New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-07
THE BELGIAN CORRESPONDENCE.

FRENCH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE PROPOSE
TON FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS.
Iron TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRtBNE'I
PARIS, April 2l.-The correspondence between
Germany and Belgium continues to entertain u5.
Now that We have the foil text of the German note
of Feb. 3, and tho Belgian Minister'S reply OF Feb
26 along with long analysis III the h0fnlsche lev
tung of the German note OK April 10, the aliaU
grows in importance What interest the case loses
from the absence of that menacius tone which was
attributed by some to the first German note
before the text was printed, Is moro than
made up for by tho discovery of the Ger
man purpose to make Of it larger question
of general International law. That this was Prince
Bislaarck's original purpose now seems probable
from the fact lust revealed in the British Parlia-
rnent that, so early as January, 1874, the Berlin
Cabinet had requested the support of the Queens
Government in energetic renOnstrances addressed TO
the Belgian Government apropos of a pretended con-
spiracy against Germany plotted III Belgium. The
Sd of February note of the following year resumes
and cumulates all the Old and new griefs
This note complains that the Belgian Government
has not done what the Belgian Government cannot
do without violation Of the Constitution by virtue
of which it exists Freedom Of speech and print IS
an inherent right recognized and guaranteed by the
Belgian Constitution articles ii and Is. That the
revolutionary request preferred by Prussia was I'M
reasonable and could not be acceded TO is set forth
with clcarness by NJ. PAspremont-Lynden Belgian
Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his reply of Goth
of February, but with this note the I'M
portance Of the matter is greatly increased,
for il prepares the way for International Con-
gress The application referred to above expressed
verbally to England SD early as 1874, seems
partially to Indicate that the German Emperor was
already meditatng new order of international
rules. But that his plan for arriving at its COM
pletion was then devised is hardly supposablc, in
view of the text Of the first note, February 3. aud
of the analysis of the last note, April 10, published
in the KVlnsche Zcitung In the long interval between
the dates of these two State papers, the Great Chan
ccor has confesscdy become aware Of certain facts
that he seems six months ago 10 have ignored, and
consequently changed his base of diplomatic opera
tious. Important III the first series Of these is the
general fact that Prince Bismarck was asking his
weak ncighbOr TO enter upon an utterly revolution
ary policy-likely, if attempted in Belgium to be
revolutionary In moro senses than one. But it has
been made apparent that the municipal laws OF Bel
GUM in so far as they bear violations Of lnterG-
tiopa law done by its subjects, are mainly identical
with those run. in the German Empire, but that
where the Belgian legislation differs from the Ger
man legislation in this respect, it differs in the sese
of severity. We find Bsmarck's Government, in its
new note of April 10, conessing the proprley this
Spring of modifying i'll the future It's own laws
touching international amity. W. H. H.