The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-16 00:00:00

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

Lord CAMPBELL called attention to the treaties and
conventions by which the possession of Schleswig was gua-
ranteed to Denmark, and observed that if it could be shown
that Great Britain was bound by treaties as well as by po-
licy to guarantee the possession of Schleswig.to Denmark,
it might have some effect in leading to the earlier restora-
tion of peace. He contended that the guarantee of 1352 did
not supersede or snnul previous treaties, and that the main-
tenance of the Danish monarchy was essential to the balance
of power in Europe.
Earl RUSSELL said it would be rash for the Govern-
ment to come to any positive judgment upon such im-
portant questions without the most careful and searching
examination. That examination had been given ;
bat it would be injudicious at the moment to
wate the opinions at which they had arrived. The
relations of Austria and Prussia with Denmark were very
differently affected to those of the other German Powers,
some of whom, and especially Bavaria, had declared that
they thought the Prince of Augustenburg was entitled to
be acknowledged as Duke of Schleswig and Holstein ; and
it followed from that that they would endeavour to put him
in possession. Upon such an attempt being made, however,
it would also follow that England must declare whether or
not sne felt bound by the Treaty of 1720 ; and if so, it would
be her duty at once to go to the support of Denmark, With
regard to Austria and Prussia, their identical communica-
tion of the 31st January distinctly asserted that they did
not contemplate the dismemberment of Denmark ; but, on
the contrary, that they had entered Schleswig to maintain
the integrity of the Danish monarchy ; and that the very
cause of their entrance was to obtain the fulfilment of en-
gagements which the King of Denmark had undertaken as
Duke of Schleswig, and in no other capacity. In this diffi-
cult and complicated state of affairs they had gone to
Schleswig to hold it as a material guarantee, and he thought
it was desirable to endeavour to settle all these questions by
pacific, means rather than resort precipitately to anything
in the nature of a threat founded on the guarantee of 1720.
Austria and Prussia were conscious, as indeed all the prin-
cipal Powers must be, that the Dachiea could not be trans-
ferred to any other Power than the King of Denmark with-
out the general concert and assent of all the great Powers.
He admitted that the Government must make up their
mind with the best advice they could obtain as to the bind-
ing nature of the treaty guarantee of 1720; but for the sake
of the peace of Europe everything that could be done by
conference and negotiation ought to be done before any step
was taken which might produce an attitude of hostility be-
tween any of the great Powers of Europe.
Their lordships adjourned at half past six o'clock.

HOUSE OP COMMONS—Last Evening,
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS,

Over 200 private bills were read a second time and
ordered to be committed, and several other bills were read
a first time.

POLAND.

Mr. BUTLER-JOHNSTONE gave notice that on an
early day he would draw the attention of the house to the
subject of Poland, and that he would make a motion in
reference to the same.