FRANCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 913, 1 February 1868, Page 3

FRANCE.

Pabis, Dec. 10. A long debate on the question of the French occupying Rome has taken place in the Corps Legislatif. M. Thiers, in a long speech, defended the policy of the government in preserving the temporal power of the Pope. He characterized General Garibaldi as the falcon with which Italy hunts. On the Liberal side MM. Simon and Gueroult made speeches, in which they attacked the Italian policy of the Government, and condemned intervention. M. Jules Favre delivered a brilliant speech against the policy of the Government. He attacked the French intervention in the affairs of Italy, and denounced the sending of the expedition to Home as a violation of justice, and as injurious to the interests of France. He declared that this interference by force hurt the cause which it was designed to help, and involved the Government in complications, to escape from which it was obliged to persist in a policy of error, to the general discontent of the country. Instead of assuming all the responsibility in so grave a matter, he said the Government should have first consulted the Legislature. Minister Rouher made an able speech in defence of the policy of the Emperor's Government on the Roman question. He admitted that the unity of Italy was desirable, but in accomplishing it, Italy should never go to the extreme of taking possession of Rome by force. At the conclusion of the debate M. Favre's motion for interpellation of the Government in regard to Italian affairs was rejected by the Chamber. It is thought that the scheme of a European Conference for the settlement of the Roman question will be defeated by the speech of Minister Rouher, which indicates that the French Government has already prejudged the whole case. It is inferred from the tenor of the speech that the French Emperor has adopted a policy on the Roman question which coincides with the views and desires of the Clerical party. This impression is strengthened by the tone of' the French press since the speech was delivered ; the Liberal journals are greatly dissatisfied, while the Clerical organs seem pleased and jubilant. A Ministerial crisis is anticipated. All the French troops have left Rome. Minister Rouher has made some official explanations in regard to the old Luxemburg dispute. He affirms that the first suggestion for a change of frontier came last year from Prussia, and declares that since the settlement of the controversy which followed, by the London Conference, France has entertained no thought of territorial extension by negotiation or conquest. Prince Napoleon is about to leave Paris for Monza, in Northern Italy, where he will meet his father-in-law, King Victor Emmanuel. ITALY. Florence, December 10. The Italian Parliament was opened on the 6th. Prime Minister Menabrea, in a speech on the occasion, justified the action of the Government in arresting Garibaldi, and suppressing his illegal attempt at invasion ; but declared that it was as inconsistent for the temporal power to exist at Rome, as it would be for a Foreign Power to hold possession of the city of Paris. The speech of the French Minister of State, M. Rouher, in which he said that Italy should not take forcible possession of Rome, gave rise to an angry debate in the Italian Chamber of Deputies on Thursday. Prime Minister Menabrea informed the House that he had asked the French Governmentforexplauations of the speech, and he expected to receive a reply from. Paris by Monday. He added that Italy could only gain possession of Rome with the concurrent consent of France and the other European Powers ; that it would be impossible to achieve that object by force. At the end of the debate a vote was taken, and the Government was sustained by the majority of the members. Count Lanza of Pisa was chosen President of the Chamber of Deputies over Baron Ratazzi by forty majority. The Italiau Government has granted a universal amnesty to the adherents of General Garibaldi. The War Office has ordered 300,000 Chassepot rifles. The fortifications of Civita Vecchia are being strengthened and altered so that a garrison of Papal troops can hold the city as an open gate for the return of the French troops,, should the safety of the Pope hereafter require it. In addition, to these precautions, Civita Vecchia is to be placed in direct telegraphic communication with Toulon, and for this purpose a submarine cable has been ordered, which will be laid as soon as it reaches Toulon. .