, 1866-09-07

the sight Of their late allies at logger
heads. The Gazeha d. Mi1aao thinks it
highly probably that either the old or
the new ally will court the support Of
Italy. whose large forces, if better direct
ed than in the war just over, would be
of weight in the scale. Napoleon's new
and important move in the direction of
the Rhine, or at least of the frontier of
1914, has taken most people here COM
pletely by surprise, and, oddly enough, [
find the first idea it simultaneously sug-
gested to the minds Of several persons of
my acquaintance was that of a possible
alliance between Prussia and Austria.
1t remains to be seen whether the French
Emperor has not made a grave mistake.
Those who urge him 10 war are not his
friends, but the agents Of his greatest
enemies, and they so urge him because
they believe the temper of France oppo.
sed to war, and that to engage in it may
lead him to his ruin.
A writer in the Sole makes the state
ment, curious it true, that on the morning
after the battle Of CustOZza the Archduke
Albert sent a message to the Italian head
quarters, 10 the effect that Austria in
tended to give up Venetia, and that this
was the reason Of the long |inaction that
ensued on the part ofthe Italian Generals.
II is certain that some other reason must
have existed, besides the losses sustained
on the gath of June, to keep the army so
long in perfect idleness.
The following extract from Il letter in
the MilaR Gazette is vouched for by the
writer as substantially correct, and is in
part confirmed by information from other
quarters:-
sit was said that the Trontino would
be obtained by the efIicacious support of
France, and the public believed it, But
the fact was not so. Prince Napoleon
went TO headquarters on purpose to ex-
hort against delay in concluding the Ar
mistIce, seeing that Prussia fully intend
ed making peace with Austria. Ricasoli,
on the other hand, insisted on the promise
of the Trenlino before concluding the
Armistice, and, while he still held out,
news came of the Armisiice of NlkolS-
burg. On receiving the telegram Prince
Napoleon sent for Ricasoli. MY resig-
nation or the Trentino,' said the Baron.
10 which the Prince, taking the despatch
from his pocket, replied, No, Baron, the
alternative Is very 0fltrPul elmer peace
or a singlehanded war read!' The Bal
ron read and gave way. Nevertheless,
so strongly did the Ministers Insist that
Prince Napoleon promised to get the EN-
peror to ask Austria for the Trentino,
and accordingly, on his return TO Vichy,
he did get his cousin, albeit most unWiI-
lingly, to make the request. Francis
Joseph replied by a dry negative. This
refusal, although not unforeseen, irritated
Napoleon, who wrote in nearly the fol-
"I have been so weak as to ask the
Trentino of Austria for Italy, and / have
received a positive refusal. I have done
for Italy more than my friendship for her
imposed upon me to do. But if Italy
thinks her dignity compromised through
her consideration for me, I release her
from all engagements towards me. Do
not let her think she will be wanting in
consideration towards me by acting as her
own dignity and her own interests sug-
gest. Let her provide for herself, if she
thinks that | have not done enough for
her."
nThese words could not but, produce