The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-07 00:00:00

PROPOSALS OF THE GERMAN POWERS.

The followina is from the Times' correspondent,
in that capital, in his letter dated yesterday, 6
p.m. :—lt is stated in Paris that a communica-
tion, forwarded from the King of Prussia, and em-
bodying the terms of the propositions brought by
Prince George of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, from St.
Petersburg, has been made to the British Govern-
ment and rejected. It is not quite certain whether
a similar communication has been made here,
but if it should be made no doubt is entertained
that it will meet with the same fate. Even sup-
posing these propositions to be founded on a sin-
cere desire for peace, which there is every reason
to doubt, it is felt that the time at which they
could have been accepted has long since passed by.
The points touched on in the communication of the
Prince, are believed to be more developed in the •
conversation which followed the presenting of the
Imperial missive than in the document itself. But
whether in the letter or in conversation with the
Austrian Ambassador, the following are said to be
the leading points :—the approbation by Austria
of the policy and measures adopted by the French
and English Governments, up to the latest period;
a detailed explanation of the reasons, founded on
the diversity of German interests, vitieli have
hitherto prevented Austria from entering on a more
decided action; hopes held out, if not a promise
given, that within a peridd, not fa' distant,
Austria will assume a more decided attitude. The
" period, not far distant," must have reference to
some contingency, and that contingency is pre-
sumed to be the further advance of the Russian
army into the Turkish territory. Indeed, it is
added, that, either in the letter or in the conversa-
tion, it was stated that so long as the Russians re-
mained on the left bank of the Danube Austria
would have continued to maintain her neutrality ;
but that the Russians having passed the Danube
Austria would send an- army of observation on the
frontier of Servia and Bosnia ; and that if- they
passed the Balkans, then, indeed, Austria would re-
main no longer in bservation hut would co-operate
with England and France. Nor are all hopes of Prus-
sia given up, for there are indications that that Power
will before long assume an attitude befitting a
great and independent nation. I have heard it
stated this day on the authority of a letter from
Berlin, proceeding from a distinguished personage,
that when matters come to the point, to which, by
the way, they have very nearly reached, Prussia
will not go against France and England. For
some days past matters wore a gloomy aspect,—to-
day all appears couleur de rose, and confidence in
the union of the great Powers against the common
offender is high indeed. We have intelligence that
the fleets have again entered the Black Sea. If
they fall in with the Russian squadron there can
be no doubt entertained of a collision, and a colli-
sion with the defeat of the enemy will seriously in-
terfere with the semi-pacific intentions attributed
very recently to the Czar.
On the same subject, the Paris correspondent
of the Morning Chronicle writes :—" The autograph
letter written by the Emperor of Austria to the
Emperor of the French, together with the mission
of the Duke de Mecklenburg to Berlin, has once
more raised a faint hope that, after all, peace may
not be disturbed ; and that it will be seen that the
effect has been a considerable improvement in con-
fidence at the Bourse. But it is to be feared that
these expectations are once more doomed to disap-
pointment. As far as regards the letter from the
Emperor of Austria to Napoleon, I believe I can
assure you that it contains nothing decisive as to
the part to be taken by the Austrian Cabinet in the
event of hostilities actually commencing. The
tone of the letter is very amicable as regards
Napoleon himself, and reiterates the approba-
tion of his Majesty as to the course followed
throughout the transaction, both by England and
France. But the Emperor does not give the most
remote hint as to what he will do himself. He
merely holds out the hope that a still more complete
understanding may exist between himself and the
Western Powers, and hints at the possibility of a
common action as soon as circumstances will
permit. In short, the policy adopted by Austria,
not only as shown by this letter, but as it is to be
gathered from recent events, is this,,that she dis-
approves of the conduct of Russia, but will not for
the present join the allies against the Czar ; but
that if the efforts of the Western Powers should be
successful, Austria will then join them in forcing
Russia to make peace." - - •
A letter from Berlin of the 3d, in the- Cologne
Gazette, has the folly wing on the statement that
Russia has made, through the Duke of Mecklen-
burg Strelitz, new propositions of arrangement :

" The opinion of intelligent people is that the real
object of the Czar is to embarrass the diplomatic negoti-
ations between Prussia and Austria. Nevertheless, at
St. Petersburg as at Berlin, it is perfectly known that
the Western Powers, on-their part, will not allow them-
selves to be tricked, and that they will only make peace
on condition of obtainicg solid guarantees fur the
future."

The universal" German Gazette declares, on the
authority of a letter from Vienna of the Ist, that
the rumour that the Austrians have marched on

Belgrade, is totally unfounded. It adds that the
march of the troops was continuing.
The Deutsche Volkshalle announces that, on the
convocation of the Chamber of Commerce of Cre
feldt, an assembly of delegates of all the Rhenish
chambers of commerce was to be held at Dussel-
dorf, in order to draw up an address to the King,
pointing out the injury which. would result to the
Rhenish provinces from a rupture with the Western
Powers.

sight of the steamers, they fired guns to warn the
neighbouring forts to put themselves on the defen-
sive. Soukoum Kale appears to be the place which
the Russians intend to make the centre of their
operations. The accounts from Malta by the. Ca-
radoc are to the 30th ult. Vessels were every day
arriving there from Toulon and Algiers with troops.
When the vessels having them on board passed the
English transports, there was an exchange of hur-
rahs, and the "Marseillaise " and the " Chant du
Depart" responded to by "God Save the Queen"
and "Rule Britannia." Up to the 30th ult. the
English forces which had arrived there amounted
to 422 officers, and 11,577 non-commissioned officers
and privates. The order for all the troops to pro-
ceed to the Dardanelles had been received, and the
movement was commencing.
A Constantinople letter states that considerable
surprise has been excited in that city at the news
of the abandonment by the Russians of several im-
portant points on the coast of Circassia, as they
were well fortified, and had large garrisons.
A hasty despatch received at Malta states that a.
steamer making for Constantinople had been nearly
wrecked on the Island of Mitelene. The pilot was
a Greek, and it was suspected that, knowing there
was on board the vessel a large sum of money for
the use of the Turkish Government, he purposely
brought the ship and her treasure into danger.
It is asserted from Odessa that there are 30,000
soldiers at Sebastopol ; the fortifications on the land.
side are pushed forward with vigour.
The Cologne Gazette, under date of St. Peters-
burg, 29th ult., says :—" An Imperial rescript
addressed to the Governor-General of Finland, is
thus conceived :

, " When I visited Finland at the beginning of the
month, I felt myself deeply affected at, the joyful wel-
come given to me by; all classes in my Grand Duchy,
which is very dear to me. I found in the general de-
votedness which was manifested a testimony Which was
the echo of my cordial sympathy. It, was equally agree-
able to me to see ttia,t all the authorities and the people
rivalled each other iii promoting the development of the
welfare of the country. I had long before been aware
that this cotAtant object of my solicitude was favoured
by the exalted morality of the people deeply penetrated
with a sense of their duties and conscientious in the ful-
filment of them. I have never doubted the sentiments
of loyalty of my faithful Finlanders, and I charge you
to express to them the sentiments of niy sincere grati-
tude and of my unchangeable kindness towards them.
St. Petersburg, March.'" "` NICHOLAS.'

The Emancipation of Brussels publishes the fol-
lowing extract of a letter addressed by a German
to one of his political friends iu the Belgian
capital :
" Whatever may be the sensation produced in Ger-
many by the diplomatic revelations of France and Eng-
land; a still deeper one may, perhaps, be caused by the
approaching publication in the Journal de St. Petersbourg
of a correspondence exchanger: between personages still
more elevated than MM. Russell, Seymour, and Nes-
selrode. This information has reached us from Vienna,
where the Russian Ambassador announced the publica-
tion as a threat against England. - I might tell you more,
but for the present content yourself with this, which is
strictly true, although it may appear to you rather enig-
matical."