AUSTRIA.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 59, 25 May 1865, Page 9

AUSTRIA.

Considerable difficulties have arisen between the government and the Chamber respecting the maintenance of a large military force. Finally the government has agreed to fix the strength of the army at the amount determined by the Chamber, reserving to itself, however, the right of increasing it 'ad libitum' in time of danger. The minister haa clearly intimated his conviction of an approaching war with France. A Vienna official paper states that the greater number of the Polish refugees who were interned in Austria have already quitted the country. Amongst them is the ex-Dic-tator Langiewicz, who after his two years of confinement is at length set free. He has gone to Switzerland. The declaration of the Austrian ministry to the finance committee of the Reichsrath that the government would consent to a reduction of more than twenty •millions of florins (50,250,000 f.) on the budget of 1865, was received with equal surprise and satisfaction. All the Vienna journals applaud this resolution, which they regard as a certain proof that an era of peace hes commenced for Europe. The reduction announced by Countde Schmerling in the expenditure of the present year chiefly affects the army, which absorbed all the disposable resources. The government has discovered a new conspiracy in Venetia, and numerous arrests have been made in consequence. The Cabinet of Vienna has determined upon granting no concessions whatever to the liberal party in the Venetian provinces, A despatch from Berlin asserts that it is still believed in that city that Austria will, after all, consent to the annexation of Scles-wig-Holstein, provided she receives a guarantee of all her present possessions. Nevertheless, it is stated that the plan of annexation is for the present given up because Russia opposes it, and France would only consent to it with the object of putting in a claim for territorial compensation* Several respectable inhabitants Of Flensburg are said to have been arrested for sending an address to the Emperor Napoleon requesting his support to obtain the restoration of North Schleswig to Denmark. The publication of the French " yellowbook" has filled the Danes with the conviction that they might have retained North Schleswig had they played their cards well at the London Conference ; and it is to be feared that it has given them vain hopes that they may yet recover it. It is stated that Austria has rejected the proposals of Prussia respecting the Duchies, and that in consequence Prussia has now adopted the plan suggested by Russia, that is to restore to Denmark the Danish portions of Schleswig, and to incorporate with Prussia the remainder of Schleswig and all Holstein and Lauenberg. It is added that though Austria is no party to this arrangement, she will not object to it.