Surely the rights of the Duchies, and the claim of Augustenburg, supported by united Germany, would be strong enough to bear down this treaty which was so unjust.
The question will be asked, was the claim of Augustenburg valid?
No positive answer can be given, for it has never been tried by a competent court of law.

It may, however, I think, be said that although there were objections, which might invalidate his right to at least a part of the Duchies, it is almost certain that a quite impartial tribunal would have decided that he had at least a better claim than any of his rivals.

This at least would have been true fifteen years before.

When, however, the Treaty of London was arranged it was necessary to procure the renunciation of all the different claimants.

That of the Emperor of Russia, the Duke of Oldenburg, and others was obtained without much difficulty; the Duke of Augustenburg long refused.