After all, Austria was German; the Austrian provinces in Italy had been assigned to the Emperor by the same authority as the Polish provinces to Prussia.

We can imagine how great would have been the outcry had Austria joined with the French to set up a united Poland, taking Posen and West Prussia for the purpose; and yet this act would have been just of the same kind as that which would have been committed had Prussia at this time joined or even lent diplomatic support to the French-Italian alliance.

It is very improbable that even if Bismarck had been Minister at this period he would have been able to carry out this policy.
The Prussian Government acted on the whole correctly.

As the war became more imminent the Prince Regent prepared the Prussian army and eventually the whole was placed on a war footing.

He offered to the Emperor of Austria his armed neutrality and a guarantee of the Austrian possessions in Italy.