The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-18 00:00:00

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FOREIGN NOTES.
FRANCE AND BELEM&

The new mode of settling difficulties by diplomatic
interchanges is likely to save Europe from some of the
most unjustifiable wars, but it is evident that peace can be
secured only by a lengthened period of uncertainty. The
progress of the negotiations between France and Belgium,
like the progress of the Greek affair, is dismally slow.
The two disputants are still arranging preliminaries, and
it is not quite certain even yet what form of peaceful settle-
went will be selected. The Independance Beige, a very
good authority, says that Yrance demands another con-
ference. The difficulty must be grave indeed when French,
dignity can be appeased only by a conference ; but .as
a fashionable remedy has always the best chance of
success, the proposal is perhaps wise. The Eten.
dard, a Paris journal, which seems to be taking the
place of the Canstitationnel, thinks it " absolutely certain"
that the question will be submitted to a Franco-Belgian
commission. "The commission is not, however, yet
formed, but it may be taken for granted that no foreign
element will be introduced. The purely commercial
question which has arisen between the two countries ought
to be kept within its original limits." The Temps says
nothing of the mode of settlement, but states that M.
do la Gndrroniere has sent a despatch to the French
Government, in which he expresses a confident hope of
coming to terms it') the Belgian Ministry.
The French inspired organs have abandoned the etyle
of anathema with which they opened this questiou, but
they have Eubs'i.Wed a patronising tone which is even
more in' ol< rable. The Etendard, for instance, writes
" The French Government is now inquiring with tale
utmost care whether there is any ground for the fears
expressed by Belgium respecting a reduced tariff of fares.
If these apprehensions are well founded, the Government
will at once recognise and provide fur them in the treaty
between the companies." Now, the Belgian Legit!,
!attire passed a law empowering the • Ministry to
refuse permission for any Belgian line to be leased to a
foreign company, and the proposed lease of a Luxemburg
line to the North-East Company of France is a case coming
within this measure. But the French official papers
ignore the law, take it for granted that the Belgian
Government will, at the bidding of France, withhold its
right of refusing the concession, and reduce the dispute to
a question of tariff. The lease must be granted without
demur, but if there be a anything in the fears of the
_Belgian Government respecting the laves, the French
Cabinet will be condescending enough to consider it.
Whatever may be the issue of this dispute, the whole
course of it points to the suspicion that Belgium is acting
under menace.

In addition to this remarkably generous style of expres-
sion, the official papers manifest some covert uneasiness
as to the course which England might take in case of
extremity. Their curiosity does not find much satisfac-
tion, but an article in the Post hinting that a war against
Belgium could hardly fail to involve England, is reprinted
in all the leading Paris papers. The Temps thinks this
article affords food for reflection. The Owl says that the
anger of the Emperor Napoleon was first arouPed by the
belief that Bismarck supported King Leopold. This
suspicion was excited by a recent visit of M. Frere-Orban
to Germany.

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