8261. UNTERREDUNG DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.

[Sedlitz, October 1756.]575-3

Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Sedlitz 4. November (most secret): „I shall endeavour to give your Lordship the substance of<576> several conversations I have had with His Prussian Majesty, since his return from Bohemia.576-1 He is perfectly sensible of the danger to which he is exposed from the power and multiplicity of his enemies, and the late declarations of France, unexpected as they were, rather vex than dispirit him.576-2 He trusts to the King's friendship, which he is thorougly well disposed to cultivate. He thinks the question now is whether there should be any System at all in Europe or if Germany and the other European powers will tamely submit to the despotism of the houses of Austria and Bourbon; but he is resolved to stand it to the last, and is Willing to concert measures, persuaded as he is that the humbling of the house of Brandenburg is not the only object of the présent combination.

When I asked what part of his troops could be spared to act in conjunction with His Majesty's army in defence of Germany,576-3 he answered immediately that, in his present situation, he thought it impossible to send any succours to His Majesty, that he should be obliged to abandon Cleves and his other dominions in Westphalia, being unable to defend them, that I should judge myself of his ability, when he stated to me the number of his enemies 162,000 men, which he had reason to expect would appear against him next year. But as His Prussian Majesty was pleased afterwards to send me a mémoire576-4 in his own handwriting, in which many particulars were mentioned, I send your Lordship a copy of it.

I shall only add that, besides what your Lordship knows is going on in Russia, His Prussian Majesty is likewise attempting something at the Porte,576-5 in which he reckons upon His Majesty's assistance, as a diversion from that quarter would of all others be the most effectuai.

His Prussian Majesty said he hoped whe should be able to make a better figure at sea next year,576-6 that a blow there was of the utmost importance and that we should not suffer ourselves to be amused with the alarms of invasions,576-7 perhaps never intended by France. He added that, in case the French marched into Germany, it might be worth while to alarm them in our turn as if there was a design to land at Ostende, and that is only by embarking a few troops from time to time, without landing them; for he does not advise to make the attempt.

The King of Prussia spoke with warmth of the Dutch and is very desirous that ail means should be made use of to gain them,576-8 the first point is to get them to agree to an augmentation of their land-forces, that once done, he thinks they may be drawn in by degrees to take a part. He will do everything to further this, and to support His<577> Majesty's views in that country, but he wonders why, in this critical situation, big with danger to all Europe and in its conséquences ruinous to England, we should by our writings irritate a sordid people, who see not farther than the present moment, and who, allured by the hopes of immediate gain, are capable of taking a desperate resolution, which may be fatal to the common cause.577-1 He thinks the Dutch have the words of the treaty for them and says it is our interest in the présent circumstance to yield.

When the King of Prussia first received the news of the rupture with France,577-2 he appeared a good deal animated and said I shall know for the future who are my friends; if you do what is right, I will have no farther connexions with them, I wish not to be à charge à mes alliés, but I hope and expect that the King will take the most vigorous resolutions and that the whole force of England by sea and by land will be exerted on this most important and perilous occasion. He then asked me whether, if His Royal Highness the Duke was to take the command of the army for the defence of Germany, I did not think that a body of English troops might be sent thither. I answered that I had some doubts with regard to that …

I took the liberty to insinuate to the King of Prussia that, provided things went well in Russia and that that power could either be detached from the court of Vienna or rendered inactive, that in either of these cases he might spare a part of the army he has in Prussia, for the defence of Germany.577-3 To this he seemed to agree, but said he must first be well assured of Russia, before he could withdraw a man from that army …

I find His Prussian Majesty much provoked against the court of Vienna on account of scurrilous writings dispersed by them through Germany against him, but he says he wishes first to beat their troops and then he will answer their libels.“

Mitchell berichtet577-4 an Holdernesse, Sedlitz 4. November (private), er habe dem Könige von Preussen die zwischen der englischen Regierung und dem holländischen Gesandten Hop gewechselten Correspondenzen577-5 bezüglich der Beobachtung des Vertrages vom 1./10. December 1674577-6 vorgelegt. „, …[The King] thinks we are in the wrong, and it was not in my power to convince him. He says what we call a capital point in naval Stores, is no point at all, compared with the importance of throwing Holland into the arms of France; and, besides that, the treaties are clear in that point …“

Nach den Ausfertigungen im Public Record Office zu London.

<578>

575-3 Die Unterredungen fanden am 28. oder 29. October oder an beiden Tagen statt.

576-1 28. October. Vergl. S. 574.

576-2 Vergl. S. 581. 582. 583.

576-3 Vergl. S. 241. 243.

576-4 Vergl. Nr. 8262.

576-5 Vergl. S. 396. 397.

576-6 Vergl. S. 100.

576-7 Vergl. S. 333.

576-8 Vergl. S. 548.

577-1 Vergl. S. 566.

577-2 Vergl. Nr. 8265.

577-3 Vergl. S. 241. 243.

577-4 Der Bericht ist eigenhändig.

577-5 Von Holdernesse, Whitehall 12. October, an Mitchell übersandt.

577-6 Schifffahrtsvertrag zwischen England und Holland, London 1./10. December 1674 (vergl. S. 131). Vergl. Martens, Guide diplomatique (Berlin-Paris 1801), tom. I, 541.