The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-23 00:00:00

HAYMA ULM

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—And 1100ARTLPS APPRESPICI6.--Cornmenoe at 64.

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LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 23.

Tim Conference met yesterday for what, in all
business respects, may be regarded as the last
time, and, after a desultory discussion of two
hours, separated without anything having been
agreed to, or anything done. This issue of it.
prolonged deliberations completely justifies the
anticipations of those who foresaw from the brat
that a Conference without conditions, into which
the aggressors entered still holding the provinces
they had violently seized in defiance of every
public right, must in the nature of things either do
nothing, or merely ratify a great public wrong. The
formal business of yesterday's meeting was to receive
the reply of the belligerent Powers to the proposal
made by the English Government at the last sitting,
to refer the division of Sleswig to arbitration. This
proposal was declined by both belligerents. The
German Powers refused to submit the question as
to the division of Sleswig to the decision of any
arbitrator. It had been anticipated in some quarters
that Austria, at least, might be disposed to accept
the English proposal, and certainly if ever Power
had reason to do so, Austria has at this moment ;
but if so, her wish in the matter has been overruled
by her more reckless and headstrong ally. In any
case, it would of coarse be extremely difficult at this
time of day for Austria not to follow the determined
lead of her rival ; and although the waris becoming
very unpopular in Austria, and the prospect of its
recommencement excites very audible dissatis-
faction at Vienna, the Austrian Government is
united with the Cabinet of Berlin in refusing
every specific proposal including the last.
This refusal, though softened in form, was
in substance sufficiently firm and decided. The
Danish Government also declined to refer the vital
question of a frontier to the proposed arbitration.
No other proposition of ►ny kind was mule, and
the meeting accordingly resulted in the final
rejection of the only proposal that was before it.
This virtually closes the labours of the Conference.
There is to bo a final meeting on Saturday, but
this is understood to be a matter of form; and as
there is nothing further to be discussed, it seems
hardly likely that anything will be done.
With the breaking up of the Conference the
policy of our government will, undoubtedly, reach
a very critical stage. It will be difficult, indeed,
to exaggerate the gravity and importance of the
crisis, for the events of the next few days can
hardly fail to affect the momentous issues of peace
or war. The Conference has failed, but we are
not responsible for the failure, except as being re-
sponsible for the folly of assembling it. It
has failed through the obstinacy and rapacity
of the German governments, in refusing
the well-considered proposal of the mediating
Powers. But the failure, however brought
about, is in some respects • fortunate event for
this country. it is far better for the Conference
to do nothing than for it to be converted into an
instrument for destroying the great public inte-
rests, the international rights and treaty obliga-
tions, it was nominally assembled to pro-
tect. Its failure is a less disastrous
alternative than its success might have proved.
As the matter now stands we have not ratified the
wrongs of the aggressors, and England is hap-
pily saved from becoming the unwilling accomplice
in a policy of spoliation. The only engagements
to which we aro committed are now, as they
were before the meeting of the Conference,
those arising out of the London Treaty. That
Treaty was only contingently abandoned ; the
condition being the acceptance of the specific
solution proposed by the neutral Powers on the
28th of May. That proposal having been rejected
by Germany, England is free to revert to the
Treaty or to take stand by the proposal of the
government. We are not bound, it is true, to
give the Treaty, or any other basis of settlement,
more than a diplomatic support ; but it is abso-
lutely essential to our honour and influence to
adopt • definite policy on this question without
further delay—to say how far we mean to recognise
the violence and wrong of the German Powers,
and at what point in their policy of spoliation we
refuse to hold further intercourse with them.

Tnr. Cmcrrarxce.—The Plenipotentiaries ac-
credited to the London Conference met yesterday,
at the official residence of the First Lord of the
Treaaury, in Downing-street, at 3 o'clock, and sat till
six. All the members of the Conference were
present. The Conference will meet again on Satur-
day next.