The Treaty between England and Prussia for the defence of
Belgium has been signed by Lord Granville and the North- German Minister, Count Bernstorff ; and Lord Granville has re- ceived the assurance of the French Ambassador that it is also approved by the French Government, and will be signed by the French Minister as soon as he receives his full powers. The treaty records the "fixed determination" of the signataries "to main- tain the independence and neutrality of Belgium," as provided for in the Quintuple Treaty of 1839, declares that Her Majesty will co-operate with the Power named in the treaty to resist the violation of the neutrality of Belgium by the other belli- gerent, in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon, "em- ploying for that purpose her naval and military forces to insure its observance." But the Queen does not engage herself to take part in the general operations of the war, except so far as she may think essential to her particular purpose. The treaty is to be binding for a year after the cessation of hostilities between France and North Germany, after which the parties to it fall back on the general engagements of the Treaty of 1839. The proposal for the treaty was communicated to both the Russian and the Austrian ambassadors within an hour of its communica- tion to France and Germany, and Austria has expressed concur- rence, and promised, in case of the assent of France and Germany, to join. Russia is spoken of as quite favourable to the drift of the treaty, but as wishing for some general engagement of larger scope.
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