21 MAY 1864, Page 4

forges steadily ahead, but the European doctors consult at constantly

increasing intervals. Even the prescriptionsadmi. front a fait accompli.

the following significant notice from Berlin :—" A Commit- panied our advice by an oracular suggestion that in Schleswig tee, under the presidency of Herr von der Heydt, met here the Danes might take up their position on strictly national yesterday for the purpose of establishing a company to con- ground where Denmark's allies might very probably join strut a Schleswig-Holstein canal to connect the North Sea her. Such was Lord Russell's anticipation in December. with the Baltic. An ofer of the Government to defray the expense In January he had already retreated a step further, but of the preparatory works from the Exchequer was accepted. Privy was still hinting to Denmark that the new concession at Councillor Lentze was entrusted with the execution of the undertak_ least would in all probability be the last. "Only withdraw ing." Here is something more than mere coaxing. Schleswig this new Schleswig constitution," he said, " to which in all is to be heavily bribed to believe that " Codlin's her friend, not Previous stages it is true, Prussia has never suggested an Short," and the grass is not allowed to grow under the feet of objection till the death of Frederick VII. raised a hope of a the Prussian flatterers. Nor is it only in the invention of Popular disturbance, but to which you see she has now argumenta ad populum that Prussia is showing her eagerness Picked up a very strong dislike, and then perhaps, only and energy while the Conference dawdles and adjourns. Herr Perhaps, your allies will prove to be something more than Ton Bismark has addressed a note to Count Bernstorff, who misty hopes." Denmark again gave way as far as she consti- is charged with the duty of obstructing the languid discussion tutionally could, but only to find the Germans pressing on, of medicinal remedies by the conferring Powers, while and England again retreating from the "perhaps." Then Herr von Bismark himself is preparing rapidly to amputate came war, England standing aloof, but quaintly piquing Denmark's wounded limb. In this he points out that the herself on having done her duty after all in persuading Prussian Government is completely free from all obligations Austria and Prussia to pledge themselves to accept, for which might be deduced from the Treaty of 1852, and justi_ the present, the principle of the Treaty of 1852 in order fled in discussing any other combination that is entirely inde_ to arrest English hostility. Nay, more, had she not even pendent of that treaty. Nothing could be better for his purpose Persuaded Austria to say she was occupying Schleswig than thus to widen the field of discussion so as to take in every only in the "interests of Denmark ?" Then followed the possible solution probable, possible, or impossible. And there is a revolutionary policy in Schleswig, which belied the last plea ; delightful and almost stupifying vagueness in his final sentence. the invasion of Jutland, which belied every pretext previ- He refers with charming frankness to that "identical note" of ously urged by the German Powers for their policy ; the the 31st January last addressed by Austria and Prussia to the Plunder of private property in Jutland, which belied even the neutral Powers, which Lord Palmerston and Lord Russell have German pretence to enlightened and humane motives. Eng- so often plumed themselves on extracting. In that note those land began to fire up. Something must be done to keep her Powers recognize preliminarily the Treaty of 1852, but go on quiet, or the question would have passed beyond Lord Palmer- to point out that if the sacrifices they spontaneously incur in ston's hands. The Conference at last got itself together, and the voluntary war on which they are entering turn out to be became the new excuse for permitting fresh encroachments. great, they may find it necessary to withdraw from that basis, To everything it was replied that the Conference was but that in that case they shall freely recognize the right of the sitting, and when you have called in a great authority European Powers to take part in the discussion of the solution You must cease to tender your own private counsels. Yet to be arrived at. This is the position, says Herr von Bismark, under cover of Conference the temporary German adhesion which has at length been reached. The sacrifices so span- to the Treaty of 1852 is now swept away, and England taneously incurred have been very great ; the Germans are is still discussing calmly with the German delegates how already liberated from that preliminary recognition of the much more they will ask before they are satisfied. So Treaty of 1852—which, we may remark, would never have that when Holstein went our diplomatists were angry and been given at all except as a sop to England to find her threatened war ; when Schleswig went, they were irritated an excuse for abstaining from the war, a purpose it has and whispered war ; when Jutland went, they said, " let us answered admirably,—but they are not going to ignore keep our temper and confer with these invaders;" and now that the promise given in that remarkable despatch which to all appearances the only idea the English, Government Lord Paltherston and Lord Russell regarded as the great has ever had in the matter, "nominal adhesion to the Treaty triumph of their diplomacy ; on the contrary, they are going of 1852," has gone,—and the armistice, Conference's one to fulfil that promise. Herr von Bismark does hereby fulfil it achievement, is apparently set at naught by the stronger foe,— by giving us a free and frank acknowledgment that the they adjourn the Conference for twelve days, and lay up the fleet neutral Powers ought to be admitted to a voice in the discus- as if everything were amicably settled and all need for vigilance sion of the final solution. These are the Prussian Minister's were over. The Prussian Government has reason to be proud of gracious words :—" It is a natural consequence of political its position. All its opiates to England have taken effect, and relations that the solution of the question is of European im- even now while she confesses openly that the first opiate portance, and that endeavours should be made to effect this she administered,—the treacherous note of the 31st January conjointly with the other great Powers. This position was acceptingpro tempore the Treaty of London,—was a mere trick the only one recognized by the Government in the concluding which has done its work,—Lord Russell, uuder the stupdying sentence of its declaration of the 31st of January. The sole TOPICS OF THE DAY• task of the Conference is conjointly to search for and deliberate . upon the means whereby a solution of the question may be THE INTERMITTENT CONFERENCE. arrived at." What can be more gratifying ? Herr von Bismark INSTEA.D of persistent remedies for intermittent complaints finds ample work for a dilatory Conference whose chief business we are now beholding a notable instance of an intermit- consists in discussing the length of its adjournments, while he urges on his own designs for superseding practically the tent remedy for a persistent complaint. The European malady authority of the Conference, and bringing it at last to con- nistered are not taken, and the very doctors who administered It is now clear, and is becoming every day clearer, that them seem quite indifferent whether they are taken or not. Mr. the Conference is only an expedient for decently veiling Layard said on Thursday night that no doubt the understand. for England that facilis deacensus Averni which our diplo- ing was that no more forced levies were to be exacted in Jut. matists were treading rapidly enough before, but with land, that he had seen statements " in the papers" asserting so little satisfaction to the nation that they were obliged that the forced contributions were still going on, but that the to halt occasionally, face about, and make as though in- Government knew nothing about the matter. On the dined to retrace their steps, until this happy expedient other hand, while the Conference makes humble suggestions for smoothing the downward road was at last achieved. at long intervals, and England takes pains to know nothing The history of this negotiation as regards England is the about the result, Prussia is showing her hand in a history of weak, well-intentioned irresolution, catching at very significant fashion. For a long time she has been excuse after excuse for yielding a new step without that steadily urging on the German revolutionary movement in grand resistance which our diplomatists have occasionally Schleswig, and whispering reiterated assertions both wheedling promised themselves—in dialogue sometimes, but oftener in and menacing that Prussia is Schleswig's only true friend. soliloquy. Their tone has grown steadily meeker, as step by Like the lugubrious showman in the " Old Curiosity Shop " step the German Powers have advanced in their pretensions. who is constantly assuring little Nell that " Codlin's her At first even the attempt to put a mere Federal execution friend, not Short," Prussia has made a series of energetic into Holstein when the Patent of March, 1863 (the nominal efforts to supplant all other German Powers in the good opinion excuse), had been withdrawn, excited really indignant of the German partizans in Schleswig. But it has now be_ emotions in our Foreign Office. That, however, was acquiesced come worth her while to attempt something more than coarse in, and Denmark was persuaded to acquiesce in it also because and repulsive wheedling. We read in yesterday's telegrams it was the act of a constitutional authority ; but we accom- influence of the Conference, talks almost deliriously, and like a man walking in his sleep, of the decisions to be arrived at by the Conference. "I am not surprised," he says, "that the Con- ference which met on the 25th of April has not in fourteen days come to a conclusion upon questions which have created so much difference of opinion for fourteen years." Prussia no doubt shares his feeling, and something more. She would be very much'surprised if it had done so in either fourteen or forty days. She is working while England sleeps ; and if that continues to be so, the conclusion, when it is arrived at, will be forced on the Conference by the one vigilant Power who has amused herself with opening the widest possible field for its deliberations.