The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-31 00:00:00

GERMANY

AND

THE NORTHERN STATES.

PRUSSIA.

The Berlin Ministerial journal, the Reforme,
published on the 26th the following article, which
occasioned the most intense excitement in Berlin, as
it evidently emanated from an official source
It is notorious that Prussia has most suffered by the
Danish war. Now, this affair menaces to involve us in
a war with Russia. Russia has addressed a note to the
Prussian Government, which very clearly lays down
certain conditions as a casus belli. This note is accom-
panied, on the one hand, by the evolutions of a fleet in
the Baltic ; on the other, by the movement of troops
on the Vistula. The conditions bear upon the Danish
war and German question. Russia exacts from Prussia
the evacuation of Jutland by the German troops, and it
is further stated to raise objections to the work of Ger-
man unity. Prussia has, therefore, the prospect of
seeing her ports blockaded by a Russian fleet, and with
having her eastern frontier menaced ; and this, accord-
ing to public report, on the side of the Vistula. Thus,
whilst Russia is united and fights with Austria,
Prussia has to expect a war with its old ally, on account
of its new position with repect to Germany. From
Lower Germany, and especially those parts far inland,
that feel themselves perfectly secure from Russian fleets
and Russian armies, there will be clamorous demands
that Germany shall not conclude a peace with Denmark,
unless it be satisfactory in the highest degree to Ger-
man honour. The armistice of Malmo° produced suffi-
cient bad blood; but it a peace were concluded that did
not fully satisfy all the claims of Germany after its vic-
tories, Prussia, in so far as she would be concerned,
would again ignite popular passions against herself. We
desire a prompt and honourable termination to the Da-
nish war; we also wish that Prussia in this, as in all
other matters, hold fast to Germany with all her heart,
even though Prussia must thereby sacrifice old alliances.
But before a state gives proofs of such great self-abnega-
tion, it is bound to ask what it has to demand and ex-
pect from Germany."
The article then proceeds to observe, that as Prussia
is menaced in the east, on account of attachment
to the German cause, it behoves all Germany to stand
by and support her, as she must fight the battles of
Germany, while " unity—perhaps it is so written in
the stars—cannot be secured unless through the
medium of a great foreign war."
The article terminates with further appeals to
Germany to rally round Prussia, and by pointing out
the danger that will occur to Germany, by abandon-
ing the south-west to anarchy, whilst Prussia is
fighting the battles of German unity and freedom in
the east.

The Russian Minister immediately on the appear-
ance of this article proceeded to the office of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and had a long interview
with him, the result of which was the appearance in
the Ministerial journal of the next day of the follow-
ing article—
" We rejoice to be enabled already to correct an error
which our leading article of last night gave rise to. We
are authorized to give the most ,positive assurance that
the Russian note spoken of in our last night's leading
article does not exist. We believe ourselves to be com-
pletely well-informed when we positively state that ' the
position of Prussia, in regard to Germany, has never
been the subject of negotiations between Berlin and St.
Petersburgh. Russia, on the contrary, has invariably
maintained the same attitude and point of view which
it assumed and promulgated immediately after the
events of the spring of 1848, that is to say, Russia
maintains her own fixed, individual position, and will
not interfere in the internal complications of other-
States unless they interfere with or menace her own ter-
ritory (as is the case with the Magyar Polska rebellion).
As regards the Danish war, Russia has in no way de-
viated from the principles laid down by her last year.
She has the less leason to do so at present, because the
negotiations with Denmark have at this moment reacbed
a point which affords every prospect of a speedy solution.
We have every reason, therefore, to believe that the
Russian fleet, whose movements have created so much
attention, hay,' not received offensive instructions. We
believe this explanation (common discretion, common
knowledge of facts, common consideration, ought to
have rendered the explanation unnecessary) will be wel-
come to our readers.. The honour and dignity of Ger-
many demand that its own affairs should be regulated
by itself. This conviction we wished to express in our
yesterday's article. We rejoice that this principle should
be acknowledged abroad, and that no attempt at inter-
ference will be made."
Which is to be believed, the first or the second
article ? In our opinion, undoubtedly the first. The
appearance of the second corroborates the assertions
of the first, inasmuch as it proves that neither the
KING nor the Government of Prussia are any longer
free agents, but are coerced by Russia into stifling
the complaints they would fain make against the
tyranny under which they groan. We look upon
the first article as an appeal to Germany and France
to preserve the..l ,n independence of Prussia from Russian
ort
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AUSTRIA, HUNGARY, AND
RUSSIA.
__ _ _

The report of the capture of Buda by the Magyars
is fully confirmed.
A letter from Warsaw says—
" The German journals have informed you of the
movement of Russian troops, which have crossed the
Polish frontier with a view to the occupation of the
ancient kingdom of Poland. The following is, as
nearly as possible, the exact position of the Russian
army:—
" The 3d and 4th divisions, under the orders of Ge-
nerals Rudiger and Geodarief, have alone as yet been
called to act in Hungary, forming together an army of
about 100,000 men, of which 20,000 will be stationed in
Galicia, to prevent any attempts of the Hungarians
upon that province. Another division of 20,000 men,
under the orders of General Freytag, will remain at
Bukowine. The sth division will occupy Moldavia and
Wallachia.
"The Ist and 2d divisions, consisting of Grenadiers,
will remain in the kingdom of Poland. This army is
120,000 strong. The 3d division (Grenadiers) will re-
main in Lithuania. A reserve division of cavalry will
guard the frontier of Podalia. The sixth division of the
army has left Moscow, and is advancing on Brzesi, con
stituting the reserve of the army in Poland. Prince
Paskewitch will take the chief command of the opera-
tions against the Hungarians. The Imperial Guards,
who had been ordered to march, have, it is said, received
counter-orders to remain at St. Petersburgh. The
guards are said not to like the Russian intervention in
Hungary."
The plan of the Hungarians is said to be to retire
before the Russians and Austrians, as they did before
WINDISCIIGRATZ in the month of January, giving up
all the towns and fortresses between the Danube and
the Theiss, with the exception of Comorn, and thus
to draw the Russians and Austrians into the old
Magyar fighting ground, the morasses of Upper
Hungary, where fever (and ague will do their work
among the unseasoned troops of Russia and Austria
in summer, as cold and wet did their work hi winter.

BADEN.
The Insurrectional Committee of Baden has just
addressed a proclamation to the armies of Germany,
in which the King
san-
guinary traitor. 64 This KING," says the proclama-
tion, of PRUSSIA is designated a "
now lifts his head on high, but in the days of
March it was bowed low before the citizens now
crushed by him. The Grand Duke of BADEN, who
travels under the name of Count VON LINDEMAN,
appears likely
to make some stay at Brussels. He
was not long at Frankfort, where he alighted at the
English Hotel, and immediately paid a visit to the
ARCHDUKE, who afterwards returned the call.
Prince Frederick of BADEN was also at Frankfort.
The Grand DUKE arrived at Brussels on the 20th.
Previous to quitting
Hagenau, his Highness sold his
stud of valuable horses."