The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-20 00:00:00

OPEAING OF THE PRUSSIAN DIE7'.

BERLIN, MAY 19.
The Minister President opened the Chambers
to-day witfr speehlef.ll-14id I
.
"His Majesty the King has.Ordere'd me to open
the Diet of the Monarchy in his name. The Go-
vernment considers it its duty to engage .your
activity this session no longer than will be necessary
for the settlement of the, most urgent affairs. The
finances of the country continue to ssume a more
f4voarable aspect. It hip not been fond necessary,
,to lee use of the
the expense of
ae
xt
ttrhaeo
rc
dl
ns ea
royf tehree
dfiint a
fnoeri a
defraying
which had been
atlrantoerganisaintthir
Budget
fdgethe army, t
of 1861
from the public
funds. The surplus in the revenue of this year has
even exceeded the requirements of the public ser-
vice. His Majesty, the King, has determined, for
the relief of the country, that the additional taxa-
tion should not be levied on and after the Ist of
July next.
" From the Budget for 1862 Ewa 1863, which is
to be submitted to you without delay, you will
perceive that the decrease of income arising there-
provisional reduc-
tionsr by savings in
fr om
in willth the military
fully coveredadministration, b
the cost of the administration of the public debt,
and by increased revenue ; and that means for use-
ful application to all departments of the public
service are still available.

" The more detailed specification of the income
and expenditure in the Budget, and the early pre-
sentation of the Budget for 1863 will afford testi-
mony that tho Govornmant ig ready to meet with
willingness any practicable proposition of the re-
presentatives of the country.
" The necessary operations for a further regula-
tion of Vie land tax have reached the first impor-
tant stage towards completion by a central com-
mittee, that, namely, of a temporary establishment
of the classification tariff.

" Repeated examinations have manifested the
possibility of further savings, of a temporary charac-
ter, being affected in the military' expenditure.
These reductions, however, in order not to injure
the vital conditions of the organisation of the army,
can only be continued until a new source of revenue
is opened by the land tax.
" By this means the Government shows that it
is ready and desirous to meet the objections raised
in former sessions, and is therefore justified in ex-
pecting that, in considering the arrangements and
requirements of our military force, due provision
may be made for the independence and security of
the country, which depend upon the undiminished
excellence of the army.
" A plan for the extension of the railway system
of the country will be laid before the Chambers.
" The negotiations respecting a regulation of the
conditions of trade, in accordance with treaties be-
tween the Zollverein and France, have led to an
understanding. The Government is herein guided,
in unison with its allies of the Zollverein, by the
conviction that it is not of much importance to the
Zollverein to secure for its products, its trade, and
its navigation in France the rights of the most
favoured nation, as that the progress of national
economy and science required that the tariff of the
Zollverein should be modified in the full sense of
free trade.

"It was to be expected that the prospect of such
a modification should arouse many apprehensions.;
but it is, on the other hand, pleasing that these
apprehensions are already beginning to yield to •a
more correct appreciation of the advantages offered
by a more extended market. Several of the Go-
vernments of the Zollverein have already given in
their adhesion to this view, and among them the
Government of Saxony, which country, from the
manifold extent of its own industry, is especially
compelled to consider industrial interests.
"We reckon that the many remaining Govern-
ments of the Zollverein, while faithfully keeping
in view the advancement of the material interests
of the Customs' Union, will give their consent to a
work which promises to become the starting point
of a new increase of commercial developmont of the
Zollvereia.
"Negotiations with the Danish Government have
not yet led to any result. Their success will depend
upon whether or not Denmark will determine to
fulfil the obligations towards Germany, undertaken
by the Convention of 1852. l
"As regards the question of German Federa
reform, the Government of the King adheres firmly
to the point of view which it has assumed.
" In the question of the constitution of Electoral
Hesse the unremitting endeavours of the Govern-
ment
.have succeeded in causing almost all German
Governments to come to the conclusion that the
constitution of 1831, excepting those stipulations
which are contrary to the Federal constitution,
must be re-established; and Austria has joined
Prussia in making a common proposal to the
Federal Diet, the immediate acceptance of which
may now be expected. The new ordinance respect-
ing the elections, which is in direct opposition to
this proposal, and which deeply offends the coun-
try's sense of right, will not come into operation, in
accordance with the express demand of Prussia, and
with the request of the Federal Assembly, addressed
to the Government of Electoral Hesse. The Go-
vernment
shall be arrived at, without further hesita-
tion, mi
ne nft of
a vou
rt the K
of
the i Kingconstitutionof 1831. As re-
gards an incident which occurred in reference to
this question, the Government still awaits definite
explanations from the Government of Electoral
Hesse, and will in any case understand how to pro-
tect the dignity of Prussia.
• " For the development of arts and science iLI•