War clouds returned shortly after the completion of the justice system reforms. In October 1865 Franz von Roggenbach retired from the Foreign Ministryu over which he had presided since 1861, to be succeeded by , a top diplomat of long experience. As Prussia's dispute with Austria turned into war, the government of Baden under Stabel's leadership pursued a resolutely law-based approach. The government enjoyed full support in this respect from the First and Second Chambers and from the army. Any other attitude would have been unthinkable in view of the popular mood and the geographical position of Baden and its neighboring states. The political tradition of the Grand Duchy had been strongly liberal ever since its creation back in 1806. There was no sympathy for the intensified quasi-diplomatic manoevrings of the Prussian leadership since 1864.