The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-06
ranged.
New Phase In the War Questi0n-Austria
Agrees to n Conference.

Agrees 10 n conference.
According 10 the news received yester-
day by the New York, the war question
hegins to wear less threatening aspect
There are hopes that the difficulties that
have led to it may find diplomatic solu-
ton. Austria has agreed to submit them to a
conference, and by this concession something
may have been gained to the cause of peace A
quarrel postponed is often quarrel settled, and
we are not surprised to find the moneyed inte-
rests of Europe rejoicing over this welcome an
nouncement.
But will the reference Of the italian question
to q conference do more than temporarily allay
the apfrei ensions which have been excited by
the prospect OF another European war? 1t is i'm
possible, of course, to predict what the discus
SIGN OF general in erests in such body, and the
interchange of views between the representa-
tives of the Powers interested, mag bring about.
The fact that Austria has yielded on point in
which her pride was so much involved will be
looked upon by many as proof Of her con-
seriousness of her own weakness, and as conse-
quent evidence of her desire to avoid collision.
She has always declined to admit of foreign adj
vice or interference in her italian relations, and
this conclusion will naturally be regarded as the
correct one. But there is another, just as reason
able and as consistent with fact. She may desire
to exhaust every means Of arriving at pacific
arrangement and of placing herself legally, if not
morally, right before Europe before she engages
in struggle which involves such fearful results.
This disposition may have been induced less by
the representations of Lord Cowley than by the
remonstrances of the Confederated States. The
latter have probably intimated to Francis Joseph
that they will support him only on the condition
that he shall submit those pretensioDs in connec-
ton with Italy which admit of question, to the
decision Of a European Congress.
Whilst complying in form with this recon-.
mendation, is ii quite certain that Austria will
be disposed to fulfil the expectations that are
formed from it? Let us suppose, for argument
sake, that the Conference shall insist upon the
remuneration of her treaties with the Duchies.
Here is question in which she may contend
that she has rights based upon the
law ofnations and which no Congress can upset.
If France be justified in entering into an Often
sive and defensive alliance with Sardinia, then is
Austria justified in forming similar treaties with
the Duchies. Although the one is a consequence
of the other, neither can be said to be viola
ton of established precedents. The question,
therefore, if it comes before the Congress- will be
surrounded by so much difficulty that nothing
I.,4 col, mill
never consent to abandon her treaties with the
Italian States unless France, on her side, is
willing to renounce the offensive alliance she
has formed with Sardinia. To do 80 would be
madness, for she would then be exposing her
Lombardo- Venetian provinces to the double risk
of Sandman invasion and revolution.
Thee views acquire consistency from the Ian
guage employed by the Memorial Diplom,atique
the Austrian organ in Paris. 1t states that
Austria will only consent to a conference on the
condition that no resolution to be taken by it
shall infringe the treaties Of 1915, those
special treaties which are their natural
corollaries or the rights inherent TO the indie
pendent sovereignty Of each State.v Exactly
so. by the law Of nations as well as by the
constitution Of The Germonic Confederation,
Austria was entitled to form alliances with the
smaller italian States, and to occupy their terri
tory BY agreement with them, just as on former
occasion she occupied Piedmont for the joint In
terest and convenience of both. If it be as
sumed that by submitting the Italian question TO
a conference she intends to abandon right
based upon international law, and specially re-
served to her by the articles of the Confederation
we cannot avoid arriving at the conclusion that
che is utterly helpless, and has no other alter
native left her than to bow her neck in meek
submission to her enemies IT. on the contrary,
she means to adhere to the reservations which
accompany the concession that has been obtained
from her, then we say thai we have no very san
guine faith in the results Of the proposed Con-
ference. The only prospect Of an arrange
ment that we can see is that which we have