The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03

cumber them with help till we are quite sure
they need it..
The London Conference.-The Probable
DOings and Results.
From me Herald.
The truth seems at last to have been arrived
at. Our cable news has made it clear that the
Conference has been agreed to, and Ii has at
the same time explained how a certain doubt
full telegram originated. In closing the North
German Parliament, King William very pru-
IDENTIFY refrained from making any allusion to
the Luxembourg question. The omission was
not only rashly interpreted, but rashly tele-
graphed without the attendant circumstances.
A later despatch confirmed the accuracy of
the intelligence on which we had previously
acted. The announcement of Lord Stanley in
the British House of Commons warrants us
now to look at the Conference as coming
fact, and to speculate on its probable doings
and results.
Ostensibly the deliberations of the Plenipo-
tentaries are to be limited to the one uues-
tion of Luxembourg. What will satisfy
France what will satisfy Prussia and how
are the territory and fortress of Luxembourg
to be finally disposed of These are the uues-
tions which the Conference is to be called
upon to decide. 1t is manifest at a glance.
however, that these questions open up wide
field over which discussion will freely range.
1t will be impossible to lay down rules which
will prevent the different members of the
Conference in the interests of the different
Governments which they represent from
looking beyond the confines of mere border
Duchy, and touching on certain events
which have recently transpired, and on
certain other events, which, if not forcibly
checked, are sure to transpire in the early
future. 1t is well to limit the programme,
but directly members proceed to business the
programme will be found to have enlarged
itself in spite of them. Is it conceivable
that France, in stating the reasons why she
desired to annex Luxembourg to the Empire,
will be silent either in regard to the increase
of territory and power which Prussia has
made during the last year. or to the various
means by which that Increase has been Sc
cured Is it conceivable on the other hand,
that Prussia, in defending the course she
has taken, will have nothing to say, not only
about the rights of the German people, but
about the uniiication of Italy and the annexa-
tion Of Nice Is it impossible that the ques-
tion Of Rhine boundaries will be revived by
Napoleon, and perhaps even prosecuted with
greater success than everi In view of the
complete unifcation of Germany, will Austria
be able to preserve silence in regard to the
future Of her German provinces Will no
voice be raised in defense of the rights of the
Danish population of Northern Schleswigl
And are we justified in inferring that the
treaty of Prague will be allowed to pass, in
all its entirety, unquestioned The posi-
bilities OF the Conference overlapping the
limits of the programme cannot be said to be
either few or small.
Ofthe probable result, it is necessary to write
as yet with caution and reserve. The dis
mantling of the fortress of Luxembourg may
be found to be q matter of less difficulty COM
noratiyalV fb an tha futnra and final 1isDOGal
of the Duchy. That it be in some sense pro-
claimed neutral is absolutely necessary, and
may already be considered certain; but whether
it shall remain a separate State with a sepa-
rate and independent Government of its own
or be annexed to Belgium, to which it lies con-
tiguous or be made to form an integral part
OF the kingdom of Holland, are questions on
any one of which it is little likely uniformity
of sentiment will prevail. The population is
German, German in race, German in language,
German in sympathy and if they are barred
for the present from more formal union with
their brethren of the Fatherland, it is diff
fcult to say which of the three courses Just
indicated would by themselves be deemed
preferable.
Separation and independency would leave
the Duchy isolated and weak. Union with
Holland would place it in the awkward
position of a province which, though not
remote, would have no territorial connection
with the kingdom of which 1t would form a
part. Annexation to Belgium, il agreeable to
! the population, appears to be the most natu-
raj course, and commends itself not merely
by the fact that the boundaries are contigu-
Gus, but by the additional circumstance that
| the northern portion of the Duchy is already
! held by Belgium in virtue Of the treaties OF
/ 1899. Annexed to Belgium, therefore, Lux
embourg would, in a certain sense, be restored
to her former self. In our anxiety for peace,
weScannot afford 10 be Indifferent TO the wei.
fare of the populations most deeply interested
Our hope, therefore, is that the Conference
may result in some such arrangement as
that peace will be maintained, and the people
satisfied.
| There are other outstanding questions o.
! interest and importance which IL might be
wel for this convention Of great powers tC
consider and determine. What, for example
is the use Of allowing this everlasting Eastern
question TO hang like a nightmare before
Europe, keeping the entire continent in a con
tinual state Of excitement and terror IL could
be easily settled-setted to the advantage o
all, and TO the disadvantage OF none. Tn,
great powers have but TO agree among them
selves, to give the Turk respectful notice I,
quit, TO reOrganiLe the Christian populations
placing them under a fresh, vigorous, centra
government, and that which is now a vast
under Turkish misrule will reappear as tn
garden of Europe. No sooner will this Con
ference meet than il will be the object Q
universal interest; intelligent and thoughtfu
minds in the Old World and in the New wi
watch its progress and canvass its results; bu
ii it accomplish nothing grander than the sci
tlement of the Luxembourg difficulty, in
portant as that is, its fruit will be sma
indeed.