The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-18
Hoods Pills a are 'a sf ssass shs zee &c
TO ANNEX LUXENBCRG-
\ German Paper Wants the Govern
menr TO Include the Neutral Duchy.


The Berlin LokaI Anzeiger strongly ad-
vises Germany TO annex the grand duchy
OF Luxembourg, which nv the London
treaty OF 1857 was declared neutral terri
tory. and 10 forTify the capital so that
STasburg. Metz and Luxembourg viii be
impregnable fortresses.
Commenting on this the New York Tr!b-
une says: Just as If there were not
enough OF irritating questions 10 disturb
the apparently peaceful somnolence or
Europe. rather important organ OF Ser
lin IS raising again the old question or
Luxembourg. which nearly brought war
between France and Prussia between the
years 1ss4-67. Both countries have always
coveted the ownership Of that grand
duchy, which separates them. and which
possessed in its capital a fortress consid-
cred as impregnable. But the powers. in
order 10 avoid terrible war-which broke
out. however: in 1870. though for other mo-
tives-compelled Prussia and France to de-
s!st from their claims. The treaty OF Lon
don in 1857 destroyed the main bone of
contention by ordering thu dismantlement
OF the Luxemburg citadel. and ii pro-
claimed the absolute neutrality Of the
grand duchy, which was, Ike Belgium
and Switzerland. TO serve as bumper be-
tween the aggressive nations in its
neiEhborhood.
German diplomacy. however. has never
given up the hope OF annexing Luxem-
burg. Its expectations were encouraged
when in 1859 a German prince, the Duke
AdOlphe de Nassau. became regent OF the
grand duchy. and then its sovereign. after
the death Of William III, Of Holland. who
could not transfer his own sovereignty.
over the grand duchy TO his heir. Prince
Wilhelmiaa. since the Sale law prevails
constituticnally in Luxembourg.
That country. which contains about 2l5.-
600 Inhabitants. was given by the treaties
of 1915 70 the Orange Nassau house of Hol-
land in order TO indemnify the latter for
the loss Of the territories she possessed in
Germany. In 1880, after the successful
revolution which separated Belgium from
Holland. Luxembourg was divided between
them. the larger portion going TO Belgium
and the smaller. with the capital and It's
famous fortress. reverted 10 Holland The
death of William III caused it to pass
into the hands of the junior branch OF the
Orange house. II is true that the actual
grand duke, Adolphe de Nassau, was dis
possessed by Prussia in 1866 of his Ger
man duchy of Nassau. and that in 1870 he
did not fight France in the ranks of the
German army. But since then he has
made his peace with the Berlin govern
ment which may fancy that he would not
be opposed 10 the annexation projects adj
vised by the LokaI AnZeiger. sun the
powers may not be ready on their side 10
see the London treaty torn into pieces,
and Luxembourg become an annex to the
German empire. Moreover. neutrality has
been highly profitable 10 the grand duchy.
It's budget since 1850 has always shown an
excess Of receipts over expenditures. 1t
was in 1891 10 o00. 400 francs of receipts
against 7.1l9.110 francs of expenses. Fin
ally the great majority of the population
is Of French origin. There are hardly
5000 Germans in the duchy. The inhan-
itants are also nearly all of the Catholic
faith. and the official language IS French,
though German is not prohibited. The
whole military force is composed of 375
men. commanded by eight officers, and in
that number gendarmes are included. II
seems that Luxembourg could hardly gain
anything for itself ii its neutrality. which
Is one Of the peace guarantees TO Europe.
should be transformed into annexation TO
Germany.