The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-10 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

(nom ons owe coassaroxiarr.)
VIENNA, Aram 6.
I now proceed to giveyou a detailed account of the
contents of yesterday's telegram, with some infor-
mation not contained in it. Austria recognises the
Duke of Auguatenberg. The recognition and car-
rying out of the law of the land in Schleswig-Hol-
stein, intimately mixed up as it is with the rights
of the Duke as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, is only
a question of diplomatic opportunity. It is no
longer a question of law. That point is decided.
Austria has not resolved to act on the conclusion
come to that she is no longer legally bound by the
Gastein Convention, owing to the late seta of the
Prussian government. This, however, is her de-
cided opinion ; and her ministers, considering
that convention has now no lawful power over
them, may take a positive step, and act in accord-
ance with that firm opinion, or may not. The
Zuchthaus Verordnung (the " House of Correction
Ordinance," as it is nicknamed) of March 11, pro-
claiming a felon's punishment for certain political
acts in Helksir► as well as inAchleswig, was one
reason why the said convention was considered
broken. The second reason was, that in Count
Bismarck's circular note of March 24 pretensions
to the Duchies were put forward, and a determina-
tion to abide by them expressed, of which no men-
tion was made in the Convention of Gastein. Theme
unauthorised pretensions on the part of Prussia
completely changed the relative position of the
contracting parties. And thirdly, in conformity
with the spirit of the previous acts, and as though
Schleswig were already incorporated with and a
part of Prussia, his Majesty, as King of Prussia,
proceeded to the nomination—the definitive norai-
nation—of the civil officers of the Duchy.
As I have already informed you, Austria intends
to place herself, with regard to the Diet, on the
footing of a Federal state. This mode of action is
accepted in principle ; the manner of carrying it
out is not yet decided on ; that is a question of
the moment which may be found to be most op-
portune.
As a proof how little preparation for a campaign
has been made here, in spite of the asserted " arma-
ments," I can tell you that the war budget up to
the present moment exceeds the estimates made in
time of and with prospect of profound peace by
38,000 florins only (or 3,800/.).
Count Bismarck's next move will be to propose
calling a German parliament to settle the question
of the Duchies. The King is said not to be averse
to the plan. There is probably a reminiscence on
his part of the year 1849, when, by a decision of
the National Assembly at Frankfort-on-the-Maine,
the supremacy in Germany was accorded to Prus-
sia. King William IV. refused the imperial
crown, deciding to take it only " von Tiache dee
Herrn" (" from the Lords' table"). There is some-
thing droll in the idea that the despiser of a repre-
sentative assembly should propose summoning one
to decide on so important a question. That he
should thus just come forward, says the Ost Deutsche
Post—" he, the annihilator of parliamentary life
in Prussia, the inventor of a budgetless govern-
ment in a constitutional State, the destroyer of the
free tribune, to appear as the restorer of the Ger-
man constitution of the empire—what a picture of
pride bordering on insanity ! What an unspeak-
able mockery of the German people !"
A gentleman who is thoroughly well acquainted
with Prussia and Prussian character, with the or-
ganisation of the army, and the detail of military
arrangements, tells me he feels coufitlent--more
and more confident—that there will be no war. He
says all that is being done in Prussia is too demon-
strative to be in earnest. "It is," these were his
words, " rather a campaign of demonstration than
of action." All is managed too clumsily ; managed
so, moreover, as to make much show, and produce
great effect with the least possible expense. The
infantry reserves are called in, which in fourteen
days would put every regiment on a war footing.
But this causes little trouble or cost. For the train,
the preparations for which take longest time, and
cost moat, hardly anything, if anything, has been
done. As I said, only that which can be done
quickly and makes most effect, has been carried
out.
Another friend, who is more versed in the politics
of Germany than any man I know of, is also of
opinion that there will be no war. Outwardly the
moment is more critical than ever ; in reality he
says it is the reverse.
I give you these views because they come from
two individuals, each of whom, from his special
point of observation, is well worthy to be heard.
Should they prove true, then it would be difficult
to find words strong enough to brand with them
the man who, for his own bad ends, has put Europe
in commotion, and who faces about when ho finds
his threats are unable to intimidate.
The Prussian garrison in the Federal fortress of
Rastatt has been withdrawn. In these fortresses
it is customary for the command to be held by an
Austrian and Prussian general by turns. At this
moment it is an Austrian officer who holds it,
Prussia considers, under present circumstances, she
cannot allow her troops to be under his command.
On the 4th was a grand review on the Parade
ground, in presence of the Emperor. About 15,000
men, infantry and cavalry, were present, with 84
guns, each with six horses.

APRIL 7.

A despatch has arrived from Berlin, couched—
strange to say—in the most polite terms, but, as
usual, giving only an evasive answer. Count Bis-
marck protests against any wish on his part for
war. According to his own account, no one can be
more peacefully inclined ; only—and that is the
principal thing—he wants the Duchies, and is de-
termined to have them.

It is greatly to be feared that the glozing words
of the Prussian Premier, and his assurances of his
dove-like feeling, may have the effect of deferring
the decision of the question, whether it is to be
tolerated for one power thus to lord it and ride
rough-shod over others as though they were
already its vassals. Prussia now evidently seeks de-
lay. She has miscalculated, and wants time to repair
her error and arrange other combinations. But at
present all these combinations are favourable to
Austria—a chief reason why Prussia wishes now to
wait—and she should make use of the favourable
circumstances which fortune has prepared for her.
She has allies ready to move their armies in her
cause ; she has all Europe morally on her side,
while a feeling of indignation—l may say of execra-
tion—is felt for the power whose every word is false,
whose every proposition is that of a swindler. The
last one, to call together & democratic German par-
liament, not only shows the impudent audacity of