No. 15.
Mr. Geo. H. Yeaman to Mr. Fish.
Sir: Touching the subject of the neutrality of Denmark in the present contest between Prussia and France, two events have lately occurred of some interest. This government has forbidden the further exportation of horses, an order which the government is entirely competent to make, simply as a regulation of commerce; but which is done notoriously in view of the possible exigencies of the present situation.
The other fact is the arrival at this capital, a few days ago, of the Marquis de Cadore, late French minister at Munich, which capital he quitted when Bavaria so promptly espoused the cause of Germany, and who, it is generally stated and credited, comes here as an envoy extraordinary on special mission to this government.
Of course, such a visit at this juncture excites very great interest and curiosity in political and diplomatic circles. But very little, indeed nothing, has as yet transpired as to the object of his visit. There can be no reasonable doubt that he left Paris for an important purpose, and, probably, with definite instructions. But from all that can be learned here he seems to have said and done so little as to give rise to the suggestion that, upon arriving here, he found the programme altered or modified. The Danish declaration of neutrality could scarcely have been officially, perhaps not publicly, known at Paris when he left; he traveled all the way from Cherbourg by sea, and by the time he arrived [Page 63] here, the publication by Count Bismarck of the diplomatic proposals of France so seriously affecting Belgium, and even the “Duchy” question pending between Denmark and Prussia, may have suggested to the cabinet of Paris that an earnest and successful effort by France to drag Denmark into the war might cost too much in the form of other and adverse complications. It might draw both England and Belgium into the war, and give still greater cause of dissatisfaction to Russia. Of course, as an explanation of the Marquis Cadore’s apparent inactivity, this is all speculation; but it has a certain air of plausibility about it. While I deem it quite certain that he came here for a definite and important purpose, I have reason to doubt whether he is formally and officially accredited to this government, and I know that up to yesterday evening he was not so regarded by it, and had not established official relations with it. The subject has become an interesting and important puzzle to the diplomatic corps, and the more so as most of my colleagues are actively pressing upon this government the wishes of their own governments that Denmark should remain neutral. There is somewhat less confidence felt that this attitude will be preserved than there was at the date of my last advices upon that subject.