, 1864-04-07
THE scHLRsWIG-HOLsTE1N WAR.
The Conference Plan-Frcnch No1e on
England's Proposition

The following circular note has neen 80.
dressed by Ii. Dfouyn de L'iuys, the Efenca
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, 10 LIE fieasA
diplomatic agents abroad: TINT
SIR: You W1ll doubtless have learned that
the English government has made at Vienna
and at Berlin the proposal ol coo1esenG,
TO he held impediate1y, to take into consia-
GRAFTON measures Of q nature to re-establlsn
peace between the two great German fo"ess
a1,tl Denmark Similar oVertures nave been
made at Copenh= gen -.---- -
: The British Cabinet Is Of the opinion tnat
The conference might be held "lsno9s an
aTnistice. Should The governments adhere
fn this nroposal the government Of her
Ma,eetY would invite France, e,-Russia mud
Sweden. as also the Ge1mantc CONGREGATION,
10 aUpoiut plenipotentfarles at-onee.
va have reason to- believe thai: the' Cabi.
ncts Of Vienna aud of Berlin are inclined TO
riyp their consent to .ths idea Of such con.
ference We moreover believe that the Court
If A1istria continues to consider the Treaty
Of 1862 Us the proper basis for deliberations. 4
: Tba prInciple .of-the integrity Of the Dan-
,fE11 mpnarcl)Y las been admitted IN the lden:
tjcal declarations of the two German Courts,
underi date of the S1st Of January, and, ac-
cording to the formal assurances made by TIC
Austrian Cabinet, that principle remains
under the safe keeping Of Europe. ! The hos
fi1;ties hare not Invalidated the stfpulttions
Vbich bind Austrin md Prussta not only to-
wards Denmark. but towards other Powers.
Austria only claims he. liberty Of action fn
SO much rs concerns the transaction which
took place in 1S51-5e between Germany and
Denmark relative to the position Of tho
duchids to the monarchy, and to the relations
wlich'prevtously existed between Ho1stefn
and Schleswig. We have no reason to sup
poec that the views Of the Frussian Cabinet
arc different, but we have still to see how the
proposal Of England will be received by the
Erro oYt1 NV Ho
federation. As far as we can judge, Denmark
seems inclined. to insist upon IN armisticc
before agreeing to any negotiation, and It Is
to be feared that In that country the refusal
to g1unt an armisticc will he regarded as an
intention on the part OF the German Powers
to- achieve the destruction Of tbe Danish
army to render the conditions Of peace more
severe. - -;
On the other hand, the German Confedera-
tion has taken mp view Which differs essen
TALLY from TINT Of Austria and Prussia. The
Diet was not q party to the treaty of London.
and denies its validity. It is ut the present
moment actually considering report from
contrary to the integrity OF tho Danish mon
archy. ]; 1t is therefore difficult to foresee
whether the proposal Of England will be IA
frankfort.
As far rs we ourselves, sir, are' concerned,
We haye not Jet been offered an opportunity
of expressing onr views. The English Cabi-
Powers. until It has obtained the consent OF
ttc bel]tgerents. The report that we have
taken part In these steps Is consequently
false; but it is with regret that wo hnye
eeen this war break ont, and, fatthful to the
principles which actuate us, we shall be
happy to second any efforts that may be1nade
thnnld The pnyernmcnt of her Rrjtann;c