Ottoman Diplomats

Synopsis

Djéniel writes about the French-Belgian railroad issue. It seemed to have threatened the relations between the two countries. Belgian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Frère-Orban, went to Paris to discuss the situation with French Prime Minister Roucher. According to Djéniels information, those two gentlemen would not agree on all points. He foresees most difficulties when it comes to making up a mixed committee: would it merely consist of businessmen or would it also contain political elements? Djéniel thus thinks that the discussions could take even longer, especially because France did not seem to want to rush things if it expected get more out of it. England disapproved of France’s attitude towards Belgium, and promised to support this small country. Like France seemed to want to lay its hands on Belgium, Prussia was interested in Holland and its ports. Djéniel wonders what use France could get from possessing Belgium if Prussia had Holland and already ruled over entire Germany. To conclude, he expresses the hope that France considers all consequences. (Djéniel writes what ‘we hope’, ‘we wish’, etc. In other words, it is difficult to distinguish his own opinion from the Belgian public opinion.)

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