The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-11-23
AUSTRIA, PRUSSIA, AND GERMANY.

Count Buol, the Minister for the Foreign AZ,
fairs of Austria, addressed on the Both of Sep
TENDER, to Count Esterhazy, the Austrian Am
bassador at the Court of Berlin, confidential
note, containing statements showing clearly that
Austria has abandoned its plan of preventing
the Turks from attacking, by the way of Wal
lachia and Moldavia the Russian position on
the left bank Of the Pruth and, farther, that it
is not willing to give Prussia the promise re-
quired by that Power, of not changing its al
legged neutrality into open hostilities against
Russia. Count Buol says that the Austrians
have entered the Danubian Princpalities, in
virtue of the permission of the Sultan, and for
the sole purpose of preventing their being re-
occupied by the Russians and, consequently,
that Austria cannot undertake to prevent the
Turks or their allies, the French and the Eng
lish, from making these provinces the basis for
their farther operations against Russia. Count
Buol says, also, that Austria cannot expect that
the peace, which is so much needed, and which
it is so anxious to see established, can be OBJ
tanned by the struggle and sacrifices of other
Powers, and consequently that it cannot bind
itself not to change its present armed neutraii-
ty into participation in the war. The victory
of the French and English at the Alma, over
Prince Mentschikof, has evidently had the eff
feet of rendering the Court Of Vienna more In
clined than ever for assuming the position
which might afford it a safe opportunity of in
creasing its own power at the expense of its
old friend, the Gar.
The House of Hapsburg possesses the pride
which makes it indignant at being looked upon
as dependent on the Russian Emperor, as, since
1849 it has really been, in public opinion !;
and, consequently, it feels rejoiced with getting
the opportunity of showing that it has. the
courage to brave the anger of its supposed pro-
tector still, it did not begin to abandon its am
biguous course until it thought that it could
do so with impunity, but even now it remains
somewhat hestating, from fear of committing
great mistake.
The Austrian note-above alluded tbs Gre
ating much sensation throughout the whole of
Germany, and especially in Prussia. One of
the Berlin journals, supposed to be in the in
terest Of Russia, uses the following expression :
ave do not wish to decide beforehand
whether it might be possible for Russia to for
get and forgive what Austria has lately snned
against it; we leave the decision to the gene
rosity of the Russian monarch. But one thing
we know for certain and that is, that if the
congratulations which the Austrian Cabinet
has transmitted to France and England, on ac
count of the victory of the allied forces over
Prince Mentschikof, and the sentiments ex-
pressed by Count Buol in his note of the 3Oth
September, are to be looked upon as indicating
the future course of Austria, then there re-
mains but very poor chance of speedy end
to the present war; and it must also be evident
to Prussia, and to the whole of Germany, that
Austria has abandoned its neutral position
without consulting the other States of the Ger
man Confederation, and consequently made it.
self alone responsible for the results which such
q step might produce"
The increasing cordiality between the West
ern Powers and Austria is evidently producing
its legitimate result of diminishing the popular
sympathy in behalf of England and France
without, however, transferring it to Russia,
which still remains the object of the deadly
hatred of the European people generally. But
it is not to be concealed, that several of the
German Governments, and great part Of the
German nobility, still remain warm friends of
the Gar, whom they look upon as their main
support against popular movements, and whom
they consequently deem their own interests re-
quire them to aid in his present struggle
should this take turn threatening his destruc
ton.
am led to this latter remark from several
other reasons, and also from the tenor of the
note which the Minister for the Foreign At
fairs of Prussia, Baron Manteuffel, on the 18th
instant addressed to the Prussian Ambassador
at the Court of Vienna, Count v. Arnim, as an
answer to that of Count Buol of the Both Sep
TENDER, spoken of in my last letter. From the
two notes, now alluded to- it is very evident
that there exists at present great difference
in the views of the Austrian and Prussian Cab
inets, relative to the course of policy which the
German Confederation, as well as Austria and
Prussia, respectively, ought to pursue against
: Russia; and that those of the Prussian Cabi-
net are by far the most favorable to the Car.
Baron Manteuffel, while declaring that the
Prussian Government is resolved to oppose all
steps of its Eastern neighbor, threatening the
real interests of Germany, does not apprehend
any danger from the increase of the Russian
army in Poland. but views this measure as a
necessary result of the attacks directed against
the Russian territory by the allied forces. He
says, also, that while the Prussian Government
is ready to unite with that of Austria in new
attempt at mediating peace between the belli-
: gerent Powers, it must, however, refuse to bind
itself, to declaration of war against Russia
should that Power decline to submit to the con-
: ditions which, as the basis of peace, might be
offered to it. He admits that it is of great in
terest to Germany, that all obstacles to the free
access to the Danube should be removed, and
that that river should be left open to trade but
he intimates that the Danubian Principahties
might, under the present state of war. be inva.
2 ded by the Russians, without jeoparding the in.
5 terests of Germany. 1t is also necessary to OBJ
= serve, that Baron Manteuffel expressly states
that 1t is not the intention of the Prussian Gov
d eminent to speak in behalf of the other States
J. OF the German Confederation. But it is very
e evident that his note to Count Arnim. as well
y as that of Count Buol to Count Esterbazv OF
i the Both September, are composed in such a
e language, as intending to influence the decis
ion of the other German States. for or against
: Russia.
s The confidence and cordiality, if there ever