22 MAY 1875, Page 2

An extraordinary statement has been received from Brussels,— that the

Government of Germany has requested that of Brussels to prohibit Catholic processions within its territory. The state- ment is widely believed, but it is obviously invented by enemies of Prince Bismarck. If such a request could be addressed to the Government of an independent State, no country would be free, and Great Britain might be " requested " to restore the Estab- lishment in Ireland, or re-enact the Penal laws. The theory seems to be that the Liberals in Belgium will support the demand, and overthrow the Ultramontane Cabinet ; but the Liberals showed in the recent debate on the Bishops' Charges that they were Belgians first and partisans afterwards, and they will scarcely recede from that position.