The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-03 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PLEIB.

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SUNDAY, August 2,

The unfortunate discussion which General La Marro'.Ora
has raised respecting the war of 1866 has entered upon a
new and most unpleasant phase. The New Prussian
(Cross) Gazette has asserted that the note which General
Marmora recently sent to Count Usedom on the subject of
the Prussian account of the war was inspired by the
French Government. The Prussian paper adds that
France hoped by this means to break the alliance between
Prussia and Italy and at the same time to prevent the
alliance now so much spoken of between Austria and
Prussia. A denial to this most important statement was
expected this morning in the Zfoniteur or Constitutionnel,
but both these official papers are quite silent, It must not
be forgotten that the Cross Gazette is an official Prussian
paper, representing more espec!ally the party of General
von Moltke. Statements of this kind would not be pub-
lished in such an organ without a purpose. There is, no
doubt, a war party in both countries. In France the
possibility of friendship between Austria and Prussia
whilst the latter country and Italy remain allied, was
naturally alarming. Nor is it likely that this attempt on
the part of France to revive old grievances and stir up
fresh animosity between the three countries would be
calmly received in North Germany. Of course it remains
to be decided whether France did interfere as the Cross
Gazette asserts. If so, this promises to be a very grave
affair indeed.

M. Henri Rochefort has given in. In yesterday's Lanterne,
he publishes the communiqu4 which caused him such
trouble last week. It appears that the Government
threatened to virtually stop the publication of La Lanterne
if the document were not inserted. Its appearance caused
no little astonishment. M. Rochefort had stated that the
communiqué would occupy forty-five pages, whereas it
does not fill half that space, and is, moreover, nothing
more than a refutation of what must, under the mildest
interpretation, be considered a gross libel. M. Rochefort
and La Lanterne will not greatly profit by this affair. A
paper which occupies such an anomalous position loses all
its influence when found disseminating incorrect intelli-
gence. In this case the calumny referred to the late M.
Billault, formerly Minister of State, and is, therefore, all
the more discreditable.

Very grave news comes from Nimes. It is to the
effect that a private meeting was intruded upon by the
central commissioner of police, and that very unpleasant
and serious results were the consequence. The meeting
was for election purposes, to hear M. Cazot, a democratic
candidate. The assembly was somewhat numerous, but
each individual was invited by private letter. Hardly,
however, had the meeting opened, when the central
commissioner made his appearance, backed, not by an in-
junction to stop the proceedings, but by a force of armed
men. The proprietor of the room refused to give up the
meeting. The candidate, M. Cazot, made his appear.
ance, and protested strongly against the interference.
At length the armed men were called in, the
sight of the bayonets producing a feeling of great
astonishment and indignation. The candidate was seized
by four soldiers and thrust violently out of the room, and
the rest of the assembly was turned out with as little cere-
mony, one receiving a sword or bayonet thrust. A pro-
ceeding precisely similar has occurred at Alais. It is
scarcely necessary to say that these deplorable events
have produced the most painful sensation in political
circles. As to the injustice of the interference, there
seems to be no question whatever. During the debate
which took place on the 18th of March last on the new
law, M. Ilouher expressly stated that, in accordance with
its title, the measure referred to public meetings only.
Private meetings, by separate invitation, had never been
forbidden nor subjected to previous authorisation. The
Minister of State further added, amid tremendous
applause, that private meetings would remain free from
all intervention. There can be no ambiguity here, A
gross injustice has been committed.

THE IVEATHEB TABLE.-THIS DAY.