The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-03 00:00:00

41111111r‘11°9-
CiN t.

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1866.

The negotiations for peace being at any rf rtesus-
pended, we now hear of nothing but prep arations
ma
for war, either active or dilatory as the case y be,
but they are sufficiently numerous in different direc-
tions as to testify to the state of things. The Arch-
duke HEINRICH will soon proceed to Verona to take
command of the division of the Venetian army.
Prince ALEXANDER of Hesse will also receive a
command. The subject of the Italian armaments
continues to occupy the attention of the journals
in Vienna. This has introduced quite a new fea-
ture into the discussion of matters, and added greatly
to their complication. It has of course furnished
an admirable pretext for Prussia to refuse
all the proposals of Austria, and thus all the time
lately spent in discussing the question of disarma-
ment has been thrown away. The Vienna Cabi-
net had sent a despatch to Count KAROLYI, dated
April 26, in which they express great satisfaction at
the proposed simultaneous disarmament, and go on
to talk of withdrawing the troops from Bohemia.
But the effect of this is entirely spoiled by the suc-
ceeding notification in the despatch. "We are
now," it states, "in a position which requires
us to increase our means of defence in
another direction, and we ought to be excused
that this circumstance will not prevent
the Prussian Government from responding to
the retirement of our troops from the Bohemian
frontier by the reduction of the Prussian corps,
which have been mobilised." Austria, it is added,
is compelled to place its Italian army upon a war
footing in consequence of the warlike preparations
made by VICTOR E3IMANUEL. Great stress is laid
in this communication on the fact that these prepa-
rations are only made with a view to the eventuality
of a conflict with Italy, and the Vienna Government
trusts that this will not prevent the two German
Powers from carrying out their mutual proposal for
disarmament. In this, however, they are mistaken, for
the answer to this despatch has been that all the Au-
strian proposals for disarmament have been completely
nullified in consequence of the armaments she has
prepared in Italy. Of course this is all an idle
excuse, because there would not have been any
Austrian armaments in that direction to complain
of had not Prussia, for her own ends and objects,
stirred up an agitation in Italy, and enticed the
KING into forming a treaty with her.
Whatever the motive be, however, it is quite
evident what the result is, and as day after day
only brings us a repetition of these shuf-
fling excuses and ingenious evasions, we
cannot but cannot but conclude war to be immi-
nent. A very significant hint is given in the
last paragraph of this despatch of Austria ; it says
that it depends upon Prussia to " calm apprehen-
sions" which have been entertained in various
directions, especially by the German Governments,
and this can be done by her giving as positive an
assurance as Austria gave to her confederates. We
have seen how little heed was paid to this advice
by the obstinate and infatuated BISMARCK, and,
indeed, he has as good as said that he does not care
for keeping terms with Austria compared
to carrying out his own policy coute qui
coute. It appears that Austria addressed a
second Note to Prussia containing no very
welcome intelligence, for it stated that the Duke of
AUGUSTENBERG had the best title to the Schleswig-
Holstein throne, and that therefore she proposed
that he should be installed as Duke of those Duchies.

. . _ a ~ 1
Case in the end, for since the King of DEN3IARK has
lost all chance of that possession, the next best
(
thing will be for the Duke of AUGUSTENBERG to
obtain them. It will be teaching a very good
lesson to Prussia, and offer an example to
Europe of the disappointment occasioned by
such a course of treachery as she has
pursued fox the last year or two. It is possible that
in the event of a war speedily breaking out that this
may be the case, but of course the mere mention of
such a thing is enough to set Herr BISMARCK in a
rage, and make him deny anything, and refuse con-
sent to any plan. Prussia is certainly playing a
mad game, and seems intent in quarrelling with
every one, right and left, until she gains her pur-
pose of annexing the Duchies, and being the recog-
nised head of Germany. It is difficult to decide
whether her communications on home subjects or for
foreign affairs are the most arbitrary and dictatorial.
Here we have her dictating to Saxony in the most
insulting manner, and demanding that explanations
be furnished respecting the Saxon armaments, and
she threatens to take measures in case of receiving
an unsatisfactory reply, and in case of a refusal
to disarm. Again we find Herr BISMARCK sending
a Circular Note to the German Governments, in
which he declares that the essence of the Prussian
proposal for Reform was that a time should be
fixed for the assembling of a German Parliament
before the discussion of the Reform propesition was
begun by the different Governments. Prussia will
consider the rejection of this point by the different
German Governments on a " virtual refusal" to
consider the question of reforming the Federal
Constitution. Can anything be more inconside-
rate and unfair than this conduct, or is this lan-
guage likely to conciliate friends or impress
waverers ? The fact is, that things are quite a
l'outrance now with the Berlin Cabinet, and it
almost looks as if the real meaning of all these
Notes and Despatches was to gain time until all
is ripe for war. The new Fremdenblatt of Vienna
yesterday declares that Prussia and Italy have
decided upon a plan for attacking Austria, and
that Italy undertakes to commence hostilities. It
really seems as if peace was not very likely under
all these circumstances ; but so peculiar and un-
certain is the nature of the parties concerned
that it may yet turn out that some compromise
may be made, and war again put off.

The City of New York has arrived at Queens-
town from New York on the 21st ult. The prin-
cipal intelligence which she brings refers to the
movements of the Fenians and to the preparations
made to receive, or rather to repress, them. The
American Government appears to have acted in
good faith towards this country, and to have really
taken active measures to prevent disturbances on
the frontier. General MEADE, who we heard by
the last mail was to proceed to Eastport, the pre-
sent Fenian rendezvous, has arrived there, announc-
ing.z his intention of enforcing the neutrality laws.
American
tCriaclaanis General MEADE had an interview
with the British General BOYLE on board the
me
steamer Regulator. The two com-
manders arrived at the understanding that the
Federal troops
at. h o
Stephen's, utled
,perevent any disturbance in
the vicinity s
the British troops Bori-
ginally destined for thatplace' being stationed at
St. Andrew's. General
.11E,kE is
said to have tele-
axgrriapyhaeidatfoze
oismtpoorertWastroops
t,fDro Portland. His
Y no means premature,