The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-08 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN STATES

AUSTRIA.

The following article, which may be regarded as
the official manifesto of the Austrian Government in
relation to the affairs of Italy, appears i❑ the Wiener
Zeitttng of the Ist instant :

" AUSTRIAN EMPIRE-NEGOTIATIONS FOR

PEACE IN ITALY.

" The love of peace of the Austrian Government is
nowhere less regarded than in the country where it
ought reasonably to be held most in estimation, viz., in
Italy. Every one knows whence originated the attack
in that quarter upon the Austrian Government, and
how the latter was impelled to have recourse to force of
arms ; but it is less known, or at least less ac-
knowledged, that notwithstanding this, the said Govern-
ment, animated with the noblest spirit of conciliation,
has left nothing untried, since the commencement of the
disturbances in that country, to restore peace, and to
put an end as speedily as possible to the horrors of war.
Its public declarations give the most unequivocal proof
of this.

" It endeavoured to soothe the excited passions of the
people by the most paternal assurances for the future;
and, with the greatest forbearance for what had been
done, gave to its erring subjects the prospect of a con-
stitution on the broadest basis of possible liberty and in-
dependence—a constitution which far surpassed all their
wishes and demands before expressed—a constitution
which gave perfect recognition to their nationality, and
guaranteed to them permanent prosperity. How such a
voice was only replied to with hostility, is reserved for
future history to explain, yet the Austrian Government
did not allow itself to be thereby deterred.
" Bearing constantly in view the restoration of peace
and reconciliation, it did not desist from using every
effort for the attainment of the end proposed, viz., the
restoration of peace, even at the moment when the for-
tune of war was most in its favour; with this vew it
caused the Provisional Government in Milan to be in-
vited to a negotiation on the basis of the entire indepen-
dence of Lombardy, annexing thereto only some reason-
able conditions of a financial and commercial nature;
and in order to facilitate the negotiation, it declared
itself ready, at the same time, to an armistice. Who
could have believed that such a proposal, the pure and
magnanimous object of which was so unmistakeable,
should not have found the readiest reception, particu-
larly on the part of an authority which before then had
loudly expressed the wish of negotiating on the basis
mentioned? And yet such is the fact.
" It remains doubtful whether the Provisional Go-
vernment at Milan found itself no longer able to accede
to the conciliatory invitation by being under the in-
fluence of the terrorism of a fanatical tumult, or by the
sudden adoption of other views.
" From the known personal character of the members
of the latter Government, the greatest readiness to co-
operate in the work of peace might justly have been
expected; it is, however, a fact that the same Govern-
ment rejected the proposal for a negotiation under the
pretext that the question to be discussed must be re-
garded and treated not as a Lombardian question simply,
but as an Italian one; and that consequently an isolated
negotiation could not take place.
"Yet the Austrian Government can only have to do
with Lombardy, and knows nothing of a power repre-
senting Italy.
" At the same time the Provisional Government de-
clared that an understanding was only possible in case
the condition of independence should be extended to all
the Austrian possessions in Italy. It even hinted that
South Tyrol was comprehended in those possessions.
The world may judge whether such a reply to the Aus-
trian proposals, as magnanimous as they were concilia-
tory, was a proper, a decorous, a just, and a reasonable
one ; or whether, on the contrary, it does not appear to
be an insulting answer.
" The world may judge whether it was fitting for the
Provisional Government, in general, to make such con-
ditions—conditions which relate to countries and terri-
tories which are not only de jure but de facto still in
possession of the Imperial , house of Austria, where the
Austrian army has entirely the upper hand, and part of
which even belongs to our common German father •
land. The world may judge with what feelings the
Austrian Government must receive such declarations,
and what still remains for it to do after such a contemp-
tuous rejection of its conciliatory offers—after so wilful
a repudiation of the re-establishment of peace.
" The Austrian Government will not be thus diverted
from its purpose; it will not cease to pursue its object—
the restoration of tranquillity; it will not cease to make
known, on every occasion, its wish and determined will
in this respect; but she owes it to her own honour, and
to that of her faithful nations, to put forth now all her
warlike energies, in order, by force of arms, to bring
about a peace which she has been unable to effect other-
wise, notwithstanding all her willingness so to do. She
does not conceal her intentions from the world, nor does
she conceal the means which she is resolved to employ
for the attainment of so noble, so just an end. With
equal frankness she sets about the prosecution of the war
forced upon her, and declares her readiness for peace,
the object of her wishes. She has not prevented an end
being put to the effusion of blood. The Austrian Go-
vernment declared itself inclined to conclude an armis-
tice in connexion with the negotiation for peace. The
Provisional Government at Milan, on the contrary, con-
siders both inadmissible under the present circum-
stances, devoted as that Government is to its ally, the
King of Sardinia. The prolongation of the war, therefore,
and of all its miseries, is chargeable upon those alone
who have in every way refused to consent to a suspen-
sion of arms. The Austrian Government has done its
part towards a pacification; this merit cannot be denied
it. May the other Powers who are also deirous of peace,
who have an interest in its re-establishment, now on
their part espouse the cause of humanity, and exert
their influence for the speedy return of peace, on the
basis of justice and reason.
" The nations under the sway of Austria will not be
backward in their exertions. The Deputies assembled
at the Diet will know what suitable resolutions to adopt
in order to enable that brave army which, under the
command of its veteran General, has so brilliantly main-
tained its ancient reputation, by its fidelity and steadi-
ness in the face of superior numbers of the enemy, to
conquer an honourable peace."
The same journal contains the following official
article :--.

" M. Morichini, Archbishop of Nisibi, has been in
Vienna for some days; he was the bearer of a Papal
letter to his Majesty the Emperor, in which his Holiness
as chief shepherd of the Catholic Church expressed his
desire for the speedy restoration of peace in Italy, and
commends to the clemency of his Apostolic Majesty any
subjects of the state of the Church who may have been
taken prisoners. M. Morichini intends to return imme-
diately to the Papal states."