The New York herald., 1869-04-04
FRANCE AND BELGIUM.
The FrancO.Belgian Difliculfy-The Dispute
to be Settled by a COrimissiOn-The Pro-
gramme Of Negotiations.

The Franco.Belgian DiGiculfy-The Dispute
to be Settled by a COTmissiOn-The Pro-
gramme of Negotiations.
brussels March 2o) correspondence OF the London
Herald
Yesterday NJ Van der StIchilen Minister for
Foreign Affairs OF Belgium, officially informed Vts-
count de La GuerrOnlere that his government had
accepted the French proposals. The French Minis
ter at Brussels ut once telegraphed the fact to
Marquis de Lavalette, who soon after, and In the
name OF the Emperor and OF his government, ex-
pressed to the Belgian Minister at the Tuieres their
lively satisfaction at the result OF the negotiations
Visc0unt de La Guerroniere has made similar COM
muncation to the Belgian government
And since the basis OF the programme to be dis
cussed by the Franco Belgian Commission have been
already agreed to- 1t may De already inferred that
the disquieting difference which had arisen between
France and Belgium Is virtually at an end
The following information relative to the course
and the progress OF the negotiations which nave led
TO the protocol drawn up yesterday. VIII foretell the
basis OF the arrangement arrived at
The French government proposed that Franco
Belgian Commission should meet at Paris to inquire
into the Belgan-Luxembourg Railway, and the
French Eastern line. The Belgian government ac-
cepted that proposal IN principle, but pointed out
that the programme to be discussed at 1t ought to be
previously settled. Each government drew up
programme.
The Belgian government proposed that the Franco
Belgian Commission should be entrusted with the
task OF inqurinQ into the means OF facilitating and
improving the industrial and commercial relations
between both countries.
The French Cabinet, having always in view the
starting point of the incident, proposed that the
commissioners should examine the economic advan-
tages OF inconvenience resulting from the railway
convention.
The French government objected to the Belgian
proposals. as being couched In terms too vague and
susceptible OF being Interpreted either too widely or
too closely II did not insist upon the validity OF those
conventions, but asserted that they might possibly
be the object Of modification necessltating new
inquiry.
The Belgian government supported Its proposal
by the necessity OF defending Its economic interests.
Then the French government made another pro-
posal, emDodying the two first that Is TO say that
the programme TO be submitted to the mixed conf
mission should comprehend an inquiry into the
ventons concluded between the two railway CON-
panieS and also Into the best means OF improving
the economic relations between both countries.
The Belgian government as5ented 10 the last pro-
posal.
1t is a fact that her Majesty queen Victoria
wrote an autograph letter TO the Emperor Napoleon
and to King Leopold H.. when that difference
threatened to assume more serious proportions
owing to the insults and menaces hurled at Belgium
by the semi-ofcial papers OF Paris. From what has
transpred those letters strikingy prove the deep
solicitude OF her Majesty for the preservation OF
peace and for the independency and welfare OF the
little cousin kingdom.
our Foreign Ofice has not taken any direct steps
In the matter and could not do So because Begum's
neutrality was never menaced by France. The
French Emperor is too wise to entertain such IDEAS
however cherished they may be by some OF his sub.
jects. But in the diplomatic world II IL no secret
that in the poupDdrjers exchanged at London be-
tween Lord Clarendon and certain foreign repre-
ambassador and the Belgian and French Ministers
for Foreign Affairs, the English government dis
played ouch tact and also concillatory spirit which
cannot be construed far from It, either as apathetc
to Belgium, or condescending 10 the peace az any
price section OF our cabinet,