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

THE PRESS AND THE CONFERENCE.

The Times observes that the highest hopes of
the German powers will have been gratified if they can
detach the whole of Sleswig and Holstein from the king-
dom and erect it into an independent state under a prince
of their own choosing. This, in fact, can now be done by
•simple proclamation. With the exception of Alien, they
hold the country, and, unless some other power inter-
venes, they have only to declare it separated from Den-
mark, and to constitute the new government. They
may then leave Denmark alone, so far as the invasion
of any new territory is concerned, and content them-
selves with resisting its efforts at sea, and holding
Jutland as a guarantee for the payment of the expenses
and losses that may have been inflicted on Germany.
"Something like this," says the Times," is very possibly
the Prezio-Austrian programme, though it may certainly be
that a more ambitious war is contempl►ted, and th►t Den-
mark left alone would have to expect an invading force in
Photon, and perhaps at the capital itself. The passion which
animates the Germans, and the ►mbitiou which possesses
the Prussian reigning family and their minister, may lead
to any excesses. In this latter case there can, we think, be
no doubt of the course which honour and international duty
would recommend to England. Whatever may be the de-
cision of the country with respect to operations on the
mainland, we feel sure that the expression of English feeling
would be universal to the effect that the Danish Islands
should be made safe against ►ny attack of en enemy. In
this there would be no difficulty, as a small squadron would
be quite sufficient to bid defiance to soy armament which
the German powers could put to sea. These speculations,
however, are almost premature. There must be to-day, or
very shortly, an explanation to parliament by ministers,
and a discussion of the present critical state of affairs. Par-
liament, which has left matters so Wag under the complete
control of the cabinet, contenting itself with occasionally
showing its sympathies and the intensity of its interest in
the struggle, will now take care that the national honour is
not compromised."
The Morning Herald says :—" The negotiations are at
an sod, and its for parliament to pronounce, of its own
Matinee, if the ministry will not inaugurate • policy and
ask its approbation, what course England shall pursue
in this momentous juncture. What that course should
be will be easily determined. England, with Lord Derby,
loves peace; but, with the noble leader of the
conservative party, she loves honour more. If she gods
that her honour and her interests all upon her to give
her energetic support to Denmark, that support will
be given, at whatever sum the cost may be esti-
mated. If the ministry will, eves at the twelfth boor,
recognise their duty and declare their determination to pur-
sue to a successful issue the policy for which the country
calls, well and good ; they will have the warm, the general
support of parliament. But if they will not announce
their policy, or if they propose to basely abandon the
came the nation is resolved to sustain, their days are num-
bered. If ministers will not themselves ask the support of
parliament by a policy which commends itself to the na-
tional sympathy, and tins excuse in part their past weak-
nem and folly, her Majesty's opposition will give the repro-
mutative' of the nation the opportunity of declaring what
coarse the country should pursue."