The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-15 00:00:00

1111TAINIA,,

Ting Evnitaa. A MESSAGE FROM TEE filk-ROB ROY.
Master Percy amens and Miss C. St Came—And BOOA RIM'S
APPZENTICIS or, Industry and Idr....assa —Commence et B+.

NIUE WAX= AT LONDON BILIDEL
Tins DAT Maim fita. Men— .A.irsatim M.
To.Koaiow Nowa& lob. Albossara. lla

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15.

THE prospect that a Conference without a basis
would effectually redress the wrongs inflicted on a
small but independent State by two powerful
military despotisms, has never been regarded as a
very hopeful one by any except the most sanguine
and short-sighted political observers. All that
could fairly be anticipated was, that it would
sacrifice the weak to the strong in a more formal
and deliberate manner, as well as under somewhat
more reasonable conditions, than could have been
looked for had the war been allowed to run its
course and terminate in the usual way by direct
negotiation between the belligerent/. Whether the
Conference will actually succeed in effecting even
this meagre result, is at the present moment ex-
tremely doubtful, more uncertain, if possible,
than it has been at any time since the
sittings commenced. Until it finally breaks up,
however, there is of course always a chance that
its deliberations may terminate in some settlement
more or less satisfactory. It must be admitted,
moreover, that its proceedings up to the present
time have not been wholly barren of result. The
Conference has arrested active hostilities for a pe-
riod of six weeks, though if the war is to recom-
mence at the expiration of that time, this is a very
doubtful advantage for Denmark. Than, again,
it has virtually destroyed the Treaty of London,
and sacrificed the integrity of the Danish Monarchy,
which the signataries of that treaty unanimously
declared twelve years ago to be an essential condi-
tion of European peace and order, and thus a pri-
mary object of international policy. The project of
a personal union between Denmark and the
Duchies has been brought forward only, however,
to be so effectually quashed that it is hardly
likely to be revived again either now or hereafter.
The principle of dividing the disputed territory
has been virtually accepted by all the members of
the Conference, and the neutral Powers in their
capacity of mediators have very properly assumed
the responsibility of indicating where in their judg-
ment the line should be drawn, giving at the same
time the grounds of their decision. After acknow-
ledging the sacrifice which such a loss of territory
would entail on Denmark, the neutral Powers say
in their formal declaration to the Conference :
"But to justify so great a sacrifice on the part of
" Denmark, and in order to maintain the hide-
" pendence of the Danish monarchy, it is desirable,
" according to our opinion, not to draw the iron-
" tier line further north than the mouth of
" the Schlei and the Danneweike." The
Danish Government hesitated to accept this
line, onthe obviousground that the port of Eckern-
forde and the small peninsula of Sumac* were
almost essential to the defence of the Schlei. But
eventually, in order to promote a settlement, this
lower line was given up, and Denmark has now
contingently accepted in its integrity the proposal
of the neutral Powers. The declaration of the
Danish Plenipotentiaries in the Conference suffi-
ciently shows, however, that this concession must,
for obvious and irresistible reasons, be regarded as
their ultimatum. The mediating Powers and one
of the belligerents are thus agreed not only on the
principles, but on the details of the proposed
division.

Under these circumstances it would seem as
though the difficulties in the way of a settlement
had almost vanished, and that there ought, there-
fore, to be no serious doubt as to the result.
Instead of this being really the case, however, the
prospect of • pacific solution appears to be as
remote as ever. Germany still resists the proposal
of the neutral Powers, and hopes by holding out to
secure in the end a larger slice of Danish territory.
In this condition of affairs everything depends on
the firmness and unanimity of the mediating
Powers in adhering to their own proposal If they
resolve to maintain the line of the Schlei, which
they have declared essential to the independence
of Denmark, and announce this resolution in the
Conference, there can be little doubt that Germany
will yield, and a settlement be effected on the basis
of their own proposal. If, however, the neutral
Powers waver, Germany, doubtless, still hold
out, the Conference break up without result, and
the war inevitably recommence.

IT is believed that the plot for overturning the
Government which has occupied the active spirits
of the Parliamentary Opposition, and been the
talk of the town for the last few days, has broken
down and been abandoned by its authors in sheer
despair. A craftily worded resolution, adapted to
the prevalent feeling on the subject of Denmark,
but so contrived as not to commit its supporters to
any tangible policy or even to any particular cause,
has been in circulation, and the name of an
honourable baronet of respectability was mentioned
as ready to move it, if such a course were thought
politic. But, if we are correctly informed, the
scheme has failed through the refusal of • large
number—it is said as many as sixty—of the most
respectable members of the Conservative party to
have anything to do with a movement for turning
a national reverse to party profit. A bumi
attempt to ascertain the opinion of the
House of Commons respecting the Danish
question, and then bring it to bear practically
on the action of the Government, would
deserve the utmost support. But nothing was
further than this from the intention of these plot-
ters, who zealously support a system under which
Parliament evades its proper responsibility in re-
spect of the administration of our foreign affairs,
and only want to take advantage of the ill success
of honest etTcrta put forth in s cause approved by
the country.

The Conf,r-,nce will not meet today, as arranged
at the last sitting, but to-morrow.