The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-04 00:00:00

AUSTRIA. AND PRUSSIA.
There was an animated discussion in the Austrian dele-
1
gation at Pesth on the 31st ult. The order of the day was
the extraordinary credit for the increase of the military
forcer M. Klaczko, a Polish deputy, the well known
writer in the Revue des Deux Mondes, strongly sup-
poked the motion. The Austrian army, he said,
must not be inferior to the Prussian. He expressed great
scepticism as to the sincerity of an Austro-Prussian
alliance, and retained his old conviction that Prussia
had an understanding with Russia. Some other
speakers differed from this and declared that
Count Beust's neutrality policy was the only wise
and popular course. Count Beust then spoke, and in
answer to M. Klaczko he said the policy of vengeance
never bore good fruits. Replying to the other speakers,
hs said that doubtless they would do all they could to
avoid war, but the desire to avert a Canis
Belli must not be the first consideration. It was,
possible cases might arise in which the decision
as to war or peace would be unanimous. If he spoke of
the critical nature of the situation he might, under
present circumstances, be accused of pessimism in order
to obtain from the Chamber what the Govern-
ment wanted. " Our policy," he said, " will be
a policy of prudence and reserve, and at the
same time of energetic efforts to maintain and consolidate
the friendly relations established with the great neigh-
bouring empire. But who can venture, in presence of the
unlooked for transformations which have arisen from
recent events, to trace according to his wishes and his
hopes the limits of his future requirements? Under such
circumstances it is not sufficient that a State
which has no other object than its own preservation, I
should content itself with the knowledge of its own in-
offensiveness towards its neighbour. Security is only
assured when this policy is not the consequence
of weakness, but when it is recognised as the expres-
sion of free will, and while we undertake nothing which
interferes with the reorganisation of Germany, while we
give a friendly welcome to that reorganisation, we must
endeavour to regulate our relations with the neighbouring
empire in a friendly spirit, while guarding
our own interests. If then we have acted
towards another state as a friendly neighbour
who respects her independance, and if we have
not been afraid of wounding even honourable feeling in
our own country, it must be understood that our alliance
is perfectly genuine so long as we are not attacked on
our hearths, but it must be understood also that
we shall always be found ready to defend our-
selves. The most precious result of the late
events is the recognition of this situation, and of its
exigencies, in the two divisions of the empire." Later on
Count Beust said, " Although I adhere to the opinion that
we have nothing to fear, because we are very friendly with
Germany, it is necessary the Government should exert itself
to maintain and consolidate its forces. It is not enough
that the new friend should know that he is neither feared
nor suspected. Care must be taken not only that one
friend does not fear the other, but also that he esteems
him, and it is this esteem which we want, to perfect an
alliance with the new friend."
In the Chamber of Deputies at Pesth, a day or two
previous, the relations between Austria and Prussia had
been also discussed with animation. One of the Hungarian
deputies had asked Count Andressy'whether the Austrian
reply to the Prussian despatch on the reorganisation of
Germany was concerted with the Hungarian Government.
Count Andrassy replied that it was the result
of a common agreement. This despatch contained the
complete and unreserved recognition of the new German
Federation, as well as of the re-establishment of friendly
relations with that Federation—neither more nor less.
Cheers followed this announcement, which was regarded as
an official denial of the rumour of an Austro- German alliance.
Another question bearing on the, same point was put by
the same deputy, M. Stratimirovics, who inquired whether
the Hungarian Government intended to combat in time
the dangers which threaten Hungary from such an
alliance, which favours the natural development
of Teutonism, and to oppose such an alliance.
Count Andrassy replied that he could not see in the
organisation of Germany or in the renewal of friendly
relations the danger of a Teutonism which menaced Hun-
gary. The Hungarian Government had no in-
tention of interfering with either of those objects.
The deputy then asked whether, supposing such
an alliance to be inevitable, the Hungarian
Government would endeavour to prevent any
evil consequences towards France, and would see that no
pressure was exercised in favour of Prussia at the close of
the struggle. Count Andrassy answered that Austria and
Hungary had done all in their power to prevent war, and
having failed had adopted a strict neutrality. This had
prevented any pressure on either belligerent. It was
the interest of the monarchy td preserve this
neutrality, and there was no reason to fear that Prussia
would desire to exact any partial act from her, as she had
not done so hitherto. Several of the organs of the Peak
party at Pesth blame the irritability of the Magyar
Delegates, who should, according to them, accept the
political situation of Austria and Hungary, and their
relations will be harmonious.