The Figaro has committed itself to a statement which, if
true, is of the first importance, to the effect that the Ambassador of France in Rome has been instructed to offer to the Pope an opinion and a practical remark. The opinion is that the time is very " inopportune " for the enunciation of the dogma of infalli- bility from a religious point of view, but the opinion of the French Government on a religious matter would hardly in any case carry any very great weight, either with the Church or the world. The practical remark is of much more moment, namely, that if the dogma should be proclaimed, France would hold herself re- leased from the obligations she contracted under the concordat with the Holy See,—in other words, would withdraw her protection. The Figaro is very likely not to be trusted ; the true Imperial policy hardly ever leaks out in papers of this sort, but, looking at the matter a priori, it is not in itself at all an unlikely intimation, and might extricate France out of a very awkward situation, if Rome were to disregard the threat. No doubt the King of Italy would gladly furnish troops to protect the Council in case France openly withdrew ; but the Council would probably prefer a retreat en masse to Malta, to incurring such an obligation as that. It would be an odd incident, if a Protestant power were to throw its mgis over the Council which declares the infallibility of the Roman Church.
