New-York tribune., 1875-05-17
THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.
RELATIONS OF GERMANY WITH BELGIUM
AND FRANCE.

OF THE CAR TO BERLIN.
lfRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
LONDON May 4-H any old man of so and up
ward ever changes lifelong habits, it will not be
Earl Russell Bad habits perhaps more In
veterate than good ones; at any rate, hardly any
bsdy would say that the habit of which this aged
Peer last night gave another illustration is good
habit He is meddling with the Belgian business
again; and as before, lecturing about it from the
high horse he is 50 ready to mount. He
moved in the Lords that address be pre-
sented to the Queen for copies OF the recent
correspondence between Germany and Belgium,
with an account of the steps taken to ascertain
the truth of the allegations referred to In the
said correspondence' This that
some steps had been taken, and implies that Earl
Russell thinks some should have been taken, and
that he himself would already have taken some had
he been in office. Most Engshmen will feel sense
Of relief that he is not. The correspondence he
keeps pestering Lord Derby to produce has been
communicated confdentialy TO the English Govern
ment. 1t relates to matters at issue between two
foreign governments, neither of which has asked
the advice or interpositiOn of England. The cor
respondence could not be published at present with
eut violation of good faith. The subject of it could
not in its present shape, become matter for English
interference IN any way without violation of good
manners, to stronger phrase. In the way
which Earl Russell indicated in his speech nterfer-
ence by England would expose her again to the hu-
Mutations she had to endure when Earl Russell was
her Foreign Minister He, if anybody ought to
have learnt the diplomatic meaning of the word
snub. But now he wants the state of the
Belgian laws inquired into. Should it prove
that Belgium has statutes against threat
enng the assassination of men high in office
in another country, he would have pressure put
upon her TO enact such laws. He wants Lord
Derby TO tell him whether if the law does not exist,
the Belgian Government will propose to the Legsla-
tuTe TO pass for the better preservation of amty
between Belgium and friendly foreign nations Lest
il be thought incredible such suggestion should
he made in such terms by man who has been all
his life concerned in public affairs, and especially In
foreign affairs will say that lam quoting teXtuaDy
from verbatim report of Lord Russelfs speech.
And his speech relates to a matter by which lately
great alarm was excited. and on account OF which
many persons thought the peace of Europe endan-
gered. Wilfully almost wantOnly, Earl Russell stirs
the embers of that dying fire. 1t is hard TO believe
he wants 10 help kindle another conhagration, but
what can his object be
Nothing could be more judcious than Lord Derby's
answer TO this to Lord Russels previous inquiry
The papers, he says explicitly again. are not his to
produce He had been requested by the Embassa-
dors who communicated them to him to consider
them confidential. The last one had reached him
only three-quarters of hour before. They are all
shortly to be laid before the Belgian Parliament.
But Lord Derby does not hesitate to say, with en-
phasis that the correspondence contains nothing on
either side of unfriendly character, and nothing
in the nature of menace. The question between the
two Governments Is a question whether Belgian
law is sufficient to satisfy the admittedrequirements
of international relations. That, says Lord Derby
and one hopes that Earl Russell may not be In
sensible 10 the rebuke-is question on winch no
Foreign Minister ought TO express opinion with
ont full and careful examination of the laws OF other
countres-fuller than he himself has been able TO
make Neither side has addressed any appeals to
England and nothing coud be gained, concludes
Lord Derby almost sternly by volunteering at this
stage an uncaled-for interference IN a case which
has been only partly heard.
This. YOU may suppose, put Lord Russell to some
shame or at least to silence for the future Nothing
of the sort He instantly announced that he should
renew his motion on another occasion, and suppose
nothing on earth will prevent HIM. de is as IRE
pressible as DR.. Kenealy. But even Dr. keneay mas
held his tongue in the Commons of late and has
shown signs even in his own paper OF desire to
conform to the general prejudice in favor OF decorum
and moderation
THURSDAY Nav 6.-The Belgian reply Lord
Russell was so anxious about published yester-
day by the Belgians themselves. If that impatient
octopenarian had waited two days he might have
spared himself the trouble of putting his question
conjecture that he congTatulates himself on havlng
been 80 prompt The reply is trm and moderate
1t satisfies Belgium and contains no cause OF oifense
10 Germany. The investigation into the Duchesne
business is proceeding by legal methods As to new
laws Belgium with exemplary modesty-possibiy
NOT without a touch of humor-remarks that she
will wait to see what those laws are which Germany
says she herself intends to enact for the reform OF
her own code. Perhaps they may be a useful guide.
With that the correspondence might be Thought TO
come TO a natural end for the present. But 1t would
not sut the Ultramontane party that 1t should come
70 an end. Theirs is a policy of perpetual disturb
ance Nothing suits them i'll as that the nations
of Furope should dwell together In harmony. In
straments of mischief are always at hand and pre-
texts were never wanting to Jesuit ingenuity. Ihe
Reloian Rishop of Namur seized the moment when
notes were known to be passing between ms own
Government and the German to publish pastoral
full of fire and fury-with due proportion, also o1
insult and depunciation to the address OF the Ger
man authorities responsible for the persecution OF
the Bishops fellow frebrands on Teutonic soil.
AGAINST the license Of this Episcopal outburst Ger
many is said to have demonstrated. Behold Europe,
therefore. now once more, by the mediation OF
modern Apostle of good will to on the rack for
dav or two to know what may come of the new COM
slication This morning ii is denied that any Ger
man note has been received at Brussels but no one
knows whether to believe the original statement or
.be naked assertion of Reuters Brussels agent that
II is unfounded II is not denied that the pastoral
was issued.
Nor il this all. The Emperor Of Russia is to visit
fbe Emneror of Germany at Berlin next week.
France regards the visit with alarm Her apprenen-
I.x-. fl,al EaQn