The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-24
France and Prussia.
From The Irtmes.


We have at length an official statement from
the French Government in regand to the ne
gotiations with Holland respecting the cession
of Luxembourg. On the Sth inst. the Marquis
de Moustier, in reply to questions from seve-
raj deputies, announced in the Corps Legis-
latif that the Government had brought to the
consideration of this matter Thoughts only
of conciliation and peace" France had not
raised the question of her own accord. At
tracted by the undecided position of LuXem-
bourg, France made several unofficial cOmmu-
nications on the subject to Holland, when the
Dutch Cabinet indiscreetly let out the secret
to Prussia. This gave the question an inter-
national character, and introduced elements
which France would have been glad to keep
in the background until the purchase could
have been quietly arranged and actually con-
summated. Prussia answered the revelations
of the Dutch Cabinet by an appeal to the
treaty of 1889, and thus blocked the little
game which the Emperor of France was so
quietly playing. Upon this Napoleon assures
the world that in casting his eyes upon the
convenient Duchy he always kept in view the
consent of Holland, the examination OF the
treaties of the great powers, and the wishes of
the inhabitants of Luxembourg, WHO were to
b6 dllOWtu IuO pllNllSS6 VI USOluhS1 W Ill
versal suffrage, whether they would be sold to
France or join the North German Confederacy.
AS France is still willing to abide by these
views, and to examine the question in concert
with the other great powers, the Marquis de
Moustier, speaking for his imperial master,
believes that the peace of Europe cannot be
disturbed.
This is the official view of the situation.
We find, however, that the French papers,
a oanapa1 Y111a ba oft in lass
favorable light, and are inclined to regard
war as not improbab La France admits
that the time may come when the Emperor
may be compelled to vindicate the national
dignity against the obstinate refusal of the
German States to grant the guarantees to
which France may consider herself entitled
! Another journal, which has never favored the
annexation of the Duchy, takes the same tone
| The question, 1t says, is no longer one OF
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, but one of national
dignity and influence. France cannot afford
! to put forward pretensiOns and renOunce
! them at the bidding of another power. 10
| do so would be to announce her own downfall
from the first rank among nations to lower
position than Spain ever occupied Having
taken positive stand in regard to LuXem-
bourg she must maintain it at all hazards.
The Duchy must be evacuated by Prussia,
or war must ensue These are the conclu-
sions reached by the French papers, up to
our latest dates by mail, and they accord with
the uncertainty and apprehension felt in the
commercial circles of Europe. We have had
lntlmatons, by Atlantic Telegraph, of plan
submitted to the consideration of France and
russia by the other great powers, to secure
tne peaceful settlement OF the question. As
Napoleon has signifed his willingness to
accept the propositions embraced in this plan,
~ Is 10 be presumed that they afford him faci-
hIIes LOT covering his retreat from a position
where, except for this friendly assistance he
must either fight or surrender. II is appa-
rent that France does not wish to FIGHT. and
that she will not fight, except for tbe pre-.
servation OF her national dignity and her ranl
as European power. The French car,
9osh3g 5olI 9 ior Luxembourg, but they carea grea
: Prussia should persist in holding on 10 th,
) Duchy in the face of Napoleon's representa-