The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-26 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 26, 1866.

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Austria and Prussia are not likely to come to a
settlement about the Duchies in a peaceable man-
ner, and the various accounts that reach us all tend
to show the difficulties that are constantly arising.
The last news is that the Prussian and Austrian
papers in the Duchies are busily engaged in making
war upon each other, and this not in show or sem-
blance, but quite in earnest and resolutely to the
purpose. They are actually talking of war, which
phrase sounds strangely for such allies to use. A
sort of _Nemesis has, however, ruled over the fortunes
of both the two great German Powers ever since
they commenced their crusade against Denmark.
For some time they seemed always drawing near to
their prize, and yet never grasping it, and when at
last the coveted Duchies were so far in their hands
forthwith there commenced disputes between the
conquerors. Prussia, of course, was the aggressor,
and what with arbitrary demands, unscrupulous
conduct, and absurd pretensions a constant irrita-
tion has been kept up, or one of a nature that can-
not go on for ever without producing serious effects.
An angry tone has of late crept into the correspon-
dence between the two Powers, and in the reply of
Austria to the Prussian despatch an indignant
feeling is clearly to be traced. Austria declares
that Prussia has no right to assume dominion in
Holstein, and that a substantial difference was made
in this by the Convention at Gastein.
This statement is perfctly correct, because that
treaty distinctly laid down the law to the effect that
the Duchies thenceforward became distinct pos-
sessions. Still it shows that affairs had come to a
pretty pass for the Government at Vienna to make
public mention of the fact by way of reproof.
Some very home truths were told in this dis-
patch which could not have sounded very pleasant
in the ears of Count BISMARCK. With more
decision than is generally exhibited by the
Austrian powers the malcontents of Prussia were
informed that Austria did not interfere with Prussia
respecting the course she pursued in Schleswig,
although that course was quite open to animadver-
Then were enumerated the several acts of
oppression which have distinguished the policy
of Prussia in the
unhappy
has fallen to her rule. l province that
officials who are
opposed to annexation have been summarily dis-
missed, and their plans have been fitted by the
of Pruszia. Besides this, prosecutions
partisans
have been carried on against those journals that
have advocated the non-annexation policy. Yet it
is intimated, if Austria keeps silent upon those
points, she expects the same reticence to be
main-
tained by Prussia respecting the course pursued by
Austria in Holstein. We cannot see that any cause
can be found for complaint on the part of Prussia at
the tone of this despatch, for all that it avers is
strictly true ; and, indeed, it is quite a relief
to find so much vigour shown by the Vienna
Government, for they have been most tame and
unequal hitherto in responding to the demands of
Prussia. Herr von BISMARCK is told that whether
or not Prussia is pleased at the transactions that
take place iu Holstein is a matter of indiffer-
ence to Austria, and neither can she under-
take to put down the demonstrations that are

sion.