Year: 1867

LORD sTANLEY's ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF
COMMoNs-wHAT ENGLAND GUARANTEEs-THE
SITUATION CRITICAL, AND PROMPT ACTION RE
QUIRED, ETC.


LONDON May 9.-The House of Commons as
sembled this evening Mr.. Labouchere alluded
to the Peace Congress negotiations, and in
quired if the English Government intended to
guarantee the neutrality OF Luxembourg with
out first taking the opinion of Parliament on
such an important subject and SO serious an
Official proceedingY


Lord Stanley, Foreign Secretary, replying on
behalf OF the Cabinet, said the members OF the
Peace Conference had met IN session for the
second time To-Day, and although he could not
at present enter INTO detail oil the proceedings,
he might report that substantial arrangement
had been arrived at in the Conference on all the
matters In dispute, so that an amicable settle
ment of the Luxembourg question was practl-
cally realized at this moment. Loud cheers
followed the announcement


Lord Stanley proceeded to say that he con-
graduated the House of Commons, and con-
graduated the country at large on the fact that
the good sense and moderation OF the powers
bOurg difficulty had had the effect Of arresting
the unspeakabIe calamities which would ensue
to the people from European war.


With respect to the part taken by her Ma.
jestys Government in the matter, the Cabinet
acted in accordance with constitutional usage
in their ministerial responsibility as the official
advisers of the Crown and Sovereign, which
responsibility, as well as the reasons Wnien eLl





TO Vindicate to Parliament, aud before the
country, The matter had become very critical.
Ministers were informed every moment, by
telegraph and otherwise, OF the increasing
gravity of the case, so he (LOrd Stanley could
not take upon himself to postpone or delay an
amendment desired by all the parties interested
and proposed in the ConferenCe-when by go
doing he would most likely prevent altogether
the maturing and giving expression TO the
sentiment.


ith reference to the guarantee of the neu-
trality OF Luxembourg, he (Lord Stanley re-
GREETED to observe that the House of Commons
should show a susceptibility with regard to the
action OF the Cabinet, tor he also voted the
guarantee. The members of the House were
aware that England and--what was an uncOm
mon occurrence-the remainder OF the great
powers who were parties to the Luxembourg
and Belgo- Holland treaty of the year 1885, had
ahsoIutely guaranteed the territory of LuXem.
bOurg to the King OF Holland at that time.


What the Government had now done was
merely to adapt that guarantee 10 the present
circumstances of the case, and render 1t efiiea
cious in view Of the changes which had taken
place IN the Germanic Confederation. MINIS
ters had not extended, but. on the contrary
had rather limited the guarantee incurred IL
1889, and by that action contracted the respon
sjbility which the country sustained under IT,.


The present negotiations would Oe DrOugh
TO a conclusion within the space OF 1eW days
and then the whole of the papers connected
with the proceedings of the London Peace Con
gress of 1867 would be laid before Parliament
Houd cheering followed the close OF Lore
Btanley's speech.)