The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-15

French Policy In Italy and Turkey
Pfom ne ~ Y. Tribune.
1t is certainly remarkable fact that the
very Prince who was the first in Europe 10 au-
vocate the right of nations to demand, and' II
practicable. to establish their national unity,
should now be the leading opponent OF the
national aspirations in every important ques-
+;or ~ the kind. Who would put obstacles in
the wav of German unity, if Napoleon should
withdraw his opposition Who would have
stopped the victorious march of Garibaldi and
saved the decayed chair of St, Peter, if the
French troops had stayed at home and who
would think Of drawing the sword for the
effete power of the Turks, if France should OBJ
serve an absolute neutrality
With regard to Germany, France has for
some months preserved an absolute silence.
But in both Italy and Turkey French diplo-
macy is lust now most actively engaged to
thwart, if possible, the inevitable result of
national aspirations
In the Roman question, Napoleon urges
with great persistency the holding of Euro
pean Conference. He has invited to it even
the third-rate powers of Europe, which, fiat
tered by the unusual honor of such an invita-
tion, are all expected to accept it. Napoleon
maintains the European character of the
Roman question, on the ground that every
Government which has Roman Catholic sub
jects is concerned in the maintenance of the
independence of the Holy Father. Italy
strongly opposes the Congress, insisting that
the settlement of the Roman question is
wholly an Italian affair, in which foreign
nations have no right to intervene. We do
not know yet whether England and Russia,
which were reported to be against the holding
of the Congress, have withdrawn their oppo-
cstf not Tha Vuil1 fan1 f,,rr
but satisfaction at the prospect of such a
Congress, as he is fully aware that most
of the European Governments care little
about the continuance of the States of the
Church. France herself if the majority of the
Conference should desire it, would be willing
to urge a further reduction of the temporal
possessions Of the Holy Father, notwithstand-
ing all the censures of the Church threatening
those consenting to such schemes. But, on
the other hand, France will make the utmost
exertions, not from any regard for the Catholic
Church, but in her own interest, to gain the
consent of the Conference to the preservation
of some part of the Papal territory, and thus
act again as the leading opponent of Italian
unity. But there need not be much fear of
any important results being achieved by the
new plan of Napoleon. The Governments
taking part in the Congress will be willing to
give their opinion, but hardly single one will
assume the responsibility to aid in the enforce
ment of any kind of intervention.
We know but little about the present inten-
tions of France with regard to the Eastern
complication, and about the alliance which is
said to have been concluded between her and
England and Austria. France, during the
past year, has several times joined Russia and
her allies in urging upon the Porte certain
concessions. When these were stubbornly de-
clined, France again followed the course sug-
gested by her own interest. Russia is com
monty believed to be determined to use coer-
Give measures for securing the rights of the
Christian population, while France reverts to
her traditional policy to prevent the enlarge
ment of Russian influence in the East, entirely
regardless of the wishes of the majority of the
population. The Governments of Austria and
England are equally desirous of preventing
Russian progress, and equally Indifferent as to
the sentiments of the people; but while Louis
Napoleon may get the consent Of the Legisla-
ture to any measure he proposes, both Austria
and England would find it difficult to get from
their Parliaments the sanction of any except
diplomatic remonstrances.
In both questions France pursues an anti
democratic and an anti-national course, a
course which, the longer it is persisted in,
must the more surely destroy the influence Of
France in Italy and Turkey.