The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-28
Whe FrancO-Italian Situation.
nm fho NJ " TySaes

FROM He ", r. Times.
Our latest European mail advices concerning
the Franco-Italian difficulty are such as to
show the critical situation of affairs between
the two powers. The French Government
deems the aspect of matters in Italy so serious
that emo precautions have been neglected"
1t is announced that there are ships enough at
Toulon and Marseilles to carry five divisions to
Civita Vecchia, and that the army of Lyons is
only twelve hours from Toulon. Napoleon is
holding these menaces over Italy at time
when the Italian people are so enraged about
ihe course of France as to be almost uncon-
trollable. He is evidently applying the same
principle to the Italians that he declared in his
recent speech he intended to apply to his own
people. He said he meant in these "times of
excitement and dangerous impulses" to render
his enemies powerless by reminding them OF
the '6rmness of repression and the energy
and authority of the ruling power" and he
declared that for his part they might rest
assured that he would uphold his power firmly
and strongly, unshaken by obstacles or oppo-
Rition. This sort of thing has assuredly
worked very successfully in France thus far;
but it is not yet certain that it will work with
equal success when applied to Italy.
The officer commanding the French army
supporting the Pope made a speech to de-
putation of Pontifcal officers on quitting Rome,
in which he said:-''We abandon Rome, but
only to proceed to Civita Vecchia Remember
that behind the brigade which remains in your
port stands the French army, ready to advance
TO your succor and that of the Holy See." A
Roman correspondent of the Pail Mall Gazette
says that the evacuation of Rome greatly
mortified the French officers, who rather hoped
TO come into collision with the Italian army;
and he added that these French officers GER
tainly speak as bitterly of the Italians as oi
The PrIssians, and blame their own Govern
ment for not showing fight to the Govern
ment Of Florence.
AS to the other side, we are told that all
kinds of rumOrs are prevalent with respect to
the ulterior intentions of the Italian Govern
ment, which is now supposed to be secretly
favoring the mannuvres of the party of action.
The same kind of accusation has been brought
against it ever since the beginning of the Carl
baldian troubles with the Pope. The course
Of conduct of the Italian authorities gave the
charge enough of color to enable Napoleon tC
use it with great force as Justification for his
OWE movements.
Late advices by telegraph mention new
Rttempt at negotiation on a new basis. France
pliers to cooperate with Italy for the abroga
lion of the September Convention, with the
understanding that any agreement they may
arrive at in the matter shall be submitted To
The approval of the other powers of Europe
But TINS statement was Immediately followed
by another to the effect that the French Gov.
ernment was seriously considering the neces
sity of ordering its troops back to Rome from
Civita Vecchia. This last announcement
shows how very critical the situation of affairs
still continues to be. II war is avoided. the
escape from it will be narrow one. We do
not wonder that Victor EmmanueTs daugh
ter, the Princess Clotilde, has spent ''severa
hours" in praying for her father at the shrine
of the Virgin in the chapel OF Notre Dame del
Victories.