Great alarm is felt at Rome about some negotiations between
Prince Bismarck and the Pope. It is fancied that the Prince offers the Vatican some assistance in compelling Italy to quit Rome, as the price of support with the Ultramontane Party in Germany. The papers even urge an alliance with Germany to prevent any diplomatic discussion of the guar- antees. It is certain that negotiations are going on, but there is no evidence whatever that they refer in any way to the pos- session of Rome, which now belongs to Italy, with the recorded assent of Europe. It is much more probable, if Italy is under discussion at all, that the Pope has asked the Prince to propose that the guarantees should be made an in- ternational agreement, instead of, as at present, a municipal law. Even that request would greatly embarrass the Italian Government, which would be in perpetual receipt of inter- national complaints, and would be worried as the Sultan is by the capitulations. A hint is given by the organs of the Govern- ment that if the Pope is too troublesome, it may be made a condition of the election of the next Pope that he shall tot be hostile to Italy, as otherwise the Quirinal would not recognise him, and all guarantees would end.
