4 MAY 1867, Page 1

NEWS OF Tim WEEK.

THE Luxemburg affair looks for the moment a little less dan- gerous. On Monday the Times startled its readers by pub- lishing a telegram with a grand sensational heading, " Settlement of the Luxemburg Question." It turned out that Prussia had consented, on the solicitation of England, to meet the other Powers in a Conference to be held in London, and discuss—what ? That is not yet settled, the bases, as they are called, of discussion not having been decided up to Friday evening. The concession, however, inspired hope, which was increased by Lord Stanley, who stated on Monday that " he had every reason to believe in an amicable arrangement ;" and by- Lord Derby, who on Thursday said he had no doubt the two Powers would accept a solution, offered by unanimous Europe, which would not injure their military honour; and which would be in accordance with the wishes of the Duchy. It is understood that this expression refers to a proposal to raze the fortress on condition that Europe will guarantee the Duchy, and the idea is strengthened by a remark dropped by Lord Stanley on Tuesday, that Luxemburg was already under such a guarantee. Lord Derby, however, admitted that no basis of agreement had been adopted, and there are not wanting those who consider that the Conference is a mere device— partly to gain time, which Napoleon and South Germany both want, and partly to place each litigant in the right before the world. Up to Friday night nothing had been done except to issue invitations to the Conference in the name of the King of Holland. Even the date of sitting is undetermined.