me borne donc à vous dire, par ordre de l'Empereur, que nous ne consentirions à aucun prix à assumer la responsabilité d'une pareille situation. Quelles que soient ses sympathies pour l'Italie, et notamment pour la Sardaigne, qui a mêlé son sang au nôtre, Sa Majesté n'hésiterait pas à témoigner de sa ferme et irrévocable résolution de prendre les intérêts de la France pour guide unique de sa conduite. .

Je ne terminerai pas cette dépêche, M. le Baron, sans vous dire quelques mots de la Savoie et du Comté de Nice. Le Gouvernement de l'Empereur a regretté la discussion prématurée et inopportune dont cette question a été l'objet de la part des journaux, mais il ne saurait ne pas la prendre pour l'expression d'une opinion qui se fortifie chaque jour et avec laquelle il lui faut compter. Des traditions historiques qu'il est inutile de rappeler ont accrédité l'idée que la formation d'un Etat plus puissant au pied des Alpes serait défavorable à nos intérêts, et bien que dans la combinaison développée dans cette dépêche l'annexion de tous les Etats de l'Italie Centrale à la Sardaigne ne fût pas complète, il est certain qu'au point de vue des relations extérieures, elle équivaudrait en réalité à un résultat analogue. Les mêmes prévisions, si éloignées qu'elles soient assurément, réclament les mêmes garanties, et la possession de la Savoie et du Comté de Nice, sauf les intérêts de la Suisse, que nous désirons toujours prendre en considération, se présente aussi à

ing, by the Emperor's orders, that we would not consent, at any price, to take upon ourselves the responsibility of such a situation. Whatever may be his sympathies for Italy, and especially for Sardinia, which has mingled its blood with ours, His Majesty would not hesitate to evince his firm and irrevocable resolve to take the interests of France as the sole guide of his conduct. . .

I shall not conclude this despatch, M. le Baron, without saying a few words respecting Savoy and the County of Nice. The Government of the Emperor has regretted the premature and inopportune discussion of this question in the public journals: but it cannot refrain from taking it as the expression of an opinion which daily gains in strength, and with which it must deal. Historical traditions, which it is needless to recall, have accredited the idea that the formation of a more powerful State at the foot of the Alps would be unfavourable to our interests; and although, in the arrangement developed in this despatch, the annexation of all the States of Central Italy to Sardinia should not be complete, it is certain. that in the point of view of external relations it would be equivalent, in reality, to an analogous result. The same provisions, however distinct they may actually be, claim the same guarantees; and the possession of Savoy and of the County of Nice, with a reservation for the interests of Switzerland, which we always desire

nous, dans cette hypothèse, comme une nécessité géographique pour la sûreté de nos frontières. Vous devrez appeler sur ce point l'attention de M. Comte de Cavour, mais vous lui déclarerez, en même temps, que nous ne voulons pas contraindre la volonté des populations, et que le Gouvernement de l'Empereur, en outre, ne manquerait pas, lorsque le moment lui paraîtrait venu, de consulter préalablement les Grandes Puissances de l'Europe, afin de prévenir une fausse interprétation des raisons qui dirigeraient sa conduite.

to take into account, also presents itself to us in that hypothesis as a geographical necessity for the safety of our frontiers.

You must, therefore, call the attention of Count Cavour to this point; but you will state to him, at the same time, that it is not our wish to constrain the will of the populations, and that the Government of the Emperor, moreover, would not fail, when the moment should appear to it to have arrived, to consult first the Great Powers of Europe, so as to prevent a false interpretation of the reasons that would direct its conduct.

You will please read this despatch to Count Cavour, and leave him a copy.

I beg, etc.
(Signed) THOUVENEL.

A S. E. il signor barone Ricasoli, Presidente del Governo della Toscana, Firenze; ed a S. E. il sig. cav. Farini, Governatore delle Provincie dell' Emilia, Modena.

Torino, li 29 Febbraio 1860. ECCELLENZA,

Il barone di Talleyrand, per ordine del Governo di Francia, mi ha dato ieri lettura e copia del dispaccio che mi pregio di comunicare qui unito alla E. V. Esso contiene l'esposizione delle idee dell'Imperatore dei Fran

1 Zini, v. II, pt. 2, document No. 259 C.

1

To H. E. Baron Ricasoli, President of the Tuscan Government, Florence; and to H. E. Cav. Farini, Governor of the Provinces of Emilia, Modena.

Turin, February 29th, 1860.

EXCELLENCY:

Baron Talleyrand, by order of the French Government, gave me yesterday the text and copy of the dispatch which I have the honor to remit to Your Excellency, here enclosed. It contains a statement of the ideas of

cesi intorno all'assetto da darsi alle cose dell'Italia centrale, idee che si riassumono nelle tre proposizioni seguenti;

I Ducati di Parma e Modena verrebbero immediatamente riuniti al Piemonte senza interrogare nuovamente il suffragio popolare.

Le Romagne formerebbero un Vicariato posto sotto l'alta sovranità della S. Sede, e governate da S. M. che assumerebbe tosto l'amministrazione.

La Toscana poi sarebbe costituita in regno separato sotto un principe liberamente eletto dalla popolazione.

Il Governo Francese non esprime alcuna preferenza intorno alla scelta del futuro sovrano, ma da verbali ed autentiche assicurazioni mi consta che la elezione di un Principe di Casa Savoia non incontrerebbe per parte della Francia opposizione alcuna.

the French Emperor regarding the form to be given to the affairs of Central Italy, ideas summed up in the three following propositions:

The Duchies of Parma and Modena would be immediately united to Piedmont without again consulting the popular vote.

The States of Romagna would be formed into a Vicariate placed under the high sovereignty of the Holy See, and governed by H. M. who would assume at once the administration.

Tuscany would be made into a separate Kingdom, under a Prince freely elected by the people.

The French Government does not express any preference regarding the choice of the future sovereign, but from verbal and authentic information I am assured that the election of a Prince of the House of Savoy would meet with no opposition on the part of France.

After having taken his Majesty's orders, I replied to Baron Talleyrand, that the Government of the King offered no difficulty in the way of the proposed adjustment, and that, submitting the above mentioned propositions to the Governments of Tuscany and Emilia, I entrust them to the good sense of the men who manage public affairs in those countries.

To this end I turn to Your Excellency and I do not doubt that the Government of Tuscany (of Emilia) in taking notice of the enclosed document, will consider that the advice given to Tuscany (Emilia) comes from the generous ally to whom Italy

è chiamata.

Quindi è che mentre il dispaccio del Gabinetto Francese non dev'essere fatto di pubblica ragione, sarà peraltro conveniente che non si ignori dal pubblico l'origine delle proposte che le trasmetto.

Io non dissimulo tuttavia che nè ella, nè i suoi colleghi non vorranno togliere sopra di sè la responsabilità di una deliberazione terminativa senza consultare nuovamente la Nazione che, per mezzo dell'Assemblea a ciò eletta, già aveva manifestati i suoi voti.

In contemplazione di un tale evento, S. M. il Re, riconoscendo l'opportunità di un nuovo voto, lascia all'E. V. piena balia intorno al modo d'interrogare la volontà delle popolazioni, e si affida che il Governo porrà ogni cura affinchè, come pel passato, le elezioni si compiano con tutta lealtà e sincerità.

Qualunque sia per essere il risultato di questo voto, il Governo del Re lo accetta anticipatamente, non avendo esso avuto altro intento mai fuorchè quello d'assicurare la pace e l'ordinamento d'Italia, mercè del legittimo soddisfacimento dei voti dei popoli. Gradisca í sensi dell'alta mia considerazione.

C. CAVOUR.

destinies to which she is called.

Therefore, while the dispatch of the French Cabinet should not be submitted to the public, it would, however, be desirable not to keep the public in ignorance of the origin of the proposals which I transmit to you.

I realize, however, that neither you nor your colleagues would wish to assume the responsibility of a definite decision without consulting again the Nation which had already manifested their votes, by means of an Assembly elected for that purpose.

In consideration of such an event, H. M. the King, recognizing the advisability of a new vote, leaves Your Excellency full powers regarding the way of interrogating the will of the population, and trusts that the Government will use all possible care, as in the past, that the elections shall be held with loyalty and sincerity.

Whatever may be the result of this vote, the King's Government accepts it beforehand, never having had any other intention than that of insuring the peace and reconstruction of Italy, according to the legitimate satisfaction of the votes of the people.

Please accept the expression of my highest regard.

C. CAVOUR.