The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-21 00:00:00

THE NEW FRENCH INVASION.

If, as the Times has every reason to believe,
Italian rulers are in possession of their senses, and capable
of any resolution—if they have reckoned all the chances
of the situation into which they have been plunging, there
is no doubt they will be beforehand with their foreign
invaders, and they may, both 'n the Campegna and at the
foot of the Alps, save, if nothing else, the honey • of
their country. The Italians have, doubtless, a ter.:bly
e irnest gams to play. But they have now been brought
too close to the precipice to have it in their power either
to fall back or even to waver on the brink. As there might
have beer. slalom and even valour in a cautious and tem-
porising policy a few weeks ago, so now the boldest may
turn out the safest policy. The time for negotiation is past.
The French have no great reason to look forward to a
very cordial reception on the past either of the Pontifical
authorities or of the Roman popul►tion. Indeed the Times
would nut be surprised if his Balinese, at a loss how to
choose between a French and an Italian master, accepted
the offer which has so often been made, and sought a
refuge in the dominions of the Queen of Spain.
As it is long since the world was able to recognise any
guarantee either of fruitful peace or skilful war in the
good sense of the potentate to whom popular superstition
once ascribed a monopoly of sagacious statesmanship, the
Daily News concludes it to be likely that French troops
are on their voyage to Civita Vecchia, The French
Emperor has succeeded only too well in undermining the
moral authority of the Italian government over
its subjects, and it I. to be feared that the
comae which the French government has thought
fit to pursue has no issue bat an appeal to force.
The re-occupation of Roman territory would have ►n
international character, revivi-ig a worn out policy of in-
termeddling with the affairs of other nations; and the
course is one which England, Prussia, and Russia, if not
Austria, moat regard with intense disapproval. At home
Napoleon would for ever cut Iltuself off from the supper:
of the French liberals, and he would be far from
certain of the aid of the priestly party. To Prussia,
after the first sensation to strong disgust, a French
occupation of Rome would give unalloyed pleasure, for it
would neutralise an important portion of the French army,
and in case of war would thus virtually reinforce that of
Germany. These are risks which everybody sees except
the person most concerned in them.

The Post thinks there can be hardly any doubt that the
new men whom Victor Emmanuel may summon to his
counsel will tender the one advice which it is possible for
patriotism to otter—the strict observance of the September
convention. The victory of Nerola will be welcomed at
St. Cloud, for while it relieves Italy of Rattarri, it will
probably free France from a most ambiguous position and
a false step.
The conservative journals, the Herald and Standard,
approve of the French invasion of Rome. The Herold
thinks the Emperor', policy is simply one which while
upholding the stipulations of a convention made in good
faith vindicates the common political law of the world.
The Standard quite looks to see the Italian government
recognise its peril and eat its choleric words. The same
paper deprecates the speeches in the English parliament
and the articles in the English newspapers insisting that
Italy ought to have Rome.
The Te'egroph blames the ill-advised recklessness of
Garibaldi. Nevertheless, it cannot doubt that oar govern-
ment will make a distinct ►nd emphatic protest against
the threatened interference of France, as opposed alike to
justice and sound policy.
The French expedition, the Star says, has not even a
technical excuse or the lustre of courage. It is under-
taken because victory of some sort seems certain, and be•
cause victory of some sort just now seems necessary.