The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-17 00:00:00

ing against the army ; and so long as, in spite of
our lavish expenditure, we allow the soldier just
reason to complain of standing grievances, we need
not be surprised that we are forced to entrap men
instead of waiting for them to enlist iu their sober
senses. The feeling of the House last night was
strongly in favour of Mr. WHITBREAD'S arguments,
and the first part of his resolution, " that the terms
of the service should be fully explained to
all recruits before enlisting," was agreed to without
a dissentient. His proposal for the establishment
of training schools as a means of securing recruits
was postponed for subsequent consideration. Mr.
WHITBREAD, like Sir CHARLES TREVELYAN, would
rather have seen a change in the system of stop-
pages than an actual addition to the pay of the
soldier. However, as Sir C. RUSSELL observed,
the extra 2d. per day had been promised, and faith
should be kept with the soldier. At all events
something was gained by the discussion, and the
resolution will, we hope, do good.

The official and semi-official journals of the Con-
tinent are still very busy in commenting upon the
Treaty signed in London. The Constitutionnel con-
tains an article, signed by PAULIN LIMATRAC, which
says that France has always protected the weaker
States, especially small neighbouring ones, and en-
deavours to make out that the " determining motive
of her policy has been questions relating to their in-
terests." One of the consequences of the Treaty is
to restore the Dutch Government and the King,
Grand Duke, to their sovereign rights over
Luxemburg and Limburg, which the effect
of the Treaties of 1815 had been in some measure
to alienate. It is so far fortunate, no doubt, if
these gains may be counted as among the solid
advantages of the recent Treaty, and it has certainly
enjoyed more immunity from criticism and hostile
comments than any other compact of late times.
The very flattering reception which the French
journals, as a whole, accorded to the Treaty, does
not appear to have been shared by the Legislative
Body, which did not approve of the policy which
so nearly occasioned war. Notwithstanding this,
there is more ground for rejoicing on the
part of France than on that of Prussia.
As a writer in the Presse forcibly puts it, the satis-
faction of the latter is negative, but that of the
former is positive. France is not now compelled
to reflect upon the consequences that may
ensue from the near vicinity of a foreign camp and
a foreign fortress ; and, on the other hand, Prussia
has sustained a decided loss, since she has:maintained
a garrison in Luxemburg for the last fifty years.
Count BISMARCK has certainly made a mistake
in this matter, however ingeniously he and his
friends and followers may seek to make the best
of it.

The conclusion we are authorised to draw from
this Treaty is that it has been effected by the
agency of various means, and chiefly brought to a
successful conclusion by the dexterous management
of Lord STANLEY, but we cannot believe that a
better understanding has been come to between
Berlin and Paris. On the contrary, they are more
cool than before, and all their cordiality is on the
surface. It is easy to imagine that the Berlin Go-
vernment must feel mortified at the turn things
have taken, and it must have been wormwood to
them to hear the Minister for Foreign Affairs in
Paris talking about sparing the " just suscepti-
bilities" of Prussia, and so on. Prussia has lost
ground in the opinion of those who had an intimate
opportunity of witnessing her policy at the Con-
ference ; and, on the other hand, France appears to
have gone up in the scale, for she displayed a
moderation that was surprising under the
circumstances of the case, and considering the
demeanour of her rival. In nothing may
the London Conference be said to have effected
more than in having shown Prussia that she was
acting in direct opposition to the feeling of Europe
by her perversity and grasping efforts. To have
done this is something very material for the promo-
tion of European peace and the cause of justice to
smaller States, which was so much imperilled by
the encroachments of that ruthless Power which
ruined Denmark, sacrificed the Elbe Duchies, and
monopolised the North German States. The semi-
officialProvincialCorrespondenz may talk glibly about
Germany being relieved from the most pressing
cause for anxiety, and add the comforting assurance
that the policy of peace will be " confirmed and
consecrated anew by the visit of the King of
PRUSSIA to the Emperor of the FRENCH," but there
is no depth in this assertion, and if peace is estab-
lished it certainly does not rest upon the basis of a
good understanding between France and Prussia,
for there is no real unity between them, and the
entente curdiale has been maintained by other means
than the sympathy which springs from mutual con-
fidence or a similarity of policy in important
matters.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Thursday Evening.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon
at the Tuileries. The Emperor presided, and the
Empress was present.

The following appreciation of the state of affairs
by the evening illoniteur is worth attention :

"In five days, and in throe sittings, the Pleni-
potentiaries assembled at the Foreign-office have
found the means of solving amicably one of the
most grave and important questions which could be
submitted to diplomacy. It is long since Europe
has known a Conference which, instead of following
out war and sanctioning its results, has succeeded
in preventing it and preserving the benefits of peace
for the Continent.

" France has to congratulate herself upon seeing
the same Powers who in 1815 were actuated by
feelings of hostility against her. overthrowing the
monuments of defiance of another age. Luxem-
bourg is about to cease to be a fortified city. The
Grand Duke, whose independence was restricted
under the regime of the ancient Germanic Confede-
ration, will hereafter resume the exercise of his
rights of entire Sovereignty. The Powers who
signed the treaty, with the exception of Belgium,
which is itself a neutral country, have placed under
their collective guarantee the principle of the neu-
trality of the Grand Duchy. The essential point
of the discussion was to prevent Prussia, under the
new conditions in which she was placed by Euro-
pean changes, from preserving beyond her limits a
military establishment which was for us an offensive
position. This great object has been attained by
France without employing any other means than
moderation and justice.
" All the Governments who took part in the de-
liberations afforded valuable proofs of their equitable
sentiments and their impartiality. France has the
consciousness of having facilitated their task by the
political disinterestedness which formed the rule of
her resolutions.

" Everything now permits igs to hope that nothing
will trouble the devc•lopmant of the universal Ex-
hibition, the result of which increases each day and
attracts to Paris an extraordinary number of
princes and crowned heads. (The Aioniteur then
enumerates those Royal personages whom I have
already mentioned, including the Prince of Wales
and his brother, Prince Alfred.) The personal re-
lations established between the Sovereigns form a
security for peace, and cannot fail to exercise useful
influence upon the interests of general civilisation,
to promote the progress of which has always been
the predominant occupation of the Emperor and his
Government.

" The happy issue of the deliberations of the