The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-24 00:00:00

beat eanineo to tkao ro,

of Poland, and to fora

a legion composed of Polish exiles.
M LASIARTINE Said it was always is matter of :trivet for
an assembly such es this, and for a stab salon, to have to
touch upon the bleeding sorrows of a friendly psople.
Already, very frequently. both France and Great id: Rain
have endeavoured to alleviate the misfortunes of -Po-
land. Republican France has not escaped this difilealty,
though by her special constitution, she has more hope,
more anxiety, and, if it may be mid without
offence to Europe, more desire than other people to
arrive at a solution of the Polish question. Of this desire
the l'rovisional Government rendered itself the organ
during Its first days, as witness the &ace for the
formation of a Polish legion. This decree has not
been executed, and I shall not say why. I respect the mis-
fortunes of Poland; I shall not pronounce a word from
this tribune that can afflict this people. or enfeeble
its c rurage. Scarcely had we entered upon affairs, than we
had to encounter questions of magnitude, which were to be
resolved in order to establish the new relations of France
with foreign nations. The first question, th it of the general
attitude of our country, pre-occupied us. We had but one
thought—and it was a duty—not to abuse tho absence
of toe Chamber but await your accession, in order to restore
to you intact the trust which was confided to us. To leave
to you the sovereign judgment of peace or war, and, in
awaiting this calmly, we decided not to excite provocation.
M. Lamartine here recalled the principal points of his
programme of foreign policy, and said that the Chamber
would recognise histhoughts in these words. (Cries of " Yes,
yes.") If any one in the Assembly, or without it, considers
that these words do not bear sufficiently the impress of
dignity and patriotism, we would recall wr three facts
which have falsified, in spite of °unctle.o ,o the conduct
which we desired to pursue. I would recall to remembrance
the different invasions attempted in defiance of the Provi-
sional Government, the invasions of Belgium and Savoy. I
would recall the legitimate sympathy of the Germans for us,
repulsed by our own bayonets. Behold what has given
rise to so much irritation and heartburning: I will now
recur to the remarks of M. d'Aragon, and principally to those
which refer to Italy. He speaks of feebleness, of faults
committed, of a sort of connivance at Austrian policy.
These are some of those unworthy calumnies by which it
is sought to tarnish the Provisional Government ; but we await
with patience the event which will destroy these calumnies.
The old government, obliged by its recent impolitic con-
' nexions with Spain, to favour Austria, opposed itself te
I Italian independence. That policy has to en completely
changed, and already you behold its effses. The kingdom
of Naples deity becomes more demreratie. Rome verges on
republicanism. Tuscany aids in promo dog Italian unity ;
MI, in one word, Italy is at this moment almost entirely
delivered from the power of Austria Let Italian independence
be menaced; let that sacred right be denied. and France,
which speaks aloud to friends and foes, will cross the Alps
to mist in establishing that nationality. (Prolonged bravos).
If you doubt it, I request that you will permit me to read
teyou the testimony of many Italian patriots. It has been said
in this Chamber that our presence is required in Italy, and
it is added that, in condescension to Europe, we dare not
express our sentiments in favour of Italian nationality Land
yet we have not merely spoken—we have acted. Rave
we not at the foot of the Alps an army of 30,000 men,
an army which in • few days may be augmented to
61,000 men ? We have awaited in arms the call of Italy.
M. Lamartine then read a letter from the Sardinian Arc b sea.
dor. The letter stated that the Natiocal Guard bad been
suffi,;ient to put down the insurrection attempted in Savoy ;
that the Sardinan government hid never suspected that
France connived at the conduct of the insurgents; and that
the proof of this existed in the ease with which the moor meat
hadbeen suppressed. The h tter also stated that any pre-
mature interf,rence on the part of France would pro-
duce bad effects for the Italian people ; and that
France would be lonised of being in Italy for her
own interests only. He then read other letters, expres-
sive of the same confidence and the same sureeptie
bilities. In one of these documents the Sardinian
government complained of the formation of an Italian
Legion in France, and expressed fears that it might give
rise to some embarrassments. The ape iker then addressed
himself to the Polish question, and read the sub-
stance of the recommendations addressed to his
agents at the northern courts. The nest part
of the discourse of M. Lamartine went to show that
France could do nothing for Poland in the absence
of money and soldiers. France could only s epees her sympathy
for tnat unfortunste country, and encourage her to mut
patiently till a favourable opportunity should present itself
for her regeneration, meanwhile France would aid her by all
pacific means. The Assembly could judge, from the state-
ments submitted to them on this subject, whether the go-
vernment of February had neglected any means at their
disposal to arrive at a happy result.
[Left sitting.]
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