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

terest in incorporating any one of them, whilst'A°ll
the other hand, their annexation to Prussia R'o °t
be advantageous to German interests, and wain not
injure those of Austria. Prussia, however, eau°, i$
take them without the consent of Austria, but sne,
determined not to recognise anybody as their StT,,,
reign until her position with reference to the future
state is laid down. The interest of the corresP°
dente, however, lies in the replies of Count Me In,
dorff, both dated, it is said, the 21st December• s
reply to the first note of Herr von Bismarck, Cows
Mensdorff, who was alleged to have formally Illy
tested against the conduct of the Prussian Govern'
ment towards Saxony and Bavaria, contents ,ilife;
self with saying that if Prussia had opposed by oi,er
a resolution of the Diet passed in opposition t 0
views she would have possessed no other right that
that of the strongest, and would have had to acee4,
the responsibility of her acts—the mildest poss'::,
form of saying " we are not to be considered a 8
operating with you in your policy of threateningLA
minor states"—but at the same time no prerci,
against that policy. In reply to the second despa'bo
the Austrian Minister—pretty innocent !--saYst rr
he is at a loss to understand the meaning of Pei,
von Bismarck in stating that Austria and Fruito;
can come to a closer reciprocal agreement
Federal treaties impose upon them. But a I`"e,
light afterwards breaks in upon him, and he, l,i,
peats a declaration already made by Count Kai%
Austrian ambassador at Berlin, to the effect ''of
Austria can only consent to the annexation.
the Duchies by Prussia on condition of obtaing 113.
an equivalent augmentation of her German te
tory. We have said that this correspondence
remarkable ; but we draw from it a very differe4
inference from that for the support of which it 'l3O
generally be used. So far from regarding it as o,
indication of any serious difference between the tae
Governments as to the settlement of the Duchies,
take it as an indication that they are not far fro
very hearty agreement as to the principle at leas
the disposition. The Austrian Minister is %;
opposed to the annexation of the Duchies by Prusysre.
he still would prefer to see the Augustenburg "-e.
tender provisionally established ; but it is only_
cause he is unwilling to see Prussia aggranw;et
whilst Austria remains as she is, and Prussia has .70.
offered him no sufficient compensation for his 10,
sent. He is disposed now to maintain the att„rg
rity of the Diet, and to support the Augustenu li.
pretensions, but if Prussia will offer him senrie:v
vantages he will let the Diet and the legitimate e
drop at once. It is merely a question of price. to
Austrian Government says, ci We are co-proprie
of the Duchies. It is against all reason, and ir,e
much against our interest, to surrender theta Ptio
tuitously to our co-proprietor, who may ttionimit
strength which our sacrifice would give him agf get
us. We would rather be loftily generous all'e•
the benefit of the generosity ; give them to se 0
body who will remember that he owes them tore;
and support us. in Germany as zealously as he
at
but if you, Prussia, want them very much wiling
open to an arrangement. Give us a correspenog
advantage, and we will join you at once in aileg,rt,
those impertirent little curs who yelp at Fran °a"
at Dresden, at Munich, and in the little Thuri,l3„V
capital." at is what these despatches of no
Mensdorff say, and in saying it, they give eer ty
promise of ,an understanding which will givieot
Prussian Government all it really wants, spa "ft
too without any augmentation of Austrian territecoa
For Austria is in a position in which Prussiao.
but render her but too many services. Ti" $,O
trian Government would abandon to Frll4o
Schleswig-Holstein, and Saxony too, if F'tlie
would, on her part, heartily support it jowl)
policy it would pursue towards Italy. We 7ier
no fear that the settlement of the succession 4-0
tion, or, more correctly, the disposal of the /)11c
wrested from Denmark, will lead to any connicttO
Germany ; but we do apprehend that froin
cent
settlement Italian historians will date another deo
of the German " barbarians" upon the fertile Play
of their too beautiful land.