27 NOVEMBER 1869, Page 2

A most important statement has been made by the Prussian

Government, that, in its judgment, the right of extending the jurisdiction of the Federal Parliament belongs to that Parliament alone. Consequently, it might claim rights which would reduce the local legislatures, that of Prussia included, to mere municipal councils. The Prussian Liberals scarcely know what to make of this. They like the Federal power to show itself grasping, because that tends towards unity ; and yet they do not like it, because the Federal Parliament, being elected by universal suffrage, is more Conservative than their own. The balance of opinion, however, according to the Times' correspondent, is in favour of the theory.