But there were two other reasons why he refused: to do so would have done little to end the internal power struggle between Austria and Prussia, and all Prussian kings (up to and including William I) feared that the formation of a German Empire would mean the end of Prussia's independence within the German states.
Pero había outras dúas razóns polas que a rexeitou: porque non era suficiente para terminar coa loita interna de poder entre Austria e Prusia e porque todos os reis prusianos (até aquel momento, incluíndo a Guillerme I) temían que a formación dun Imperio Alemán significase o fin da independencia de Prusia.