The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-21 00:00:00


IER 21, 1864.

EXPRESS nom PARIS.

(nom on OWN

PARIS. TUZIWLY EVOMIO.

Some of the journals here look upon the conven-
tion which is to see the French troops out of Rome
in two years as most certainly signed, and the
Sidele goes so far as to say that the papers will
shortly be laid before the Italian Chambers. The
hopes of Italy have so often been raised only to be
again dashed to the ground that the most positive
assertions must be received with caution. As it is
so obviously the interest of Prance to keep an
army of 30,000 men in the centre of Italy, and as
in a material point of view she would gain so little
by removing this army and handing over the Pope
to the wicked will of his own people, all rumours
of evacuation meet with discredit. It is supposed
that the matter has been seriously talked over here,
and that Pepoli, Menabrea, and Nigra have
strongly urged the measure on the Emperor,
who replied in a vague manner that he
would not mind examining the question if laid be-
fore him in a diplomatic note. A convention was
drawn up by the Italian trio and sent to Turin,
where it was approved before being handed to the
French Emperor, but nothing has yet been signed
on the part of France. The Debate, in reviewing the
question, points out the very vague language of the
Conititutionnel, who writes semi-officially :—" The
papers amuse the public with new negotiations be-
tween the French government and that of Italy
relative to the occupation of Rome. These journals
enter into numerous details. We do not know
from whence they are derived, but at all events
we have no information on the subject. But
whilst these rumours are abroad it may not be un-
necesessr to repeat that the government has de-
clared on every occasion, what we have so often
said in these columns, that the actual state of things
having never been considered as definitive, the
solution desired on the day it occurs will not cast
a slur on French honour." You will perceive that
this well-informed journal throws no light on the
subject, but still avoids denial and talks of the',
solution as a matter devoutly to be wished.
Another well-informed journal, La Prance, which
struggles hard to impress people with the idea that
it shines with a light reflected from the chief lumi-
nary of the state, declares no mention has been
made of Rome, and that the Italian triumvirate
have merely been chatting over • desk at Venice.
The most part of the evening papers give the terms
of the convention, which will of course reach you
by telegraph. By the stipulations of the treaty
the Pope will pass from the protection of the eldest
son of the church to be defended by no eager de-
fender of the faith. The Italians will have to give
up the idea of Rome fora capital, and to choose
most probably Florence.
We have very little news about the negotiations
going slowly on at Vienna, but a German idea has
come to hand worth repeating. It is now thought
over the Rhine that Prussia is prolonging the settle-
ment of Danish affairs, hoping before any final
arrangement can be arrived at, that Austria will be
in hot water with Italy. If Austria's attention
were thus diverted southward, of course Prussia
would immediately seise the opportunity of dealing
with the Duchies after her own manner.

Letters from Toulon report preparations being
made at that port for the embarkation of a division
from 10,000 to 12,000 strong. Is this the force
with which the marshal is to overrun the French
colony I The salary of the governor-general has
been fined at 125,000 francs ; the deputy-governor
will receive 50,000 francs ; the secretary-general,
30,000 ; prefects, 25,000 francs ; and their secre-
taries, 7,000 francs a year.

iniATEIR RIPORT.—(THLB DAY.)