Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The possibility of a war between Prussia and Austria, which is likely to embroil Europe, and the results to which it may lead, have naturally excited some solicitude here, which, if not expressed by the organs of public opinion, is none the less general. It is feared by many that there is an understanding between France and Prussia by which the Rhenish provinces, in whatever part, are to be given to the former in return for its countenance to the plans of Prussia, thus menacing the integrity of Belgium.
The policy of this government seems to be to show by no act or word any such apprehension, or any doubt of the good faith of the powers who have guaranteed the neutrality of Belgium, and in reply to-day in the house, to representative Coomans, who asked if it were true that the government shortly intended to ask for fresh credit on account of precautionary military measures, M. Frereorban, minister of finance, said that if, unhappily, it became necessary to request an extraordinary credit for the national defence, he should state the measures proposed by the government when demanding the credit; but up to [Page 66] the present the government had no such request to make, and consequently nothing to reply on the subject.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.