The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-19 00:00:00

terest in incorporating any one of them, whilgt,_,bl
the other hand, their annexation to Prussia would
be advantageous to German interests, and would 110,11
injure those of Austria. Prussia, however, cann°t
take them without the consent of Austria, but she'sdetermined not to recognise anybody as their Sorel
reign until her position with reference to the futilr'
state is laid down. The interest of the correspew
dente, however, lies in the replies of Count Menr
dorff, both dated, it is said, the 21st December. 01,
reply to the first note of Herr von Bismarck, Count
Mensdorff, who was alleged to have formally pro-
tested against the conduct of the Prussian Govern.'
ment towards Saxony and Bavaria, contents hII'
self with saying that if Prussia had opposed by force
a resolution of the Diet passed in opposition to her
views she would have possessed no other right tholt
that of the strongest, and would have had to aeeeP
the responsibility of her acts—the mildest possible
form of saying " we are not to be considered as e°-
operating with you in your policy of threatening the,
minor states"—but at the same time no protes'
against that policy. In reply to the second despatch
the Austrian Minister—pretty innocent !—says th°
he is at a loss to understand the meaning of lier!
von Bismarck in stating that Austria and Pruso
can come to a closer reciprocal agreement than
Federal treaties impose upon them. But a little
light afterwards breaks in upon him, and he re"
peats a declaration already made by Count Karebli
Austrian ambassador at Berlin, to the effect of
Austria can only consent to the annexation 4).1
the Duchies by Prussia on condition of obtalli4
an equivalent augmentation of her German tell!:
tory. We have said that this correspondence 1;
remarkable ; but we draw from it a very differe%
inference from that for the support of which it gal
generally be used. So far from regarding it as an
indication of any serious difference between the tsv°
Governments as to the settlement of the Duchies, we
take it as an indication that they are not far fronl
very hearty agreement as to the principle at least
the disposition. The Austrian Minister is s.t'.
opposed to the annexation of the Duchies by Prussot
he still would prefer to see the Augustenburg Pre'
tender provisionally established ; but it is only be'a
cause he is unwilling to see Prussia aggrandiS
whilst Austria remains as she is, and Prussia has 1-
offered him no sufficient compensation for his CO,',
sent. He is disposed now to maintain the ailt°°-
rity of the Diet, and to support the Augustenbl
pretensions, but if Prussia will offer him some .I°l
vantages he will let the Diet and the legitimate to
drop at once. It is merely a question of price.
Austrian Government says, "We are co-propriett"
of the Duchies. It is against all reason, and ve43,
much against our interest, to surrender theta glio
tuitously to our co-proprietor who may tap
strength which our sacrifice would give him agataii.
us. We would rather be loftily generous and
the benefit of the generosity ; give them to Otto
body who will remember that he owes them to e
and support us in Germany as zealously as he dark
but but if you, Prussia, want them very much
open to an arrangement. Give us a corresponding
advantage, and we will join you at once in silencl,t,
those impertirent little curs who yelp at Frankt%;
at Dresden, at Munich, and in the little Thurials
capital." That is what these despatches of C0,,,;d
Mensdorff say, and in saying it, they give tat
promise of an understanding which will give
Prussian Government all it really wants, and 1;4,
too without any augmentation of Austrian territ°„„"o
For Austria is in a position in which Prussia t,
but render her but too many services. The Sin
trian Government would abandon to Pmts
~ni;i
Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony too, if rrilijo
would, on her part, heartily support it 111 t¢
policy it would pursue towards Italy. We P'er
no fear that the settlement of the succession (11,0
tion, or, more correctly, the disposal of the Pdc'do
wrested from Denmark, will lead to any conflic:110
Germany ; but we do apprehend that from enw
settlement Italian historians will date another desfo
of the German " barbarians" upon the fertile pla
of their too beautiful land.