FRENCH POLICY -IN ITALY.
The Times has published the following letter, which it derived from its Paris correspondent, into whose hands it -came from " a friend in Italy." The correspondent "has no hesitation in guaranteeing its au- thenticity." It is from the French •Emperor to the Sardinian Ring.
" Monsieur mon Frare—I write today to your Majesty in order to set forth to you the present situation of affairs, to remind you of the past, and to settle with you the course which ought to be followed for the future, The circumstances are grave ; it is requisite is lay aside illusions and ste- rile regrets, and to examine carefully the real state of affairs. Thus, the question is not now whether I have done well dr ill in making peace at Villafranca, but rather to obtain from thetreaty results the most favourable for the pacification of Italy and for the repose of Europe.
" Before entering on the discussion of this question, I am anxious to re- call once more to your Majesty the obstacles which rendered every definitive negotiation and every definitive treaty so difficult.
"In point of fact, war has often fewer complications than peace. In the former two interests only are in presence of each other—the attack and the defence ; in the latter, on the contrary, the point is to reconcile a multitude of interests, often of an opposite character. This is what actually occurred at the moment of the peace. It was necessary to conclude a treaty that should secure in the best possible manner the independence of Italy, which should satisfy Piedmont and the wishes of the population, and yet which should not wound the Catholic sentiment or the rights of the Sovereigns in whom Europe felt an interest.
"I believed then that if the Emperor of Austria wished to come to a frank -understanding with me, with the view of bringing about this im- portant result, the causes of antagonism which for centuries had divided these two empires would disappear, and that the regeneration of Italy would be effected by common accord, and without further bloodshed.
"I now state what are, in my opinion, the essential conditions of that re- generation :- " Italy to be composed of several independent States, united by a federal bond.
"Each of these States to adopt a particular representative system and-sa- lutary reforms. "The Confederation to then ratify the principle of Italian nationality ; to have but one flag, but one system of Customs, and one Currency. "The directing centre to be at Rome, whiCh should be composed of re- presentatives named by the Sovereigns from a list prepared by the Cham- bers, in order that in this species of Diet the influence of the reigning families suspected of a leaning towards Austria should be counterbalanced by the element resulting from election. ,
By granting to the Holy Father the honorary Presidency of the Con- federation the religious sentiment of Catholic Europe would be satisfied, the moral influence of the Pope would be increased throughout Italy, and would enable him to,make concessions in conformity with the legitimate wishes of the, populations. Now the plan which I had formed at the mo- ment of making peace may still be carried out if your Majesty will employ your influence in promoting it. Besides, a considerable advance has been already made in that direction. "The cession of Lombardy, with a limited debt, is an accomplished fact. " Austria has given up her right to keep garrisons in the strong places of Piacenza, Ferrara, and Commachio.
"The rights of the Sovereigns have, it is true, been reserved, but the in- dependence of Central Italy has also been guaranteed, inasmuch as all idea of foreign intervention has been • formally set aside ; and, lastly, Venetia is to become a province purely Italian. It is the real interest of your Ma- jesty, as of the Peninsula, to second me in the development of this plan, in order to obtain from it the best results, for your Majesty cannot forget that I am bound by the treaty ; and I cannot, in the Congress which is about to open, withdraw myself from my engagements. "The part of France is traced beforehand.
" We demand that Parma and. Piacenza shall be united to Piedmont, be-
cause this territory is, in a strategical point of view, indispensable to her. " We demand teat the Duchess of Parma shall be called to Modena ; "That Tuscany, augmented, perhaps, by a portion of territory, shall be
restored to the Grand Duke Ferdinand ; "That a system of moderate (sage) liberty shall be adopted in all the States of Italy;
"That Austria shall frankly disengage herself from an incessant cause of embarrassment for the future, and that she shall consent to complete the nationality of Venetia, by creating not only a separate representation and administration, but also an Italian army.
" We demand that the fortresses of Mantua and Pesehiera shall be re- cognized as federal fortresses ;
And, lastly, that a Confederation based on the real wants, as well as on the traditions of the Peninsula, to the exclusion of every -foreign influence, shall consolidate the fabric of the• independence of Italy. " I shall neglect nothing for the attainment of this great result ; let your Majesty be convinced of it, my sentiments will not vary, and so far as the interests of France are not opposed to it, I shall always be happy to serve the cause for which we have combated together. "Palace of St. Cloud, 20th of October,1859."
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