The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-28 00:00:00

Prussia and Austria.

VIENNA, March 24.
The Ost Deutsche Post contains the following in-
teresting article upon the mutual position of the two
great German Powers with regard to Schleswig-
Holstein :

" It is no longer doubtful that our diplomacy has
secret plans which occasion the attitude it has taken
up. Everyone knows that our Government is
thinking of ' compensation,' that direct negotia-
tions have been entered into upon that subject, and
that it is expected Prussia will make the offer. Now
this compensation may be of three different kinds. It
may consist of a pecuniary indemnity, of a cession
of territory, or the reciprocal guarantee of the pos-
sessions of the two Powers ; that is, in Prussia en-
gaging to afford Austria armed assistance in the case
of an attack upon Venetia in a struggle against
Italy and France.
" As regards a pecuniary indemnity, it is asserted
upon all sides that the Austrian Cabinet energeti-
cally rejects any such idea; and we believe it.
Apart from the fact that Prussia is not in a position
to offer us a pecuniary indemnity considerable
enough to counterbalance our renunciation of the
co-possession, and, what is of far greater import-
ance, to compensate for the immeasurable political
results which would be inseparable from annexation,
it is impossible to credit that Austria would sell her
position in Germany and assist in demolishing the
Germanic Confederation at the price of a pecuniary
indemnity. For the last sixty years we have kept
up an army, the cavalry of which is specially
intended to protect our position in Germany, inas-
much as that arm is of little use in Italy. This
cavalry has cost the Austrian empire upwards of a
milliard florins since the Treaties of Vienna ; and is
it likely we should now sap our position in Germany
for a sum of money, and pave the way for the
supremacy of Prussia ?
"The idea of territorial indemnity is not less in-
admissible. The Cologne Gazette fancies it makes a
great concession by holding out to us the prospect
of giving [up a frontier district of Upper Silesia—
Little Poland. What a splendid offer ! And yet
this absurd and ridiculous tender infuriates all the
Liberal press in Prussia, which overwhelms the edi-
tor of the Cologne Gazette with a hailstorm of in-
sults. The truth is that Prussia never intends
ceding part of her territory, and the wretched frag-
ment she might throw to us would not be worth
the trouble of stooping to pick up. The only com-
pensation which would still be of some value in the
sense of the old Metternich traditions would be that
of reciprocal territorial guarantee, that is, the
guarantee of Venetia. "Urou ail., point we have
already often given our opinion. The reciprocal
guarantee might well contribute to prevent the
breaking out of war, but we absolutely deny that
in case such a war should break out Prussia would
and could meet her engagements in the manner un-
derstood at Vienna. Almost all the sections of the
national representatives at Berlin are averse to all
protection of the Austrian possessions in Italy, and
these dispositions would have to be taken into account
by every Government at the solemn moment when
itdesired to precipitate the country into war. Even
did Prussia determine to keep her plighted word, it
would rest entirely in her power to do so in such
manner and upon such terms as she pleased. That
these conditions aim at securing the full and entire
mastery of Germany we have learnt from the war
of 1859, when the King of Prussia claimed the
command in chief of the Federal army, not as a
General of the Confederation, but by right of his
position as Sovereign of Prussia. Thus it was that
we learned that it was his intention to employ the
Federal troops, not to convey unconditional aid to
Austria, but to impose upon us an armed mediation.
All the world knows how much this equivocal atti-
tude contributed to the prompt conclusion of
the peace of Villafranca. Let any one picture to
himself the recurrence of a similar position now,
when the acquisition of Schleswig-Holstein would
have made Prussia a veritable great Power, and in
fact the chief great Power of Germany. What con-
ditions would she make then before carrying out the
guarantees we are promised now? What concessions
would be wrung from us in the supreme moment of
distress—concessions which would deprive us of the
last remains of our influence in Germany ? We
ask, could such a guarantee be looked upon as a
compensation, and whether it is allowable to base
the edifice of our future upon so frail and insecure a
foundation ?"
(ch I

MARKETS--This Day.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 5s Od ; clover,
£5 5s to £6 60 Od ; and straw, £l. 8s to £1 lls per load.
Trade slow.
--- - -

CUMBHMAND.—IIeadow hay, £4 4s to £5 5s Od ; clover,
Z 5 5s to £6 61; and straw, Li 8s to £1 14s per load.
A slow demand.
WITITECIIAPEL.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 58 Od ; clover,
£5 58 to £6 6s Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 148 per load.
Trade inactive.

COLONIAL.
TEA.—Business in the private market has been very dull,
and the public sales of China continue to proceed without
animation at about previous rates.
SuGiut.—The market has remained very dull, and in-
ferior descriptions of West India may be quoted 6d. per
cwt. cheaper. Good grocery qualities, however, sustain
former rates. In the refined market there is a little change
to report.
COMM—There has been a moderate inquiry for colonial
descriptions, which have fully supported previous rates.
The stocks on hand, however, show a slight increase com-
pared with those of the corresponding period of last year.
RICE.—A limited business has been done, but quotations
generally are well maintained.
TALLOW.—The market has continued rather dull, with-
out material change as regards values. P.Y.C. on the
spot is quoted 40s. 3d. to 10s. 6d. and last three months'
delivery, 425. per cwt.

SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT.—In the enumeration of
the names of Ministers present at the Cabinet Council held
on Saturday, it will be noted that that of the Lord Chan-
cellor is conspicuous by itl3 absence. This is the first in-
stance, since his elevation to the woolsack, of a council
meeting without his lordship's presence to aid in the de-
liberations. Is this the beginning of the end ?—Herald.
MUNIFICENT OFFER OF MR. BASS, M.P.—The
increasing population in the locality of the Derby-road,
,-Waterloo-street, and Wellington-street, Burton-upon-
Trent, has rendered the erection of a church in that dis-
trict highly necessary. The case, we understand, was laid
by Mr. W. H. Worthington before Mr. Bass, M.P., who,
after a short delay, sent for Mr. Worthington and informed
him of his intention to give the sum of £12,000 for the
above object. Mr. Bass proposes that £5,000 of the money
shall be devoted to the erection of the church, £5OO for the
parsonage, and £6,500 for the endowment. Thfs princely
gift is :not an isolated specimen of the liberality of the
family of Bass. —Staffordshire Advertiser.
ONE SHILLING DAY, Mon-
CRYSTAL PALACE.—day, Feb. 4.—A
68 dmissions
tot on payment,t 761 ; ditto by
_ fiettowa tickets, 9 TiPitcoro, 1,00 .