16 JANUARY 1864, Page 1

Notes between the British Government and that of Saxony upon

this subject were published on Saturday, but they amount to very little. Earl Russell reiterates very strongly the English view, that if Denmark has broken faith with Germany that is no excuse for Germany breaking faith with the Powers who signed the Treaty of 1852, and the Saxon Minister expresses as strongly the Ger- man view that the treaty was not valid without the consent of the " agnates," of Schleswig-Holstein, and of the German Diet There is not the shadow of a pretence for this argument as between the Governments which signed the treaty. The Duchies have a right to object, perhaps, as they were not- consulted, though we suspect their Duke-King had power to sign for them, and the non-signing Powers of Germany are not bound at all. As for the rest, their excuses simply amount to guarded admissions that keep- ing faith is inconvenient.