NEWS OF THE WEEK.
SOME question, we have reason to believe, has recently arisen between Germany and France of a very grave character; but the danger has blown over, and the Belgian question, though serious for other reasons, as we have tried to explain elsewhere, is not .directly dangerous to peace. The German Government has -addressed a Note to Brussels stating that in the altered circum- stances of Europe, arising from increased facilities of communica- tion, each country is bound to provide that its subjects should -not injure the domestic peace of neighbouring nations. If its laws do not secure this end, the laws should be remodelled, and Germany proposes to set the example. The proposition laid -clown applies to all States, but is advanced in a "friendly" manner. It is denied in the Note that the advice refers to the liberty of the Belgian Press, but there can be no doubt that it menaces their liberty to discuss foreign affairs, and the Berlin Post admits that one object of the proposal is to restrain
Bishops' charges. They have become, it says, attacks -directed by a foreign Power. The reply of the Belgian Govrernment is not yet yet known, but that cautious Court will probably express its readiness to follow any general European precedent, and do very little indeed. It may, for instance, pass - a law authorising the prosecution of a libellous statement against a foreign Government in the regular way and before a jury.
