The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-27
TIE DUTCH PARLIAMENT.

TIE DUTCH PARLIAMENT.
The following is complete report Of discussion
which took place In the Dutch legislative chamber
On the airslrs Of Luxembourg on the 9th of July.
iSe7:-
N. THonBEcxE said:-For a long time we have been
aware OF the rumors anu the malcyolent comment
ares provoked by the proposed cesson OF the Grand
Duchy OF Luxembourg. Calculations and greedy
speculations are spoken Of and Holland said to be
turn out as little serious that OF 1885, In that year
there was also report Of the cession OF Luxembourg
in Germany with general disapprobation. The com.
municatiOns on tnat OCCASION although they had no
constitutional character. might have compromised
Holland, and we then declared that Luxembourg
was no more to us than any other foreign country.
Being Minister at the moment. was able to provo
that cur German neghbors lcere committing grave
errors Of political Geographic In any case, now
more than in 1853 it Is necessary to guard against
mistakes which might be made involnntarily but
also might be premedtated. 1t Is more than time
to make known to all the world that Holland is a
stranger to the destinies of Luxembourg; and.
for us. We do do not wish to Know ANY any
thing Of the negotiations which concern Luxem-
burg. The Grand Duchy is an ancient German
country, which during some time was a French pos
session. Its position Is delicate between France.
Germany and Belgium, and those Powers are equally
raying point for ardent PATRIOTS II Is also the spot
on which converge political calculations ana per-
Without value, and our only interest is as our good
relations with foreign countries should not be dis.
tnrbed because OF Luxembourg. DO not let us be
drawn into any complications on this subject; we
must not become the victims OF the vlcssitudes OF
the Luxembourg question. Let US take care to give
either fear or weakness when our rights and our in.
forests are OF stake That Is why 1t Ia important to
Dutch by Count bismarck in the GERMAN r
ras essG r., Pptsrpeasesai ,,s on the Luxsmbu,g
government Of Holland had offered is rood S C ts
Tor the negotiations with France relative Luxem.
narg the ne, object Of my INQUIRY at present is TO
Count VAN zuYIEs VAN NYrvrlr. Minister of
ent Interpolation Is very agreeable TO me, and for
TWO reas0ns-Flrst, personally because 1t furnishes
Conduct and secondIy because II procures me an
occasion Tor defending the King Of Holland against
accusations which break down before the force OF
truth, and which have been certainly heard with In
dgnation By all who attached TO their sovereign
and their country 1t cannot be the intention OF the
are the views OF the Grand Duke relative to Luxe-
burg, or what IS or is not Unable on the subject
question ~ seriously S and anS man aer
long study he has arrived at the conviction that the
interest OF Holland demanded the rupture Of the
dynastic connection which, however weak In ITSELF
still exists between Holland and Luxembourg.
There ID no question ct all Of the millions and treas
Ires which were represented as about to be paid.
would nave been go small that 1t would
not nave sm0unted to oneaf Of the DO
are certainly foreign to the order Of deliberations In
This assembly. As to Knowing whether the reply OF
can be no difference OF opinion except on one point
The offer did not apply to negotiations already
opened, but to such as might be entered at later
period. There have been no negotiations at all on
the subject OF Luxembourg, but only conversations.
nave no knowledge as TO what has been said about
Official negotiations and the exchange OF written
dispatches The object Of those conversations was
to arrive ut negotiations and they Will probably
suit in some future arrangement 1t Is obvious that
the government and statesmen Of Luxembourg alone
nave the power OF concluding such matter. Now
land does not require her to keep her eyes open so
as TO know how the property OF the Grand Duke IS
u De disposed OF, or whether she should abandon
opinion of the honorable member that Holland
has nothing more to do with Luxemburg than
public opinion In Germany is either badly en-.
ughtened or that 1t wishes to be SO. The busi-
ness Is to know If the Dutch government can be
blamed for tue acts OF the Grand Duca one; and, to
prove that this fear Is not futile it Is sufficient 10
remember what happened when Luxembourg en-
tered the German Customs Union. OF ITSELF there
fore, ought to arise this qdestOn:-How will the
Dutch government act to cover It's own responsible
ity at the same time that 1t gives direction to
aiairsS Everybody mas but one oD, ect ony-that OF
preserving peace. That also has been tie principal
aim Of the Grand Duke, and for that reason he felt
disposed to lend an ear TO negotiations; but the
whole question was enyeloped In certain cloud,
and the consequence might very well have been
that what was considered as a means OF maintain.
ing peace might have precisely contrary effect.
The Minister knew that the President Of the Luxem-
burg ministry had arrived here. From the very
nature Of the affair that functOnary is the parsonage
to treat officially with the Grand Duke. But how
could the President be in position to know the SEN
timens OF the other Powers about an eventual ces
sion Of the province9 lfnow the Dutch d,pomatlsts,
this inqulFy do they not by SO acting intervene
more perhaps than the government wishes in the
affairs OF LuXemburg' That 10 the question WHICH
fsss g e & fun e ss &c T e
matter. believe the best course will be 10 adopt
large and honest policy, and for that purpose Of
fered my services as intermediary to arrive at ne
g0tatons. And now think that the very fact Of
my undertaking that Office proves precisely that we
are not parties in the affair. In the official note
written on the subject declared that the Dutch
government considered itself disengaged from all
Responsibility as to what might happen to Luxem-
burg; thst II rejected any 0thsr sort q liability and
wished to present Itself as an intermediary. In send
Ing that paper the government understood perfectly
well and was fully convinced that 1t would receive
negative reply; but the note accomplished Its
ect, which was TO relieve the government from all
responsibility, as admLted by the Prussian Cabinet
In It's answer. The result IS that the affair, even
when negotiations shall take place. Will concern the
Grand Duke exclusively. The honorable member has
said that Holland has no interest ut Oil IN the Lux
emburg question. accept that declaration on one
suitably and completely regulated. 1t Is therefore
with great pleasure that announce that the declara
ton that Lmburg Is disengaged from all ties is
given by Prussia. ] have urged the matter on the
Prussian government in the Interest of a good I'm.
Outstanding between Holland and france, and also
between Holland and Prussia, so that all the grev
ances arising from the equivoca position OF that
province might be removed, and ! am happy to say
that the Prussian government has made the most
explicit declaration on the subject. Crhe Minister
reads q note, In which Count Bismarck af1rms
nat Limburg, after the settling OF the territory by
the Parliament, is dsengaged frOm all It's connec-
tlons) believe, continues the Minister, that have
wen explained the object OF the Dutch government.
may now evidently abandon the question 10 the
REPRESENTATIVE grand 0uchV u mot