On February 21, 1850, under diplomatic pressure from Britain, France, and Russia, the Prussian Government signed the Prusso-Danish Treaty of Berlin with the Kingdom of Denmark in Berlin.
The Prussian Government recognized the Kingdom of Denmark's sovereignty over the two duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, formally ending the Prusso-Danish War.
Before the treaty was signed, under intense Russian pressure, Prussian troops had in fact already withdrawn from the Kingdom of Denmark, abandoning even the two duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
After the treaty was signed, the German Confederation delegation stormed out in anger, refusing to recognize the Kingdom of Denmark's sovereignty over the two duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
The Prussian Government had been played. It was not only the various German states that had set them up this time, but also the Russians. Clearly, Nicholas I was using concrete action to warn the Prussians to behave themselves.
At the start of the negotiations, the German Confederation delegation had still supported Prussia and engaged in fierce arguments with the Russian representatives. But when Britain, France, and Russia presented a united stance, the delegation quickly lost its nerve and accepted their mediation.
They had originally agreed to sign the treaty together. Yet the moment the Prussian Government signed it, the Confederation delegation immediately slipped away, dumping all responsibility onto the Prussian Government.
That was right—they had slipped away. The so-called angry walkout was merely something for the public to hear. Since the Confederation delegation had not signed the treaty anyway, they could say whatever they liked.
The Prussians had thought Britain, France, and Russia would force the German Confederation to sign the treaty and settle the issue of the two duchies of Schleswig and Holstein once and for all. Instead, the Russian representatives left in satisfaction.
Without the Russians, Britain and