27 MAY 1871, Page 2

On Tuesday night, Lord Granville, in reply to Lord Stanhope,.

explained the course taken by the German Government in answer to the claim put in by England for indemnification for six English, colliers sunk in the Seine in December last. Count (now Prince). Bismarck had expressed his regret that for military reasons the seizure of those colliers was necessary, and his intention to in- demnify the owners at once, without waiting to determine who. ought ultimately to pay the indemnity (i. e., whether the French- or German authorities should do so). And the indemnification, as estimated by the authorities at Lloyd's at 27,073, was paid by Count Bernstorff by a cheque on the 9th May with the greatest readiness and promptitude. The matter is a trivial one enough, but so far as it goes it is creditable both to the English and to the German Foreign Office. Prince Bismarck was suavity and con- ciliation itself, and there was neither swagger nor timidity in the manner of the British claim.