The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-01 00:00:00

LONDON REVIEW.--There is no doubt her Ma.

jesty's Government are making every exertion to
preserve the peace of Europe; but no events have
transpired during the past week which warrant us
in believing that their efforts will be crowned with
success. Acting under the advice of her allies,
Denmark made a proposition, the reasonableness of
which will hardly be disputed. In answer to the
demand of Austria and Prussia for the withdrawal
of the constitution of November, she asked for time
to consult the Rigsraad, by whom alone that con-
stitution can be legally annulled. This moderate
request has been refused by the two leading Ger-
man States, whose battalions are already pouring
into Holstein. The King of Danmark, who has
neither the will nor the power to perpetrate a
coup detat has, under these circumstances, no alter-
native but to resist by force of arms the aggression
with which ha is threatened. Sheltered by the
Dannevirke, which they are assiduously strengthen-
ing, the Danes will hold out as long as they can,
waiting, and we trust not in vain, for the succour
which other powers are bound to afford them, either
out of regard to their own interests, or from a sense
of the respect due to treaty obligations and the
maintenance of international rights in Europe.
Their danger has already created a profound sen-
sation in the other Scandinavian kingdoms; and it
is scarcely questionable that the:court of Stockholm
will, at no distant day, be compelled to cast aside
its reserve, and intervene actively for the defence of
the neighbouring state. It is understood that the
English ministry have informed Austria and Prussia
that we cannot stand by and witness the dis-
memberment of Denmark. And if the Emperor
of the French had been willing to say as
much, we should have had good hopes that
war might yet be averted, and that an adequate
sense of the danger they are incurring might even
now cause the leading German powers to pause in
their mad career. Unfortunately, is said, and
apparently with truth, that Louis Napoleon still
maintains his reserve, refuses to pledge himself
definitely to any line of policy, and instead of ex-
erting himself to preserve peace, waits for the
chances which war may afford for the aggrandise-
disement of France. Such an attitude on the part
of this designing potentate ought to inspire the Ger-
mans—at least the statesmen of Austria and Prussia
—with caution, if not alarm. The smaller states may
not be indisposed to try a new Confederation of the
Rhine; but the powers which will:have to indemnity
France for any fresh exertions that she may make
in the sacred cause of nationalities, might be ex-
pected to show a more active distrust of the sus-
picious flirtation between her ruler and the Diet of
Frankfort. It is indeed probable that the court of
Vienna is not so oblivious as it seems to the fact that.
Hungary and Venetia are amongst its provinces.
But, pushed on by its own subjects and dragged
forward by Prussia, its policy has not an entirely
voluntary character. So far as the pressure exer-
cised by the people upon the Governments is con-
cerned, there is no reason to believe in any diminu-
tion of the patriotic fervour whictiahas seized upon
the Teutonic mind. The Germans are unanimously
of opinion that Austria and Prussia are guilty of
something like treason to the Fatherland, in still
paying respect to the terms of the Treaty of 1852.
They are not satisfied with an occupation of
Schleswig which is carried out by these states
in their capacity of Great Powers, which super-
sedes, instead of enforcing Federal action,
and is avowedly limited in its objects to tthe
withdrawal of the Constitution of November.
According to a Vienna journal, a compromise has,
indeed, .
been agreed upon, the material stipulation
of which an undertaking on the part of Austria
and
Prussia to accomplish the occupation of Schles-
wig in an exclusively Federal sense, and in perma-
nent agreement with the Diet; and, moreover, to
accept no basis of negotiations without the formal
assent of the Confederation. We cannot, however,
believe that such an arrangement has been come to,
because it would in effect practically subordinate
both Austria and Prussia to the Diet—the very
thing against which both 111. von Bismark and
Count Rechberg have recently protested most em-
phatically. It would also be inconsistent with the
summons which the two Powers have lately ad-
dressed to Denmark ; for, while that specifically
requires the withdrawal of the constitution, the
Diet would undoubtedly not be content with so
limited a concession. Upon the whole, it is not
probable that the peace of Europe has been exposed
to the additional danger which would arise out of
such a compromise as this. We have no doubt that
Austria and Prussia still retain the power to stay
the entrance of their troops into Schleswig on the
terms they have themselves prescribed. While that
is the ease, there still remains a possibility that
even at the last moment they may listen to the
counsels of common sense, justice, and moderation
tendered to them by England, We should not,