The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-17 00:00:00

GERMANY.

BERLIN, Jess 13.
Itisvery true that the Prussian arguments employed
in the declaration just published on Zolverein policy
may be very easily refuted; for, in fact, they do not con-
tain the real and only tenable reason for Prussia's
resistance to the coalitionists' demands. Why does
not Prussia boldly and frankly say, "I will not ne-
gotiate for a customs union with Austria, because it
is absurd to think of two rival great powers having
a common exchequer, and being dependent on each
, other for the determination of their commercial
I policy and foreign alliances. It would be not less
absurd to propose an amalgamation of the Prussian
and Austrian armies, or the appointment of conjoint
ambassadors: and I will not negotiate for a com-
mercial treaty with Austria before the renewal of
the Zollverein, because, if I did, the minor Zollverein
states, some of whom are in Austria's interest, would
attempt to dictate terms; whereas, after the signing
of the Zollveruin's treaties, I can freely reject, with-
out being threatened with seeession,whatever proposal
displeases me." This would be equally plain and
unanswerable, and, till Prussia speaks out plainly, it
will hardly succeed in settling the matter. The
Dresden Gazette concludes :—" A peremptory de-
mand for a speedy decision is not expressed ; the
declaration contains only one passage in which allu-
sion is made to the necessity of having time for the
requisite administrative arrangements in case an

agreement for renewing the ZollveThn,,,
of Nevertheless, I, can testify that this pa;
sage is the one on which the government here lays
most stress. The form of the declaration is softenil
down as much as possible ; but it certainly was the
intention here to make the opposite party fully un,
derstand that Prussia leaves them no alternative but
unconditional acquiescence in its programme w
secession from the Zollverein, which luitcr
eventuality Prussia is fully prepared fw.
The coalition states, however. cannot loeg persist in
taking Prussia's polite form of expressing itM tf, tei
indecision. They must BOUII see that their demand.,
are thoroughly rejected. But it is very &min:
whether they will then abide by the I tarinstadt
solutions, which provide, in such case, that the Zit!•
verein be regarded ns renewed among theues•be,
without Prussia and Hanover. Popular opinion
the coalition states, especially among the conuenid,
classes, has so loudly and unanimously remonstrithi
against the Darmstadt resolutions, that it is a etr.,
tion whether the governments will have the couriia•,
or even the power, to enforce them. On the effir
hand, popular opinion in Prussia goes strongly vine
M. von Manteuffel. Hurl he at the commencensb:
made proposals tin• altering the Zollverein's syste,;•
and thereby himself endangered the continuanii
that union, he would have loaded upon himself
odium; but, by keeping entirely on the deli
he throws the odium of provoking a breach on •
opposite parties, who are the aggressors,
gains the credit of preserving ut least the main p,••
of the Zollverein from being made over to Atwt..
The Hanoverian government has refused to
a railroad from Osnabruck to the confines ut
burg, which the Oldenburg chamber demand-,
one of the conditions for its acceding to the tr. •
the 7th September. This refusal may be hist
by narrow-minded disinclination to promote ti
burg's commercial interests; for Hanover is veri
row-minded in such mattera • the greater part
public there are still infected the old nation
ono loses what a neighliour may gain. But i•
possible that the refusal may have a far del nit'
import. The Hanoverian government may
to keep the full rutiticution of the trusty of the 7!!i
of September still in suspense, in ordi r to Nag iin
between Prussia and Austria for its Whence
pending Zuliverein conflict. But after the spin;;
shown by the Oldenburg Chandler it will probaliir
waive the point rather than endanger the union
Prussia. And, should a difficulty arise, Pru-i,
must solve it by giving the money fur the railroad 4
question.

The Frankfort Post &dung, of the 11th, ears:
Count de Bunt Sehatemstein, Austrian Minister 'of F..
reign Affairs, has had delivered t• Baron Manteuffil a Teets,
dated the 23rd ult., announcing to him that all Iteglliel
relative to the commercial and customs' qumtion wrr
broken off. This note was written in reply to a despiei
M. de lilaatcuffel, who had requc.ted a positive di e:ary
tion. Thu cabinet of Vienna has also declared to the
scrnmcnts of the coalition of Darmstadt that it ',lli 1.1
longer negotiate with Prusida.