The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-26
THE ROMAN QUESTION.
OmCInl Documents Referring TO the Past
Ralnllnma Of LlnlN and Ernnce.

OmCin1 Documents Referring 20 the Past
Relations OF Italy and France.
On December 10 the official Green Book, con-
tanning diplomatic documents relating to the
Antilles Legion and the Roman Question, was
distributed TO the members of the Italian Cham
Der of Deputies. The subject oil the Antilles lie.
zion occupies twenty.seyen documents, ex-
changed between France and Italy. from June
2, 1865, TO September last, while the docu
n ents relating to the Roman Question are sixty
six in number, their dates running from Decem-
be1 20, 1866, to the Sd of the present month.
In despatch dated August 8, 1867, the lta-
lian ChGrqe dA6dlTeS at Paris communicates 10
BIS Government declaration of the French
Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the Antilles
Legion was indepeI dent of foreign interference
or control. Not only did the French Govern
ment recognize this principle but it was deter
mined TO conform thereto. With regard to
General Dumonts mission, the French Minister
sad, Il do not disavow, but deny It,"
In note of the I'd September last, the French
Government states that the Emperor, while re-
serving to himself the right OF authorizing
French officers to serve iu the Ponthcal army,
as in other foreign armies, intended that hence
forth the Antilles Legion should contain none
but soldiers free from all obligation towards
France.
A telegram from the Italian Government, of
the 5th Of September, expresses its pleasure
that every difficulty is now removed that
might disturb good relations between the two
countries.
The communications relative to the Roman
movement commence with telegram from the
Florence Cabinet TO the Chevaler Nigra, on
September 30, which says that in the event of a
revolution at Rome the Italian Government
would necessarily be compelled TO intervene, in
order to preserve public Older and guard Italian
institutions. The French Government replied
that in case of such events it would not act
Without previously communicating with the
Italian Government, and insisted upon the from
tier being Loyalty watched.
On October Ia the Italian Government pro-
tested against the violation of the September
Convention by France, and declared that if the
French troops marched towards Rome it would
be compelled to intervene, occupying Pontidcal
territory without fail. Chevaher Nigra ex-
pressed his opinion that the italian Government
might avert a French occupation by redoubled
efforts 10 repress the Garibaldian invasion With
out occupying Pontiical territory.
A note from the Italian Government on 0cto.
Der II says that in the event of a revolution
taking place in Rome the only effcacious means
was the Intervention of Italy, in order to restore
order and protect the person of the Pontif,
| leaving the question OF sovereignty intact. The
| French Government replied on the same day
! that it did not in any case admit Italian inter
vention at Rome, since revolution in that city
would be considered at Paris as the cOnseQ QuenCe
! of the invasion of POntlhcal territory.
note from the Marquis D'Azeglio, dated
! London, Oct. 29, states that Lord Stanley has
| declared England would exert her good offices
! to prevent the entry of the Italian troops being
! considered by france as eaSus bell.
On the 30th October the Italian Minister at
| Berlin announces that Count Won Bismark has
sent special instructions to the Prussian diplo-
|
! should pursue in the event OF the Roman ques-
! ton assuming an European political character.
| The Minister adds that the Count has declined
TO make direct replies to the questions from
| Paris.
On the I'd of November Chevalier Nigra writes
| that the French Government did not consider
| the entry of the Italian troops into Pontihcal
| territory as a cdSus beki and had ordered the
French troops to avoid all collision with the
| Italian army.
A despatch from the Spanish Minister for
! Aoir 80 fha Of hon faTa
that the despatch OF Spanish frigate to Civta
| Vecchia is in no way intended as a hostile step
towards Italy, but has only been taken to offer
refuge to the Holy Father in case he might
| wish to leave his States.
A despatch from Chevalier Nigra, dated Nov.
| 8, says that the French Government absolutely
| rejected the idea of the Conference consisting
only of Catholic powers. Baron Beust had stated
to the Italian Minister at Vienna that Austria
declined to take Part in Conference where none
were present but Catholic powers, and in adhe-
ring TO the proposal OF Conference assumed no
! initiative.
note from General Menabrea, of the 14th OF
| November, declares that Italy rejected the pro-
posed Conference if consisting of none but
Catholic powers, and only consented that the
representatives of the great powers should
deliberate upon the Roman question, as in the
case of other questions of general interest. The
Italian Government could not take part in any
deliberation that might establish a still worse
position OF affairs between Italy and the Holy
See.
In replying to the invitation to the Conference,
Prince Gortschakoff said that it was not neces-
sary to engage Italy to resist revolutionary
movements, and that Russia could not accept q
Conference for the settlement of the Roman
question without knowing its basis.
A despatch from General Menabrea, OF the 10th
November, states that the Italian Government,
while reserving the inalienable rights of the in
dependence and unity of the kingdom, does not
hesitate to accept the Conference in principle,
certain that the powers will be favorable ia
Italy. He asks what will be the position OF Italy
in the Conference. Whether 1t was expected
that she should attend only to declare her rights
"a position suitable to a great State which sub
mits a great question to friendly Governments
or whether the resolutions of the Conference
would-haye authority or be confined to offering
counsels?
In the latter case, General Menabrea inquiries
would the French Government insure theil
sanction? The Italian Government could no
admit any retrospective consideration Of the
facts by which the kingdom had been consti
tuted. The deliberations of the Conference
should be confined to removing the difficulties
betW cen Italy and the Holy See.
In a note, dated Dec. 8, General Menabrei
thanks the French Government for the assu
RANGES of its friendship, and reserves the state
ment of the proposals that appear to the ItaliaI
Government most eXpedient for the settlement
Of the Roman question.