The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-09 00:00:00

FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.

The following is the text of Count Walewski's
despatch to the Marquis de Banneville, French
Charge d'Affaires at Vienna, announcing the cesEa-
tion of friendly relations between France and
Austria

" Paris, April 29.
" Monsieur,—At the moment I have the honour of
addressing this despatch to you, I feel little doubt but that
the Ticino has been crossed by the Austrian army.
have already made known to you by my telegraph message
of the 26th the construction which the French Govern-
ment would be obliged to put on such a demonstration.
If the precipitation of events unfortunately renders all
discussion superfluous, it is a duty for me to remind
you in a few words of the ensemble of the acts which
show at the same time the imperious necessity of our
conduct and the perseverance of our efforts to bring
about a different result. The French Government certainly
has not to justify itself for the solicitude which it feels for
the state of things in Italy. The crisis which has broken
out in the centre of the Italian peninsula shows the correct-
ness of our foresight, and sufficed to cause our apprehensions
to be shared by the other great Powers of Europe. This
simultaneous accord of the Cabinets in face of a danger of
which they have for some years past felt a deep conviction,
proves to what a point the question appears to them to be
ripe for a solution. We are fully convinced that the Con-
gress, assembled under the conditions on which the Cabinet
of St. Petersburg had proposed to convoke it, and confining
itself within the programme traced out for its deliberations
by the English Government, would have fully solved the
difficulties which prudence will no longer allow to be left to
themselves. Who can doubt but that the stumbling-block
against which the work of conciliation has been broken was
the pretension put forth by the Court of Vienna on the
subject of a disarmament, relative to which it would have
been more just for it to set an example ? Sardinia had,
in fact, accepted without reserve the situation which re-
sulted for her from the terms of the proposition of Russia;
and although military preparations had already been made
on her territory, the disproportion of her forces rendered
the idea of any aggression on her part inadmissible, and the
most simple reason imposed on her the duty of calmly
awaiting the decision of the great Powers. In a word,
no guarantee could be more real or complete for Austria
than the immediate meeting of the Congress; and if the
first condition, which she insisted on being accomplished
before answering the appeal of the allies—a conditien con-
sidered by every one as unacceptable—afterwards gave
rise to combinations which she alone rejected, I must be
allowed to say that at the outset, as well as at the end,
the obstacle to that harmony which was sincerely desired by
the other Courts was only met with at Vienna. The situa-
tion of affairs, Monsieur, doubtless acquired in consequence
of so many delays a gravity more and more serious ; but tilt*
good wishes and intentions which had been formed and
maintained to the end between the Cabinets of Paris, Ber-
lin, London, and St. Petersburg, opposed its resistance to
the perils of this situation. Nothing was irremediably.
compromised, until Austria, not content with refusing her
acquiescence to the last propositions of England adopted the
plan of addressing to the Government of Turin a summons
at a short delay, which forcibly changed our attitude. The
French Government were fully disposed to consider the
affairs of Italy as a great European question to the settle-
ment of which the assistance of all their allies was neces-
sary. These affairs, however, were connected on one single
point with interests which affected them in a more personal
and particular manner. Austria herself, in promising net
to commence hostilities against Piedmont, implicitly recog-
nised the existence of a limit which the most anxious de-
sire for a pacific solution would not permit us to suffer her
to pass. The French Government had, moreover, declared
that it would not support Sardinia in any act of aggression,
but that it would assist her in defensive measures. This
engagement would remain inoperative until the occurrence
of a contingency which depended entirely on the Court of
Vienna. Informed of the menace made to Piedmont with
such a brief delay, we were bound, in an equally she"
space of time, to place ourselves in a position to weaken its
effects, and, on the demand of the King of Sardinia, the van"
guard of the French army entered his territory. Sympathies,
which we avow without hesitation, rendered it almost int"
possible for us to remain indifferent to the sufferings of a
country closely allied with France, but more positive reasons
dictated our conduct—as the country in question lay at our
very door, covered part of our frontiers, and formed the lot
obstacle to the extension of an influence which England,
Prussia, and Russia, as well as ourselves, considered of
nature to compromise the equilibrium of Europe. and
to keep up in that part of Italy, which was intended to
constitute independent and sovereign States, a constant
cause of agitation and disturbance. In adopting a resole'
tion of which I have defined the purely defensive character,
the French Government has felt bound to apprise the Court
of Vienna that its ultimatum and the eventualities so clearly
foreseen as its consequences, gave rise, by the side of the
general question, till then treated in common by the Cabi-,
nets of Paris, Berlin, London, and St. Petersburg,
,Li
question altogether rench. It was a last warning, a nnyl.
effort to prevent, before it was too late, the encounter
France and Austria on other ground than that of European
discussion. The sentiments which have never ceased toi.
animate the Government of the Emperor—l do not fear at
this solemn moment to guarantee the fact—did not tend tothose extremities to which another will has fatally led.
It
was the passing of the Ticino, which obliged us to cross
the Alps, declining all responsibility for the events in the
face of iurope. You will, therefore, Monsieur, as soon
the
doubt no longer remains respecting the movement of 110
Austrian troops, proceed to the Count de Buol, and, ate?
reading- this despatch, of which you will leave him a cog?
demand your passports.—Accept, &c "
The following is the note which M. de Benne-
ville wrote to Count de Buol, dated Vienna, the 2d
of May, in pursuance of the instructions given
above :

" Referring to the nommunication which by order of Ng
Government he had the honour of making to his Excel'
lency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and which puts all
end to his mission, the undersigned regrets to have to re"
quest his Excellency Count de Buol to deliver the paw"
ports necessary for him and the persons composing the
French Embassy at Vienna, to quit the States of the Ere;
peror of Austria and proceed to France. The undersigned
has the honour, &c."