Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.
Sir:Since sending off despatch No. 42 the aspect of affairs here has somewhat changed. I am informed by the consul of Italy that the cabinets of London, Paris, and Turin have come to an understanding to this effect: Neither of the first two named powers are in any emergency to interfere with the Bey. France withdraws all pretension as his protector, and England is to discountenance any interference by the Sultan. The effect of this understanding has been to bring the French and English consuls to act in harmony with each other. The French party and the Anglo-Ottoman party are lost sight of for the moment. The immense French armament by sea and land is pronounced to have been mainly designed to prevent Turkish aggressions, encouraged by England; and England appears to have supported Turkey to prevent French aggressions.
Since this arrangement has been understood here, one of the English commanders has visited Sfax and successfully exerted his influence to have the Ottoman flag removed and that of the Bey raised in its place.
In case the Bey, unable to restore order, demands aid, Italy is to intervene, and is to withdraw her forces from Tunis immediately on the re-establishment of order. Already Italy is preparing for the work of intervention. Her engineers are here, and many of her troops are in the harbor, and others are ready to be transported from Cagliari and Genoa to the African shore. The number of vessels-of-war in our harbor is now twenty-two, fourteen of which are Italian,
The Bey has this week succeeded in getting off a body of troops to overcome the rebels, and the result of this expedition is awaited with varied expressions of interest, the French and Italians predicting a failure.
The premier of Italy has lately announced in Parliament that the Italian policy is in favor of the independence of the Bey. I am satisfied that France is not yet prepared to take Tunis, and hold it as a province. The experiment in Algeria is not favorable to such an undertaking. Too much blood and treasure would be required. But France does not wish Turkey to get possession of Tunis, lest there should be a league among the Moors of all North Africa and the Turks to retake Algeria. It is, I believe, the French policy to have a weak independent power established here either through the Bey or the King of Italy.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servent,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.