The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-20 00:00:00

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.

VIENNA, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—Baron Hess re-
turned from Berlin last night ; the result of his
mission is not yet known. A misunderstanding
between Lord Redcha, and Baron Bruck is said to
have arisen at Constantinople.

The accounts received from Vienna and Berlin
yesterday (Tuesday) by the Paris correspondent of
the inies are described as favourable. With refe-
rence to Ausiria, if I may credit letters proceeding
from an excellent authority, one whose position
enables him to be exceedingly well-informed, and
who has no motive to be otherwise than impartial,

I should say, that of the complete adherence of that
Power to the policy, and before long to the acts,
of the:•Western Governments, there cannot be a
doubt. It is, of course, with diffidence that I would
venture_ an opinion on what passes at such a dis-
tance ; but that which, I give expression to is
founded on the reports of a person at Vienna,
with the best opportunity of acquiring information,
and very competent to form an estimate. He an-
nounces what has been already known, namely, that
after much .delay and many hesitations on the part
of the King of Prussia, both, as to the title and
wording of the document proposed by Austria for
.signiture to the members of the Vienna conference,
the final protocol was signed en the 9th inst. It
begins by.declarintr the determination of the Four
Powers to guarantee the integrity and independence
of the Ottomam Empire, and to obtain the evacua-
tion of the Danubian Principalities. Austria and
Prussia approve of the coercive measures adopted
by the Western Powers, that is the declara-
tion of war, which they consider founded
en droit. The contracting parties pledge them-
selves not to treat separately with Russia,
and to persevere in their exertions to bring about
the conclusion of peace, on the same principle
which hitherto has invariably guided them. Austria
wa desirous that this last clause should be couched
in stronger terms,_and should lay down the cas do
guerre ; but Prussia raised objections, not wishing.
to bind herself to act on any specified contingency,
or to appear to join in a coalition, and insisted on
being at liberty to adopt the line of conduct best.
suited to her interests. The word was accordingly
omitted, and the respective parties were left- per-
tectly free to bide their time. .
The same accounts mention that the private treaty
between Austria and Prussia, which M. de Hess is
negotiating at Berlin, is likely to be soon signed.
On its concluSion depends the accession of all the
minor States of Germany_to the alliance of these
two Powers. Should that negotiation be ,broken
off the Germanic Confederation would be de facto at
an end, one portion siding with Austria and the
other with. Prussia. The anxiety of Austria to ob-
tain that treaty accounts for her longanimity to
wards Prussia, and her reserve towards the Western
Powers. Austria is at this moment, and has been
for some time, in the worst possible odour at St. Pe-
tersburg—far more than even England and France.
If she has not ostensibly joined-the Western Powers
in tne summonses addressed to Russia to evacuate the
Principalities, she, nevertheless, most energetically
supported it ; and it is certain that the position of
her Ambassador is at this moment untenable. Aus-
tria has, moreover, since the passage of the Danube,
notified to the Emperor Nicholas, that having vio-
lated the pledges given by him at Olmutz, she con-
siders herself a-, relieved from all previous obliga-
tions and engagements: Austria actually appre-
hends an attack on the part of Russia, and before
slid accepts the co-operatbr, of a French army of-
fered her by the Emperor Napoleon, she is desirous
of bringing her negotiations with Prussia to a con-
clusion.