The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-29 00:00:00

GERMANY AND THE DUCHIES,

Much excitement was evident on the Bourse at
Berlin when the announcement was made on Satur-
day that the Piuisian Government had counter-
manded the orders for the return of the Prussian
troops frem the Duchies; and it was even asserted
that the measure had been taken on account of a
hostile disposition having been shown to the Prus-
sians by the inhabitants of Schleswig. Further in.
quiries showed that this rumour was groundless,
although the organ of Prince Frederick of Augus-
tenburg contained a statement to the effect that the
Danish inhabitants of one of the islands in the
North Sea were preparing for an armed attack on
the German residents as soon as the troops were
withdrawn ; and that in consequence, the military
commanders had urgently requested the competent
authorities to annul the order for the removal of
his corps southwards. Berlin journals of Sunday
last give quite different reasons for the suspension
for the transport of the Prussian troops, and state
that the Government having determined, under
all circumstances, to settle the question respecting
the further occupation of Holstein by the Hano.
verian and Saxon troops, according to its own
views, had therefore taken care that the necessary
military force should remain in Holstein, and at
the same time had made a demonstration against
Hanover by the concentration of troops at Minden,
and against Saxony by a similar concentration.
It is further stated that it the Governments of
those two countries refuse to evacuate the Duchy
voluntarily, in all probability a time will be
fixed for the purpose of allowing them to
do. so. So far as Austria is concerned, it is
considered that the Prussian Government is
quite certain that the necessity in which that
country more than ever finds itself to refrain from
a breach with Prussia will compel it to adopt an
essentially "passive course. It is pointed out also
that the Austrian Government has recognised that
the Governments of Hanover and Saxony have no
longer any legal claim on their side, and that there
are no existing signs of the middle States taking
any new steps to put forward a claim. Further
there are no evidences that Prussia would respect
such a claim. " Nothing," says a Berlin journal,
could be more lamentable than that now, for the
second or third time, the development of the
Schleswig-Holstein question should lead to the
probability of a civil war in Germany ; but in this
case the Prussian Government can plead the formal
right, and besides this she is engaged in such a
manner by the measures just taken that a with-
drawal is certainly not possible. It is therefore
not only urgently to bo wished, but to ba expected
with great probability, that Saxony and Hanover
will not drive the matter to extremities. It is
fitting that the weaker party should at least have
an unassailable title, and that this is not forthcom-
ing the Bavarian Journal has admitted. The ex.
tension of the Federal jurisdiction over the boun-
dary, completely and unambiguously settled, will
never succeed if one of the two great Powers should
raise a decided opposition." The Prussian Govern.
men t is reproached for not having made known their
views as to the ultimate destiny of the Duchies.