Belgium has declared for neutrality, and has at the same
time put forward her adhesion to the rule laid down by the Paris Conference of 1856, that the neutral flag shall make neu- tral goods, and that the ships of neutral Powers shall be res- pected during war. The Belgian Government, therefore, noti- fies to its subjects that any who shall infringe neutrality by taking part with either side in the present conflict—since they would be acting againt the lavi laid down by their own Govern- ment—will be guilty of piracy and liable to the punishment thereof. We are not quite sure how far this enactment, for such it is, could be held final at public law, but it is of consider- able importance at the present moment. Placed as she is, Bel- gium could more readily be used against France than by France, —her flag could more conveniently be used as the cover for the naval efforts of some non-naval state than of one like France which possesses a navy of its own. In other words, Belgium could be more useful to Austria as a medium of attack upon France, than to France as a medium of attack upon Austria. The sagacious course of King Leopold, therefore, while it must tend to secure his independence in any eventuality, perhaps indi- cates that his calculations as well as judgment go with 13arainia rather than her enemy.
