This claim and its consequences is discussed in another place,
but it is as well to state the ground facts of what may be a dangerous squabble. It may be held, then, to be certain that the Five Powers did, On 'May 8th, 1852, select Prince Christian out of a heap of little PrinCes, more or less remotely allied to the Oldenburgs, to be thenext King of Denmark and Schleswig ; that they intended him also to be Duke of Holstein ; that he has been elected in Denmark, but not in Holstein ; that he has no hereditary right to plead ; that the Prince of Augustenburg has a hereditary right, but no right under the treaty of 8th May ; that Germany wishes as a nation to support the pretender, but that Austria and Prussia are precluded from action by their consent to the treaty; that England and France will in any case support their nominee, and that if Germany as a body attempts to establish the Pretender in Holstein there is imminent danger of war. It may also, we think, be accepted that Denmark would give up the connection with Holstein, provided Schleswig were made an integral part of the monarchy, and that the ultimate decision for peace or war will turn on the chance of compelling Germany to give up her theory that those two Duchies are one.
