Chapter 202

August 5, 1864.

In this operation of the German Confederation, the total number of troops exceeded 80,000. In addition to leaving 20,000 in the rear of Holstein for supplies, the other 60,000 troops were all pressed to the border of Holstein and Schleswig.

Dangerous face-to-face confrontation with the opposing Danish army.

Danish Prime Minister Monrad said it was unacceptable for the German Confederacy to launch an attack on Schleswig after the occupation of Holstein, and Denmark would not allow such a thing to happen. The prime minister also declared that the action of the German Confederation was a trampling on the sovereignty of international countries and an act of intimidation of other countries, saying that Denmark would not accept such unwarranted intimidation.

The European Times reported that on the morning of August 5, Prime Minister Monrad issued this statement to the media of various countries in the form of a press conference to respond to the matter.

"This is an act of intimidation, an unprovoked, unwarranted act of intimidation ... the great kingdom of Denmark will never accept this kind of intimidation," he said.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Meck also said that the occurrence of this incident shows the hegemony of the German Confederation and its ambitions for other countries' territories. He hopes that international countries can stop the German Confederation's aggression against other countries and give the European continent a peace. .

Danish Defense Minister Das told the outside world that the German Confederation has now completely occupied the Principality of Holstein, which itself is beyond the scope of the power of the German Confederation. Schleswig came to prepare to attack, which was a radical act.

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He said that Denmark has more than 30,000 troops stationed in Schleswig. As Denmark faces the greatest danger in its history, people from all over Denmark have risen up bravely. There will be a large number of troops to add to the Schleswig front, and we will defend Denmark to the death.

As the most important members of the Danish cabinet came out one after another, it was clear that the confrontation in Schleswig had turned into a dangerous situation.

At the same time, the British Squadron in the Baltic Sea also began to cruise. Near the ports of Nickbing and Copenhagen in Prussia, the United Kingdom did not dock for supplies, which brought pressure to the German Confederation.

Austria, inside the Royal Palace in Vienna.

Franz Joseph I received the Prime Minister of the Austrian Empire, Archduke Rainer Ferdinand, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reisberg, in the State Office.

"Your Majesty, now that we have joined this joint operation, Prussia is a lot more peaceful."

Reina Ferdinand said: "However, it seems that Berlin's intentions are becoming more and more difficult to understand. That guy Bismarck doesn't know what is sold in the gourd, so he kindly proposed joint action to us. It was impossible in the past, a little weird."

Bismarck's proposal for the cooperation between Prussia and Austria was very Austrian. Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, Foreign Minister Reisberg and Prime Minister Reiner Ferdinand on the one hand could not ignore the excitement of the German people, on the other hand Nor do you want Prussia to seize leadership over Germany.

For Austria, the biggest worry is that if the Schleswig-Holstein issue is resolved by Prussia and Prussia becomes the new leader of the German Confederation, this is unacceptable to Austria, and Austria must do everything possible to stop it.

Now Bismarck's proposal is exactly what Austria wants, so it is the reason why it was a hit and miss.

Austrian Foreign Minister Reichberg said at this time: "Prussia has just sent a telegram, declaring that they do not intend to support Augustenburg, because they demand the status of the two principalities only on the basis of national self-determination."

Archduke Reina Ferdinand sneered: "They are hiding evil intentions."

"How?" Franz Joseph I asked.

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten the current situation in Austria?"

Joseph I and Reichberg's expressions changed.

Because the Austrian Empire is a multi-ethnic country, all ethnic groups are now fighting for greater rights, especially the Hungarians, the second largest ethnic group, now almost on an equal footing with the Austrians.

If this kind of national self-determination is allowed, or even supported by Austria, then it is conceivable that the major nationalities in Austria will use this as an excuse to ask Austria to give them more rights, which is dissatisfied with Joseph I, who is now And for the Austrian government, it would be a catastrophic event.

Therefore, out of consideration of principle and position, His Majesty firmly opposes this kind of national self-determination.

August 8, 1864, at the Congress of Vienna. The Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I was discussing the status of Schleswig-Holstein, and at once rejected the Prussian proposal, a proposal for national self-determination.

King Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia, did not attend this meeting under firm objection~www.mtlnovel.com~ However, just when all countries thought that the two countries would fall out and Denmark's actions would be affected, Prussia proposed on August 10 that Prussia should jointly Interfering with the status of the two principalities interfered with the plan, so Joseph I of Austria and others could not ask for it.

And on August 13, 1864, talks between the two countries were held in Frankfurt, and a secret agreement was reached.

When Foreign Minister Rechberg found out that Bismarck Ober had strayed from his criticism of Duke Augustenberg, he was relieved, because apparently they felt that Prussia was no longer playing tricks. Even after that, the Austrian diplomatic leader had never been so meekly reverent to act in the direction of a Prussian statesman.

Even many people in Prussia are puzzled. Since the incident in Baden, it was impossible for the two countries to cooperate anymore. At least in the eyes of the Prussians, the Hohenzollern family and the Habsburg family will never be able to cooperate. At that time, it has only been more than a year, and now Bismarck is suggesting that Prussia and Austria jointly maintain the German Confederation. People who feel humiliated, and so far unanimously believe that Bismarck is the old Prussian conservatives of their holy alliance, for Bismarck's transformation Rejoice at the reconciliation between Puo and Austria.

William IV, along with his Privy Council members, watched all this happen.

"Few people in Prussia realize that Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia, has fully mastered the diplomatic initiative. Many people may guess that the Vienna statement was mainly driven by Austria. What they don't know is that this is only Berlin. The will of the Austrian fell into the trap designed by Berlin without knowing it."

Foreign Secretary Haysbet Fung sighed.

William IV smiled slightly, "One might think that the cabinet in Vienna is located in Berlin's Wilhelmstraße."