The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-11 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1866.

Although war has not yet been declared, it may
now be momentarily expected; and, in point of fact,
we hardly see how it can be avoided after what has
taken place in Holstein respecting the advance of
Prussian
troops. Count MENSDORFF has sent a Note
to Count KAROLTI, protesting against the entry of
the troops into Holstein, and declaring the step to
be a violation of the Gastein Convention, which
treaty should have been considered valid until a
definitive settlement of the Duchy question had been
made. The most significant part of the Note
is that Austria throws the
responsibility of
the consequences of this affair
upon Prussia,
and reserves to herself liberty of
action for
ti:e future. It is the next thing to a declaration
of war on both sides that the two consenti,p,
pasties to the Gastein Convention should have each
.
ch
declared that the other has violated its conditions,
for this oft-gnoted Convention was the tie that
bound them together most completely, and of course
the charge of being the first to reverse the decision
is the greatest reproach that can be made under the
circumstances. The Government of Vienna' have
now received information to the effect that the
Prussian troops have occupied many places and are
about to occupy more. General von GABLENZ has
declinel the invitation of General von Ar —ANTEUFFEL
to resume the common Government of the Duchies.
Of course the Vienna Government is too sharp-
witted not to perceive the insidious motive of this
proposal, for it is merely a strategy to gain time

until the Prussians had secured a firm footing to
themselves in the Duchy of Holstein. The greatest
excitement now prevails as to the opening
of the
Holstein Estates, which event will probably be the
turning point to decide the momentous question of
peace or war. The Prussians will not permit these
Estates to meet in any part of Holstein, and
General von A.IANTEUFFEL will take necessary steps
to further this order. Of course doubt prevails as
to whether Austria will oppose the measures
taken by Prussia, or remain still longer in
abeyance. It is not probable that the Austrians
will consent to look on while the Prussians lord it
over the Duchies after this fashion. No one can
believe that such a thing as the proclamation re-
cently issued by General von MANTEUFFEL can be
permitted to stand. In this he orders the dissolu-
tion of all political societies, and suspends the pub-
lication of all political newspapers until legal autho-
risation can be granted to them. The General also
announces the dissolution of the Holstein Govern-
ment, which the Austrian authorities had appointed.
The King of PRUSSIA, it is intimated in conclusion,
intends to convoke the Estates of Schleswig and
Holstein, in order to carry out the principle of
unity of both Duchies.

This is, certainly, taking tile :aw into his own
hands with a vengeance. and it is in point of fact a
direct provocation to the Austrians to declare war.
Very likely they may be driven to this in self-
defence; but if they are really the ones to give the
signal, the Prussians will be the virtual aggressors,
and the nations of Europe will admit this to be the
fact. When Prussia goes so far as to appoint a
Chief President for a new Government of the two
Duchies it is high time to be prepared for any con-
tingencies that may arise.
It is curious to notice the dilemma in which the
King of PRUSSIA is placed in consequence of the
policy of his Government being adverse to the
popular opinion of the country. So many addresses
in favour of peace have been forwarded to His
MAJESTY, and are still being forwarded, that he
has deputed the Minister of the Interior to reply to
them in general terms. The Minister accordingly
gets out of his difficulty as best he can, and states
that the KING " reluctantly perceives in these ad-
dresses an absence of the devotion which charac-
terised the Breslau address," but he repeats the
assurances which he then gave as a fitting answer

to all their addresses--the KING it is declared ex-
pects in view of growing dangers, the " uncondi-
tional devotion of his people." This is cool assur-
ance, but perhaps not more than might be expected
from the self-crowned KING. What right has he
or any of his Ministers to expect the devotion of a
people to sustain them in difficulties that have been
occasioned by the most wanton acts of spoliation and
aggression. The " growing dangers" emphatically
alluded to are nothing but the natural conse-
quences of the fatal policy pursued by Prussia
in spite of all warnings and in defiance of all advice.
No wonder that the people of Prussia should have
at last found a tongue, and made known their un-
willingness to engage in a war which will be costly,
and perhaps ruinous, for no earthly end that they
' can see but the gratification of Count BIS3IARCK'S
whims. We are glad to see that they have sense
and spirit to discern the pitfalls before them, and
to protest against the unwarrantable course of their
rulers. The Breslau address was an unusual ex-
pression of loyalty, such as we are not likely
to meet with again in a hurry in the same
direction. Now that the chances of hostilities arc
so imminent it is not at all likely that the people
will allow themselves any longer to act a part, and
condone offences which so greatly militate against
their interests. It is an unfortunate beginning to
an arduous struggle that the people should thus
show themselves so unwilling for any war to take
place at all ; and it is the more ominous, because
the Emperor of AUSTRIA has been supported with
the greatest unanimity, and continues to receive
fresh proofs of zeal and devotion, so that the two
Powers will not engage in warfare upon equal