The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-16 00:00:00

Me french Circular on the Conferenc43,

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II() following is the tat of the Note aldu,,,ssed ,
by M. Dronyn de Lhuys to the French Ministers at
the minor German Courts relative to the Conference
proposed by England :
M. le Ministre,—On the 31st December the English Go-
vernment forwarded a communication to the Government of
the Emperor, in which it proposed the assembly of a Con-
ference, either at Paris or London, which should be sum-
moned to consult upon the affairs of the Duchies. It would
consist of representatives of the Powers by which the Treaty
of 1852 was signed, to whom would be added an accredited
envoy from the German Confederation.
When the Government of the Emperor was first sounded
on this subject, it felt itself called upon, in order to avoid
every error, to point out clearly the material difference exist-
ing between a Conference which discussed a special question
and between the general or more restricted Congress, the
idea of which emanated from the Emperor.
A Congress which is to regulate interests of the most
various kinds offered elements of arrangement which, of ne-
cessity, would be wanting when the deliberation is confined
to an isolated interest. While the Emperor allowed himself
to be guided by this reflection, and as he was, in addition,
no longer willing to take a negotiation under his auspices,
from which he would have been obliged to exclude several
of the Powers who had assented to the idea of a Congress,
no other course was open to him but to decline to permit
the Congress to assemble in Paris.
But the Government of the Emperor is not on that'ac-
count less desirous to support the attempt which may be
made to prevent more serious complications. The preserva-
tion of peace was the aim of my august master, when he in-
vited the Sovereigns to an explanation among themselves
to fortify still further the political system of Europe. The
object of the Emperor is still the same, and, although he
still remains convinced that only one way can lead to it, he
has yet no absolute objection to the combination which has
been announced by the English Government. Certain pre-
liminary explanations would, notwithstanding, be neces-
sary, and the same have been offered by the Powers.
The London Conference of 1852 has only accomplished
an impotent work, as the present condition of affairs more
than abundantly proves.
Its resolutions are contested at the present time by the
majority of the lesser States, as well as by some of those by
whom it was agreed to. If they were to :assemble again at
the present time it would be mainly to come to resolutions
which would be calculated to give hopes of a more satisfac-
tory result. In the first place, it is of importance not to
place the Conference in opposition to the Federal Diet by
Leviting the Plenipotentiaries to discuss questions which
may practically already be decided, and the Government of
the Emperor has applied to the Powers to learn if they were
inclined to take the actual status quo in Schleswig and
Holstein as the point of departure—that is, to reserve the
pending question.
At the same time the Emperor, actively engaged on one
subject which appears to be of great interest for Germany,
is of opinion with the English Government that the parti-
cipation of the Germanic Confederation in the negotiations
which may ensue would be of great assistance. But it is
questionable if the Federal Diet would decide to adopt the
line of action.
In the midst of a general or more restricted Congress,
which discussed other questions besides that of the Duchies,
the German Diet, as I believe, would have no hesitation in
laying its affairs before :an European tribunal. One of the
advantages of this conciliatory plan was to make a just share
of allowance for the sensibility and interests of each. But
since the Federal Diet has on several earlier occasions de-
clined all the prepositions which had for their object the
arrangement of their difference with Denmark by the
Powers who signed the Treaty of London, the Emperor must
first be convinced whether the views of the German States
in this respect have undergone any change before he on his
part accepts the proposition of the English Cabinet.
This is the communication, M. le Ministre, which I am
directed to transmit to you. I should, therefore, esteem it a
favour if you would place me in a position to announce to
my Government whether the idea of a Conference is ap-
proved by the -- Government, and whether it would be
inclined to vote at Frankfort that Germany should be re-
presented at this assembly by a special plenipotentiary.