LETTER FROM THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH TO THE KING OF SARDINIA.
The letter is dialed Palace of St. Cloud Oetdb'er/20th. " MoiisiEim Mon Fbere— l write to-day to y >ur M vjesty in order Jo set forth to you the present situation of affairs, to remind you of the p.tst, aud to settle with you the course which ought to be followed for the future. The circuiqsU ices, are grave. ; it 13 requisite to lay aside u iilusidris and sterile regrets, and to examine carefully the real state of affairs: ■ "Tnui,. thoYquestion is not now whether I. have dime Well .or ift in making peace at Villafrauca,,bu.t rather how to obtain from the treaty results tHe most favourable for the pacification of Ita*y, and for the repose of Europe. " Before entering on the discussion of this subject I am anxious to recall once more to your Majesty the obstacles which rendered every definitive negotiation, and every defiiii- j tive treaty, so difficult. In point of fact war has often fewer coin plications than peace. In the former two interests only are in presence of each other— the attack and the defence ; in tbe latter, on the contrary, the points is to] reconcile a multitude of interests ofteu of an opposite character. This is what actually oc-j ouried at the moment of the peace. It was necessary to conclude a treaty that should secure, in the best manner possible, the independence of Italy ; which should satisfy Piedmont and the wishes of the population, and yet which should not offend the Catholic sentiment or the rights of the sovereign in whom Europe felt an interest. " I believe, then, that if the Emperor of Austria wishes to come to a frank understanding with me, with a view to bringing about this important result, the causes of antagonism which, for pen furies, have divided these two , empires* would disappear, and the regeneration of Italy wduld be effected by comraou accord, and without further bloodshed. I now state what are, in my opinion, the essential conditions pf that regeneration. " Italy. to be composed of each' of the States, to adopt a uniform representative system, and
statutory Reform. The Confederation to then fortify the^ principle of Italian nationality, to have but one law — but one system of Customs'; and one currency — the directing centre of . government to be that of Borne, which should be composed of representatives named by the sovereigns, from a list prepared by the Chambers, in drder that in this special diet the influence of the reigning families suspected of a leaning towards Austria should be Counterbalanced by the element resulting from election i — by granting to the Holy Father the honorary Presidency of Confederation, the religious sen- • timeut of Catholics and Europe would' be satisfied, the moral influence of the Pope would be treated with respect throughout Italy, and would enable ; him to make concessions in conformity with the legitimate wishes / of populations. 1 Now, the plan which I had formed at the moment of making peace may still be carried out if your Majesty will employ your influence in promoting it. Thus a considerable advance - has been made in that direction — the cession of Lombardy* with a limited debt, is an accomplished fact. Austria has given up her right to keep garrisons in the strong places of Pia- - cenza, Farrara, and Coramachio. The rights of the Sovereigns have, it is true, been reserved, but the independence of Central Italy has i also been guaranteed, inasmuch as all idea of foreign intervention has been formally set aside j ■■ and, lastly, Venetia. has become a province I purely Italian; ■:■;• . " It is the real interest of your Majesty, as of ", the Peninsula, to second me the developement of this plan,' in order to obtain from it the best results ; for your Majesty cannot forget that I am bound by the treaty, and I cannot in a Congress, which is about to open, withdraw myself from my engagements. The part of - France is traced beforehand. We demand that Parma and Piacenza shall be united to Piedmont, because this territory is, in a stratagetioal point of view, indispensable to her. We d«- --| raand that the Duchess of Parma shall be I called to Modena ; That Tuscany, augmented perhaps by a portion of the territories, shall be restored to the Grand Duke Ferdinand ; that a system of moderate liberty shall be adopted by all the States of Italy ; that Austria shall frankly disengage herself from an incessant cause of embarrassment, and that she shall consent to complete the nationality of Venetia, by creating not only a seperate representation and administration, but' also aa Italian army. We demand that the fortress of Mantua and Peschiera shall bejrecognised as federal fortresses ; and, lastly, that on a confederation based on the real wants as well as on the traditions of the Peninsula, ,t6 the exclusion of every foreign, influence, shall be consolidated the fabric of , the independence of Italy. " I shall neglect nothing for the attainment of this great result. Let your Majesty be con-" vinced of it. My sentiments will not vary so fa* as the interests of France are not opposed to it. I shall always be happy to serve the cause for which we have combatted together.
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Bibliographic details
Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1406, 17 February 1860, Page 5
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880LETTER FROM THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH TO THE KING OF SARDINIA. Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1406, 17 February 1860, Page 5
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