The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-31

Inc views from Europe-Atutude OF the
German Powers.
The nature of the Austrian counter PROPOSE
ton made through Lord Cowley had not trans
pired when the Persia left Liverpool, but very
little importance seems to have been attached to
it. The truth is, that the decision of the ques
ton whether there shall be peace or war rests
rather with tn course to be taken by Prussia
t'an wit n, accept bility OF the terms offered
in this document. II is the view which that
Power will take of her engagements as a MEM
b of he Confedera on which will either post
pone or precipitate the conflict. If she deter
m'n,s % continue neutral, then war is certain;
for son # the condary States will follow her
example; and the Confederation once divided, 40
obstacle remains to the prosecution of Louis
Napoleon's designs If, on the other hand, she
should be compelled by the force of public
opinion in Germany to unite wi b the smaller
States in the support of Austria then the French
Emperor will be compelled to hold his haod for a
while. The article which we copy this morning
from the Moniteur shows plainly that the uucer-
tainty which Louis Napoleon feels as to the
course which Prussia NAV be forced to adopt by
her federal obligations has caused considerable
hesitation in his mind as to the opportuneness of
his present proceedings. 1t may therefore be
his policy to come to some temporary arrange
meut, based perhaps, ON the Austrian counter
proposition. He will prefer waiting until the
differences that are sure to arise amongst the
German States themselves, an Italian revolution,
or some act Of aggression against Sardinia GU
the part of Austria, shall present to him more
favorable copunctIe of circumstances. Thus
war may be postponed for brief period, only
to be aggravated in its dangers when it does
arrive.
In the meanwhile, the fact of Louis Napoleon's
accepting any Austrian concession short of
his demands will prove conclusively that
he contemplates exacting more than be has spe.
cited. Otherwise the action of the German
States need not influence his decision. If his
object were merely to secure the evacuation of
the Legations and the Duchies, he had nothing
in the way of opposition to apprehend from the
Confederation or at all events from Prussia, the
only member of it whose military organization
could prove an obstacle in his path. It is
different, however, if he has designs on
Lombardy and Venice in favor of Sardinia. The
Duchies of Mantua and Milan have belonged to
Austria for nearly century and half and by
the treaty of Campo Formio she obtained thu
Venetian territory from France in exchange for
the remuneration of her claims on the Neither
lands. BY the fundamental law of the Germanic
Confederation, as framed by Prince Metternich
in 1885, "the independence and inviolability of
the confederated States" were explicitly secured;
and unless our memory deceives us, either at the
Congress of Carlsbad or Laybach, special pro-
vision to the same effect was added, guaranteeing
to Austria her Lombardo-Ve provinces
Thus it will be seen that whatever reserve the
Confederation may impose on itself in regard to
the occupation of Tuscany Modena and Parma
by Austria, it will probably feel none in respect
to its obligations to defend her anciently &C.
quired Italian possessions These facts explain
the cautious and rather ambiguous terms
Of The reply of the German courts to the
Austrian circular, which point to duties to be
fulfilled when eventualities shall have arisen
Affecting the interests Of the Confederation, but
which leave the world in the dark as to what
precise line of demarcation it draws between the
German and Italian rights of Austria
If the latter Power, therefore, adheres to her
determination not to evacuate the Duchies, we do
not see how war is to be any longer averted
Prussia will refuse to recognise this as Ger
man question, and will consequently persist
in remaining neutral. IT. on the other hand, the
representations of Lord Cowley and Baron Kisse-
lef have induced the Vienna Cabinet to consent to
q modification of its treaties with the Italian
States then the difficulty may have been got over
for the moment. This patching up of the Italian
sore will, however, prove but small security to
those interested. AS long as Italy is left to be
the bone ofcontention between the two great mill
tary monarchies which claim an interest in her.
The must always be a fruitful source of danger to
the peace of Europe. There is but one remedy for
this state Of things, if the European Cabinets
would have the honesty to consent to it, and that
is-Italian independence.
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