ITALY.

Otago Witness, Issue 839, 27 December 1867, Page 6

ITALY.

Garibaldi was arrested, by order of the Italian Government, at Sinalunga, whilst on his way to an invasion of the Papal territory, with the object of overthrowing the temporal authority of the Pope, and making Rome the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. As this proceeding was in direct violation of the Convention of September under which the French troops evacuated the city two years ago, it followed that neither Italy nor France could permit the aggression. It was thought, however, that the arrest of Garibaldi, who was conducted to his home on the island of Caprera, would compose the difficulty. But Garibaldi made his escape to Leghorn, whence he was again taken

! back, and a guard kept up round the island by ships of war. In the meantime his arrest created a great- ferment in Italy. The Rattazzi ministry were denounced, and several bodies of volunteers, under the command of Menotti Garibaldi, invaded the Papal dominions with the view of exciting insurrection in Rome itsetf. Many isolated encounters took place with the Papal zouaves, and a good deal of blood was spilt ; but no active progress was made towards the capture of the Eternal City. Whilst these events were passing, Garibaldi issued proclamations to the people of Italy, announcing his intentions, and denouncing the papacy. The Roman National Committee, also, reconstituted itself, and issued an inflammatory address to the inhabitants of the Papal States. The excitement rapidly increased on both sides. Volunteers from France, Belgium, and Spain joined the Pontifical forces; and on the other land many volunteers joined Menotti Garibaldi. But no impression was made upon the Papal forces by the Garibaldians; and eventually they were defeated, after a spirited action at Nerola, on Sunday, October 20. Thereupon it was affirmed to he clear that if Garibaldi and the Pope had been left to fight out the quarrel without the interposition, open or secret, of the governments of France and Italy, the priest would have beaten the patriot. " A Papal army, sufficient to maintain the authority of the Holy Father, and tranquility as well in the interior as upon the frontiers of his States," was really organised, as the September Convention provided, before the French left Rome; and if the Italian Government had fulfilled its obligations the invaders would have been destroyed or driven back across the frontiers in a few days.

During the early part of these transactions the French Emperor was at Biarritz, and all Europe was in perplexity as to whether his majesty would insist on the maintenance of the Convention or connive at its violation. It was rather believed that the latter policy would prevail. The like perplexity prevailed after the arrival of the Emperor at Paris ; and there seems to be r.o doubt that the imperial mind went through a serious conflict. The question reduced itself to this — the Italian government were unable to put down the revolution, that is the Garibaldians, without risking the monarchy ; yet if the French Emperor called upon them to fulfil their engagements they would be obliged to incur the risk. As to the French Emperor, the alternative was this, either to insist on the observance of the Convention at the risk of war, and so imperilling the Italy that he had created, or to assent to the occupation of Rome by the King of Italy, in which event there would have been an end to the temporal power. After many days' perplexity the Emperor determined upon compelling Italy to fulfil its engage- | ments. "If Italy," it was said, "is un- j able to stay the invaders, and does not appeal to France, France must go and defend her signature. If Italy, unable to resist the invaders, should become their j accomplice, France would have to march against revolution protected, and against Italy the abettor." A division of the French army was, therefore, collected at Toulon, and steamers and transports provided to move 10,000 men to Oivita Vecchia. Before they sailed, news of the battle of Nerola and the defeat of the Garibaldians was received. The troops, or a part of them, had actually embarked, and steam was up for them to leave Toulon on the evening of October 21. The Italian Government then seems to have suddenly given away, Rattazzi resigned, and thereupon the troops were disembarked, and the expedition countermanded. All Europe was immensely agitated by the perils of the situation. The expedition to Rome was to consist of a force of 30,000 combatants, while, in the event of the intervention leading to an open outbreak of hostilities with Italy, a larger force was to assemble at Grenoble, with a view to make its way into Italy across the Mont Genevre. But the storm blew over. The departure of the expedition was countermanded, and something like an understanding appeared to be re-established between the French and the Italian -Governments. Cialdini succeeded Rattazzi as Minister, and as he is a man who would not hesitate to put down the Garibaldian movement with a strong hand, he was thought to be acceptable to France. This was tho state of affairs up to the 23rd of October. The Telegraph news published yesterday gives a short account of the suppression of the insurrection by the aid of the French troops.