The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-26 00:00:00

The Dano-German Correspondence.

The second part ,of the correspondence respecting
the affairs of the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein
was issued yesterday. The correspondence begins
on Jan. 21,1863, and is brought down in the present
publication to Sept. 30, 1863. Two distinct period's
are embraced in it. In the
,first, extending from
Jan. 21.10 March 30, 1863, we , have several
despatches from our representative at Copenhagen
and from others, relating, the. proceedings of the
Danish Landsthing and the Holstein Estates, show-
ing the motives and nature of the. resolution of
Denmark, embodied in the now repealed patent of
March 30, 1863.

Athongst the most interesting papers is the
following despatch, dated Paris,, Sept. 18, in
Which mr. Grey communicates to Earl Rus-
sell the femarks of M. Drouyn 'de Lhnys
upon certain propositions of the noble earj.
Mr. Grey sayi:—" The commtiaication which I
made to him to-day involved, he (M. Drouyn de
Lhuys) said, a more formal step, and one in, which
he, for his part, could see no prospect of advantage.
The offer of good offices would he thought be useless
(inutile). The second modeof proceeding suggested
by your lordship, viz., To remind Austria, Prussia,
and the German Diet, that any acts on their part
tending to weaken the integrity and independence
of Denmark would be at variance with the treaty of
the Bth of May, 1852; would be in a'great measure
inalogous to the course pursued by Great Britain
and France in the Polish question. ,He had-no in-
clination (and he frankly avowed he should so speak
to the Emperor) to place France- in the same posi-
tion with reference to Germany as she had been
laced with regard to Russia. The formal notes
adaressed by the three 'Powers to Ruesia had re-
ceived an aniwer which literally meant nothing;
wind the position in which those three great
Powers were now placed was -anything but
dignified ;, ar4d if Ragland and France were to, ad-
dress such a reminder as that proposed to Austria,
Prussia, and the' German Confederation,lhey must
be prepared,. tq ,go , further, t!n4 to adopt a course
of action more, in accordance, with the dignify
of two great Powers than they were now doing in
Polish question. France was not, his excellency
said, by any moans.indifferent to the maintenance
of'the integrity and independence of_Denmark;and
it was not from any indifference that he disapproved_
of your lordship's suggestion. He had already re-
,presented to the German Powers that if they
invadedtHolstein for the purpose of. Affecting
a revolt in Schleswig, or if theyrwent further and
ihvaded Schleswig itself, they would be infringing
bli the rights of an independent sovereign,
and entering upon a grave :'question, i affecting
the balance, of power , in• c'.EitrAfe,:
_lto, which;
Franco Could not remain indifferint. Jiis excel-

leucy the'refOre, that y...iiurnordship
now suggests had been. done, unleSs it was desired
to take .a more formal step, such as the presentation
Of an identic note, or the simultaneous presentation
of noiesrofsiinilar pnrpert. To this mode of pro-
ceeding he had' the strongest objection for the rea-
sons stated above: Ho desired to preserve entire
liberty of actionfor,Franee in this matter; had unless
her Majesty's. Government was prepared tO, go fur-
:ther, if necessary, than the mere presentation ore
note aud..the:reeeipt of ,an .evasive reply he Was sure
the Emperor would not consent, to adoptyptir, lord,
.
ship's suggestion.",
The following " extract"- is also interesting:—
" EARL RUSE3ELL TO COUNT IVACIITMEISTEIi.

"Foreign Office, 25th Bepternber, 1863..

" (Ettr:ibt.)-

"Her Majesty's Government setthe highest value
on the independence' and' integrity 'of Denmark.
Her Majesty's 'Government would ,be: rettdy. to,
offer their good offices to the two parties to contend.
in arms.' Her Majesty's Government would
,he
ready .to do so in conjunction with France alone.
Bat the course which her Mijetity might be idviscd.
to take with regard to' these matters, if the good
offices of her Majesty's Government should be un-
successful, mtiat be the subject of future considera-
tion and decision'. Her Majesty's Government are
not prepared to say that Denmark is altogether in
the right, or that Germany has not some grounds of
complaint in reference to the condition of the Ger-
man population in Schleswig. But they think these
d fferenees should be the subject of negotiation either
in conferences or otherwise, and should not be
brought to the issue of war. Her Majesty's Go-
vernment will be ready to remind, Austria and
Prussia of their treaty obligations to respect the
integrity and independence of Denmark."
In September Prince Gortchakoff, on behalf of
the Russian Government, wrote to Baron Brunnow
that Russia, France, and England had an equal
interest in the maintenance of the independence
and integrity of the Danish monarshy, and " if the
Cabinet of London thought fit on its part to reas-
sure the Danish Government on the result in the
event of war, its representative at Copenhagen would
meet with the most sincere co-operation on the part
of the Baron- de—Nioolay." And to the Russian
ambassatur at Cepenhaken, that no one could contest
the riglit'of th`O'German Diet to give effect to the
resortations to which it gave expression by its vote of.
b.tit "it will reflect, we trust, upon thd sefft,
ous consequences for the tranquillity of Germani
itself; w~iic~i'~inigFit'be inctrtrSd'by-an inttrventioh,
Which should exceed the _ strict limits of its com-
petence. Whatever may be the rights which may
result to it from the- arrangements of 1851-152,.ai
regards-Dachy of Schlesvrig„, the Diet, could ; not
have the intention to cause a purely Federal qua=
tion to assume the propoitioia `of 'ad • <. 'ari ,
affair;"- - - - . .

It may be mentioned, however, that all this cor-
respondence took place previously to King Frederic's
death, and that the public has as yet not one tittle
of information to enable it to form,an,npinion on the
policy of the Government during the last three
months—that heing precisely the period in which
the. whole interest of the questior. is, centred.'