The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-21 00:00:00

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Lord LYVEDEN moved for a return of the attendance
of the lords in the house, and the business done during

the session.

After some discussion the motion was withdrawn.
THE LUXEMBURG TREATY.

Earl RUSSELL then rose to call the attention of the
house to the recent treaty respecting Luxemburg, and to
the papers connected therewith. There could be no doubt
the Government was quite right in doing all they could
to preserve peace between France and Prussia; for not
only would our interests as a commercial country have
been seriously affected by war, but it is very doubtful
whether in that event we should have been successful in
maintaining our neutrality. It might have been asked
whether her Majesty's Ministers had not paid too high a
price for the attainment of the object they had in view. In
order to avert war by securing the demolition of the for-
tress of Luxemburg we have entered with other Powers
into a collective guarantee of the neutrality of the duchy ;
but he did not think this would entail upon us any danger
or any undue responsibility, because if France and Prussia
were at war it is not likely that they would incur the hos-
tility of the four other guaranteeing Powers by invading
the neutral territory of Luxemburg. It therefore appeared
to him that the Government had in their negotiations pur-
sued a proper object, and that they had not attained it by
making too great a sacrifice, or entering into any guarantee
involving probable danger. It was highly satisfactory to
him that the Government had not abandoned the foreign
policy which had been pursued by this country for some
time in favour of a policy of entire abstention from inter-
vention in foreign affairs. The noble earl concluded by
warmly eulogising the ability and judgment displayed by
Lord Stanley in the condo...A of the recent negotiations,
and by once more expressing his entire approval of the
course pursued by the Government.
Lord HOUGHTON said that, having been on the Con-
tinent at the time these negotiations were on foot, he
could bear testimony to the general satisfaction which
was expressed at the conduct of Lord Stanley. At the
same time he did not concur in the opinion that we have
incurred no serious responsibility by becoming parties' to
a collective guarantee of the neutrality of Luxemburg,
because in the event of war breaking out between France
and Prussia it is almost impossible that that duchy should
not become the seat of war.

The Earl of DERBY acknowledged the handsome terms
in which the previous speakers had referred to the con-
duct of the Government, and especially of the Foreign
Secretary ; and entered into explanations of the course
pursued by the Government substantially identical with
those given in the House of Commons a few nights ago-by
Lord Stanley. He remarked that if we had withheld our
adhesion to the collective guarantee, nothing could have
averted the calamity of a war, for which Europe would
have held England responsible. And he contended that as
we were not bound to take steps to protect the neutrality
of Luxemburg unless other Powers were also willing to
take their part, there was little or no danger of our incur-
ring.any serious responsibility.
The Earl of CLARENDON spoke in the highest terms
of the ability, discretion, and judgment displayed by Lord
Stanley; and expressed his opinion that the noble lord
was fully justified in committing England to a share in the
collective guarantee of the neutrality of Luxemburg. The
risk was slight compared with the end which it attained,
for as we should not be called upon to take action singly,
there was little fear of our incurring any serious responsi-
bility. He regarded the treaty chiefly as a moral obligation
entered into by the Powers signing it, and he had little
doubt that it would be faithfully observed. The result of
the recent Conference was a great triumph of that principle
of arbitration between States which had been laid down
at Paris in 1856 ; and it afforded groat encouragement to
endeavour to avert war by diplomatic efforts.
Earl GRANVILLE said that he could not understand
why Prussia should have laid so much stress on our
taking part in this guarantee, if it entailed upon us the
slight amount of responsibility alleged by the noble earl
opposite. At the same time he entirely approved of the
course taken by the Government. It was, however, said in
diplomatic circles that they had vacillated a good deal with
reference to giving the guarantee in question.
After some observations from the Duke of CLEVELAND,
Lord STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE expressed his
opinion that the collective guarantee amounts to very
little, because it is not binding upon any of the signataries
unless all were willing to do their share in giving effect to
it ; and it so happens that two of them are the Powers
most likely to violate the neutrality of Luxemburg.
The Duke of ARGYLL wished to know whether, if
France seized Luxemburg, Prussia and the other Powers
of Europe would have a right to call upon us to eject her;
or would the fact of the violation of the neutrality of the
duchy being committed by one of the co-signataries of the
treaty relieve us from any obligations under it. If the
former was the right interpretation, then the guarantee was
a mere farce, for it involved us in no responsibility, and
gave no security to either France or Prussia against the
aggression of the other.
The Earl of DERBY said that the effect of a collective
guarantee is perfectly well understood. If, in violation of
the treaty, France was to invade Luxemburg, Prussia
would not be entitled to call upon the other Powers to as-
sist her in repelling the aggression.
Earl RUSSELL observed that he did not concur in that
interpretation of the treaty; and
The subject then dropped.
CRETE.

In reply to the Duke of ARGYLL,
The Earl of DERBY said that he found great excesses
had in some cases been committed by the Turkish troops
in Crete, but at the same time it was perfectly impossible
to place the slightest reliance upon the Cretan accounts of
what took place. Although her Majesty's Government
have represented to the Turkish Government the propriety
of conceding autonomy to Crete, they have not felt at
liberty to join the other Powers in the presentation of a
note, urging that course upon the Porte. To that note, so
far as he was aware, the Government of the Sultan has not
et returned any answer.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
ROYAL COMMISSION.

The Speaker, with a number of members, in accordance
with the summons of the Black Rod, attended at the bar of
the House of Peers to hear the rayal assent given to seve-
ral public and private bills.

Mr. D. GRIFFITHS called the attention of the Speaker
to the fact that the seat usually occupied by himself, and
which he had taken that day in usual the way, had been
occupied by another hon. member.
The SPEAKER informed the hon. gentleman that the
Sergeant-at-Arms was the officer to which such matters
should be referred.

Mr. BRIGHT said the circumstance he presumed had
occurred owing to the limited accornmodaton afforded to
members by the limited size of the house, which did not
afford sitting accommodation to more than 400 members
He believed there was not another legislative chamber in
the world where the accommodation provided for members
was so disgraceful as that ill the gouge of Commons.