New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-19
FRANCE IND PRUSSIA.

A week ago we received a Cable dispatch
stating that Count Bismarck had sent an en-
ergetic note to France demanding of the En-
perOr Napoleon his reasons for arlning, and
asking the immediate cessation of warllke
preparations. Such a.. note, one would think,
must have produced throughout Europe the
most profound excitement, and it has there
fore been cause of general surprise
that during the week since elapsed 80
little has been heard of the effects OF the Prus-
sian note. 1t has since been stated that the
people of Luxembourg generally were opposed
to being sold to France; that proposition was
under consideration TO declare Luxembourg
neutral territory; that, in case of war, Bavaria
and Baden would aid Prussia; but not word OF
what the official and unofficial press OF Paris,
Berlin Petersburg, and Vienna had to
say of note of 80 extraordinary character
This strange silence of the Cable could not fail
TO make the impression that either the report
of Count Bismarcks note was a gross exagge-
ration, or that the information sent to US con
corning one of the most important events OF
the present year, has been most garingly de-
fcient
This morning we have another alarming dis
patch. The negotiations between France and
Prussia are said to have been broken off. The
prominence which the entire press of Europe
has for several weeks been giving to the Lux
emburg question ought certainly to have fur
nished material enough for fuller and more
ineligible dispatch. We have thus far had
no intelligence of any direct negotiations be-
tween France and Prussia. BY the Scotia
we received the news that the Govern
ment of Holland has informed Prussia
that Luxemburg would never be sold without
the previous consent of Prussia. Bismarck had
taken this ground. that although Germany
could not claim the entrance of Luxembourg
into the Confederation, she had right
to oppose the sale to France OF
fortress which has been completed by
the money of the old Federal Diet and
which, in the hands of France. would constitute
a permanent danger to Germany He had, also,
insisted that the consent Of all the Powers
which had guaranteed the treaty of 1899 was
requisite for such q sale. Ii was further stated
that Russia had protested against the sale and
that the English Ministry had officially de-
clared that the sale could not take place be-
cause the consent of Prussia would never be
given.
This il all tho authentic information we
have thus far received about the relations
of France and Prussia to the Luxembourg
question. Surprising the intelligence given in
the Cable dispatch Of this morning TO
be correct, its meaning seems to be
that the efforts of Prussia to prevail
upon France to abandon the claimed right
of purchasing Luxembourg have failed
But intelligence fuller and more distinct than
the dispatches thus far received is needed to ex-
plain the present situation. The latest articles
in the semi-oiiica papers of Prussia indicate,
however. that the relations between France and
Prussia were not of friendly nature.
After writing the above, we received
dispatch from Berlin stating that Napoleon is
reported to he strengthening his forces and
military posts on the frontier, putting his ar
tillery on a war footing, purchasing ambulances
and that the reserves of 1893 would he called
out on the list of May. Prussia is also reported
to he making active military preparations.