The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-27 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The only news brought by the German papers is
that there are many symptoms of an approaching
good undemtanding le•twecn the cabinets of Vienna
and Berlin. A speedy retreat to the old Diet seems
to be the condition on which the agreement of the
two courts has again been brought about. A strong
executive, however, is still talked of. The Koine,. Zvi-
May says that something decisive muy be almost
immediately expected.

COLOGNE, MARCH 24.
The .Journal des Dehots has been persuading the
public that M. de Manteulfel was on the eve dir-
missal. and that General Radowitz had chances of
mraitaing his position at the helm of Prussian
aftiiirs. This news has made u sensation, but after
all, M. Maidenftel is still premier, and M. ltadowitz
is just what he was before. I believe this state of
things is destined to last for some time longer,
at least until after the formal restoration
of the Frankfort diet. All those who take
credit for superior judgment in German altars
have always regarded the simple reinstallation of
this diet as the final purpose of enlightened abso-
lutism in Germany. 1 think we are just about to
arrive at that destml term. Letters from Berlin
state that " it is understood that Prussia will pro-
lxibly give way on the question of the presidency." A
Vienna correspondent states that a cabinet council has,
just been held which has been favourable to M. de
Schwarzenberg's policy, and it is expected that the
Frankfort diet will be re-opened in about a month.
Why, then, all this hubbub—so much mantra-
wring to arrive at so simple a result? This is a ques-
tion which, even in Germany, it is found hard to
answer. It is easy to understand why it was not desir-
able to open the diet immediately after the sitting of
the Frankfort parliament. That might have led to the
greatest inconveniences ; to remain with folded arms
' would have been equally unwise. It was therefore
neeessarytoact even at hazard. Foreigripolitics, too,
and especially the suggestions of the court of Russia,
have had a at share in the false moves of the
Austrian and Prussian cabinets. Russia has made
both sides believe that she would sustain their policy
up to a certain point. She has urged Prussia until
that power has retrograded in her interior policy,
and every such backward step has rendered her
weaker and less able to win success in her exterior
negotiations. This is the reason why Russia and her
diplomacy seemed willing to allow Prussia to proceed
in her projects to gain ascendancy over the small states
of Germany, well knowing that her reactionary policy
would render her powerless to carry out her projects
to a successful issue. When it was seen that Prus-
sia had alienated all Germany, it was only necessary
to leave her face to face with Austria to make sure
that she would also retreat from her foreign—that
is to say, her German—policy. But when at length
Prussia saw herself abandonCd by all, and thus com-
pelled. by the events of the last six months, to play a
pitiable part, Austria had gained almost all that her
rival had lost. It seemed as if Austria was about to re-
gain the imperial crown of Germany. That certainly
would not have answered the purpose of Russia cat
European diplomacy ; which had already, viz., in
the treaty of Ifls, left two powers in the Germanic
Confederation, because here was a certain means of
enfeebling it, and exposing it to the influence of the
foreigner, and especially of Russia, a power always
ready to *same the role of a protector, first of one,
then of another, in order to assure its dominion over
both.
. _

The same game which Russia played towards
Prussia has been carried on with Austria. She made
the young emperor and his councillors believe that
she would aid them to humiliate and maim Prussia,
the " revolutionary" power of Germany. In the
latter Russia certainly acted bwai finer but Austria
believed that Russia would help her to strengthen
herself at Prussia's expense. Before Prussia was
completely humiliated in the opinion of Germany
and Europe Russian diplomacy cujolled Austria in
all possible ways. Even when Austria, for the first
time, revealed her intention to enter the confede-
ration with all her provinces. Russia had nothing
to object to that proposition, so long as it needed
Austria, to compel Prussia to break completely and
definitively with the revolution, as M. Dc Manteuffel
phrases it. But once this work done. Russia held
another language to Austria. Russia had no wish
whatever to see a strong power by its side. supported
by all Germany. It would rather, upon occasion,
lend Austria an army for Hungary, and even another
for Italy, than see her strong enough to dispense
with her aid.
_ _

Austria will retreat from her pretensions; there is
no doubt of it, and then Schwarzenberg and Man-
teuffel may shake hands. Their position will be the
same towards one another, towards Germany, and
towards Russia, of which both have been the dupes.
Each has put forward grand pretensions, believing
that he was sustained be Russia, and each will have
to confess to Europe his impotence and simplicity.