The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-04 00:00:00

INDON, TUESDAY- .EVgNIN.O,. NAY 4, P 69.

Belgian railway to a foreign company unless-- the
sanction of the Government were first obtained. This
measure would probably have excited no great
attention had not the Belgian Government
invested it with an ex poste fact; character, inorder
that it might apply to the treaty just concluded, as
well as to all future contracts of the kind. The
French press set up a vehement outcry. The
Belgian Ministry was loaded with semi-official
abuse, and annexation was freely talked of
by journals supposed to be the exponents of
Imperial policy. But the Brussels Parliament
met the wishes of its Government, the bill was
hurried through both Houses and speedily became
law. The EMPEROR. was not, however, to be baffled
in this way. Negotiations were opened, and
King LEOPOLD'S Ministers were plainly informed
that, though Belgium might make her own
laws, the bargain between the Luxemburg
and the East of France Companies had already
been concluded, and must be ratified. But
the Belgian Government had introduced the law for
the express purpose of forbidding this lease, and it
accordingly refused to ratify it. The EMPEROR in-
sisted, and the fire of diplomatic notes grew so
sharp at this point that M. FRERE-ORBAN, the
Belgian Minister of Finance, found it necessary to
go to Pans, and try to appease the French Govern-
ment in person. He offered the East of France Com-
pany ample running powers over the Luxemburg line;
the fares should be reduced to the same figure as
those of the French line. Anything, in short,
would be granted, save the actual transfer
of the railway to French hands-.7 For
weeks the French Government refused to accept
this proposal. Europe became uneasy. It was not
unreasonably feared that the larger country was
bullying the smaller one, and the Belgian journals
betrayed their dread by imploring the intervention
of England. It is not improbable that British
mediation was offered. It is even said that Queen
VICTORIA wrote a letter to the French EMPEROR
strongly urging a moderate course. However this
may be, the EMPEROR to the surprise of Europe
suddenly gave way, and accepted M. FRERE-
ORBAN'S terms. A. protocol has been signed
laying down that the treaties—for there is
a second, involving the Liege and Limburg line—are
to be abandoned, and in their place an extensive
system of international traffic, very favourable to
France, is to be arranged by a commission of six,
three from each country.
The firmness of Belgium has thus triumphed over
very severe pressure from her formidable neighbour.
The victory is creditable, and it is all the more satis-
factory because Belgium is decidedly in the right.
Certainly the ex post facto application of the law
might reasonably give annoyance to the
French Government. The whole measure was
aimed at the Luxemburg Treaty with the view
of preventing the Belgian line from passing into
French hands. But it is not unnatural that King
LEOPOLD'S Ministry should take alarm at these pur-
chases of Belgian railways by foreign companies. Rail-
ways are especially indispensable to a country which,
like Belgium, depends largely upon its coal-fields and
manufactures. It is hardly likely that the interests
of the State would be so well cared for by foreign as
by native proprietors. In time of need the Govern-
ment could exert no authority over the French com-
pany. In short, it is altogether undesirable that the
railways of a continental State should be owned
by foreign capitalists ; and it is hardly
necessary to add that neither France nor any other
European nation would permit it on their own soil.
To insist upon the ratification of these treaties was,
therefore, an unwarrantable interference in the
domestic affairs of Belgium,and a clear attempt on the
part of a strong Power to oppress a weak one. The result
is matter for congratulation To us, who have much
interest in the independence of Belgium, it is of con-
siderable importance. For it is idle to assert, as the
Parisian journals did, that the independence
of the prosperous litEl4 errantry would be
in no way compromised by the wholesale
transfer of its railways to France. It is
difficult to divine the motive which led the EMPEROR
suddenly to give way and close with the Belgian
offer; but the essential security for peace has been
given. The French Government renounces the
ratification of these treaties, and it can hardly, after
this public settlement, reopen the question.

MR. CARLYLE ON NAPOLEON.

M. Pierat, a French author, having just written a book
entitled, "Le Drame de Waterloo," has sent a copy of
it to Mr. Carlyle. The Chelsea philosopher, in reply,