The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-23 00:00:00

I'YRIA.

At the moment when the Conference on the ques-
tion of Syria has met, it may not be without inte-
rest to publish the following circular of the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs, dated 18th January :
" Monsieur,—We are approaching the term fixed
by the convention of the sth of Sept. last for the
duration of the occupation of Syria. I have several
times had to mention to you the intentions of the
Emperor's Government on the subject. Invested
with the mission of executing decisions come to in
common, we are desirous, above all, of fulfilling the
conditions on which we have received this mandate.
For that reason, however, we consider it a duty,
before quitting
mine in Syria,concert
expeditionary corps at the period agreed upon can
t o
whetheren atbhlee tdheepPa
rotwu
re
er s
ot of ext
hae-
be effected without danger for the tranquillity of
the country, and it appears to us opportune to call
their attention to this fact.
" The Powers did not propose to themselves any
political object in Syria, and the Emperor's Govern-
ment entirely coincided with their ideas. They
pursue a work of humanity ; has that been accom
plished ? The Cabinets are
as well acquainted
as we are with the real state of things, and know
how slowly the work of pacification has hitherto
progressed.
" The European Commission, instituted at Bey-
rout, had, in the first place, to provide for the most
urgent necessities, by causing on one side repa-
rations, and on the other punishments. That was,
a
however, only a part of its task, and not the most
Important ; it had to collect
and propose to the
Powers the el ements of the new arrangement which
was to b 3 combined with the Ottoman Government,
for the administration of the Mountain. This work,
in fact, is the indispensable complement of all the
other measures already taken or to be adopted iu
common accord with the Porte. So long as this is
Lot finished, it may be said that nothing has been
done ; for in the state of disorder in which every-
thing in Syria now is, the essential point is to fix
the conditions of the new Government of the
Lebanon, and it is that also which the Powers have
desired.

" Not only has that wish not been fulfilled, but
the Commission has scarcely come to the end of the
questions of repression and of indemnity as regards

the Lebanon ; and, on the other hand, no definitive
understanding has been arrived at for the indemnity
to be paid at Damascus, and the Porte puts forth
the pretension of settling that question at Constan-
tinople. The administrative reorganisation has
been, it is true, recently touched on in confidential
conversations ; but the delegates, absorbed by other
cares, have not up to the present time found them-
selves sufficiently prepared to treat the subject
officially, and it would be difficult to determine the
moment when they may be able to communicate
to the Powers the result of their investigations.
In short, the very uncertainty which those delays
throw on the reorganization of the Lebanon, keeps
the public mind in a state of extreme excitement ;
and the information which we possess make us
fear that the departure of our troops would be
followed by fresh outbreaks, if it should take place
before the arrangements necessary for guarantee-
ing the security of the people have been adopted.
"In presence of considerations of that kind, all
the Cabinets will understand that we are most
anxious to relievc, ourselves from all responsibility.
If, on the one, hand, we are determined to abide by
the stipul.4ions decided on by the Conference, we,
on the other, do not wish to incur any reproaches
for 'got having pointed out the dangers which we
foresee. We are therefore induced to request the
Powers to make known their opinion on this sub-
ject, simply reserving to ourselves to express our
own in the deliberations, as one of the parties to
the Convention of the sth Sept., that is to say, on
the same footing as the other Cabinets.
" We have proved, by the manner in which we
have urged on the labours of the Commission, how
desirous we are to be able to evacuate Syria at the
period stipulated, and no one would feel greater
satisfaction at finding that circumstances would
allow that wish to be realised.Mlf the Powers
decide that there are grounds for prolonging the
period of occupation, we, having accepted the con-
dition of furnishing the expeditionary corps, shall
doubtless not refuse to continue the sacrifices we
have imposed on ourselves, to lend the Sultan the
co-operation of our troops. But in case the Cabinets
should be of opinion that it would be proper to fix
on one or more of them to take part in that mission,
we shall be ready to accept their co operation.
" It appears to me that the most natural means
of coming to an understanding on those different
po'nts would be to convoke the Conference. If that
manner of viewing the question obtains the assent
of the Cabinet of I beg you-to make it known
to me as soon as possible, and I would bring about
the meeting of the plenipotentiaries es soon as the
adhesion of the different Courts shall have reached
me. You will please to read to M. - and leave
him a copy of this despatch, which I also address
to the Emperor's representatives at:-.
TIIOUVENEL."

PRUSSIA AND ITALY.

A letter, dated Turin, 20th February, says :

" General Bonin leaves Turin to morrow. All
the Deputies have decided upon leaving their
cards at his hotel by way of expressing their
thanks for the vote of the Prussian Deputies in
favour of Italy. During his stay at Turin General
Bonin has strictly confined himself to his mission,
simply one of courtesy, and has even declined any
conversation of a political character."