82 Prince Bismarck and his Policy. 



Hanover, on the 27th of February, broke loose from 

 the treaty witb Prussia and its [North German policy, and 

 went over to Austria. 



On the 26th of April, Austria demanded a parliament 

 in Frankfort, a measure detrimental to Prussia's interest. 

 Prussia pn^tested. 



The smaller states, to paralyze Prussia and Austria, 

 formed a union headed by Herr von der Pfordten in 

 Munich, and von Beust in Dresden. The Prussian em- 

 bassador was recalled from Frankfort. Most of the Ger- 

 man states leaned towwds Austria. A conflict and ap- 

 peal to arms between the two rivals seemed inevitable. 

 The disorders in Hessia added to the old jealousy between 

 Hohenzollern and Hapsburg. 



The Prussian army was mobilized against Austria. The 

 chances of success were in favor of the latter. 



Russia called a conference at Warsaw on October 15th, 

 to bring about a reconciliation. Austria again refused to 

 Prussia a co-presidium at the Diet. 



Emperor Mcholas saw the Holy Alliance endangered, 

 and the European equilibrium disturbed. Two Austrian 

 army corps were ready to march into Prussia at a moment's 

 warning. Emperor Nicholas demanded a conference at 

 Olmiitz ; Prussia assented, and was humbled. Bismarck 



Holstein and Lauenburg ; the Netherlands for Limburg and Luxemburg 

 the Duchies of Saxe-Meiningen, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Saxe-Altenburg, 

 Brunswick and Nassau, the two Mecklenburgs (Schwerin and Strelitz), 

 Oldenburg, Anhalt and two Schwarzenbergs (Rudolstadt and Sondershau- 

 sen), Lichtenstein, Reuss, Schaumburg Lippe, Lippe Detmold, Waldeck and 

 Hesse Homburg ; the free cities, Lubeck, Frankfort, Bremen and Ham- 

 burg. 



The votes were equal, the sittings secret. 



On important occasions the assembly was resolved into what was called 

 the plenum, in which a greater number of votes were assigned to the 

 chief states, and the total number of voices was then increased to seventy. 

 In these cases a majority of three- fourths was necessary for any question to 

 be carried. 



Ambassadors were accredited to the Diet. 



