussian
Ambassador. On the same evening the Emperor was
cheered on leaving for St. Cloud, and cries were heard of
" A bas la Prusse." Last night, according to a telegram
from the correspondent of the Standard, a manifestation
in favour of war on the Boulevard des Italiennes threw
the Petite Bourse into confusion. The manifestation was
made by a couple of thousand young fellows, singing
snatches of the " Marseillaise," and shouting " A Berlin !
h Berlin !" to the well-known tune of "The Lampions."
The police abstained from interfering, and the mani-
festation gang was generally applauded by the people in
the cafes. •

The corresyondent of the Post says there was great ex-
citement in the streets. Flags were exhibited, and the
crowds were shouting "Au Rhine." Troops were leaving
for the frontier. The Ministers and the military were
working with the Emperor very early.
The French Chambers met at one yesterday when a com-
munication was simultaneously made by the Government
to the Senate and Corps Ldgislatif explaining the situa-
tion of affairs, and terminating by a declaration of war
against Prussia.
The Government announced that this declaration is pre-
cipitated by the circular of the King to the Prussian
agents abroad, which
Firstly, confirms the affront to M. Benedetti ;
Secondly, refuses to guarantee the renunciation of
Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern, and
Thirdly, restores to him his liberty to accept the crown
of Spain.
The Constitutionnel published an extraordinary edition
yesterday with an article signed by M. Mitchell,
announcing the declaration of war. The article says that
the King of Prussia has brutally attacked the slumbering
recollections of 1814, and concludes as follows :—" Prussia
insults us ; let us cross the Rhine. The soldiers of Jena
are ready."