Gross 28. Jan. 1863. ceedings it will depend whether a definitive arrangement of the financial relations No. 1050. of the different parts of the Monarchy is established, or whether complications britannien, will take place which will compromise the interest of all the countries belonging to the Crown. I think it extremely probable that if this Message had been sent to the Holstein States at the opening of their session, it would have been accepted satisfactory for a provisional state of things. It is in point of fact an acquiescence in the Decree of the Diet which is alluded to, although a reserve is made as to acknowledging the legal right of the Diet to make such a demand. It is moreover in compliance with the advice which was collectively urged on the Danish Government by England, France, Russia, and Sweden. But like every other step taken by the Danish Government, it comes, I fear, too late. The object of Germany and of Holstein now being to arrive at a definitive result, the probability is that the concession offered will be of no avail. It is thought by many that if the credits demanded by the Government are voted by the States it will only be on the condition that the States of Schleswig shall likewise be admitted to the privilege of voting their quota in the same independent manner. I have, &c. A. Paget. GROSSBRITANNIEN. No. 1051. Geschäftsträger in Copenhagen an den königl. Min. Bericht über den Verlauf der Verhandlungen in der holsteinischen Ständeversammlung. Copenhagen, February 28 (received March 3), 1863. My Lord Your Lordship is already aware, from Mr. Paget's despatch of the 18th instant, of the grounds on which the States of Holstein have declined to vote upon the Budget and other laws relating to the common affairs of this Monarchy, which were submitted to their consideration by the Danish Government as an exceptional measure, and with a reservation on the part of the Government of its future freedom of action in regard to the general principle still at issue between the Cabinet at Copenhagen and the Holstein States. In coming to this decision the Holstein States also drew up a Memorial to the Crown *), setting forth the various grievances of which they complain, and expressing the conviction (as recorded by Mr. Paget in his above-mentioned despatch) that the only permanent and efficient remedy for these grievances is to be sought in the re-establishment of the ancient union between Schleswig and Holstein. ¶The issue thus raised between the Holstein States and the Monarchy is so direct that your Lordship will not be surprised to learn that the Commissioner for Holstein has refused to present to the King the address in which this opinion is avowed. ¶ He has also stated (during the debate on the projects of laws submitted to the Assembly) that the Government do not desire any exclusion of Holstein from equal participation in the affairs common to the United Monarchy, but that if *) No. 846, Anlage 12, a. No. 1051. Grossbritannien, 28. Febr. 1863. Gross 28. Febr. 1863. No. 1051. the Assembly and the Rigsraad should fail to come to an agreement upon any britannien, special project of law, then it would be absolutely necessary that, in respect to that particular law, a separation should take place. That is to say, if the Budget for the navy or any other deartment of the general Exe cutive should be rejected in toto by the Assembly after being voted in toto by the Rigsraad, the Government would consider the rejection of the Budget by Holstein as valid only for that quota of the general expenses which Holstein is called upon to support. I subjoin an abstract of an article in the official Gazette of this morning, giving an account of the language held by the Commissioner to the Assembly, and of his reply to some of the complaints recently set forth by the Holstein States, and recorded in Mr. Paget's despatch. As, I believe, the Budget was only voted by the Rigsraad on an understanding with the Government that a vote should be obtained from Holstein for that portion of it which is chargeable on the Duchy, it remains to be seen whether, in consequence of the decision of the Assembly of the 18th instant, the Government will now feel themselves compelled to summon the Rigsraad together. I have not yet had any opportunity of conversing with M. Hall upon this subject, but I understand that the Cabinet is anxious not to take such a step so long as it may be possible to avoid it. I have, &c. R. Lytton. No. 1052. SCHWEDEN. No. 1052. Min. d. Ausw. an den königl. Gesandten in London, die Verhandlungen der holsteinischen Ständeversammlung betr. Stockholm, le 22 janvier, 1863. L'on connaît sans doute déjà à Londres les propositions faites par le Schweden, Gouvernement Danois aux États du Holstein, et les résolutions qui en ont été 1863. la suite à Itzehoe. Cette fois, au moins, l'on ne saurait reprocher au Gouverne 22. Jan. ment Danois d'avoir manqué de franchise; le budget et presque tous les projets de loi approuvés par le Rigsraad dans sa dernière session ayant été soumis aux États du Holstein. Ceux-ci y ont opposé les mêmes fins de non-recevoir, en déclarant que rien ne pourrait rétablir l'ordre égal, sinon la ré-introduction des liens entre le Slesvig et le Holstein, tels qu'ils existaient avant 1848. C'est là le seul point auquel le Gouvernement Danois ne pourra jamais accéder; celui auquel le Holstein n'a aucun droit. Les États ne l'ignorent aucunement; ils devraient savoir de même qu'il n'y a point de droit contre le droit; et leur résolution témoigne ainsi uniquement du désir bien arrêté de ne point prêter les mains à un arrangement. ¶ Les résolutions sont identiquement les mêmes que celles adoptées par les États du Holstein il y a tantôt deux ans; notre avis reste également le même que celui que nous avons exprimé dans des dépêches des mois de mars et de mai, 1861, communiquées dans le temps au Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Britannique. Nous croyons toujours que la seule solution pratique et possible consiste dans une séparation administrative complète des Duchés alle Schweden, 1863. mands du reste de la Monarchie danoise, tout en sauvegardant soigneusement les No. 1052. droits de la Confédération Germanique par rapport aux provinces qui appartien- 22. Jan. nent à ce corps d'États. Nous avons quelque lieu de croire que le Gouvernement Danois, qui se trouve placé dans une position intolérable, et de laquelle il lui faut nécessairement sortir, à moins de courir le risque d'une dissolution complète de la Monarchie, se décidera à adopter cette solution, et à la proposer à la représentation. Si tel est le cas, il est de la plus grande urgence pour lui de trouver chez le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Britannique un appui et un concours pour la mise à exécution de ce plan. Il ne manquera point de le lui exposer d'une manière plus développée, mais je pense qu'il serait utile, si vous vouliez préparer Lord Russell à une pareille communication éventuelle, tâcher d'obtenir là-dessus son avis, et chercher à bien disposer cet homme d'État en faveur d'une solution qui nous paraît de nature à offrir satisfaction à tous les sujets de Sa Majesté Danoise, et en même temps à l'Allemagne, en tout à quoi elle est légalement autorisée à prétendre. ¶ Vous pouvez faire lecture de cette dépêche à Lord Russell, et même en laisser copie, si son Excellence le désirait. J'écris dans le même sens au Ministre du Roi à Paris. ¶ Agréez, &c. Manderström. GROSSBRITANNIEN. No. 1053. Geschäftstr. in Copenhagen an den königl. Minister Die beabsichtigte Beschwerde der holsteinischen Ständeversammlung bei dem Deutschen Bunde betr. (Extract.) Copenhagen, March 5 (received March 9), 1863. Gross 5. März 1863. On the 28th ultimo M. Blome announced in the Assembly No. 1053. of the Holstein States his intention to propose to the Assembly that a communi- britannien, cation should be by them addressed to the Germanic Confederation, praying that Body to take the necessary steps for the protection of the rights and interests of Holstein. On the 2nd instant this proposal was brought forward by M. Blome, and on that occasion the Royal Commissioner informed the Assembly that, as he could not sanction by his presence any attempt to make the sovereign authority of Denmark subordinate to a majority of the Diet at Frankfort, if this proposal were discussed in the Assembly, he should be compelled to withdraw therefrom. The President of the Assembly having asserted the right of the Holstein States to appeal to the Germanic Confederation in virtue, if not of the letter, yet of the spirit and intention of their charter, the Commissioner adhered to his previous declaration, and the matter was then referred to a Committee. I inquired of M. Hall this morning whether, in the event of the discussion which would probably take place on the report of the Committee, the declaration thus made by the Commissioner would actually be carried out. His Excellency informed me that he thought the proposal brought forward by M. Blome would be unanimously passed by the Assembly, but that the Commissioner would only withdraw No. 1053. from the discussion in the event of his presence proving to be absolutely incombritannien, patible with the language to which that discussion would give rise. &c. Gross 5. März 1863. R. Lytton. No. 1054. Gross 11. März GROSSBRITANNIEN. d. Ausw. No. 1054. Geschäftsträger in Copenhagen an den königl. Min. Bericht über den Stand der holsteinischen Angelegenheit. Copenhagen, March 11 (received March 16), 1863. (Extract.) Although I presume that a translation of the commubritannien, nication recently addressed by the Estates of Holstein to the Diet of the Ger1863. manic Confederation will already have reached your Lordship from ConsulGeneral Ward, yet, as this document seems likely to lead to political consequences of no ordinary importance in the complicated relations between Denmark and the Federal Power, I have deemed it advisable, for the sake of more convenient reference, to accompany the present despatch by a full and very able translation of its contents, for which I am indebted to the zeal and kindness of Mr. Vice-Consul Rainals. In this memorial the Assembly at Itzehoe, on behalf of the Duchy of Holstein, complains that the Federal Resolution of March 8, 1860, has been disregarded by the Danish Government. That Resolution, as your Lordship is aware, exacted that during the Provisorium the proclamation of January 28, 1852, should form the exclusive basis for the distribution of public affairs into local and common, and that no law, financial or other, concerning common affairs, should be enacted for the Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg without the consent of their respective representative assemblies. This stipulation has always been contested by the Danish Government, and consequently, the statement which embodies the second ground of complaint set forth in the memorial, namely, that the Royal Ordinance of January 28, 1852, remained unrealized, follows as a natural corollary from the previous assertion. ¶ The memorial then passes to an explanation of the reasons which, in view of their present unsatisfactory relations with the Government, have induced the Estates of Holstein to refuse to entertain the consideration of those projects of law which have lately been submitted to them: and, after alluding to the refusal of the Royal Commissioner to present to the King their last memorial, as justifying the present appeal to the forum of the Confederation, the address concludes by requesting the Federal Diet to adopt suitable measures for the maintenance of the rights and interests of the Duchy, in other words, to institute a Federal Execution against the King-Duke. In that portion of the inclosed document which details the reasons given by the Holstein States for their refusal to discuss the projects of laws for common affairs submitted to them by the Danish Government, is, I think, to be found the knot in which, practically speaking, the whole of the present complications are concentrated. The Danish Government in submitting, under protest, the common affairs of the Monarchy to a Gross 11. März 1863. deliberative vote of the Duchy, affirms that, if on these affairs the vote of the No. 1054. Assembly should not coincide with that of the Rigsraad, then, with regard to britannien, every law on which the desired coincidence cannot be obtained, administrative separation will become a logical, as well as a practical, necessity. Were it not so, the Duchy of Holstein would be able, by a vote of its Assembly, to paralyse the political and administrative organism of the whole Monarchy, and the Government convincingly point to the obvious absurdity of making, for instance, the entire credits necessary for the armament of the State dependent on the consent of that Assembly which is at this very moment invoking the armed intervention of Germany. But, on the other hand, the Assembly replies, with equal justice, that to offer it a free deliberative vote upon common affairs, but, at the same time, to declare the precise nature and result of that vote under a menace that any other vote than such as is desired and anticipated by the Government, will render the Assembly responsible for that administrative and legislative separation from the rest of the Monarchy against which the Duchy has always protested, of which the Government itself disavows the intention, and from which it is morally precluded by its obligations to the German Powers, is, in point of fact, a mockery and an evasion. It would appear, I confess, that the logic of both parties is, from the point of view respectively assumed by each of them, unanswerable; and the result is a complete political dead-lock, such as has been fully anticipated and clearly pointed out by your Lordship. It cannot, I think, be otherwise than a matter for unmitigated regret to all who are sincerely interested in maintaining the dignity and independence of the Danish Monarchy, that the present Cabinet of Copenhagen should have so pertinaciously resisted every friendly suggestion for the peaceful termination of a state of things of which the continuance is not less undignified than dangerous. For, surely, no solution of existing difficulties could be more unfavourable to the permanent interests of the Danish Crown than that confused and restless series of makeshifts which are satisfactory neither to the Government nor to the governed, and in which all dignity must at last be dissipated, and all confidence unsettled, by a nominal admission of doubtful rights, which are secretly resisted, and cannot be practically accorded. I cannot, however, entirely resist, nor disguise my general impression that the apparent languor with which the Danish Government continues to follow, with only fretful protest or grudging submission, that stream of events which seems now to be hurrying this country into open conflict with the Federal Power, is in a great measure caused by the conviction that Denmark is a geographical necessity in Western Europe; and that, in the event of renewed hostilities with Germany, England or France, or both those powers together, will be compelled to defend in arms the integrity of the Monarchy. However well founded may be this conviction, the effect of it upon the minds of the Danish Ministry is, I think, to be regretted. For, I fear that it is a secret and permanent operant against any practical and comprehensive settlement of disputed questions, and that it perhaps induces those who entertain it to consider too lightly the probability that, in the event to which they look forward, the grievous inconveniences of a Federal Execution, followed by open war, would have to be |