I06 EMPLOYMENT OF THE PLEBISCITE [404 



and independence under their first king, Carol of Hohen- 

 zollern Sigmaringen.*^ 



The application of the plebiscite in the transfer of terri- 

 tory and its legal status were seriously considered by the 

 leading diplomats of Europe during the discussion of the 

 cession of Northern Schleswig in 1864. After the first 

 battles during the war between Denmark, Austria, and 

 Prussia, England suggested a conference which met at Lon- 

 don on April 20, 1864, with the view to arranging peace 

 between the belligerents.*^ On May 17, Denmark refused 

 her consent to a personal union between Schleswig-Holstein 

 and Denmark.*^ After that the questions before the Con- 

 ference were : 



1. Demarcation of the territory to be ceded. 



2. Constitutional organization of the territory to be ceded. 



3. Extent to which inhabitants should be granted a voice 

 in the decision of questions one and two.*^ 



Point three was suggested by the French representatives 

 and was supported by Bismarck.*' Austria was violently 

 opposed to such a revolutionary practice, and so was 

 Russia.*® Berlin was not eager to introduce the plebiscite 

 into international affairs, but it saw no reason for opposing 



*iMano, pp. 144-176; Jorga, pp. 314-379- 



*2 Freudenthal, p. 13. 



*' Ibid. While in personal union with the Crown of Denmark the 

 duchies were to form part of the German Confederation (Freuden- 

 thal, p. 15). 



^* Stoerk, pp. 136-137; Freudenthal, p. 13. 



*' Freudenthal, p. 13. As early as Marcli 20, Napoleon had sent a 

 despatch to London, Berlin and Vienna in which he asked : " What 

 then is more natural in default of a unanimously accepted rule than 

 to take the wishes of the population as a basis?" He concludes: 

 " This measure which conforms to the veritable interests of both 

 parties, it seems to us, is the best suited to lead to an equitable ar- 

 rangement and to oflfer guarantees of stability" (quoted by Freu- 

 denthal, p. 14, from Staatsarchiv, vol. vi. p. 726). Bismarck replied 

 through the Prussian Ambassador in Paris, on April 14, that Prussia 

 would support the French plan. But he advised that the plebiscite 

 be deferred until the inhabitants were placed in a position to sec that 

 the choice of the House of Augustenburg would be impossible and 

 that the question for them to decide would be, Danish or Prussian. 

 This suggestion prevailed (Freudenthal, p. 15). 



*" Freudenthal, p. 14. 



