The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-14
The AustrO-Prussian ImbroSlio-A'r"-
sra,nme Of the Great Powers.


II is so difficult to obtain in this country
any clear and unprecedented statement OF
the condition of affairs in Europe i'll rcIa-
ton to The Austro-PruSsian imbroglio that
the following extract from private letter
will he found highly interesting. Our cor
respondent, gentleman ofgrcat ability, is
residing in Germany, and has an ample
" "pnGr'%i'y Of forming t",s.' unbiased
"At present, ! believe the facts stand
thus: A~stria says she docs not wish foot
of ground in SchIeSwig- lIostein, but wishes
the people there to hava urcstrained
vote in determining their future govern
mcnt; and states that even if they vote to
unite themselves to Prussia, she (Austria)
viii not refuse her consent or approval.
PrusSia-that is, BISMARCK, her Minister
is april 3d) busily arming, and, | believe,
wishes to seize on Schlcswig- lIoIstcin as
FREDERICK IL. did on SilcSia. She pre-
tends, however, TO be arming only to de-
fcnd herself against the power of Austria.
The PruSsian merchants and people are,
believe, opposed TO the war: and the King
domS of Bavaria and SaXony, with the
DuchicS of Baden and Wurtembcrg, have
openly declared, as | am told, that they
will support Austria. This latter Power says
She will diSband her troops simultaneously
with Prussia: but BISMARCK prctends to see
great fear for Prussia in the armies Of
Austria, and at the same time urges VICTOR
EMANUEL TO prepare to seize on Ncneua
as soon as the first blow is struck in the
North. | believe that both the ltalianan
Prussian Governments are anxious to reap
the spoils now held by Austria; but | do
not think that the people of Germany Will
permit il. If it is permitted, or cannot be
prevented, We then shall have general
war, for the programme is TO be further
carried out by NAPOLEON marching on the
Rhine and making that the French hounda-
ry, while the Russians march to the Danube,
and VIcToE ENANrrL takes Venice and
Rome"
II the programme, as above stated, is
correct, the first blow struck by either
Austria or Prussia will be the signal for a
war in which all the great European Pow
crS will be engaged. 1t has always been
the earnest desire of the French people 10
carry ont their doctrine OF geographical
lines by extending their frontier to the
Rhine: hut il is doubtful whether Prussia
would consent to this, even although She
received in return Il large slice OF Austrian
territory. There is every rcasonto believe
that NAPOLEON has scdulouSly cultivated
an citeItc c0rd;aie with Austria. At Villa
Franca he cndcavorcd to spare rs much as
possible the pride of francis JoSErH, then
suffering the disappointment and humiIia-
ton of defeat; and in the event Of war,
ii is most probable that France will support
Austria, although her protcge, VICTOR
EMANUEL, is committed to side with PruS-
sia. The course OF England is uncertain,
Her family traditions would cause her to
form an alliance with Prussia; but The
conduct Of that Power in the Danish war
has caused SO general an i'll feeling against
her in the minds Of the English people
that it is doubtful whether any Ministry
would have the tcmcrity toproposc to sup
port her with money or men. England
will most likely cndeavor to maintain a
neutrality, but will ultimately drift into a
war which can gain nothing for her but a
vast increase of her already enormous
debt.
The United States have no concern in an
European war; and whatever may be the
fate of nations there, there is no foreign
reason why the peace Of this country should
not continue, and its prosperity steadily
increase