THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST BELGIUM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 755, 24 October 1870, Page 4

THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST BELGIUM.

The following important letter — addressed by the Hungarian general Stephen Turr to Count Bismarck — has been published in the Tagblatt of Vienna. A translation of it appears in La Nazione of Florence of the 10th August, but we believe it had found its way to England before the last mail left. Our version of it is derived from the Italian channel. If it can be relied on as authentic, it goes to prove that Count Bismarck wa3 just as ready to sacrifice Belgium as Louis Napoleon was eager to acquire it, aud that the diplomatists of ZFrance and Prussia have been acting with equal duplicity towards England : — " Tour Excellency, — Tou must certainly still remember the 10th and Ilth of June, 1866, in which we repeatedly discussed the eventualities of a war between Prussia and Austria. But in case they should have partially faded from your mind, I will take the liberty of refreshing your Excellency's memory, by adducing some particulars in reference to the localities in which those conversations took place. The faculty of recollection ia often revived by means of these particulars, and the remembrance of a familiar locality not unfrequently brings back in a miraculous manner all those ideas which happened to bo casualiy related to it. " On the 10th of June, 1866, I had the honour of conversing with your Excellency iv your cabinet of study, and on the Ilth of June I spent an hour with you under the great tree in your garden. Tour Excellency was much pre-occupied with the outcome of the war just about to commence, and you said to me, ' Ah, if the Emperor ZNapoleon were agreeable, the war might be soon settled ; the Emperor might easily take Belgium, and also Luxembourg, and rectify the French frontiers. I have proposed all this to him, but he will not discuss the point. If you go to Paris, let me beg of you to mention all I havo said to the Prince Napoleon." " This was what your Excellency observed to me on the 10th aud Ilth of June, 1866. When, after the war, I returned from a mission to the East, in 1867, I again spoke with you, and explained to your Excellency my ideas upon the subject, which were that the unification of G-ermauy could only be completely accomplished when Prussia should decide to follow tho example of Charles Albert in ISIS, who, instead of raising the flag of Savoy, unfurled the banner of Italy, and gave a liberal constitution to his kingdom. But we perceive, I added, that Prussia eveiy- | where upholds the Prussian flag only, 'and bestows upon the Confederation a constitution that is less liberal than that of any other German country whatsoever. Tour Excellency replied that all this was true, and that the Prussifying tendencies which distinguished the Government of King William were deplorable, but that your Excellency was unable to remedy what the King and the part}-* of great Prussia had done. " Speaking of Austria, I said that this power might perhaps make such concessions to Hungary as would correspond with the desires of that country. Tour Excellency answered that you were doubtful about that, and added, ' Austria always works for Prussia. Look at the treaty of Gastein and that of ZNikolsbourg. Austria abandoned her allies, and offered me the occasion of contracting an alliance with them. Tou may be assured that if the Austrian concessions do not satisfy Hungary, I will do all in my power to aid your country in conquering its independence and iv promoting an extension of Hungary towards the East.' " I ventured to respond to your Excellency that Hungary had no wish for conquests, but that her security might lead to the reconstitution of Poland, which, coming from Prussia, would give great satisfaction to that noble country. Tour Excellency replied that Prussia was prepared to do much for Hungary and for the countries on the Lower Danube, but that you could not discuss the Polish question, since Prussia could not dispense with the friendship of Kussia. Continuing the conversation, your Excellency proceeded to speak of the violence of the French newspapers, of which you complained, and added, ' I wish to live on

good terms with France; and not to engage absolutely in a war with that nation. "We have chiefly to thank the Emperor Napoleon for the success of our arms in 1866. By his neutrality, by hia loyal behaviour, and by his refraining from asking for any indemnity, the Emperor has materially facilitated our warlike plans ; yet lam not disposd to lean altogether upon France. But here in Berlin one must act cautiously iv order to avoid giving umbrage to the King. But if the Emperor Napoleon is willing to put his wishes into writing, I will take upon myself to realise them in a few months. If, for example, he wants to annex Luxembourg, he has only to raise up a French party there which shall demaud a union with France. I shall not stop to ascertain if the majority of the population really seek for the union, but will accept in silence the accomplished fact. As regards Belgium I have often said, and I repeat it again, that the Emperor Napoleon ought to take Belgium, and if any Government should raise up any opposition to it, we will meet that Government with our bayonets." "Your Excellencyis aware that I repeated these words to the Emperor Napoleon, because I wrote to you in reference thereto, availing myself of the directions which your Excellency noted down in my portfolio, and which I jealously preserve. In that letter I informed your Excellency that if Prussia wished to make friends in France, she ought to prove by her conduct that the scope of her policy was a free Germany, and not Prussian militaryism. " The concessions which Austria made to Hungary were important, and were joyfully accepted by the great majority. When I myself, after an exile of 20 years, returued to my native land, in the middle of September, 1867, I was convinced that the great majority of the Hungarians were sincerely reconciled to their monarch. Soon afterwards I departed for Constantinople, and irom thence to Belgrade. In this latter city, at tbe house of Chevalier Scovasso, the Italian consul, I. met Herr Lobareau, the consul of Prussia, and Signor Marinovic, the President of the senate of Servia. "We discussed politics. During the conversation the Prussian Consul, turning to Signor Marinovic, said that Servia ought energetically to arm herself so as on the first favourable occasion to cross the Danube and the Save, to take Croatia, Bacadta, and the Banat, and to hasten to the assistance of the Prussians, who would march through Bohemia upon Vienna, while the Russians would approach it from the other side. " For my own part, I observed to Herr Lobareau, that his remarks suggested much matter for reflection, aud that they indicated a radical change iv the war programme at Berlin since 1866. Thereupon the Prussian Consul endeavoured to give a wholly different signification to his words, but only got himself into a tangle. When I was alone, Signor Marinovic assured me that Servia would never suffer Prussian intrigues to drag her into these bold schemes, as she was most anxious to maintain her friendship with Hungary. " In reply, I observed that the interest of the two countries, Hungary and Servia, demanded that the greatest harmony should subsist between them, and that I ought to bless the good fortune which had thus revealed to me a part of the Prussian plans, which were quite enough to divest my mind of all ray Prussian sympathies. " After my return from the East, in October, 1867, I related what had happened — which, according to my custom, I httd entered in my diary — to several friends and fellow-country-men. " Ifc was not my intention to make this matter public, but- since I perceive that your Excellency, by revelations made through your own medium, and especially by the publication of Bonedetti's treaty, wishes to represent yourself to the world as innocent, I have considered it lo bo only loyal warfare to send you these slight recollections, availing myself of that publicity to which your Excellency appeals. "Hungary ardently desires to ccc Germany great and united, but she will' not suffer herself to be entangled by Prussia, the intimate friend of

Eussia. At the first menace of danger the Hungarians will rally round their sovereign for the defence of their country, as they did in the hour of peril uuder ZNlaria Theresa."