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

TEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION.

The following is the text of the communication drawn
up at the Council of Ministers and read in the Corps
Legislatif by M. 011ivier _ _

" Gentlemen,—The manner in which you received the
declaration of the 6th inst. afforded us the certainty that
you approved our policy, and that we could count upon your
support. We commenced, then, negotiations with the foreign
Powers to invoke their good offices with Prussia in order
that the legitimacy of our grievances might be recognised.
We asked nothing of Spain, whose susceptibilities we did
not wish to wound. We took no steps with the Prince
of Hohenzollern, considering him shielded by the King
of Prussia ; and we refused to mix up in the affair
any recriminations upon other subjects. The ma-
jority of the Powers admitted with more or less
warmth the justice of our demands. The'Prussian Minis-
ter of Foreign Affairs refused to 'accede to our
demands, pretending that he knew nothing of the
affair, and that the Cabinet of Berlin remained completely
foreign to it. We then addressed ourselves to the King
himself ; and the King, whilst avowing that he had au-
thorised the Prince of Hohenzollern to accept the candi-
dature to the Spanish Crown, maintained that he had also
been foreign to the negotiations, and that he had inter-
vened between the Prince of Hohenzollern and Spain as
head of the family, and not as Sovereign. He acknowledged,
however, that he had communicated the affair to Count
Bismarck. We could not admit this subtle distinction
between the chief of the family and the Sovereign. In
the meanwhile we received an intimation from the Spanish
Ambassador that the Prince of Hohenzollern bad re-
nounced the Crown. We asked the King to associate
himself with this renunciation, and we asked him to
engage that, should the Crown be again offered to
the Prince of Hohenzollern, he would refuse his
authorisation, Our moderate demand, couched in equally
moderate language, written to M. Benedetti, made it
clear that we had no arriere-penste, and that we were not
seeking a pretext in the Hohenzollern affair. The engage-
ment demanded the King refused to give, and terminated
the conversation with M. Benedetti by saying that he
would, in this as in all other things, reserve to him-
self the right of considering the circumstances. Not-
withstanding that, in consequence of our desire
for peace, we did not break off the negotiations. Our sur-
p rise was great when we learned that the King had re-
fused to receive M. Benedetti, and had communicated the
fact officially to the Cabinet. We learned that Baron
Werther had received orders to take his leave, and that
Prussia was arming. Under these circumstances we should
have forgotten our dignity and also our prudence had we
not made preparations. We have prepared to maintain
the war which is offered to us, leaving to each that por-
tion of the responsibility which devolves upon him. (En-
thusiastic and prolonged applause.) Since yesterday we
have called out the reserve, and we shall take the neces-
sary measures to guard the interest, aud the security, and
the honour of France."

An animated discussion followed, in which M. Thiess,
the Duke de Gramont, M. Jules Favre, and M. de
Kdratry took pact. M. Jules Favre called upon the
Government to communicate the documents which passed
during the negotiations, and especially the Prussian
despatch addressed to foreign Governments admitting
the refusal of the King of Prussia to receive M. Bene-
detti. M. Buffet opposed the demand for papers, and
M. Jules Favre's motion was rejected by 164 votes
against 83. . .

The Constitutionnel of yesterday says that Marshal
Prim took a very active part in the negotiattons for the
pacific solution of the question of the candidature o
Prince Leopold, and that the Spanish Cabinet and Senor
Olozaga also made every effort to maintain peace. The
Constitutionnel adds, as far as Spain is concerned, all diffi-
culties are removed.

The majority of the persons who formed the procession
in the Boulevards last night were students from the
Quartier Latin. The cries raised were : "A bas la
Prusse !" " A bas Bismarck ! " " Vive la guerro !" and
" A Berlin !"

CALLING OUT THE GARDE NATIONALE
MOBILE.

During the sitting of the Legislative Body in the even-
ing Marshal Lebceuf presented a bill calling out the whole
of the Garde National Mobile, and also a bill permitting
voluntary enlistments for the period of the war. The
urgency of the discussion of these measures was unani-
mously voted.

RECEPTION OF KING WILLIAM AT
BERLIN.

The King arrived at the palace at a quarter-past nine
last night, and was received with indescribable enthusi-
asm. Upwards of 100,000 persons were assembled from
the railway station, at the Brandenburg Gate, to
the palace, cheering and singing the national anthem.
Public feeling is most enthusiastic and determined. Ad-
dresses have been received by the King from the mer-
chants of Bremen and 'Stettin, expressing readiness to
make the utmost sacrifices for the defence of the country,
and giving approval to the most energetic steps that may
be taken for the preservation of the national honour.

ATTITUDE OF BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.
The Independance Belge says that a rumour is current in
political circles that in view of the present critical situation
the Chambers will be shortly convoked.

The Dutch Government has informed the Cabinets of
Paris and Berlin that in case of war it will observe a strict
neutrality. •
A Dutch correspondent telegraphs :—" Much anxiety
is felt in Holland as to the state of affairs. The papers
recommend an alliance with Belgium.

" On Thursday two Ministerial Councils were held.
M. Roest, the Foreign Minister, has resigned, and is re-
placed by M. Thorbecke. The army is to be mobi-
lised." We hear from Brussels that the King, who was
to leave for the camp of Beverloo on Thursday morning,
has changed his intentions, and remains for the present
in the capital. Six classes of the soldiers on furlough
have been recalled to their regiments, and the order
for the complete mobilisation of the army is expected.
France and Prussia are said to have both communicated
to the Belgian Government that Belgian neutrality would
be respected. Little reliance, however, is placed on these
assurances. The camp of Beverloo, which was to be
abandoned on the 17th of this month, is for the present to
be maintained.