Year: 1870

less been the reason that attempt has been made
Foreign enlistment act. report which mad
reached her MaJesty's government that attempts
vice in France was acted upon with the greatest
promptitude by the authorities OF the Home ONCE.
WScb Sysc a %s wnsn a. as y from the nS
to ss.,,rs be atacneH e the
shall hereafter be spared to 'aS aeal ~ promptly
with any actual or complicated iniractions or the
law. am glad 10 fud that yeur Excellency now
not only does not insist upon but dscaims the doe
trine or benevolent neutrality, which appeared to
her Maeslys government, after most careful ex,
August, to be the principal basis on which your
representations were founded. That such doctrine
while it must be as generally admitted that 1t would
be real departure from neutrality for neutral TO
change, without general consent It's practice--a
practice, be 1t deserved In conformity with the
views Of all writers on international law, because
such practice might incidentally bo more or less
favorable to one OF two belligerents.


Good offices may be benevolent but neutrality,
like arbitration, cannot be so.


neutral nation guided itself by any principle or rule
OF conduct however just or meritori0us in itself,
sanctioned by the usage OF nations.


/ sincerely rejoice that Prussia who as q neutral
has always been strenuous champion OF the rights
OF neutrals, now, as your Excellency points out
shows desire to "lnchne to every progress in the
field OF increasing the active freedoms Of CONNER
cial interests In time OF war, though cannot but
observe that the special point which your Excel.
ency adduces as evidence OF this desire is ques-
tlon which may be viewed differently by Independent
Powers in proportion TO their maritime strength.


Her MaJestys government, at the outset OF o war
which they deplored, and after an appeal to the
be.ligerentS to act in accordance with the twenty
fourth protocol OF the treaty OF Paris had been re-
fused by them, declared their neutrality in the
earnest desire to maintain friendly relations with
botn. 1t was their wish to exercise all friendly
Offices compatible with perfect impartality.
They further expressed their determination
to exercise their duties aud maintain their
rights as neutrals. 1t gave me great sats-
faction when your Excellency was good enough to
inform me in conversation that you knew OF no other
subject but the one under discussion on which Ger
many had any foundation for complaining OF the
attitude Of this country as neutral 1t IS not for
the lrst time that inform your Excellency that her
Maesty's government have no jealousy OF German
unity. They believe 1t to be great and worthy OBJ
ject for Germany to endeavor, with the consent OF
oil It's members to consolidate Its vast moral intel
lectual and physical powers. An ardent desire that
not only the governments but the people OF Great
Britain and Germany should be in the most friendly
relations induces me to repeat my belief that so just
and Thoughtful NATION as yours will not permanently
entertain feelings Of rancOr against England or,
might add, the United States, for adhering neu-
trails the practice wnich they had always adopted,
and which, up to the outbreak or the present war,
has been the theory and practice OF both the beger
ents. have, &C., GRANVILLE.