Der unter Dänischer Herrschaft möglich schien, mit Billigkeit ausgeführt werden, jetzt aber haben die Dänen in der kurzen Zeit des Kriegsüberzuges durch Menschenraub und jegliche Unbill dem Deutschen Theile der Bewohner die Ueberzeugung aufgedrängt, dass ihnen beim Wiedereintritt der Dänischen Herrschaft nur die Wahl zwischen Vernichtung oder Auswanderung freibleiben würde. Die Trennung Schleswigs würde ein Verbannungsurtheil für eine grosse Anzahl deutscher Familien enthalten. provisorischen Regierung sind deshalb noch vor Kurzem durch eine grössere Deputation der Städte Apenrade, Hadersleben, Tondern und des Amts Hadersleben die dringendsten Bitten. vorgetragen worden, nur ja nicht in eine Trennung des Herzogthums zu willigen, und wir haben uns verpflichtet gehalten, das Versprechen zu ertheilen, dass wir nach Kräften für das Zusammenbleiben wirken wollten. . . . Von der andern Seite dürfte die vermittelnde Macht auch nicht wohl mit Grund auf Trennung zwischen Deutschgesinnten und Dänemark bestehen können, wenn der Grundsatz festgehalten werden soll, dass die Schleswig-Holsteinsche Sache eine innere sei und dass dem legitimen Landesherrn das Ganze erhalten werden soll. Da indessen die jetzt bestehende Gränze zwischen Dänemark und Schleswig nicht geeignet erscheint, um künftigen Irrungen vorzubeugen, so dürfte eine fest fortlaufende Gränzlinie zu vereinbaren und eine Bestimmung dahin zu treffen sein, dass von napping and such wrongs, have forced upon the German part of the population the conviction that in case of their return to Danish rule the only choice open to them would be between annihilation and emigration. The separation of Schleswig would containtain a sentence of banishment for a great number of German families. Through large deputations from the cities of Apenrade, Hadersleben, and Tondern, and from the administrative district of Haldersleben, there has recently been presented to the Provisional Government the most urgent petitions never to consent to a division of the duchy, and we have bound ourselves by a promise to work with all our powers for the maintenance of the union. . . . On the other hand the mediating power could not in reason insist on a separation of those disposed toward Germany from Denmark, if the principle is adhered to that the Schleswig-Holstein affair is an internal one and that the whole shall be given to the legitimate ruler. Since in the meantime the present boundaries between Denmark and Schleswig do not seem suited to prevent future misunderstandings, a continuous boundary line should be drawn and an arrangement made so that the Kingdom of Denmark should cede to the Duchy of Schleswig in the West Sea the island territories of Westerland-Föhr, Amrum, Norderland-Sylt, Süderland-Romoe and Fanoe with the ocean territories to 55° 20′ and on the mainland the county of Schackenburg, Treuburg Seiten des Königreichs Dänemark in der Westsee die Inselgebiete Westerland-Föhr, Amrum, Norderland-Sylt, Süderland-Romoe und Fanoe mit dem Seegebiete bis 55° 20′ und auf dem Festlande die Grafschaft Schackenburg, Treuburg und die übrigen Enclaven, mit Ausnahme der Stadt Rypen sammt Stadtgebiet, an das Herzogthum Schleswig abzutreten wären, wogegen das Herzogthum Schleswig einen der Einwohnerzahl der abgetre tenen Gebietstheile entsprechenden Antheil vom Amte Hadersleben, im Auschluss von dem Gebiete der Stadt Rypen und Jütland, wieder zurückgeben müsste. Wir ersuchen Ew. Exc. die Stellung der provisorischen Regierung in billige Erwägung zu ziehen. Die uns gestellte Aufgabe besteht nur darin, den Landesrechten und Landeswünschen die versagte Anerkennung zu verschaffen; mit dieser Aufgabe würden wir in Widerspruch treten und unser Mandat überschreiten, wenn wir freiwillig in die Trennung Schleswigs, als Basis der Friedens-Unterhandlung willigten. Wir dürfen Ew. Exc. demnach dringend ersuchen, die Untheilbarkeit der Herzogthümer kräftigst zu befürworten, und benutzen mit Vergnügen u. s. w. Rendsburg den 22. Mai 1848. Die provisorische Regierung der Herzogthümer Schleswig-Holstein. and the other enclaves with the exception of the city of Rypen with its domain; in return for which the Duchy of Schleswig should return a part of the district of Hadersleben, corresponding in number of population to the ceded territories, excepting the domain of the city of Rypen and Jutland. We beg Your Excellency to consider with fairness the position of the Provisional Government. The task to which we have been put consists merely in this, to obtain the denied recognition for the rights and wishes of the country. We should contradict our duty and overstep our authority, then, if we consented freely to the separation of Schleswig, as a basis for the peace negotiations. We may therefore earnestly beg Your Excellency to recommend the indivisibility of the duchies, and remain, etc. Rendsburg, May 22, 1848. The Provisional Government of the Duchies of Schleswig-Holstein. Correspondence Between the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Prussian Minister in London, Concerning the Prussian Proposal of a Division of Schleswig According to Nationality, May and June, 1848 1 THE BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE PRUSSIAN MINISTER IN LONDON M. LE CHEVALIER, Foreign Office, May 19, 1848. I will send a copy of your proposed note this evening to Sir H. Wynn, together with its 2 annexes, but I beg to make some remarks on those annexes.2 With regard to the second annex, Sir H. Wynn shall be instructed to recommend for the consideration of the Danish Government an arrangement founded on the principle proposed in that annex, viz., that the Duchy of Schleswig shall be divided into two parts with reference to the national character of its inhabitants, and that the southern or German part shall, like Holstein, become a member of the German Confederation, and that the northern or Danish part shall then be constitutionally incorporated with the Kingdom of Denmark. It being, of course, to be understood that any German inhabitants of the Danish portion should enjoy perfect liberty to educate their children in the German language if they chose it, just as any Danish inhabitants of the German part should be free to educate their children in the Danish language if such should be their desire. It is indeed understood that in Schleswig, as in most other countries in which two different races are settled and two different languages are spoken, the two races are not locally separated by any one line which divides everything that is of one race from everything that is of the other; and that although in one part of the country one race predominates, and in the other part the other race is the most numerous, yet there are many portions of the territory where one race is partially mixed with the other. Therefore the line of demarcation, wherever it may be drawn, can only separate majority from majority, but can not be expected to leave all the Germans on one side and all the Danes upon the other. With regard to the mode of drawing such a line, if the principle of doing so should be agreed upon, I would suggest for the consideration of the parties, whether it might not be possible for the Danish Government and the Diet to come to an understanding upon this matter with reference to known or ascer 1 Brit. St. Pap., vol. 40, pp 1305-1319. 2 The text of the note and annexes referred to cannot be found in the sources at disposal. tainable statistical facts, without going through the difficult process of a detailed appeal to all the inhabitants of each district. Such an appeal must be conducted by some executive authority, and it might not be easy for all the parties concerned to agree as to the constitution of such an authority. Le Chevalier Bunsen. I am, &c. PALMERSTON. THE PRUSSIAN MINISTER IN LONDON TO THE BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Translation) MY LORD, Prussian Legation, June 12, 1848. I have the honour to inclose to your Lordship observations on the proposals for an armistice which were presented to you from Count Reventlow, as the Danish view of the question, on the 18th, of last month, and which you communicated to me verbally on the same day, and in writing on the following. Viscount Palmerston, G. C. B. I have, &c. BUNSEN. (Inclosure 1.) Observations upon the Danish Proposals for an Armistice of May 18 (Translation) Prussian Legation, June 12, 1848. The Danish proposal is inadmissible in point of form and in point of matter. If the object of Articles IV and V 1 should simply be to protect, during the armistice, the Danish majority in the country districts of North Schleswig, 1 Articles 4 and 5 of the Danish Project of Armistice: 4o. Le Duché de Slesvig, y compris les îles, sera évacué dans toute son étendue par les troupes de la Confédération et par celles du Danemarc. 5o. Le Gouvernement Provisoire continuera de diriger les affaires du pays au nom de Sa Majesté le Roi de Danemarc jusqu'à ce que la question litigieuse soit réglée définitivement. Le pays sera mis à l'abri de toute agression de la part du Danemarc par la garantie de l'Angleterre. (Translation) 4. The Duchy of Schleswig, including the islands, shall be completely evacuated by the troops of the Confederation and by those of Denmark. 5. The Provisional Government shall continue to direct the affairs of the country in the name of His Majesty the King of Denmark until the question in dispute shall be finally adjusted. The country shall be protected from any aggression on the part of Denmark, by the guarantee of England. and to secure to them a perfectly free and unbiased expression of their political opinions as to an incorporation with Denmark, it would be easy to meet such a demand in the following manner : The 2 belligerent parties, Germany and Denmark, might send to Schleswig each a political Commissioner, and England, as mediating Power, might send a third. The common object of these Commissioners would be to see that everything respecting the 2 nationalities was carried on by the Provisional Government with perfect impartiality. The representative of the mediating Power would, besides, in case of difference of opinion, act as umpire. THE BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE DANISH AND PRUSSIAN MINISTERS IN LONDON SIR. Foreign Office, June 23, 1848. Her Majesty's Government have highly appreciated the confidence which has been manifested towards the British Crown by the consent of Denmark on the one hand and of Prussia and the Germanic Diet on the other, to accept the good offices of Great Britain as mediator in a negotiation for the settlement of the differences which have arisen upon the subject of the Duchy of Schleswig. I beg accordingly to submit for your consideration and for that of the Prussian Government, the following Articles which Her Majesty's Government would propose to the 2 parties for an armistice, accompanied by an agreement as to the general principle upon which the Schleswig question should be settled. Proposed Articles 1. Hostilities between the Danish and German forces shall cease by sea and by land, as soon after the signature of these Articles as the necessary orders can be given. All blockades will at the same time be raised. IV.1 Immediately on the conclusion of this armistice the troops of both parties shall evacuate the whole of the Duchy of Schleswig, the Island of Alsen being deemed and considered as part of that duchy; the Danish troops retiring to the north, and the German troops to the south. Any free corps which may have been raised in Schleswig shall be disbanded, the men and 1 The articles omitted concern the question of prisoners and indemnities. |