THE PROPOSED MEDIATION OF FRANCE.

West Coast Times, Issue 319, 1 October 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" says : —

The belligerent Powers have accepted in principle the mediation offered by the Emperor Napoleon. The French Government is making every effortun favor of the conclusion of an armistice, which, by preventing further bloodshed, would allow of negotiations beingopened for the restoration of peace. The "Presse" 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 v 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 the bases of , the negotiations suggested by France, and communicated to Count von Goltz and 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 wfiich neither Prussia nor 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 the war indemnity at first demanded by Prussia. Prussia to incorporate Schelswig-Holstein, Hesse Cassel, Hesse Darmstadt, and Brunswick. The population of the Prussian kingdom would thereby be raised 1 to twenty-five millions. The Rhine to constitute the western frontier, of Prussia, and the provinces between the Rhine j and Meuse to serve as au indemnity to the sovereigns 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 tbe Duchy of 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 tEe Valley of the Sarre to choose between France and the new 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 Germanic 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.

The official " Staatsanzeiger," of Berlin x says :—: — - We are authorised to make the following declaration :— Treaties existing between Prussia and Italy render impossible an armistice or the of peace with Austria Avithout the mutual 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 end to the war. Europe. knows that it was no soiciid 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 leasi the majority 'of ' the^ States. Herein Prussia his 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 attempt«to incite* the former against Prussia. In all parts the feelings o*' hatred give way to more noble sentiments towards us. The army, sustained by the consciousness of its lofty task, will conquer or die.

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 " Patrie" says :--

The negotiations for an armistice have been delayed by the necessity of taking into simultaneous •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 "Abendpost" (evening" edition ot the official "Werner Zeitung") says : —

The Emperor of the French has taken fresh steps of an energetic character to effect the conclusion of an armistice. The ' French fleet is on its way to Venetia, and General Leboeuf, the French

commissioner, has - been, ordered to, occupy Venetia. .General Froissurt has been sent to the Prussian head- quarters to announce the armed mediation of the Emperor of the French. It is tho pronounced will of the French that Austria should not Tie weakened in her position as a great Power. The army of the South is evacuating Venetia, and has commenced the march, northwards.

Prince Napoleon had a long inter* view with the Emperor. The " France" states that Prince Napoleon 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 followingstatement as the conditions attached by the Italian Government to the propositions of the Emperor Napoleon : —^

1. If Venetia is ceded to the Emperor Napoleon, the final transfer must 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 discussed.