Austria and Prussia were on the verge of war, and the sole hope of preventing Russia from entering such a war on the side of Austria lay in settling the Schleswig-Holstein question in a manner desirable to her.
Austria ja Preisimaa olid sõja lävel ja ainus lootus ära hoida Venemaa astumist sõtta Austria poolel oli Schleswig-Holsteini küsimuse lahendamine talle sobival viisil.