THE PROPOSED MEDIATION OF FRANCE.

West Coast Times, Issue 309, 19 September 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PROPOSED MEDIATION OF FRANCE.

The "Owl" announces that Her Majesty's Government have consented to join France and Russia in mediating between the belligerent Powers. The " Moniteur dv Soir'' sa}'s :— " The belligerent Powers have accepted in principle the mediation offered by the Emperor Napoleon. T}ie French Government is making every effort in favor of the conclusion of an armistice, which, by preventing further bloodshed, would allow of negotiations being ojjened for the restoration of peace." The "Presse," of Wednesday evening, publishes an article, signed by M. Cucheval Clarigny, in which it says : — " Yesterday, after the audience given by the Emperor to Prince von Reuss, a meeting was held at the Tuileries in his Majesty's presence. Prince Metternich represented Austria, and Count von Goltz and Prince von Reuss, Prussia. M. Drouyn de Lhuys communicated the views of France, and drew up a report of the proceedings at' the meeting. The following are bales' of the negotiations suggested by France,' and communicated to Count von Goltz end Prince Metternich by whom they have been transmitted to Berlin and Vienna. The Germanic Confederation to

be dissolved, and another Confederation to be established, of which neither Prussia npr Austria should form part. No territorial concession to be demanded of Austria. The abandonment by the latter of her rights in the Duchies to replace tho wur indemnity at first demanded by Prussia. Prussia to incorporate SchleswigHolstein, Hesse Cassel, Hesse Darmstadt and Brunswick. The population^ of the Prussian kingdom would thereby be raised to twenty-five millions. The Rhine to constitute the western frontier of Prussia", and the provinces between the Rhino and Meuse to serve as indemnity to the .so oi'cictns dispossessed by the war. An exchange of territory to take place between Baden and Bavaria, which would give the former nearly the whole of the Rhenish Palatinate. Saxony, Hanover, and the Duchy ol Saxe to conclude military conventions with Prussia. The inhabitants of Landau to choose whether # they, shall belong to France or Baden, and the population of the Valley -of the Sarre to choose between Franco and the n/iw Rhenish sovereigns." The Prussian conditions contained in the letter brought by Prince Reuss are stated to be as follows : — •

" The exclusion of Austria from the Qermanic Confederation, the exclusive command of the military and naval forces of the Confederation by Prussia, the diplomatic representation of Germany abroad, and the annexation to Prussia of the Duchies and part of the territory already occupied," "La France" further states — " That it has reason to believe that the Emperor immediately despatched to London and St. Petersburg the important communications of Prince Reuss as raising questions of European interest, which can only be settled by the concert of, the Great Powers. 1 ' The official " Staatsanzeiger'' of Berlin' says :— "We are authorised to make the following declaration : — Treaties existing between Prussia and Italy render impossible an armistice or the conclusion of peace with -Austria without the natural consent of Italy and Prussia. Italy is, therefore, unable to accede to Austria's wish for a one-sided peace by accepting Venetia, and thus putting an «nd to the war. Ejirope knows that it was no sordid love of conquest that impelled Prussia to go to war. Prussia fights for the highest national aims. She demands for herself guarantees of territorial security, and for Germany the establishment of its unity, embracing at least the majority of the States. - Herein Prussia has the support of the most patriotic Princes of Germany. The people of Prussia are sacrificing their blood and treasure, and her sons are inspired by the holiness of the conflict,' as were their fathers in 1813. Everywhere the Prussians give proof that they are fighting, not against the people, but .against the Governments, which vainly attempted to incite the former against Prussia. In all parts the feelings of hatred give way to more noble sentiments" towards us. The army, sustained by the consciousness of its lofty task, will conquer or die." * >

TheJ Florence journals announce that the Prussian Government has officially declared to the Italian Cabinet that Italy cannot accept an armistice which, being based upon the cession of Venetia, would be tantamount to a separately concluded peace, and would disengage, to the detriment of Prussia and to the advantage of Austria, the* 150,000, men • stationed in Venetia.

The " Patvie " says :—": — " The negotiations for an armistice have been delayed by the necessity of taking into'simultaneous consideration both the conditions of the armistice and the preliminary basis of a future treaty of peace. Prussia wishes to know beforehand the advantages which will be definitively assured to her."

The "Abendposf (evening addition of the official " Weiner Zeitung '') says :—: — ■" The Emperor of the French has takenfresh steps of an energetic character to effect the conclusion of an armistice. The French fleet is on its way to Venice, and General Lebqeuf, the French \jommissioner, has been ordered to occupy Venetia. General Froissart- has been sent to the Prussian head-quarters to announce the armed mediation of the Emperor of the French. It is the pronounced will of the Emperor of the French that Austria should not be weakened in her position as a great Power. The army of fne South is evacuatting Venetia. and haftcomnunced the march northwards.''

Prince Napoleon had a long interview with the Emperor. The " France " states that Prince Napolean is about to leave for Verona, where his Highness will receive from the Austrian authorities the preliminary document ceding Venetia to France. *■

'The "Times" says it has received from an authentic source the following statement as to the conditions attached by the 1 talian Government to the proposition of the Era.peror Napoleon : — " 1. If Venetia is ceded to the Emperor Napoleon, the final transfermust be made by Austria, hampered by no conditions with regard to Rome. 2. That the question of the district of Trent should be recognised as one to be"dis' cussed.''