The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-22 00:00:00

DECEAIBER 18.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs said---" Gentlemen, in
the present state of things, the demand of information made
by an lion. Member in a former sittinc, naturally caused
me some surprise. Thongla the impossibility of any diplo-
matic communication is evident to every body, vet, as I
would not In re any unfavourable inferences drawn from my
silence, I will accede as far as I am able to the wish of the
Hon. Member.

" Gentlemen—The situation of the Belgian question is
known to you all. The last Act relative to this ques-
tion is. a note presented to the London Conference by the
dated 28th September, 1883.
,Brehligs
communicated ,to you by my predecessors,
members of the preceding Ministry, a few days after it was
presented to the Conference ; and by the order of the
Chamber it was printed and distributed. The interval
lvhich has elapsed since that time has been filled up N,;;itli
various attempts, of various kinds, to induce us to desist
from the conditions which were at that time annexed. to
the renewal of the negociations. These attempts have been
ineffectual. It would be contrary, I think, to all propriety,
to make a report to you on proposals, attempts, incident
which have not led to any new fact, it will. I hope, suffice
to the national representation and the country to receive here
the positive assurance that since the rupture of the negocia-
tions in 1838, no Act whatever has intervened to change
in any respect our political situation.

" I shall be asked, perhaps, what diplomacy has been
doing since that time ? Its part has indeed been negative,
but it has not been inactive. It is often as difficult to
maintain a position as to acquire it.

" Our tasks, gentlemen, and it is thus that we have under-
stood our first duty, has been to maintain the :;latits quo un-
impaired. This task has not always been easy ; it has often
been delicate and laborious ; to perform it we have often
had to contend with unexpected difficulties.
" I shall not remind you of the uneasincsc caused a few
years ago by a change of Ministry in a neighbouring ;owl-
try. It was a new trial which our political situation had to
undergo—it passed throagh it untouched.

" I shall pass over in silence the hopes very recently en-
tained by the enemies of the country, that all the eve is
since 1833 have appeared to prejudiced persons likely to
inter!-ere with the engagements contracted with Belgium.
Neither the fears of the one party nor the hopes of the
other have been realizes?.

" Hitherto we have remained in the stalu quo, on which
a detailed report was made to you by my predecessor.
We have passed these events—all that we had acquired
remains, and time has only given an additional sanction.
" If there were any thing new in our foreign policy, I am
convinced that the King would authorise me to make to
you all connnunications compatible with prudence.
" In this case, I should hasten to ask for your advice ;
being convinced that I should in this manner acquit myself
in the eyes of the King and the country, of part of the
responsibility which lies on me. But I can declare, in the
most unreserved manner, •no new event whatever has
changed our political situation since the Report made by
my predecessor."
M. Gendebien was not satisfied with this statement, and
said he reserved to himself the right of putting further
questions.

- The Chamber then proceeded to the debate on the
Budget of ways and means.—Brussels Papers, Dec '2O.
VIENNA, DEC. 10.—We have several times read with
surprise in the Allgentine Zietang, accounts from this city
of changes said to be at hand, in several of the higher
offices of State; in different parts of the empire. There is
no foundation whatever for these reports.
TRIESTE, DEc. 9.—No credit is to be given to the re-
port of the approaching evacuation of Ancona, as the
French garrisou has but lately received a fresh supply of
provisions, and contracts have been concluded for supply-
ing it for a whole yeah'. Letters from Alexandria say that
Mehemet Ali is considerably reinforcing his army, and es-
pecially sending troops by sea to Syria.
VIENNA, DEC. 11.-5 per Cents., 101,3-; 4 per Cents., 99i ;
Bank Shares, 1,374-211/gemeine Zeitung, Dec. 16,