The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-31 00:00:00

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Roman

Important Declaration of Bavaria, Saxony,
and Hesse•

Fns NKFORT-ON-THE-MA INE7 July 28.

In yesterday's sitting of the Federal Diet the
representatives of Bavaria, Saxony, and llesse pre-
sented the following declaration :
" When the Federal Assembly on the 7th of De-
cember, 1864, resolved to regard the execution in the
Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg as terminated,
and to cede the possession and administration of
those Duchies to the Go'vernments of Austria and
Prussia, it was decidedly in the hope and expecta-
tion, frequently expressed, that the time had arrived
when the Duchies should be restored to a regular
status, recognised upon all sides as their right, and
to independence under their own hereditary prince,
and that the attainment of this object would be
facilitated by that resolution. The Federal Assem-
lbly gave expression to this expectation by the reso-
lution of the 6th April. It has nevertheless not been
realised, on account of frequentdifferences of opinion
having arisen respecting the right of inheritance and
the future relations of these countries to Prussia. It
cannot, however, be concealed that a longer dura-
tion of the provisional state of things has the most
prejudicial effects upon the Duchies themselves, as
well as upon their relations with the German Con-
federation. In this respect it must particularly be
pointed out that the constitutional activity of the
legislature of the D uchies is at a standstill—that their
voice in the Federal Diet is suspended, and that the
Federal Contingents to be furnished by them have
not been fixed. In this state of things it appears to
be as judicious as it is right and politic to claim the
co-operation of freely elected representatives of the
countries whose weal or woe is at stake in order to
settle the questions still in suspense. In this manner
might be introduced and developed in so far as a
general representation of both Duchies would be
convoked, the most natural means to give security
to the historical and inseparable connexion between
the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and protec-
tion to both—viz., the admission of Schleswig into
the German Confederation.

"At the same time a possibility would be pre-
sented for the Federal Assembly by renouncing its
claims for compensation for the costs of the execu-
tion in Holstein and Lauenburg, and by participat-
ing in the war expenses incurred in Schleswig to re-
lieve the financial position of the Duchies from the
burdens which weigh heavily upon them if they had
to bear them alone. It has certainly, therefore, given
real satisfaction to all German Governments to have
seen it stated that negotiations have been carried on
between the Governments of Austria and Prussia re-
specting the convocation of representatives of the
Duchies. On the one hand the Federal Assembly
have all the more reason to give this intention their
approval and fullest consideration, since it promises
itself a welcome and valuable basis for future dis-
cussions and resolutions from the manifestations to
be expected from these representatives, and on the
other hand the hope is justifiable that the Govern-
ments of Austria and Prussia will not reject the
above-mentioned views."
Confident of this fact the Governments of Bavaria,
Saxony, and Hesse, move,—
" That the Federal Assembly resolve—
"l. To ask the G overrunent of Austria and Prussia
what steps they have taken or intend to take to bring
about a solution of the still pending questions rela-
tive to the Duchies, especially whether they intend
to convoke a general representation, elected by free
votes, of the Duchy of Holstein in common with a
similar representation of the Duchy of Schleswig to
co-operate in the solution of these questions, and at
what period this L'onvocation, to hasten which has
been shown in the declarations to be most desirable,
may be expected to take place.
"2. To request the same Governments t take
steps for the admission of the Duchy of Schleswig
into the German Confederation.
" 3. In this event, and as soon as the confident
expectations expressed in the resolution of the Diet
of the sth April last has been realised, to declare its
readiness to renoUnce its claims to the compensation
for the costs of execution in Holstein and Lauen-
burg, and participate in bearing the expenses of the
war in Schleswig, either by the Diet in its entirety,
bearing the expenses of the war, or by a propor-
tionate amount being assumed by those States of
the Confederation who took no part in the war."
The resolution was referred to the Committee on
Holstein affairs to report thereon.