The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-09 00:00:00

CIRCULAR FROM THE PRUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO ITS

DIPLOMATIC AGENTS IN GiRMAN.Y.

" His Majesty's reply to the Frankfort deputation re-
quires no further explanation. Whilst, on the one hand,
it acknowledges the sense of the election that has taken
place at Frankfort, and expresses his Majesty's readiness
to place himself at the head of Gernian affairs, it declares,
on the other hand, that his Majesty considers that the
constitution of Germany and the recent election can only
become fully and lawfully valid through the medium of
mutual accord (vereinbarung), and a free understanding
between Governments. In order to avoid even an ap-
pearance of indirect compulsion, or of in any way preju-
dicil g this understanding, the acceptance of the election, as
was expected in different quarters, has not been proclaimed
under reserves or under preconcerted stipulations, as to
the subsequent accord of individual states. In propor-
tion as the reserve and consciousness of the King's Go-
vernment has been great in this respect, insomuch more
does it feel itself impelled by duty to labour, as far as
depends upon it, in placing the destinies of Germany
upon the path of development, and in conducting them
to the desired completion. It now considers itself
equally justified and bound to address itself openly to
other Governments.

"In consideration that the Arch-Duke Administrator
has adopted'the resolution to resign his functions, and
in consideration of the imminent perils which menace
Germany through attendant complication, his Majesty
the King is prepared to undertake the provisional di-
rection of affairs, at the proposition of German Govern-
ments, and with the assent of the German National
Assembly. In consequence of • the recent appeal made
to him, and in consideration of pretensions derived from
Prussia's position in Germany, his Majesty is resolved
to place himself at the head of a German Confederate
State (Bundesstaats), to be composed of such states
which of their own free will and accord may attach them-
selves thereto. The form of this Federate State must
naturally depend upon the number and nature of states
subscribing. The carrying out of the above resolve ad-
mits, however, of no procrastination. You will there-
fore address the most pressing summons to the Govern-
ment to which you are accredited to dispatch, without
delay, to Frankfort, special plenipotentiaries, em-
powered to return explicit explanations upon the follow-
ing points:— .

1‘(a). Upon the adhesion (of their Government) to
the Bundes.staat and the conditions attached thereto.
"(b.) Upon the position which their Government
intend to assume in regard to the National Assembly
and its resolutions, it being understood that the work of
mutually agreeint, to the constitution shall be forthwith
taken into consideration.
"(c.) Upon the relations to be maintained with those
states which objict to join this Bundesstaat, whereby it
would be desirable, and to be sought for, to harmonize
existing confederate relations with the new state forms.
`• His Majesty's Government will dispatch, within the
space of eight days, a plenipotentiary to Frankfort, fur-
nished with the requisite instructions and full powers.
It expresses a hope that other Governments will treat
this important question with the same prompt zeal, and
at all events forward without delay to this place their
declarations, both in regard to the Provisorium, and to
the other propositions.'
The Minister President, in terminating this com-
munication to the second Chamber, added—
" We are under a conviction that it will be in our
powertiv e to to
co
the Grne
mrmunanicacitueessotimone dinefillensistivtehaenxpalafnorattnioiigsh
tr.e”la-
The First Chamber adjourned for a week imme-
diately after this communication had been received,
and the Second Chamber resumed the discussion on
WiNcKEs's motion. Ultimately all the propositions
were negatived.
The Frankfort deputation left Berlin on the sth,
after having forwarded to the Government the follow.
ing declaration :

"Berlin, April 4.
"We have the honour respectfully to submit to the
Ministers of State the following declaration.
" The Constituent German National Assembly charged
Majesty in virtue of the National
the undersigned deputation humbly to iuvite his Majesty
the King to accept th'e hereditary Imperial election,
whoni
Ilia Majesty tbe King according to the
communication made to the deputation yesterday, has
not considered himself authorised to accept this most
Ccshtittuetlilonurn his
respectful invitation, and has, in the meantime, pub-
licly made known his motives for this resolution.
o
The German National Assembly could not proceed
2toBththoef election of
tlifat aissupreme national chief on the, a part of the Constitution' until
the proclamation of the whole had been completed. The
transfer of the Imperial hereditary dignity to a reigning
German Prince, founded ab initio upon the Constitution,
determined, the fact of the pre-existence of that Consti-
tution. The declaration of his Majesty, on the other
hand, does not consider the said Constitution as an ac-
complished fact, or even as anyway binding for any por-
tion, great or small, of. Germany. It does not even, as
did the Ministerial communication of the 2d of April to
the Chambers, recognize the Constitution as valid and
bieding fur those liermaa States whose Governments
might freely acquiesce therein. It recognizes in indivi-
dual Governments the right not only to accept the Con-
stitution as a whole, and thereby to take part in the
new Bundessitgat, but to reject it, and thereby to exclude
themselves from such federal State. The declaration
of his Majesty upon this point is thus expressed It
now rests with the Governments of individual German
States to prove, by deliberation in common, whether
the rights conferred upon me will empower me
to conduct the destinies of our great fatherland, and
realise the hopes of its population with that strong hand
which such a missies requires of me.' According to
this, the constitution of the German National Assembly
is made subservient to the deliberations in common of
Gove
and its validity made subject to the deci-
sion
deputation to discuss the rectitude of this view of the
question, m
so opposed in al
ep ts, and
It is not within the mission of the
all its fractional, 1-gal, and other
d groun s,
orfn a majority.
to that of the National Assembly. But the
misunderstanding relative to the view taken of the
Frankfort constitution, as made apparent by the declara-
tion of his Majesty, has so completely astonished the
dmeipsuundtateiorsnt,atnhdiant,gsi,nitorfedeelrs tiotsvaifvociltidiefudrtuhpeorn earsroarsdaund
duty
to return without delay to Frankfort. The invitation to
his Majesty to accept the election fallen upon him in
virtue of the Constitution, must be considered by the de-
putation as rejected by the King, since his Majesty does
not recognize the validity and legal existence of the Con.
stitution, twice read and approved of in the Constituent
Assembly; but, on the contrary, refers the same to the
acceptation in common with the German Governments.
Under these acceptations the Constitution may be con-
sidered as the basis for further deliberations of govern-
ments, but it cannot possibly be taken as that for the
legal power of the chief of the nation.
(Signed) " THE DEPUTATION."
The following is
the Ministerial reply :
" Berlin, April 5.
" We have received the communication which the Na-
tional Assembly did us the honour to address to us yes-
terday. The deputation will, we doubt not, agree with
us, that we are not
in a position to enter into any imme-
diate or satisfactory negotiation upon the contents of
their communication, but that we must wait the decisions
that the National Assembly may feel disposed to take
upon receiving the declaration made by his Majesty.
We avail ourselves of this opportunity to transmit to
the deputation a copy of the circular (sec above), ad-
dressed by ua to all diplomatic agents, accredited to
German government,, consequence of the King's de-
claration.

(Signed by all the Ministers.)

FRANKFORT.

. In the sitting of the German Parliament of the 4th,
Vice-President Kirchgessner read a note from the
deputation in Berlin, stating that, after receiving the
answer of his Majesty, the deputies had immdiately
entered into deliberation as to what their next steps
should be, and would report thereon to-morrow, at
the latest. The note is dated half-past nine P. 31
April 3.
In respect to the Danish question, the President of
the Council stated that England, as the mediatory
Power, not haying been able to promise that she
would prevent the re-commencement of hostilities on the
part of Denmark so long as the negotiations for peace
were in progress, the Central Power had immediately
put such troops in motion as were necessary to ward
off the impending danger. Every attempt made by
England at mediation had been met by still more ex-
travagant demands on the part of Denmark. On the
25th of March, Denmark had declared that she was
willing to defer all hostilities until the 3d of April enst,
lug, provided the march of the German troops were sus-
pended. But this suspension could not be effected on so
§hot a notice, Wile Central kower had done its utmot

to effectutte a happy reconciliation (Spending differences,
and as a proof of this, it had given express orders to
General von Prittwi:z not to proceed to the attack, but
simply to maintain his present position of defence until
some act of aggression should have been perpetrated by
the enemy.
Huffbauer moved that the National Assembly debate
at once on the answer of the King of Prussia, and ccm-
municate its eventual resolution to the deputation.
The urgency of this motion, which was supported by
L. Simon, Nauwerck, and the most influential members
of the Left, was negatived; it was there ore ordered, as
usual in such cases, to be referred to a committee.
Nauwerck said that the Prince who did not acknow-
ledge the resolutions of the Central Assembly, but spoke
of negotiation with the other German Sovereigns, could
only be endeavouring to cast a veil over St. Paul's alto
gether.
Beckerath moved that the act of reference to a com-
mittee be deferred,
A member of the Right Centre moved that the refe-
rence be deferred until the deputation had returned from
-Berlin.

Vogt said this latter motion was as unjust as that of
Deckerath's. The motion ought to be referred to a com-
mittee, and without delay.
A fter some lively altercation, strongly tinctured with
mistrust, not to despair, Hoffbauer withdrew his mo-
tion, being satisfied that it could not command a
majority. •
ltaveaux then moved that the National Assembly
commis ion the President to recal the deputation from
Berlin.
The question as, to urgency was put. The result of
division was doubtful, though the Left supported the
motion in a body. The votes were told—noes, 191; ayes,
163; majority against the motion, 28.
Simon, of Triers, wished to ask the President of the
Council whether he had received any telegraphic dis-
patch conveying the answer of the King of Prussia to
the address of the deputation, and whether such answer
was to be communicated to the Assembly.
A debate ensued as to the admissibility of a debate
then and.there on the urgency of the motion.
The President of the Council cut matters short, and
distinctly declared that he had received no dispatch.--
(Sensation in the House.)
The question as to adjournment for a period of seven
days was then discussed.
Rosier urged the admissibility of the House meeting
at any rate on the morrow.
Waitz thought that, even admitting the danger that
hovered over the country, the appointment of a sitting
for to-morrow would be of no avail. He was decidedly
of opinion that they must wait the return of the depu-
tation.

Bassermann begged the House to be mindful of the
critical state of parties at the present moment, when so
few votes one way or the other might turn the scale.
Although voluntary absenteeism was not to be regarded,
yet the deficiency of the 33 members of the deputatio❑
was important. He supported the motion for adjourn-
ment till Wednesday, the 11th inst.
After a somewhat disorderly wrangle, this last-men-
tioned motion was carried.
Another interpellation was announced, and fresh ex-
citement ensued.
L. Simon wished to ask the Imperial Ministry whether
it had received official communication, either through the
Plenipotentiary of Prussia or otherwise, of the answer
returned by the King to the deputation from the As-
sembly ? •
The President proposed to put the question as to ur-
gency.
Vogt did 'not think the Minister was obliged to an-
swer.
Simon referred to the printed order of business, and
read the law in such cases, by which the Minister was
obliged to answer, to say when he would answer, or to
state his reasons for not answering.
The President said, if the Assembly were in doubt, he
—(Great clamour)—must tali() the sense of the House.—
(Increased clamour.)
Simon perzisted, and
The President of the Council, though he agreed with
Vogt as to the formalities of the question, did not scruple
to answer at once. In no official way, he said, but in the
form of a confidential communication, he bad yesterday
evening received intelligence from Herr von Camphausen
of the royal answer, as contained in the published tele-
graphic dispatch.
After a brief debate as to the order of the day for the
1 Ith inst., the House adjourned.
The Deutsche Zeitung asserts that another note of
the Schwarzenberg Cabinet has arrived at Frankfort,
in which Prince SCHWARZENBERG protests that he
will not allow Austria to be excluded from Germany
by any acts or statutes (hinausdecretiren). The same
paper states that the most cordial understanding exists
between Olmutz and Berlin.