The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-27

1t is probable that the proposed treaty by
which France was to recognize the acquisitions
of territory made by Prussia and Prussia in turn
to facilitate the acquisition of Luxembourg, and
consent to the absorption" of Belgium by
France, was under consideration about the time
that the events above described were transpiring.
1t is possible, however, that the projected
treaty was entertained at q later period, when
the "Luxemburg question" was threatening the
peace of Europe. AS early as June 90, 1866,
only nine days after the withdrawal of Prussia
from the Diet of Frankfort, that power entered
upon discussion with Holland of its claims to
Luxembourg, independent of the right to garri-
son the frontiers under the constitution of the
Old Germanc Confederation. Nothing
came of this discussion at the time,
but early in 1867 Napoleon re-
newed his intrigues for the acquisition of the
stronghold. 1t is o noticeable fact that the
"Yellow Book" on the Luxembourg question,
which was submitted to the French Chambers,
did not contain some of the most important
documents relating TO the negotiations with
Holland, nor did 1t make any mention of a
treaty which, it has been asserted had been
concluded with Holland on March %, 1867 But
negotiations of a serious character for the pur-
chase of the fortress and territory of Luxem-
burg were unquestionably made, and Napoleon
exhibited great anxiety to ascertain indirectly
the views of Prussia on tie subject. On March
81 the Prussan Ambassador at London was
informed by the Earl of Derby, then simple
Lord Stanley and British Minister of For
eign Affairs, that, sin his personal
opinion" the acquisition of Luxembourg by
France, in consideration of q pecuniary in
demnity, would be no more than legitimate.
Napoleon was extremely anxious to keep the
whole negotiation in his own hands, yet the
King of Holland informed the Prussian Ambas-
sador at the Hague that proposals for the ces.
sion of Luxembourg to France had been made,
but that he was wished to take no step in the
matter without the knowledge of Prussia. The
project Of Napoleon thus became known in Ger
many, mu.h to his chagrin, and an immense
uproar was the result On the lst of April, the
North German Parliament was unanimous in its
endorsement of the declaration that the Govern
ment must not suffer single province of Ger
many to be lost, and must resist the annexation
Luxembourg to France by force of
arms if necessary. The South German
States were equally emphatic on the same point,
and the Dutch Government became so alarmed
by the commotion created in Germany that on
the I'd of April the French Ambassador at the
Hague was informed that the King withdrew
his consent to the annexation of Luxembourg by
France. Meanwhile, the question between
France and Prussia was assuming an alarming
character Napoleon announced, through his
ambassador at London, that sooner or later
France must insist upon the evacuation
of Luxembourg by Prussia, while Bis
marck in turn declared that ''in the actual state
of things in Germany, Prussia was not in a
position to consent to the separation, under any
form, of Luxembourg from Germany, or to the
evacuation of the fortress" Through the inter-
yention and advice of the great powers, how
ever, Prussia consented to q general conference
of the powers for the settlement of the ques-
ton on the basis of the naturalization of the
fortress, and general European guarantee of
the neutrality of the duchy of Luxembourg.
The conference was held in London in May, and
on the nth the war cloud was dispelled for the
time by the signing of treaty establishing
that basis, and maintaining the sovereignty OF
the King of Holland over the disputed duchy.
Napoleon was thus again foied in his scheme
for extending the borders of France towards the
Rhine, and it is possible that at this time he
made to Prussia the proposal embraced in the
treaty, the publication of which has so seriously
complicated the situation as to render the neu-
tralty of England in the present war a matter
of extreme difficulty.