The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-27 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Emus, SUNDAY, April 2G.
" Disarmament " is tho word in every mouth. Is

true ? What does it mean ? What will our Government do ?
are the questions that one hears on all hands. It is noticed
that the Prussian papers explain to-day's news by saying
that the Government found it necessary to retrench
in consequence of the dearness of provisions. In other
words, Bismarck wishes it te, be , understood that
he does not make the reductions in consequence
of any representations on the part of France, but solely
for domestic reasons. At the same time he lets it be seen
that he is not afraid of France or of Austria, even though
one country has reorganised its army and the other is
about to do so. The truth is, that the disarmament does
not amount to much. The Prussian military system
enables an army to be placed on a war footing at the
shortest notice, and granting furloughs means merely that
the war is not expected at present. This, of course, is a
favourable sign, since the longer the crisis is delayed the
greater is the chance that it may be avoided.
Another favourable symptom is the (unofficial) announce-
ment that M. Magne will not want to borrow more than
the £17,400,000 at first spoken of. You will remember it was
said a little while ago that our Finance Minister bad
been deceived, and that the demands of Marshal Niel and
Admiral Gennuilly made it incumbent upon bins to
ask for more money than he at first mentioned,
and that the discovery- had made him very angry. If he
can do without it the inference will be that he has brought
his colleagues to reason. This is the great subject of
speculation. The optimists declare that there will be a
reduction of a million sterling in the military estimates.
I doubt it very much, for M. Magee himself is said
to believe that war must come sooner or later, and
that he differs only from Marshal Niel as to its proximity.
In connection with this matter a singular anecdote is
told. When the Ministers were before the Budget Com-
mission, Marshal Niel, while combating any reductions,
said last year war was resolved upon for a whole week.
M. llouher attempted to explain away- this avowal by
saying " The Marshal is quite right ; war was resolved
upon by Prussia." The Minister of War then saw how
I indiscreet he had been, and added, :" Ye's, of course 'bv
711 • •
Prussia."

76i.51

521 31

i(ri 9

1 3. 21

We have news from Luxembourg that great agitation
has been caused there by the announced intention of start-
ing a French paper to support annexation to France. The
matter gave rise to so much excitement that our Govern-
ment has promised to discountenance the project.
Parisians are by no means in good humour just now
with Italy. The enthusiastic reception given to the Princo
of Prussia., " the conqueror of Salowa," is bitterly con-
trasted with the freezing silence in which Prince Napoleon
has been received ; and there is much angry comment
upon Italian ingratitude. Yet it was hardly to be
expected that the Italians wouhl forget that it was French
troops which kept them out of IZome last year, and that
it was a French Minister who declared that they should
never enter that city.

DON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 27, 1868.

-+----

THE FENIAN TRIALS AT THE CENTRAL
CRIMINAL COURT.-THIS DAY.

Pale, haggard, and with the aspect or men completely
worn out by excitement and anxiety, the four Fenian
prison:TS —William Desmond, Timothy Desmond, Nicholas
English, and Michael Barrett— took their places in the dock
for the seventh time this morning. Eagerness to hear the