The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-22 00:00:00

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The Treaty between Franc,

The French andgtalian papers receivediestefty S
discuss with increased confidence and with more
detail the alleged treaty between France and Italy
regarding the evacuation of Rome by the French
troops. The statement which is at the same time
the most explicit and apparently possesses most
authority is the following, which is communicatod
by the Turin correspondent of the independence
Beige, under date the 17th inst.
The following are the principal features of the
convention :—" France will intimate to the Pope
that within two years' time at meat the French
army will entirely abandon the Pontifical States, if
the Government of the Pope will be able to take
steps for the formation of an army. Just as the
organisation of the pontficai army will proceed an
equivalent number of French soldiers will leave tbe
territories of the Holy Father. In order to afford
facilities to the Papal Government for the es,.-ablish•
merit of this force, France wilt allow it to enlist
French volunteers, rind of course Catholic rations
will b 3 anxious to follow the example of France.
The King at Italy, on his part, er gages not to attack
the Papal States, and to pro eat any armed. bands
from enteling the Pontifical territory; but there is
no new preposition of any reconciliation with the
Pope. The King would not expose himself to a
refusal that is foreseen after so many solemn and
repeated declarations. The King has, moreover,
determined on adopting a measure which may be
regarded as a great concession to the Papacy. 110
has consented to fix the capital of the kingdom
.definitively at Florence. This transfer of the seat
of government will probably be very vigorously
assailed by the party of opposition, but wise people
will allow for the situation of the King, and will
comprehend the reasons which have made him act
as he has done. Parliament will meet on the let
of October, in order that the Government mky
obtain from it a ratification of the arrangements
between the two Cabinets. The Ministry have faith
in the patriotism of Italians, and they reckon on the
support of a very large majority. Count Vimercati
has been sent to M, Ratezzi, who is at present at
Baden-Baden, to ask for the patriotic adhesion of
that statesman."

The Independance says, in reference to the above :
" The Turin correspondent who transmitted to us
the first information upon the nature and the scope
of the negotiations in question, and who has just
communicated to us, in terms as precise and as
positive, the result those negotiations have led to,
deserves the utmost confidence, and we are per-
suaded that when the veil falls which still sur■
rounds this diplomatic mystery, facts will prove, to
a certain extent at least, the importance and the
accuracy of the communications we have repro-
duced."

The Opinione of Turin is very precise. It says
in its edition of the 16th—" We are informed that
yesterday evening, the 15th September, the conven-
tion between the French and Italian Governments
concerning the cessation of the French occupation
of Rome in two years was signed in Paris. M.
Drouyn de Lhuys signed for France; Chevelier
Constantine Nigra, chief plenipotentiary, and the
Marquis Pepoli, minister plenipotentiary in extra-
ordinary mission, signed for Italy. We are also in-
formed that the King's Government, with the view
of communicating these stipulations to the national
Parliament at the earliest period, has determined to
summon the Chambers for the 4th of October."
The .Nord says—" It is incontestible that the
mission of MM. Menabrea and Pepoli to the Enape•
ror of the French has had some result, and. that the
Roman question has just made a great step towards
its solution, despite the contradictory assertions of
the semi-official papers. Our own information con-
firms the fact of the convention concluded between
the Governments of France and Italy, the delay of
two years as the extreme term of the occupation of
Rome by the French troops, and, finally, the en-
gagement entered into by the Turin Cabinet to
make the Pontifical frontiers respected."
The 7esnps refers to the treaty in the same eon- •
fident terms. It says—" It is impossible any longer
to doubt that the Roman question is at last ap-
proaching the solution wriich it has so long
claimed, and which principles claimed for it.
It was essential that the occupation of Rome,
"ou nous sonanes sans drott," should cease some
day or other, and it appears that the time is hence-
forth fired, and that a delay of two years has been.
or is to be signified to the Pontifical government.
The semi-official press at Pais maintains at present
great reserve. But the afirma•ions of the Turin
journals have become too emphatic to leave room for
the slightest doubt. It is probable that other clauses
accotnpany end complete the stipulation of the delay
of two years; but it would be idle to comment upon.
the indiscretions of the Italian press, as we shall
very soon know—at the latest in the early "part of
the next month—the tenor of the conventions de.
Bided between the governments of France:and Italy.
Few people, even among the most impatient, will
be surprised by the concessions which may have
been introduced into the convention for the purpose
of preparing and mitigating an inevitable denou.
meld. On the other hand, the friends of the Holy
See ought, if wise, to rejoice the first at the end of
a state of things which was in no way profitable to
their cause. It ought to be obvious to eaerybody
that, though the French occupation of Rome has
suspended the natural course of things, it has con-
solidated nothing, and to say the truth, has even
restored nothing. The Holy See, including its tem•
poral rule, is a moral power which can only be sus•
tained by a purely moral prestige. The material
assistance so long afforded to it, far from having
been favourable, has injured it, for it has sown the
seeds of schism in Italy, and withdrawn from its
moral power all the transitory security it gave to
its political authority. The hour has come for the
Holy See to transform itself if it can, but it is clear
that circumstances are much less propitious than at
the accession of Pius IX,"
The Presse says—" If it is true that France um.
dertakcs to recal its troops from Rome in a fixed
time, the Italian question advances towards a solve
tion, while taking new ground. In our opinion
this engagement amounts to the abdication of the.
Italian pretensions to Rome ; Italy henceforth cons
centrates her efforts upon Venioe, and, above all,
she endeavours to find a provisional capital, She
may transfer the seat of her government to
Florence, but the provisional so soon becomes the
definitive:,
The Debuts is of opinion that the Italian Govern-
ment will do well to transfer the capital to Florence,
if only for military reasons. It says :—By estab-
lishing himself in Florence the King of Italy allows
nothing to peep out as to what he hopes or does not.
hope with regard to Rome; but he clearly shows
his thoughts with regard to Venice and Austria.
Against an army issuing from the famous quadri-
lateral, nothing defends, nothing can defend, the
plain of Lombardy and the access to Turin—no-
thing, unless it be a victory obtained in the open
field. Turin is so situated that, in case of war, a
battle mast always be fought to save it, even if
fought on disadvantageous conditions. The coup.
cillors of the King of Italy no doubt thought that,
in the ambiguous state in which Europe is placed,
when every spring for the last four years has been
like a sword of Damocles suspended over the head
of the most pacific nations, is was not wise to rest
content with such an exposed capital. Florence
protected against an army invading Lombardy, not
only by distance but by the lino of the Po, by the
citadels of Alessandria, Piacenza, Ferrara, the
Appennines ; Florence besides possessing every•
thing which constitutes the charm of life in a
capital, and everything which can symbolise the
majesty of a great kingdom ; Florence would offer
striking advantages of situation to such Italians as
the future disturbs, and who, right or wrong, fore-
see coming days when they may be compelled to
struggle anew for their independence. This is
enough to explain the long conceived prcject of
placing, at all events provisionally, the seat of the
Italian Government in Florence. If this project ba
executed, it will be a sufficient precaution on the
part of the Italians, which doubtless ought not to
excite any particular alarm among us for the main,
tenancy of peace, but which nevertheless will re-
mind us of the precarious state of Europe, and of
the many combinations which may result, and
which are certainly less probable than the Franco.
Italian treaty that Italy is at this moment ardeutly
discussing."