France has resolved to interfere in Italy—immediately to rein- state
the Pope. From M. Odilon Barrot's speech you might infer that France undertook the mission on Anti-Republican grounds ; but the more charitable interpretation is, that as Aus- tria was about to interpose in a more than Anti-Republican—an. Anti-Liberal sense, France determined also to occupy the ground, in order to attain for Italy free though perhaps not Republican. institutions. The two motives—a conservative tendency, with a desire to propitiate Austria, and also a desire to secure a moderate freedom for the Italians—are not incompatible. The delay of the interposition, however, has made it come with a very ill grace. When General Cavaignac proposed to intervene on behalf of the Pope, he would have done it on behalf of a Prince de facto ruler, and liberal ruler, of Rome: President Bonaparte now in-
terposes to crush a republic, whose position is precisely similar in its main bearings to that of France.
