The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-24 00:00:00

THE AUSTRIAN DESPATCH OF DECEMBER 24.

The following is a translation of the Austrian despatch
of the 24th of December calling upon Prussia to arm.
It completes the series of documents. It is addressed
by Count Buol to Count Esterhazy, the Austrian Am.
bassador at Berlin :

" "VIENNA, DEC. 24.
"M. le Comte,—The Imperial Government is induced,
by the additional article of November 26 and the resolu-
tion of the Diet founded upon it, taken on the 9th inst.,
not only to come to an understanding anew with the '
Prussian Court, respecting the military arrangements re-
quired by the position of the two German great Powers,
but also to give the Imperial Ambassador, who is President
of the Diet, the necessary instructions to co-operate in
carrying into effect the said resolution of the august as-
sembly.
" In order, however, to raise the discussion of this sub-
ject at Berlin the Imperial Government has waited for the
answer of the Prussian Cabinet to the official communica-
tion of the alliance contracted on the 2d of December ; for
it is clear that Prussia's adherence or non-adherence to that
treaty will cause her to modify the military measures she
will have to take. It was our earnest wish to be enabled
to resume with Prussia our deliberations for the joint mili-
tary preparations of Austria, Prussia, and the entire Ger-
manic Confederation, on a line of exact political equality.
But since the declaration of the Berlin Cabinet, now lying
before us, postpones a decision on this subject, we are
limited for the present in our negotiations for the equip-
ment of the German Powers to retain merely that basis
that was already founded by the alliance of April 20 and
the resolutions of the Diet on the 9th inst.
" According to the 3d article of the treaty, and the
second paragraph of the military convention annexed to it,
Prussia has eventually engaged to mobilise 100,000 men
withirk36 days, and again to place another 100,000 men on
its eastern frontier within three weeks after placing in
readiness the former body of troops. This engagement is to
come into operation as soon as the necessity for it arises, by
virtue of the stipulations in the treaty, and consequently
all that has now to be done is to come to a proper under-
standing on this point between the contracting parties.
" There can hardly be a doubt now, however, that the
necessity for this mobilisation is actually at hand, in case
there should be no certain prospect of re-establishing the
general peace by the end of a term now very near, and in-
deed before the expiration of the present month.
" Russia is ready to take the field on her eastern fron-
tier, and can concentrate, in a very short time, her forces,
now ready for action, so as to strike a vigorous blew at the
empire. For making its appearance at the Upper Vistula,
the Russian army requires far less time than is requisite
for the equipment and concentration of a Prussian army,
100,000 strong. If the fulfilment of Prussia's engagement
to assist in defending Austria from all attacks i,s to be
realised, it becomes, under such circumstances, more
urgent every day that Prussia should have in readiness
the military forces required for the purpose of common
defence. Baron Hess is decidedly of opinion that the
moment vas arrived when Prussia should commence the
mobilisation of apart of her army, according to the treaty.
He declares that our forces stationed on the Eastern fron-
tier will not suffice, until joined by the 100,000 Prussian
troops, for enabling him to commence the contest with the
prosctive certainty of success.
" Ape more detailed discussion of the arrangements to be
made on this head ought therefore to be commenced with-
' out delay. We are also ready to send again and at once
for this purpose a military commissioner to Berlin.
"In the opinion of the Ordnance Master Baron Hess,
in case these negotiations should be conducted not merely
on the basis of the April Treaty, but also on that of Prus-
sia's accession to the treaty of alliance of December 2, the
collective force of Prussia's contingent, as stipulated in
the military convention of April 20, would suffice for the
present, and nothing further would be imperative save the
immediate and simultaneous mobilization of this aggregate
foros of 200,000 men, which can be concentrated at Posen
and Breslau.
" With respect, further, to any military measures on
the part of the Bund, we indulge in the hope that Prussia
will be willing to co-operate with us at the Diet for
promptly and vigorously calling out what was agreed on
the 20th of April should form the minimum of the Diet's
contingent. Assuredly, all the Governments composing
the Diet will evince the greatest readiness in taking this
step, when they see the two great Powers setting them the
example by placing their own armies en a war footing
commensurate with the occasion.

" Together with the armies of Austria and Prussia, by
virtue of tie stipulations mentioned, the remaining States
shall hold the half of their contingents ready for action.
In so far as it is applicable in the present instance, either
four separate half army corps could be formed, each with
its own commander, to be nominated according to the pro-
visions of the military federal statute, while each half con-
tingent could be joined later by its remaining half, se as,
if required, to bring the four army corps to their full
normal strength; or two combined and complete corps—a
South German and a North German could be formed. In
either case these federal corps would have to effect a junc-
tion simultaneously with that of the Austrian and Prus-
sian armies. The forms to be used in calling out and con-
oeutrating the federal troops may be left to the option of
the Governments concerned and the deliberations of the
military committee. All that in this respect need be
attended to would be to take care that no delay ensued
through the difficulties, perhaps, that might attend the
mobilisation of the half-contingents, respecting the forma-
tion of the smaller bodies of troops in particular, since the
chief object of the measure is to have the federal troops
ready for action, and in the strength prescribed. The in-
dividual Governments should not be fettered while pro-
moting this object, and, after the precedent of partial
levies on former occasions, the troops soonest ready would
have to receive the route. The federal adjustment of the
burdens by subsequent services, or by the payment of
their equivalent to the Diet, could be settled afterwards.
"Should Prussia's accession to the alliance of December

2 take place later, Use two Powers would doubtless be in-
duced at the same time to extend thoir joint motion in the
Diet to the calling nut of the whole grand contingent of
the federal army, in order to give to the military position
of the entire Germanic Confederation a greater force,
stringently necessary for the offensive.
" Your Excellency will easily conceive that it is of imme-
diate and practical import rote for Austria to be speedily
and fully made acquainted with Prussia's intentions rela-
tive to the points I have been dwelling upon. Our further
measures, in a military sense, and especially with respect
to our sending a military commissioner to Berlin and in-
structions to Frankfort, are connected with the reply of
the Prussian Government to the present note. In coromn-
nicating this note therefore to the President of the Minis-
try, your Excellency will express to him the very great
value we set on receiving information as speedily as possi-
,

ble, and it is to be hoped in the sense desired, Niith regard
to Prussia's views and resolutions concerning the mobilisa-
tion on the part of the German Powers.—Receive, &c.,
" Count BITOL."