28 APRIL 1860, Page 1

Will a Conference assemble in Paris or elsewhere, to consider

the European side of the cession of Savoy to France ? Last week there seemed a certainty that such a Conference would meet ; and this week, although discredit has been thrown by the French journals on this well-supported and generally ac- cepted opinion, the balance of evidence is still in favour of the meeting of a Conference. But, so far as we can gather, the sole question to be submitted to the eight Powers concerned in the treaty of Vienna, is the purely European question of the securities to be given by France for the fulfilment of the obliga- tions incumbent on the possessor of Northern Savoy, obligations which have passed with the territory from Victor Emmanuel to the Emperor Napoleon. In no case will any proposal to divide Savoy, and transfer the Northern part to Switzerland, be enter- tained. This materially limits the issue.

It is to be regretted that the conduct of the Senator Laity, of the local officials, and of the priests, devoted partizans of annex- ation and eager anticipators of imperial favours, should have justly laid them open to the charge of using undue influence to obtain from the inhabitants of Northern Savoy a majority in favour of France. The same remark applies to the exertions of

M. Pietri, Governor Lubonia, and the peTesta of Nice. The Savoyards and •Itizzaris may really wii to be ataexed. Is

France, but these inasteuvres deprive the vote of the it might otherwise have teried.