It has been repeatedly rumoured of late that the Emperor
Napoleon did not enter into the war with Prussia as rashly as was supposed. He had secret alliances both with Austria and Italy, and only needed a victory to ensure success. The Temps, however, has now published the text of a despatch from Count Beust (July 20, 1870,) which shows that Austria, though willing to see Prussia defeated, could not, Viith. her ten millions of Germans, who " saw in ,the war a national struggle," and her Hungarians reluctant to fight for Austrianascendancy in Germany, promise more than benevolent neutrality until RUS.111 entered tke field. Count Beust, moreover, doubted if Italy would move until the French Army retired from Rome. " We shall never have the Italians in heart and soul with us, if we do not withdraw their Roman thorn." This Napoleon declined to do, but went into battle without an ally of any kind prepared to run the least risk, except that of helping him to gather up the spoils.
