The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-09 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1866.

Count BISMARCK'S despatch to the Prussian
representatives abroad is a thoroughly characteristic
document, and the wily statesman seems to have
thrown off his mask and put aside the cautious re-
serve which he has flung over his recent communi-
cations with foreign Powers. His rage and indig-
nation against Austria have burst forth in full
force, and his fury seems to know to bounds and
acknowledge no reticence. He commences by com-
plaining that his " confidential communication" of
the 7th of last month upon the question of the Elbe
Duchies, to the KING'S Ambassador at Vienna, pro-
duced so little effect. It was, he says, a symptom
of " cordial feeling," and as such regarded by all
who heard of it. Having no reply sent to this
friendly statement, the Prussian Government is
now forced to consider the declaration delivered at
Frankfort by the Austrian authorities to the Federal
Diet as the answer, and of course such unparalleled
effrontery is hardly to be credited. Austria handed
over to the Diet the decision of the Schleswig-Hol-
stein question, he affirms, " after a retrospective
statement at variance with facts and offensive to
Prussia." Not content with this misdemeanour,
she has also gravely compromised herself by an act
of sovereignty in Holstein—she has convoked the
Estates, which she had no right to do after she had
released herself from the Gastein treaty. Of course
the decision of Austria respecting an appeal to the
Diet, which in itself was a happy idea, has given
great umbrage to Prussia, as she has been rather
caught in a trap in consequence ; but still many
will be surprised at the language which Count
BISMARCK has thought fit to employ in alluding to
it. Thus we find, he says, We have already pro-
tested at Vienna against this unjustifiable and one-
sided act, as against the unjustifiable disposal of our
rights by handing them over to the Diet, and re-
serve to us to take further steps." Not content with
this, however, Count BISMARCK goes on to declare
that he cannot help thinking that the Austrian Go-
vernment had no other object in view in this pro-
ceeding of theirs than a " direct provocation and a
desire to force on a war. " All our information
agrees that the determination to make war upon
Prussia is firmly settled at Vienna," says this pre-
scient and well-informed Statesman and under the
circumstances we hardly see how he could make
a more irritating remark, and one more cal-
culated to bring about the effect to which
he alludes.; In fact, the more we consider the
despatch of the Prussian Minister, the more firmly
do we believe that it his intention to provoke
Austria to commence hostilities, and then of course
he can go about and declare that it was the Aus-
trian Government which precipitated matters. We
hope that this communication will be attentively
studied, so that people may fully appreciate the
tactics pursued by Prussia, and not be taken in by
any more of their devices.
It is of the more importance that this should be
done, because there is a marked indication on the
part of all Governments in favour of Prussia, and
it is said that the probable support that will be
furnished by Hanover in favour of our Government
is induced by the influences brought to bear upon
it from this country. If so it is much to be re-
gretted, and indeed it is more out of character by
the circumstance of our having left Denmark in the
lurch so completely. Surely, in the name of con-
sistency, Prussia should now be abandoned to the
fate she has brought upon herself by her arrogance
and assumption.
The reservations which Austria interposed when
the Conference was on the tapis have greatly com-
plicated matters according to llerr von BismAncK,
and " it is precisely the Vienna Cabinet that renders
all their labours futile," is indignantly declared in
this document, after all has been arranged with a
view to satisfy her. This is very idle reasoning,
because it must have been well known that to give
up Venetia was a project not at all in favour with
the Vienna Government. We are more inclined to
make allowance for the Austrian authorities in
having virtually refused to join the Conference,
now that we see, by the demeanour and language
of Herr BISMARCK, how bitter is the disappoint-
ment felt by the Cabinet of Berlin. As he
proceeds in his recapitulation of events, he is
carried on by his excitement until he can
hardly find adequate words to give vent to his feel-
ings. He thinks Austria never meant to join the
Congress, but sought to gain time to complete her
preparations by pretending to do so. With hypo-
crisy that can hardly be equalled, and certainly has
never been surpassed, Count BISMARK concludes by
an earnest appeal to all impartial statesmen as to
which Power has shown most desire for peace. No
wonder we should hear that in consequence of this
affair Count MENSDORFF should have telegraphed
to General von GABLENZ to the effect that in
the event of the Prussian troops entering
Holstein he should avoid all armed conflict.
Of course he discerns the object of his wily adver-
sbayribeg
esinand is determined to outwit them if he can
upon his guard. So soon as the Prussian
representative of the Diet leaves Frankfort diplo-
matic relations between Austria and Prussia will
rp von WErtmEn has
terminate. It is said that Baron
declared to Count MENSDOa that Prussia will
forcibly prevent the assembling of the Holstein
Estates, and, if so, of course there will be imme-
diately a commencement of hostilities ; as it is,
Austria may unreasonably regard it as a casus belli
that the Prussian troops have taken forcible occu-
pation of the country. Altogether things look
worse for the interests of peace than ever, now that
such a very insulting despatch should have been
sent by the Berlin Government, and we should not
be surprised if, before the termination of next week,
we should hear of war having actually commenced.

The arrival of the Java, with intelligence from
New York to May 30, gives us reason to hope that
the moderate and rational counsels are
prevailing
iu Washington, The Senate, we learn, have unani-
mously struck out the section of the constitutional
amendment proposed by the Reconstruction Com-
mittee, disfranchising rebels until 1870. This is a
great point gained, inasmuch as the Radical influ-
ence has hitherto been strong in the Senate, but
the unanimity is somewhat singular, remembering
that Mr. SUMNER is a member of the Senate. The
public rejection of the 1870 clause will, it is hoped,
give a lesson to the ultra Radicals, while it seems
to show that the prevailing sentiment re-
garding the South is ;considerably modified.