12 JUNE 1875, Page 2

The Belgian Minister of Justice has introduced into the Chamber

of „Deputies the Government Bill for preventing offences like that of Duchesne :—"Any person offering to commit or become an accomplice in any crime punishable by death or penal servitude, and any person accepting such a proposal, shall be liable to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than three months and not exceeding five years, unless there are ex- tenuating circumstances in the case. If, however, the offer be made verbally only, it will not be punishable by law unless con- tingent upon some payment, or gift, or promise of reward." There seems no objection to that law, but it should be confined to offers in writing. Otherwise every Ultramontane in Belgium may be liable to attempts to extort money, by threats of accusing him of having proposed to murder Prince Bismarck or Minister Feick. The law will probably be passed without a party division.