THE MISSION TO ROME. 63 



ing that the prolongation of the statu quo, to which 

 General Oudinot, the commander-in-chief, had at his 

 request consented, might become injurious to the 

 French army ; Considering that no communication 

 has been addressed to him since his last note to the 

 Triumvirate, dated the 26th inst. ; calls upon the 

 Eoman authorities and Constituent Assembly to give 

 a definite answer to the four following articles : 



"Art. 1. The Eomans request the protection of 

 the French Eepublic. 



" Art. 2. France does not dispute the right of the 

 population to pronounce freely as to their form of 

 government. 



" Art. 3. The French army will be welcomed by 

 the Romans as a friendly one. It will occupy the 

 cantonments which it may deem the most suitable, 

 both for the defence of the city and for sanitary 

 reasons. It will not interfere at all in the general 

 administration of the country. 



" Art. 4. The French Republic guarantees the ter- 

 ritory occupied by its troops against any foreign 

 invasion. 



" In consequence, the undersigned declares, in 

 agreement with General Oudinot, that if the above 

 articles are not at once accepted, he shall regard his 

 mission as terminated, and the French army will 



resume its liberty of action. 



" F. DE LESSEPS. 



" (Countersigned) OUDINOT DE REGGIO. 



" HE AD- QUARTERS, VlLLE SANTUCCI, 



20, 18-19." 



