[Extract.]
Mr. Wright to Mr.
Seward.
No. 17.]
Legation of the United States,
Berlin, April 4, 1867.
Sir: The Luxemburg question has been the
all-absorbing topic of conversation during the past few days, especially
among the members of the Reichstag. On Monday Vice-President Bennigsen,
on behalf of the Liberal party, asked the Prussian cabinet what truth
there was in the various rumors concerning the cession by Holland of
Luxemburg to France. Count Bismarck replied at once to the inquiry. (See
enclosed memorandum of the points in his remarks.)
Probably no event would so tend to hasten the deliberations of the
Parliament, or unify the German people, as much as a movement to cede a
foot of what they consider their territory to a foreign power, and
especially when that power is France. There are signs that since last
year the feeling of animosity among the Germans towards the French has
been increasing, and a war at this time against Napoleon would be more
popular even than the war of last summer against Austria.
From what has taken place in Berlin between the Russian minister and the
Prussian foreign office, it may be conceded that an understanding if not
an actual treaty exists between the two cabinets concerning the eastern
question and internal affairs of Germany.
* * * * * * * *
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Vice-President Bennigsen’s and Count Bismarck’s
remarks in the Parliament on the 1st instant.
In Monday’s sitting of the Reichstag Herr von Bennigsen asked whether
the rumors of negotiations between Holland and France for the
cession of the grand duchy of Luxemburg to the latter power were
well founded, and whether the Prussian government was in a position
to make communications to Parliament to the effect that it is
determined, together with its federal allies, to secure permanently
against every danger the connection of Luxemburg with the rest of
Germany, and especially Prussia’s right to garrison the capital of
the grand duchy. Herr von Bennigsen, moreover, declared that all
parties will be united in giving [Page 580] the government their most powerful support to
prevent the separation of an ancient German land from the rest of
Germany.
In answer, Count de Bismarck said :
“We value amicable relations with France and avoid wounding her
susceptibilities. I cannot, therefore, reply to the second portion
of the interpellation, as to the course that may be adopted in this
matter by the Prussian government in concert with its federal
allies. Your language becomes a representative of the nation, but is
not diplomatic. Respecting your first question, asking for
information in regard to the rumored negotiations between Holland
and France for the cession of the duchy to the latter, I may state
that nothing is known of the conclusion of such an arrangement
between those states. The federal allied governments believe that no
foreign power will endanger the undoubted rights of Germany. We hope
to protect them more safely in a peaceful way the more the debates
in Parliament shall show the indissoluble ties between the
government and the people.”
