The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-09 00:00:00

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LONDON,MO_VDAY, APRIL 9, 1866.

The Prussian Ambassador at Vienna, Baron Von
%YEUTTER, has presented to Count \IENSDORFF the
reply of the Prussian Government to the Austrian
Note of the 31st. In this communication, Count
BISMARCK states that there is no satisfactory ex-
planation given concerning the Austrian armaments,
and, indeed, that they admit of none. So far this
is a very unpromising commencement, and he goes
on to say that they cannot be accounted for by any
question of " internal policy," and that they give rise
to great difficulties between the two States. If
Austria had in reality believed she was threat-
ened by Prussia, she had no reason to act
after this fashion, because she could have
appealed to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.
This argument does very well to serve as a contra-
diction to Austria, but every one knows that very
little respect is paid in Berlin circles to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution. It is all very fine to say
that it provides for the disagreement which may
arise between members of the Confederation ; but
was it not it only the other day that Herr BIS-
MARCK expressed a wish to see a Reform in the Con-
stitution, in order that the lesser States might be
able to side with Prussia in the event of a struggle
impending. The armaments of Prussia are caused
by the attitude of Austria, which has created
the present difficulty between the two Staten, is
another of Herr BISMARCK'S oracular remarks. How
absurd this is when we know that the position
position of the two States has been as awkward as
possible for some time past, and that the armaments
of Austria were the effect, not the cause, of the
confusion. Prussia repudiates the accusations of
Austria, and has no intention of attacking that
power. We learn from the Note, but perhaps it may
be intended to let things come to such a pass that
Austria may
be compelled to strike the first blow
in self-defence
and preservation of power. As for the
personal friendship said to be felt by the King of
PRUSSIA for the Emperor of AUSTRIA that is not of
much account if they are to commence
but it sounds well to
An hostilities,
dilate upon it in
a despatch of State, and,
therefore, great
stress is laid upon it in.
this instance.
Finally Herr Von BismatteK declares
that it "will
be on the part of Austria to prove by her
of action her friendship for Prussia.'' We
e
presume
from this that it is meant that cone •
essions are to
be made to the supreme will of Prussia, and that
her arbitrary demands are to be complied with forth-
with, if peace is to be preserved. It is not easy
to perceive any other mode by which this much-
talked-of friendship can be shown.
Meanwhile there are no visible signs or tokens of
relaxation in the military arrangements. The semi-
official Norddeutsche Zeitung states that the " situa•
tion" has not chary, and that the armaments
are still
going on. Many contradictory reports
are circulated, but the prevailing impression
is that the Prussian offer of mediation came too
late, which very probably may prove to be the case.
General RacfITER will soon leave Vienna for St.
Petersburg with an autograph letter from the
EMPEROR to the CZAR, in reply to his conmunica"