The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-06 00:00:00

DfA N FINANCE.

On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair,
in order that the House might go into committee on East
India Revenue accounts, Mr. FAWCETT moved as an
amendment That this House regrets that the Indian
Budget is introduced at so late a period of the session, and
is of opinion, considering the. present position of Indian
finance, that it would be expedient to appoint a select
committee early next session to inquire into the adminis-
tration of the finances of India." The hon. member for
Brighton supported his motion in a speech of
considerable length, and he attacked the Indian

financial policy most savagely. When he made a
" hit " two or three Indians, whose dusky forms were
very conspicuous in the gallery of the clock, seemed
immensely gratified, and smiled at each other
very significantly. Mr. Fawcett • spoke of the
great confusion of the Indian accounts. Au
expected surplus became a heavy deficiency, and a
heavy deficiency suddenly grew into a considerable sur-
plus. The hon. member was very severe on
the way in which the Duke of Edinburgh's expenses
to India were paid. What, he asked, would be
thought if an Indian prince visited this country, and after
being entertained munificently by the nobles, in return
for their hospitality made them presents which it was
afterwards discovered the country had to pay for, toge-
ther with a portion of the prince's retinue. The amount
might be small, but the smallness was an illustration of
the melancholy meanness of the transaction.
Mr. W. FOWLER seconded the motion, but took excep-
tion to the manner in which Mr. Fawcett had attacked
the Government, as if they alone were responsible for the
state of affairs complained of. The system had been
inherited by the Government with all its difficulties.
The hon. member considered the imposition of a war-tax
and a salt-tax upon the people of India for public works
was perfectly unjustifiable.
Mr. GLADSTONE thought that the course which had
been pursued by the two speakers was a reversion of the
practice of the House. The discussion of the questions of
Indian Finance should have been reserved until the
statement had been officially made. He admitted that
the subjects which had been mentioned were most im-
portant, and well deserved attention. The right hon.
gentleman denied that the Indian Budget, although
introduced so late, was passed over lightly.
Nevertheless, lie wished they could introduce the
statement at a more appropriate time. His ex-
perience told him that so long as domestic legisla-
tion was active it would be impossible to discuss the ques-
tion of Indian finance before a late period of the session.
If it were desirable to discuss the subject when there was
a large attendance of members and the mind of Parlia-
ment was not fully engaged, the first month of the session
united these two necessary conditions.—The right hon.
gentleman said he did not, however, object to the prin-
ciple of the motion of the hon. member for Brighton.
Mr. Fawcett, after some remarks from Colonel Sykes,
withdrew his motion, and the House went into com-
mittee.

Mr. GRANT DUFF proceeded to make his financial state-
ment to a very thin House, and not having concluded at
ten minutes to seven, according to the forms of the House,
progress was reported, and shortly after the sitting was
suspended.
At nine o'clock the House re-assembled, and the
Under Secretary for India resumed his speech on
a few words he said the story he had to tell was this :
Deficit in 1867-68, deficit in 1868-69,- small surplus or
equilibrium in 1869-70, and an equilibrium in 1870-71.
This was not a brilliant state of affairs, but he believed
that in the near future there would be very great im-
provement. The necessity of a radical change in
many respects had been impressed upon the Govern-
ment in India," not merely by despatches
and discussions in that House, but by the discovery sud-
denly made by themselves, and the calculation which they
sent in 1869 to the Secretary of State was unmistakeably
erroneous. The result of that discovery was a feeling
which evidently took hold,of the Government of India,
that the state of things which had declared itself was un-
fortunate and injurious to the whole Government.
The discussion on the budget was continued until half-
past one, when the House resumed. The other orders
were disposed of, and the House adjourned at five minutes
to two.

OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning,

THE BATTLE OF WEISSENBURG.

The Daily News considers the nature of the country on
the French side of Weissenburg, and the position of the
French fortified posts, do not favour the opinion that
the Crown Prince thinks of making the scene
of his first battle the base of his next operations. The
French communications lie opposite the other extre-
mity, or right, of the German line, and even if Phals-
burg were not before him at Weissenburg, and Stras-
burg on the flank of his supposed line of march, he would
be foolish to cast himself loose from his communi-
cations to lead his men by the longest way round
the French army. But if it be true that Prince
Frederick Charles is at Treves preparing to attack the
French left between Metz and Thionville, then one of
the reasons for this attack, which must convince
the French Commander that he has a reso-
lute antagonist on his right, is apparent. The
Crown Prince will probably, in that case, have effected a
most serviceable diversion. Henceforth we may look for
an exchange of really hard blows. The French Em-
peror cannot afford under present circumstances to
consult merely military interests in the movements
he orders. The moral effect of this defeat at Weissen-
burg must be wiped out at whatever price it may be neces-
sary to pay. It is understood that Marshal MacMahon was
just returning from a long and serious conference
with the Emperor when this unexpected blow
was struck, having probably carried away with him a plan
of the campaign. Whether this untoward event will in-
terfere with that plan or not, all we know of the character
of the French army bids us look for a serious attempt to
avenge this defeat.

ENGLAND AND BELGIUM.

The Telegraph remarks that the language of the

Treaty of 1831, by which the new kingdom was
established, is very instructive. Great Britain,
Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, agree that
the enumerated provinces shall forma State "independent
and perpetually neutral ;" and by the 25th Article
the contracting parties " guarantee to his Majesty
the King of the Belgians the execution of
all these articles preceeding." This document
was not executed by Holland ; but eight years
later the King of Holland was induced to sign other trea-
ties with the Great Powers, and with Belgium, by which
the independence of that kingdom was declared anew.
Certain articles were drawn up setting forth its boun-
daries, the share of public debt which it was to bear, and
similar arrangements ; and then follows an article so im-
portant that we give the English version of it in full:—

" Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, his Majesty the Emperor of
Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, his Majesty the
King of the French, his Majesty the King of Prussia, and
his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, declare that
the articles mentioned in the preceding article are con-
sidered as having the same force and validity as If they
were textually inserted in the present Act, and that they
are thus placed under the guarantee of their said
Majesties." England has thus deliberately, by two
successive solemn acts, first in 1831 and subsequently in
1839, guaranteed the independence and neutrality of
Belgium ; and if she were now to draw back from the
undertaking, we might for the future consign all treaties
to the waste-paper basket as soon as they are executed.