405] FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE IQTH CENTURY IO7 



France and was, therefore, willing to discuss the matter.*^ 

 As to point one, Prussia and Austria considered the more 

 northern line of Apenrade-Tondern, Denmark the more 

 southern line of Eckernforde and the river Schlei as the 

 line of demarkation between the German and the Danish 

 sections of Schleswig.*^ France and England, with the ap- 

 proval of Prussia, were willing to let the population decide 

 this question. Austria and Russia were opposed to popular 

 decisions on principle. Denmark opposed a plebiscite in 

 the assuredly Danish sections. France modified its request 

 for a plebiscite, to the effect that it be used, not to settle the 

 boundary, but to decide the choice of sovereign by the sec- 

 tion of the territory to be ceded by Denmark.** Finally, 

 in order to prevent the failure of the Conference, France 

 revived its original plan of holding a plebiscite in the sec- 

 tions between the Eckernforde and Apenrade lines in the 

 following form: 



It has not been found useful to make an appeal to the wishes of 

 the population where these wishes seemed manifest, but one could 

 consult the populations where the wishes are doubtful. ... In order 

 to secure desirable guarantees it would be useful that all military 

 force be first eliminated and that the voting take place free from all 

 pressure.^*^ 



The Conference disbanded on June 25, 1864, without 

 agreement, and the decision was left to arms. By the 

 Austro-Prussian-Danish Treaty of October 30 of the same 

 year, Schleswig-Holstein and Lauenburg ceased to be under 

 Danish sovereignty and came into joint ownership of Aus- 

 tria and Prussia. The right of option was extended over 



*'■ Ibid., pp. 14-15. 



•*« Ibid., pp. 15-17. 



*" Ibid., pp. 16-17. 



•^^ Ibid., p. 19. Bismarck agreed that the plebiscite in the sections 

 to be ceded was to decide neither the boundary nor the choice of 

 ruler, but should merely show whether the people living between 

 the northern line claimed by Austria and Prussia and the southern 

 line demanded by Denmark chorishod (iorman or Danisli national 

 sentiment. The hnal decision would be made by the Conference, 

 not by the i)eople voting (bVeudenthal, p. 17). .Austria protested 

 against any plebiscite whatsoever; Denmark objected that the plebis- 

 cite should be held only in tlie future German section, not in the 

 Danish territory (Freudenlhal, p. 18). 



