Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-03
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.
PARIS, MARCH Is, 1852.

The Swiss question, which during the last three
weeks has been of threatening aspect for the peace
of Europe seems for the moment at least to be de-
prived Of all its alarming features. The French
note of the Oath January, of which gave you the
most notable portions in my last is not persisted in,
so at least report the Swiss journals, by the Gov
eminent of the Prince LOUIS NAPOLEON. The
Debats has Just received from Berne and published
the reply of the Swiss Federal Council to the die
tatorial demands of this Government 1t bears
date the 9th February. After declaring that the
Swiss Goys5nmsnt had hitherto and would continue
prevent all hostile movement among the refugees
within its borders against the peace of neighboring
nations it positively refuses to accede to the demands
of the French Minister to be allowed to point out
for instant expulsion from Switzerland such French
refugees he in his discretion might consider most
dangerous to France. The honor and independence
of the Swiss Confederation permit no other answer
to be given to the French note The law of nations
susains Switzerland in the position taken, and from
this position, declares the Council in conclusion, the
threats of France will not avail to drive her. The
reply Of this Government to the Swiss note Of the
9th ultimo has not been made public but it is re-
ported as above minated to be of pacific purport
By the way, cannot forbear to place this now per-
fectly authenticated date of the French note Oath
january in juxtaposition with the terms CT the
official notice dated 17M of February, and inserted
in the Moniteur of the 18th February. That no
tice was intended to quiet public alarms and stop
the rumors of war that then prevailed. The notice
says: "Since the I'd December the French Govern
ment has not addressed any sort Of demand to for
eign Powers, except to Belgium, with a view to
induce her to prevent the organization within her
bounds of system of incessant attacks Not q
soldier more has been armed, not general review
even has been passed in fine, this Government has
done nothing that could excite in the least the
ceptibility Of our neighbors." You will acknowl-
edge now that it was not without reason that intmated
at the time my want of confidence in the veracty Of that
official statement in particular and Of similar statements
emanating from this Government in general.
The Opposition in Paris has just triumphed by the
election Of CARSoT deputy to the Legislative body
The most important official act of this week is de-
Of the President under date Of the 14th instant,
reducing the interest payable the public debt Of France
from FIVE to four and half per cent This proceeding is
justified in the report Of the Minister Of Finances which,
is usual in such cases. precedes the decree by the
example of England which between the years 1922 and
1874 reduced the interest its national debt from FIVE
to three per cent? Of Prussia, which in 1912 made
similar reduction from four three and half per cent?
and Of Belgium which reduced its interest in 1914 from
FIVE to four and half per cent II is also stated that
since the Bank Of France has Just reduced its interest
from four to three per cent and the Government
goate loans for less than five, there appears to be
good reason why II should continue to pay than
| four and half.
The only other decree Of note by which the Pre-
sdent has adopted formula for judicial documents
Hitherto II has been the custom since the Republic
head all such documents "Is NAME OF THE FRENCH
People But hereafter they to be issued in the Pre-
sidents own name and to thus LOUIS NApo-
LEON President Of The French Republic 10 all present and Ia
cswe greeingr This Is more personal, princcly
more like coup deto and, above all, imperial.
decree is looked for every day fixing the budget Of
at least the civil list, for the year. Properly
speaking this should be submitted to the Legislature
but the President resolved that every thing mpor
tan shall be done in advance by special DEGREES anc tn
last article Of the constitution expressly provides that
such DEGREES issued before the complete organization
the Government shall have the force Of laws It s SUP