The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-04-29
the FRAwco-oERMAm DIFFICULTY.

the FRAMc0-0ERMAM DIFFICULTY.
.-.~-~~s~~~~~-~~~~-~~-
Negotiations Towatds the Naturalization Of
Luxcmburg-EnsIish Advice 70 Napoleon.
From the London Times April Ill
"A Ducby which contributes nothing 70 the 81.
ys eng q and %
been invested like Schleswig H0stein, with symbooal
importance which makes It's dsstines subject Of
n express hope that France may recsde from an
untenable position it is not because hold that right
only rights involved are those Of the King q HosnS
and the Emperor Napoleon, the former OF whom Ia at
liberty TO SELL and the latter TO bay, the nominal SOW.
Coant Bismarck himself admits that since the dissolu.
ton Of the Germanic Confederation this sovereignty IL
subject 70 no ana we are not aware that any
aco occupation OF the fortress BY Prussan soldsrA
Morally, the right Of the people Of Luxemburg to dispose
vote spontaneously for annexation France or to Bel
gium no dynastic pretensions ought in justice, 70
prevail against S their wishes !. only upon sthno.
be claimed as an integral part Of Germany for
even on the grounds Of language its nationality
French case is very clearly stated by one Of our Paris
contemporaries Luxembourg is not German soil The
greater part Of IL population speaks either French or
Walloon, which 10 ancient form OF French; French
is the official language Of the country the French spirit
prevails there, and the Luxemburgers have not what
constitutes the moral bass Of Prussia what determined
the character Of Northern Germany-vz, Lutheranism
They are all Catholics nearly and their social state
Is in strong contradiction 10 the Prussan nation" Nor
can the want OF title founded public law, popular
suffrage. or what may be called political affinity, be
supplied in this case by appeal to any diplomatic
exactly where 1t stood before. The engagements OF
1914 and 1915 became void by the OF Ger
many asr the war Of last year the ecgsEemsns undsr
commanded by Prussia was virtually annulled st the
same time and the treaty Of 1882 upon which great
stress was laid at st haA no other object than to effect
partition between Dutch and Belgian Luxembourg
securing the Dukedom Of the former to the House OF
Orange Nassau All this far indeed from proving that
pleton OF any bargain that Frsnce may conclude with
Holland. 1t only shows that such veto cannot be
nuences and in degree justihe Prussia risxng
contest with France rather than consent to Luxembourg
becoming French Department.
The reason why Franco may honoraby make con-
cesson which 10 stro right cannot be required Of her
admits Of being explained without reserve The over
for the transfer d Luxembourg not made 10
Difference TO any demand from the French people, they
were not even made BY me French government II we
are believe Official statements but proceeded in the
first from as asS Tss q 70 g y
people, s0ho believe reasonably yeasonaby that
cession Of LuIemburg Uosld be the prelude to further
Assuming this belief to be unfounded, we bound
TO do il remains TO b. shown what motive the
nSs r .Sss upon
misses solid benefit 70 them. II would be waste
OF time prove thai France he's nshng 70 apprshsnd
10 The which Aas least provide against the
contingency Of foreign invasion, and which best
the pesce q ,rops No other country IS 90 mprsgns
bic all Sides ID has the OF national unity
been fully deveoped and mono has shown IN equally
marvellous energy seif defence. The presence Of
Prussian garrison in Luxembourg may be- and is incon
sisten with The present relation OF the Duchy 70 Ho
70 The .ss q Of %
bition thoe0A ssdin1 i said, te Sltissoc dbsoPtcn
Of Great Britai~ sxo As Gwmo. RatherIoad, d. NOT
~~Iso~ osSA
students may st regret the separation Of Asace and
Lorraine, but the boldest OF German statesmen would
For years and perhaps generations come Germany
will be far too much engrossed with her affairs to
mediate and the 2, few a,
fabric erected by Count Bismerck. II, as NJ Rouher
seems 70 maintain, the strength OF Germany is the
than 70 precipisass Just awssbetwesn the tive
nAtions While the German pkason for national self
oss o. the Various ss in ss have
had time TO work disunon It would be sngularly
inoppor.une e were NOS mpotic and ndsfsns,os
trumpcry question. II was mistake, las every ono
sees, 10 raise such an issue ct such moment, but
IL q mistake which reflects little dscred on tho i'm
peria for there Is 70 suppose that
not Count Bismarck foresaw the Storm Of patriotic
Indignation chich IL has ercited in Germany The En-
peror viii justify his reputation for sagacty and earn
the gratitude OF Europe BY cairng his ciaDs The Lux
emburRers far as we can gather are bent
maintaining Their Independence but dread ncorpora
ton with North Germany than annexation to France
BY recognizing and respecting their reluctance TO change
their existing Tot, the Emperor Napoleon will gain
diplomatic advantage and be enabled intervene
after with far greater effect II any violent attempt should
be made to unite Luxembourg with Prussia
French Compliments tn En9Iand's Prestige.
From the Avenir National, Of Paris April a.
The English, who are perhaps at this moment the
only psIe Of calm Jadgmes IN all Eur Pc are asking
pensate for the msfounes which must inevitably result
from war between France and Germany. There is no
utxat sI~.wo fna. w~s
think that the possession OF Luxembourg Is essential 70
either Of the Powers who 70 wish TO dispute with
in their hands France, mistress OF Luxembourg,
would appear to Il however menace 70 Belgium. and,
up q certain point, England though this does
the least mean that she thinks Of departing
from her neutrality We give the opinion OF
the English for what it Is worth; the dis.
credit into which that opinion has for some time
fallen well known; the great politicians have
take no more account Of than OF that OF third or
fourth rate Power II there are any at is not
surprising say they, that Power which systemat-
cay stands aloof from all the great European questions
should not understand the importance OF the Luxcm-
burg question: in that isolation England Will end BY
losing the little prestige she has lefinis britannia
TO which the English might rcplv"If systematically
stand aloof from all the great European questions Is 70
give rise 70 none, evidently your reproach Is web
founded II TO be one Of the richest the most ineIii.
gent, and, above all, one of the freest nations
IN the world, is not sufficient 70 give pres
very we'll withog. any, Happy the nations whoec
governments have need Of prestige To attain tho
vague object which you trick out with that name Eng
land would need army OF four five hundred thou
sand men without counting her navy after that no
more budgets with surplus. even in equilibrium, but
increase Of burdens which the government could not
impose upon the nation without producing one OF those
questions OF which you speak, and which are only
European In this scnse that they threaten the great
interests Of civilization in Europe. We are utoa pres
tsge, you Uiu bat rich, free, happy drd az
trekad Il scould be at zoe have some troops and
vsssris bf capable Of defending although faosf prestige,
natiw land and donesfic hearfs. As for yw,
fight and yourser, you call taf presfioe Ihe
great politicians will shrug Their shoulders
We consider this British reasoning not without SOUND
sense