The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-14 00:00:00

7HB AUST.RIAN CHAMBERS.

A letter from Vienna, dated May 9th, says that
on the 7th inst. Count Rechberg, the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, acknowledged to the Chamber of
Deputies that the policy of Austria in respect to
Italy had been ill-judged. The debate, which was
of equal interest and importance, was opened by M.
Kuranda, one of the representatives of this city.
In substance his speech, which was of great length,

was as follows :
" We are called on to vote supplies for the Fo

. '
reign Department. If we grant the various sums
demanded we shall tacitly express our confidence
in the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and it therefore

appears desirable that we should previously obtain
an insight into his opinions on several matters of
importance to the empire. Since the establishment
of the German Confederation Austria has had four
political epochs. During the whole of the first
epoch—that of Metternich—Austria was the great
champion of reaction. She believed that any free
movement in Germany would be highly pernicious
to her, and she acted accordingly. In the year
1848, when the second epoch began, the different
--4: Parliament at
Frankfort. NotwitEstanding the uejueb iieuteueau
which Germany had received at the hands of Aus-
tria, her sons were invited to send representatives
to Frankfort. The invitation was accepted, and it
was owing to the Austrian members of the Frank-
fort Parliament that there was not a complete rup-
ture between their own Government and Germany.
When Prince Felix Schwarzenburg took office the
third epoch began. The Prince, a very bold and
energetic man, played a great game, and won it.
His success made him haughty and overbearing,
and he was solely intent on increasing the power
and influence of Austria abroad. He speedily did
away with the constitution of the 4th of March,
1849, and by restoring the absolute system he
alienated the friends which Austria had acquired in
Germany and elsewhere. The fourth epoch began
when his Majesty the Emperor again gave a constitu-
tion to Austria. There have been very many changes
of men at home ; but Austria still has the same
representatives abroad. After such a thorough re.
form in the interior of the empire, there ought to
be a corresponding reform in the foreign policy of
the Government. We must, therefore, ask the
Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has told
his agents in Germany that, the Constitution being
a reality, they have to act in accordance with it.
The next question to be put to the Minister for
Foreign Affairs relates to Italy. Had there been
no treaties of 1815 there would hardly have been an
Italian question. Ever since Austria has been an
Italian Power she has been in difficulties. She has
been obliged to maintain enormous armies, to have
recourse to military interventions, to convoke de-
spotic congresses at Tropau and Laibach, and en-
ormously to increase the national debt. The results
of her violent efforts to maintain her position in
Italy were the Treaties of Villafranca and Zurich:
Our diplomatists displayed their total incompetence
at Zurich, for we should now have no territory in
Italy had we not retained possession of the redoubt-
able Quadrilateral. In my opinion, however, it is
no great misfortune that we have lost our so-called
Machtstellung (political position and influence) in
Italy—that we have ceased to be an Italian Power.
' Venetia we must hold and defend to the very last!
Not in order that we may have power and influ-
ence in Italy, lAA beenlige Venetia (the Quadrilate-
;e tea hulv ark. of Austria, Bavaria, and South-
ern Germany. tt lb -,ot to be expected that the
Austrian Minister for Fot,Aign Affairs should consi-
der the Treaty of Zurich waste paper, but he will
do well to recollect that these are not the times for
a policy of restoration in Italy."
When Count Buoy e-as Minister he was in the
habit of making tse of the pen of M. Kuranda, but
as soon as Count :teehb7g took office all connection
between the Foreign Department and the editor of
-Deut
oBchfethePost ceased. It is therefore much
Minister for Foreign Affairs
thettuh Oh a
the
hea t
credite display eatio irritation while his policy was
animadverted on ly a man for whom he has a posi-
tive dislike, if no a strong antipathy. The sub-
stance of Count Rehberg's reply is as follows:
"as touched on matter of extreme
delicacy,
.311 reply to his questions in as
Kurandal
straightforward way as I, in my capacity of
Minister of the ,rows, can venture to do. The
Imperial Goverment i.
but
is firmly resolved to maintain
the union with, ad also to uphold the position of,.
Austria in GermeY. (A few cheers from the par-
tisans of Goverruent.) The diplomatic agents
abroad have obeyi the instructions given them, but
if they should cea) to do so the Imperial Govern-
ment will know hw to bring them to order, and to
punish them. MK.uranda has given the House to
understand that t? Prusso-French treaty of com-
merce was a serrise' for the Imperial Govern-
ment, but it will beeen that we began negotiations
on the subject seiral months ago. When the
papers relating to i are published, it will appear
that the rights wMI Austria acquired by the
treaty of 1853 havebeen strictly upheld. (A few
faint cheers.) In Ppect to Italy, it may be said
that the meddling I the internal affairs of that
country has been aended with most unpleaaant
consequences. The7uits of that policy have been