The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

PROSPECTS OF WAR.

The tone of our daily journals is increasingly
warlike. "No one," says the Times, " who
knows what has passed can fail to see that if this
country allows the Danish war to begin again, and
to be carried to such an end as the German allies
propose, not only a grievous wrong will have been
perpetrated in Europe, but the just influence of
England—an influence always of late years used in
defence of freedom and national independence—
will be seriously impaired. Whether it be prudent
or not to interfere at once, whether Sleewig, or a
part of it, could be delivered by British aid, are
political or military questions which will require
anxious consideration. In the meantime we think
that a suspension of diplomatic relations should be
1 the immediate result of the rejection of our last
proposition for peace. There can be no benefit in
being represented at courts which have treated
England with such contumely. When this step is
taken, the government will be able to determine
in what way material effect may be beet given to
the protest on which it may have resolved."
The Post says it is impossible to suppose that the
idea of arbitration is one which can have the
slightest prospect of success. The proposal was
l one thrown out in despair, and accepted out of a
wish to be civil to each other on the part of the
plenipotentiaries, more than from any real hope
entertained by them of its offering a solution.
" For ourselves," says the Post, " we have never
indulged in any delusion upon the subject. We
have from the first predicted a war as the inevitable
ultimate result of our policy. We have been its
inconveniences and drawbacks ; but we have felt
I convinced that the time would at last come when
the British nation would feel its honour engaged
in this question to an extent which would, in the
opinion of the country, render this alternative im-
peratively necessary to the maintenance of its po-
sition as a first-class European power."
According to the Morning Herald, it is matter of
public notoriety that the Cabinet is divided, and
that " one section is anxious for peace at any price,
whilst another, with a lingering sentiment of
honour, would prefer even war to a disgraceful
peace." The war between Denmark and Germany will
break out again on Monday, " unless," the Herald
thinks, "the English government gives the German
powers plainly to understand that in that war they
would have to contend with England. Let Austria
and Prussia understand that, and they will be glad
to take that part of Sleswig which Denmark is
disposed to yield."

(sera's

THE SLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION.
COPENHAGEN, Joss 20, 7 r.w.
All the liberal papers of this morning publish
articles referring to the ministerial crisis.
Dadibladet says :—" The proposed Sleswig-Hol-
stein solution is the very last the nation will ac-
cept. The people will never suffer the sacrifice of
Sleswig and the Danish right. The King exists
for the sake of the people, not the people for that
of the King. No ministry recommending the for-
mation of a state of Sleswig-Holstein can stand."

DENMARK.
COPENHAGEN, Jon 20, 8.3 r.m.

The difference which existed between the King,
the Ministry, and the Privy Council was settled
this afternoon.

The Beriingske Tidencie of to-day expresses doubts
as regards the authenticity of the current statement
relative to the Russian proposal for the settlement of
the Deno-German question.

FRANCE AND JAPAN.
PARIS, Jura 21.

Before leaving Paris the Japanese ambassador
signed the treaty which was the object of his
mission.
The news received from Japan continues pacific.

FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND.

PARIS, JUNZ 21.

The commercial negotiations between France
and Switzerland are terminated, and the treaty
will be signed by the representatives of the two
countries to-day.

SPAIN AND PERU.
MADRID, luas SO.

It is stated that at a ministerial council under
the Presidency of the Queen, it was decided to
treat the Peruvian difficulty in such a manner as
to avoid war.