This is the present state of affairs: that both Sweden and Denmark now
submit to the cabinets of London and Paris, claiming protection against
German aggression. War can only be arrested by a word from Prussia,
which will probably be the agent of the violence with which Denmark is
threatened. But as Prussia has the stomach to eat with zest indefinite
amount of diet, she will eat this (before war) as a change of diet for
health by advice.
Count Manderström’s note is dated 25th September last.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c.,
&c., &c.,
Washington, U. S. A.
The following note has been addressed by Baron Manderström. Swedish
minister for foreign affairs, to Baron N. Adelsvärd, Swedish
ambassador in Paris:
“The important political affairs which, during the last few weeks,
have agitated the European cabinets, and engaged their whole
attention, have caused facts which would not have failed to excite
general attention at a less animated time to pass by almost
unobserved.
“Among these is one to which we think it our duty to direct the
serious consideration of the government of his Majesty the Emperor
of the French. It concerns, as may be easily understood, the new
phase upon which the Danish question has entered through the
resolutions taken by the German federal diet. In consequence of
these resolutions Denmark will soon receive a demand—if, indeed, it
has not already been made—to withdraw within six weeks’ time the
patent of the 30th of March, 1863, under threat of a federal
execution in Holstein. We do not yet know the resolution which
Denmark will take, but it appears to us that it cannot be doubted.
Things have arrived at a point at which foreign intervention in the
internal affairs of Denmark becomes really unendurable. The most
extreme measures would be preferable to an unjustifiable submission,
in which the Danish people will not acquiesce. We may, therefore,
suppose that the Danish government will reply, that by the patent of
the 30th of March, 1863, Denmark had conceded to Holstein all the
rights which the federal diet has demanded for that duchy. Denmark,
therefore, fulfilled all her duties as a federal member, since by
this patent the mutual relations of the different parts of the
monarchy are established in such a manner that the legislation
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and taxation in the other
parts of the kingdom become independent of that which will be
adopted in Holstein and Lauenberg.
“The Danish government will ever be ready to carry into execution the
resolution passed in Frankfort relative to the internal
administration of these duchies. Every cause as well as every
pretext for a federal execution being, however, removed by this
declaration, as also by the patent of the 30th of March, the Danish
government can only regard such proceeding as having an object
entirely apart from the competency of the German diet, and must
therefore consider it a hostile attack, which it is her duty to
oppose by all the means at her disposal.
“In case this should be the reply of the Danish government, which, as
I have already said, appears most probable, it will not be denied
that it is based upon facts.
“The demand of the federal diet for a common constitution for the
whole monarchy is untenable, because it is the German diet itself,
and the Holstein estates, which have rendered such an arrangement
impossible. As regards the duchy of Schleswig, it is a fact that the
Danish government, after Schleswig’s administrative separation from
Holstein, decided to extend the liberties of this province, and that
it never took any steps to incorporate it with the kingdom. In any
case, this is a question with reference to which the federal diet is
entirely incompetent, as regards the claims which, in common with
Austria and Prussia, it considers itself entitled to make relative
to the negotiations of 1851 and 1852.
“In the meanwhile the diet’s ill-concealed desire to mix itself up in
this question causes the danger of the situation, which we can only
regard as highly critical, and approaching a crisis which would
unavoidably endanger the peace of the north, and very likely of the
whole of Europe.
“The government of the King has long avoided a return to this
question, but, believing itself to be unable any longer to remain
silent, it considers it to be its duty to submit the state of
affairs for examination to the cabinets of Paris and London.
“It appears to us that it can scarcely be the wish of those cabinets,
particularly in the present state of the negotiations relative to
Poland, that a war should break out in the north during the present
year. Such an event, however, might happen within a few weeks,
should Denmark not meet with such support from those cabinets as
would protect her against the aggressive measures of Germany. We
will not take upon ourselves to propose the means by which such a
contingency might be averted. We believe, howeve, that we have a
right to express our opinion upon this question. We have this right,
first, on account of the sincere feelings of friendship which bind
us to the two governments to whom we address ourselves; and,
secondly, because of the serious consequences which might result
from a contest from which the force of circumstances could alone
prevent us from holding aloof, since our dearest interests would not
allow us calmly to see our neighbors oppressed under pretexts which,
at a later period, might endanger our own independence.
“I request you to read this despatch to M. Drouyn de l’Huys, and
should he desire a copy of it I authorize you to leave one with
him.
