New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-17

THE LUXEMBURG OF ESTION-PACISA AND INCONSISTENCIES
OF NAPoLEoN AND BISMARCK WITH REGARD TO BEL
GUM AND HOLLAED-GROwTH OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE EXHIBITIOS-THE AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS
From Oar Special Correspondent
PARIS March 20, 1867.
In the high political line the Luxemburg question,
which connects with the Prussan, is quite ahead
this week of the Great Eastern, but agitated on
such am nconstant bob chop seaOf cOnjectucs,
with its diversey current, numerous, and unfathom-
able uRdercurrent negotiations and 80 whitfield about
by empty east windy talk that it is quite difficult to
tell with any accuracy what is its actual position, or
toward what if any, solution it is heading. To take
some of its historical bearings may help us little.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, though belonging
to Holland was connected by the federal bond with the
German Confederation. When Herr Bismarck dis
secte that loose jointed old body last year, ne
still held on to this Dutch member claim
ing to attach it TO his new PTusSanized
Confederation of North Germany, for the
rather Illogical reason that it had belonged to
the other The facts that the fortress of Luxembourg
by virtue of its natural position and by the
works of VaHban, and end of lesser great
engineers since his time, is one of the strongest
places in EurOperated the strongest after Gibraltar
by CarnOt. A glance at the map" so much more
instructive than newspaper reading. shows the I'M
pOrtanee of this strong link that chain of fOrtresses
which defends the frontiers of Germany, and is of
fensive to the French of natural boundaries.
Observe. by the way, now the map is before us, how
this little territory of Luxembourg, with an area Of
but 200 square miles and population of less than
100000 up in wedge shape, from its narrow base
on France, into Belguln-a quite prOyldentlally IT,
shapedlttle territory pressing little argument IN
favor of the pr0yidential tendency OF small Bel
gium To fall day into the arms of big France This
Lnxemburg, which Holland owns and demands now
wholly for itself since the Federal bond is broken
Prussia possesses with strong garrison. so much
for known facts. What follows is at best but pains
taking expurgate edition Of select, rumors OF the
Inxembnrg question as they run this week. The
andicative mood will be used for convenience of
|. statement, the conditional and subjunctive being
0re appropriate to the uncertainty the public Is III
aferT Bismarck, who is mot sIothful in business,
1eKvent in spirit, serving" some one, began, inme
eiy atter ~ t 70 press Hs 70 ION ~
mike his new Germany great sea power for which
Holland seoast. and sea-Ports are needed He used
has possession of IuXembuTg TO strengthen his argu
HeIt Then Holland, in her weakness, and the
King of Holland, in his impecuniOsity, turns to
France, offering the cession OF Luxembourg in ex-
ch1nge'of military protection and sum OF shekels
a faNorite rumOred pFiceis 100 1000 francs More
or Sess secret and informal negotiations have been
going an dor some time between France on one side
and Heland 1.-THE first proposition coming from Hol-
iandI. then between France and Prussia. Bismarck,
whose policy lt is not to have foreign war, would
qaishlnE gu a frontier fortress would
momem2fDy excite IN Germany, bat Will
inolllfy ~ stlpu.atipg that the, fortlti-
leon would like tSoast this little tub to the whaling
vanity of his French eges so bitterly disappointed
Ny the immediate sequences of SadOwa. and so addi-
lt.lnally irItafed and Inundated Ay lie secret Ger
Igl9 Union treaties concluded last AugHst, and pub
asled Immediately after Minister ROnlers boasfful
Sss4gi0n that Germany, broken in three frag-
laents0 not nearly as formidable as old Confed
eFate igerDany 60,010OO0 strong, Bnt Napoleon now.
whose sometime prestige has been 80 often and badly
broken;apd dimmed IN the past two years, IL not SO
free as the new great European man, Bismarck, TO
risk his waDing popularity and Teuets 10 close tie
bargain With Holland ON the terms conditioned by
He nat foil ola q he
anap with dasgnst ut the dminutive figure little
knxembuTg cuts there by the side of the coveted
Rhine Provinces. Nor does this buying and selling
qnadrlte with the generous theory Of national rights
though, OF course if the other parts Of the trade
eau be satisfactorily arranged the majority Of that