The draft treaty with Napoleon might now be put aside.
These negotiations mark indeed a most important change in Bismarck's own attitude.

Hitherto he had thought and acted as a Prussian; he had deliberately refused on all occasions to support or adopt the German programme.

He had done this because he did not wish Germany to be made strong until the ascendancy of Prussia was secured.

The battle of Koeniggraetz had done that; North Germany was now Prussian; the time had come when he could begin to think and act as a German, for the power of Prussia was founded on a rock of bronze.
This change was not the only one which dates from the great victory.

The constitutional conflict had still to be settled.