The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-23 00:00:00

THE GERMAN FLEET.

The following is a translation of a despatch
which has been addressed by Count de Platen,
Hanoverian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the
Governments composing the Gerrnquic Confedera-
tion, communicating the intentions of his Govern-
ment respecting the construction of a squadron of
50 gunboats :

Hanover, Oct. 8.

The Federal Diet is already acquainted with the
present position of the negotiations relating to a
plan of defence for the German coasts of the North
Sea and the Baltic, other than those belonging to
Prussia. It does not appear probable that any
practical and decisive resolution will be soon taker
respecting the proposals for a general and compre-
hensive system of maritime defence which were
some time since made by the various Governments
most immediately concerned.
In these circumstances, the Government of the
King considers it not only desirable, but in the
highest degree necessary, that the maritime states
of the Confederation should come to a mutual and
common understanding, in order to take those de-
fensive measures which the situation requires.
Hanover taking the initiative in this matter, has
proposed the construction of 50 screw gunboats. In
the opinion of the King's Government the most cer-
tain way of obtaining this result would be to induce
the several riverain states immediately to set about
the construction and armament of a larger or smaller
number of these gunboats, under the sanction and
control of the Federal Diet, which should reimburse
them from the general funds of the Confedera-
tion. The King's Government, having satisfied
itself of the practicability of the project, has re-
solved to construct a flotilla of 20 armed screw
gunboats, to be specially appropriated to the defense
of the three great rivers, the Elbe, the Ems, and
the Weser. The Hanoverian Government under-
takes to proceed with all necessary activity in the
construction of this number of war vessels, which
will form its proportional part of the squadron of
the North Sea. There is reason to believe that each
of the' other..riverain states, without waiting for
the issue of the general deliberations on the subject
which are about to take place in the Federal Diet,
will show a readiness not inferior to that of Hano-
ver in constructing and arming a certain number of
vessels destined to protect and defend the coasts and
ports of the North Sea.
The envoy of Hanover to the Federal Diet,
having received orders to bring the resolution of
his Government to the knowledge of the Diet, has
been instructed at the same time to submit the fol-
lowing propositions ; _ _

1. ihat it may please the Diet to auth arise the
riverain governments of countries bordering on the
North Sea and the Baltic, not including Prussia, to
join, each in proportion to its geographical import-
ance, in constructing under the control of the Diet
50 steam-vessels, which shall form the squadron of
the North Sea, and that the said Governments may
be requested to come to an understanding on the
subject.
2. That it may also please the Diet to order that
all the expenses resulting from the establishment,
armament, and maintenance of this squadron for
the North and Baltic Seas shall be exclusively borne
and reimbursed by the general treasury of all the
States of the Confederation.

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