The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-12 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCES.

THE Plenipotentiaries held a sitting on Tuesday
and though of course we may suppose the usua
secrecy is maintained with respect to their delibe
rations, yet there appears a remarkable unanimity f
opinion expressed on all sides that the questions o
the principalities and of Italy absorb the attention
of the Congress. Le Nord believes that the rea-
difficulty lies in the Principalities, a view borne out
by the semi-official Ost Deutsche Post of Vienna,
which in a recent article argues that, while it is per-
fectly proper that the occupation of the Sultan's
territories by foreign armies should cease with the
termination of the war, the continued presence of an
Austrian military force in the principalities is die
tated by special considerationn, independent of those
which apply to the French and English armies ;
Austria desires to abridge the term of occupation, but
sho cannot withdraw her troops until certain things have
been done. She cannot think of so doing before Russia
has fulfilled her engagements and recognised the new
frontier still to be defined, nor before the interior organi-

SATURDAY,

cation and the tranquillity of the principalities have been
established.

Phis decided statement of the Ost Deutsche Post is
entirely at variance with the telegraphic communica-
tions from Vienna, first published in Le Nord, an-
nouncing the actual withdrawal of the Austrian
troops from the principalities.
The difficulties connected with the principalities
the Times Vienna correspondent solves authorita-
tively, stating that a commission will be sent at once
to the principalities. On its arrival the commission
will proceed to form two general Divans, the one
for Wallachia, and the other for Moldavia, whose
members are to be elected by the people. As soon
as the Divans are duly formed they will proceed to
draw up new organic statutes, and propose such re-
forms as may appear requisite and desirable. When
the project of the natit,nal Divans is completed it
will be sent to Constantinople, and after having been
revised by the representatives of the powers the new
constitution will be granted to the principalities by
their Suzerain, the Sultan.

With respect to Italy, the Opinione of the 3rd
states that the proposition likely to be adopted at
Paris with regard to Italy consists in the pontifical
Legations a semi-independent Government, subject
only to the sovereignty of the Pope. This arrange-
ment is conformable to the wishes both of England
and France :

We do :lot hesitate to say (continues the Opissione) that
this will be a half measure, of no real service to Italy. It
will only be a new edition► of the Duchies and Grand
Duchies of Central Italy, with this difference, that the
Duchies are under the suzerainty of Austria, and Lega-
tions will be under the suzerainty of the Pope. Now, as
to temporal power, the Pope is under the suzerainty of
Austria: we do not see then what the Italian Peninsula
will gain by these arrangements.
A letter from Berlin of the 30th, in the Post
Ampt Gazette, anticipates the return of the courier
with the ratification of peace from the Emperor
Alexander by the end of next week, while Le Nord
believes that the ratification will be exchanged be-
fore the 20th.

The municipality of Paris will entertain the Pleni-
potentiaries at a magnificent fete on Monday, while
the Emperor gives a grand dinner to them at the
Tuileries to night.
The Congress, it is believed, will continue to sit
for some period after the ratification of peace, settling
details.