The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-14 00:00:00

PINCE 4d.
STA :PED sd.

The Despatch of the Italian Government,

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The following despatch, dated the 7th inst., has
been addressed by General Menabrea to the Italian
Minister in Paris. A summary, by telegraph, ap-
peared in our impression of yesterday :--
" Signor Miuister,—The motives which induced
the Government of the King to occupy, by its
troops, certain points of the Papal territory, at the
same moment at which an expeditionary French
corps landed at Civita Vecchia, were already set
forth in the circular which I addressed on the 30th
of October to the diplomatic representatives of his
Majesty abroad. It will not therefore be necessary
for me here to call to mind the reasons which
prompted us to take that step. It is enough for us
that the proposed aim has been secured. Wherever
the royal troops presented themselves they were
received with gratitude by the inhabitants, because
with them returned order and security for the
citizens, and respect and protection for the autho-
rities which they found constituted. You are
aware, Signor Minister, that in very many loca-
lities not occupied by our soldiers the populations
decreed solemn plebiscites for annexation to the
Kingdom of Italy, but the Government of the
King, whilst dissuading them from such manifesta-
tions, which its influence was unable to prevent,
refused to accept the results, thus adhering to the
word which it had given, that its resolution to cross
the Papal frontier should not lead to any act of
hostility.

" The summons addressed by the royal proclama-
tion to the volunteer bands to fall back behind the
ranks of the Italian army was not listened to by
Garibaldi. Whilst the latter, in the attempt to
carry out different views, was directing his columns
towards Tivoli, he was attacked and defeated by the
French Papal troops in the neighbourhood of Men-
tana. The volunteers then re-entered in numbers
the territory of the State, where they were disarmed ;
and Garibaldi, who, on his arrival at Passo Correse,
evinced the intention of repairing toLeghorn, on his
way to Caprera, was, instead, detained, and placed
under custody in Varignano, on the Gulf of Spezia.
This measure was dictated to us by the neces-
sity of restoring the authority of the laws, and
by the urgent duty of removing every risk of
fresh disturbances. With this re-establishment
of public peace the dangers that menaced the
Papal State have ceased. The condition of affairs
being in this manner changed, there likewise ceased
the motives which had rendered necessary our in-
tervention, and consequently on its part the Go-
vernment of the King recalled, within the frontiers
of the State, its troops.

" The French Government, too, in its circular
of the 25th of October, has taken a solemn
engagement to regard as fulfilled its task, and
to consent to withdraw from the Papal soil as
soon as the latter became free from the aggressors,
and security was there re-established. These con-
ditions have now bean realised. By our withdrawal
behind our frontiers we have removed every motive
of delay, and now, trusting in the word of France,
we expect the Imperial Government, in its turn,
will bring to a close an intervention which we
regard as not necessary, which was for Italy a
painful fact, and which, if protracted, would
prove an obstacle to a permanent settlement. If,
however, the attitude of the Royal Government
and its firm resolves furnish the assurance to all
that the events which have happened cannot again
be renewed, still, from the things which have taken
place, every one is necessarily led to the conclusion
that the object of the Convention of Sept. 15, 1864,
stipulated in the confidence of a speedy understand-
ing between the Holy See and Italy, has been en-
tirely unsecured. Nothing, in truth, has been able,
up to the present moment, to mitigate the hostile
attitude assumed by the Papal Government towards
that of the King.
" Rome presents at this moment the singular spec-
tacle of a Government which, in order to maintain
itself, hires an army consisting of persons gathered
together from all countries, quite out of proportion
to the population and financial means of the State,
and which, nevertheless, believes itself obliged to
have recourse to foreign interventions. A sincere
agreement with Italy would, on the contrary, re-
move every suspicion of danger for the Holy See,
would allow the application, for the benefit of reli-
gion, of the treasures squandered in superfluous
armaments, and, by securing the peninsula against
the renewal of deplorable scenes of bloodshed, would
be the certain pledge of that peace which is equally
necessary for the Pontiff and for the Italian king-
dom. Our country possesses quite as much as any
other a keen and deep religious feeling ; but, more
than any other, it is sensible of the difficulties and
the contradictions arising from the union of a Power
which, guided by unchangeable laws, is wielded in
the highest regions of faith, with the direct cares of
an earthly government, subject to the influence of
political passions, and destined to be modified with
the course of time and the progress of civilisation.
The land which contains the tomb of tha Apostles
and where is preserved the treasure of the traditions
of the Catholic faith, is the safest dwelling of the
Papacy. Daly will know how to defend it, and
encircle it with all the veneration and the splendour
which are its due, and secure the respect of its in-
dependence and of its liberty.
" Such is the keenest wish of the Italians. But,
in order that ouch a purpose may be attained, you
will understand, Signor Minister, that those arrange-
ments are indispensable which shall establish an
agreement between the interests of the Holy See and
thcse of the kingdom. The cause of religion, and
that of European order itself, are equally at stake.
If Italy, when constituted, is destined to be a great
element of order and of progress, it is at same time
necessary, with the view of exercising this noble
mission, that there be removed from within it the
cause which now keeps up a state of permanent agi-
tation. In setting forth the considerations which I
have hitherto been developing, you will certainly
be able, Signor Minister, to give birth to the con-
viction that it is a matter of extreme urgency to
resolve, without delay, the Roman question.—
Accept the assurance,
(Signed) "MENABREA."