30 NOVEMBER 1867, Page 2

The demi-official papers of Paris repeat with wearisome per- sistency

that the Conference on Rome is to come off, and affirm that Italy and the Papacy have both consented to enter it. We dare say they have, as either must for the moment obey the Emperor of the French, but none of the great Powers except Austria have accepted the scheme. They all ask for a previous agreement, and if a previous agreement were possible it could be carried out without Conference. It is stated that the Vatican is in favour of " submitting to violence " as to its lost territories if it obtains an " efficacious guarantee " for the remainder, but the statement is probably as baseless as most reports about Roman diplomacy. Much nonsense'is talked about arrangements for the Pope's life, but how can Pius bind an infallible successor ?