Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-26
THE GERMAN WAR.
Policy of PrusSia-Hem Dis
patch from Count fBisnark.

| have already communicated to your
EXcellency, at former period. the dis
patch / addressed upon the 9TH of last
month to the Kings Ambassador at Vim
ma, in reference to Count Mensdorffs note
of April 26, upon the question of the Elbe
Duchies. purposely selected for that.
communication the form of confidential
statement, not intended to be conveyed in
copy, because experience has taught me
that real unders anding is not promoted
by the exchange of documents, which are
wont Immediately to obtain publicity, and
because it was the first wish of the Kings
Government still to offer or leave open to
the Vienna Cabinet the possibility of an
approach. 'iH fp ..IE ... "
We had also, at first, cause to assume that
this step of ours would be appreciated at
Vienna, and judging from his remarks to
Baron Won Werther, Count MensdOrf
seemed to have perceived in it such posi-
bility. Indeed the tenor of our cOmmuni-
cation, whenever it transpired, was looked
upon as symptom of cordial feeling, in
creasing hopes I'm the preservation ofpeace.
Ii We have waited Ia vain for reply, or
even for mere expression of the Emper-
or's Ambassador upon the subject.
We are forced, on the contrary, to con-
slider the declaration delivered by the Aus
II
Frankfort Main, on June l, as the
answer to our conciliatory Overtures. In
that declarations after retrospective state
ment at variance with facts and offensive to
Prussia, Austria hands over to the Diet the
decision upon the Sohleswig- Holstein ques-
tion, and at the same time gives notice of
an rat or sovereignty in Holstein, viz: the
COnvoGatiOn of the Estates-which she is
not entitled to undertake single handed,
from the moment when she released herself
from the Gastein treaty, by reference to
the Diet and thereby substituted the old
relation of the cO-possession for the recent
geographical division, ..... ... ...
We have already protested at Vienna
against this unjustiiiable and one-sided act,
as against the equally uniustiiiable dispos-
al of our rights, by handing them over to
the Diet and reserve to us to take further
steps. .
But first cannot refrain from declaring
that in this proceeding of the Austrian
Government we are unable to perceive any
thing but the intention of u direct provoca-
tiOn, and the desire forcibly to bring about
a breach and war.
All our information agrees that the de-
termination to make war upon Prussia is
firmly settled at Vienna. ......
may contidentially acquaint your EX-
cellency by his Majesty's desire. that. at
the time when he addressed the cOnciliato-
ry communication above mentioned to Vi
emma, the King, actuated by the duty of
preserving peace as long as possible, readi-
ly listened to proposal for direct under
standing made from an important quarter
at Vienna, and first communicated to his
Majesty, without the participation of the
Ministry, in order to ascertain whether his
Apsn hA &c -H-s, I
actuated by the wish of maintaining peace.
The proposal was to treat the SehleSwig-
Holstein and the Federal Reform questions
in common (S0lid-aFisch), and by this con-
nection to facilitate the solution of BOTH
The negotiations, supported by the most
conciliatOry desires on the part of the me-
diators, have, as his Majesty informs me,
only demonstrated that a corresponding
feeling no longer exists at Vienna. They
have shown. Notwithstanding the Emperor s
theoretical love of peace, that craving for
war dominates every other consideration
throughout his entire Council even among
those who, to our knowledge, formerly vot-
ed against the war, and even against the
preparations and armaments, and that this
craving has now also gained decisive intlu-
ence over the Emperor himself. Not only
was there manifested an entire absence
to confidential negotiations, and to discuss
the possibilities of an agreement, but eX-
pressions of influential Austrian statesmen
and councillors of the Emperor have been
reported to the King from an authentic
source, which leaves no doubt that the I'm
perial Ministers desire war at any price,
partly in the hope Of successes in the field,
partly to tide over domestic difficulties
nay, even with the expressed intention of
assisting the Austrian finances by Prussian
contributions, or by an honorable bank
ruptcy. 81 ..f '.
The acts of the Austrian Government CO.
incide only too accurately with this inten-
ton. .. ....
have mentioned above that we are COM
PEELED to recognize direct provocation in
the declaration delivered at the Diet. 1t
has only one meauing-that the Vienna
Cabinet intends to follow it up Immediately
with the expressed breach, for it can not
have expected that we should tamely sub
nit to this attack upon our rights. In an
other question the forced loan ordered in
Yenetia, which impress3s a sting of addi-
| tioualbitterness, upon circumstances, shows
that Austria will only make use of the ex-
| tremest means toward Italy also. Cores
ponding with this are the reserves with
which, according to the Information re-
ceived here, she accompanied her answer to
the invitation to the Conference, and which,
as we hear, are understood by all the three
powers as equivalent to areiusal. aI
After the form of the invitation had, by
negotiation between the inviting powers,
| been expressly so drawn up that. Austria
| should be able to acceptit without commit
| ting herself to anything in advance, and
without being compelled to make reserves,
| nc oil hn No fbnt
ders all these labors futile.
Behind this we can only see the decided
intention upon the part of Austria of fore
ing ON war with Prussia, and of at most,
making use of negotiations as to the Con-
gress to gain time by procrastination for
| her own not entirely completed arrange
ments, but especially for those of her al
| lies. The fact of war is q settled determ-
ination at Vienna; the only further point
is to choose the favorable moment to be-
| gin. @ai ''' 'a& el S't'A 'o
This conviction is forced upon us with
imperative necessity by the most recent
| facts, and we consider that only an inten-
tionally prejudiced view can come to an
opposite conclusion. Facts now speak too
loudly for gossip, based solely coniec-
lures, combinations, falsely interpreted
statements, and empty rumOrs as to the
warlike longings OF Prussia, not to dwin-
die into nothingness in comparison. Per-
haps we shall at last be believed when we
bsolemnly protest against any notion of
wishing to make good our claims tolothe
Duchies by force, and with disregard to
the rights of the copossessor.s Now, too
probably It wilfnot be difficult to under
stand the realm0tives ofstheI arnaments
! by which Austria has given rise to-tbe
nrneant crisis and whose rarn0Val. hv