M. Thouvenel s'empresse toutefois d'ajouter qu'il n'est nullement dans l'intention du Gouvernement de l'Empereur de réclamer des changements territoriaux qui seraient contraires aux vœux des populations, et de le faire sans tenir compte des intérêts de la Suisse et sans avoir consulté les Grandes Puissances de l'Europe. Ce Je ne m'arrêterai pas à examiner la valeur des traditions historiques auxquelles M. Thouvenel fait allusion. Je suis loin de croire que l'agrandissement de la Sardaigne puisse jamais constituer un danger pour la France, à laquelle les derniers événements nous rattachent pas les liens de la reconnaissance et de l'amitié. pendant nous avons trop de sentiment de ce que l'Italie doit à l'Empereur pour ne pas accorder la plus sérieuse attention a une demande qui repose sur le principe du respect des vœux des populations. Le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté ne consentirait jamais, même en vue de plus grands avantages, à céder ou échanger aucune des parties du territoire qui forme depuis tant de siècles l'apanage glorieux de la Maison de Savoie. Mais il ne pourrait s'empêcher de prendre en considération les changements que les événements qui se sont succédés en Italie auraient apportés dans la situation des populations de la Savoie et de Nice. Au moment où nous réclamons hautement pour les habitants de l'Italie Centrale le droit de disposer de leur sort, nous ne saurions, sans encourir le reproche d'inconséquence M. de Thouvenel hastens to add that it is by no means the intention of the Government of the Emperor to demand territorial changes which would be contrary to the wishes of the people, or to effect the change without paying regard to the interests of Switzerland, and without having consulted the Great Powers of Europe. I will not stop to examine the value of the historical traditions to which M. de Thouvenel alludes. I am far from thinking that the aggrandizement of Sardinia could ever constitute a danger for France, to whom the late events attach us by the ties of gratitude and friendship; nevertheless we are too sensible of what Italy owes to the Emperor, not to give the most serious attention to a request which rests on the principle of respect for the wishes of the people. The Government of His Majesty would never consent, even with a view to the greatest advantages, to cede or exchange any portion of thè territory which has formed for so many ages the glorious appanage of the House of Savoy; but the King's Government cannot refrain from taking into consideration the changes which the events that have taken place in Italy have caused with respect to the situation of the People of Savoy and Nice. At the moment when we are loudly demanding for the inhabitants of Central Italy the right of disposing of their lot, we could not, without incurring the reproach of inconsistency and injus et d'injustice, refuser aux sujets du Roi qui habitent au delà des Alpes le droit de manifester librement leur volonté. Quelques vifs que seraient les regrets que nous éprouverions si les provinces qui ont été le berceau glorieux de la Monarchie pouvaient se décider à réclamer leur séparation d'avec le reste des Etats du Roi pour s'associer à d'autres destinées, nous ne nous refuserions pas à reconnaître la valeur de cette manifestation. Les déclarations de M. Thouvenel relativement aux Grandes Puissances et à la Suisse sont de nature à prévenir toute fausse interprétation et à aplanir bien des difficultés. Ces déclarations, qui sont inspirées par un sentiment si élevé d'équité et de justice, ne nous laissent d'ailleurs aucun doute que dans toute hypothèse le soin de laisser à la Sardaigne, aussi bien qu'à la France, une ligne de frontière convenable présiderait à ces négociations. Veuillez, M. le Chevalier, donner lecture et laisser copie de cette dépêche à son Excellence le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères; et agréez, &c. (Signé) C. CAVOUR. tice, refuse the subjects of the King living beyond the Alps the right of freely manifesting their wishes. However lively might be the regrets which we should feel, if the provinces which have been the glorious cradle of the Monarchy should decide upon demanding their separation from the rest of the King's States in order to associate themselves with other destinies, we should not refuse to recognize the value of that manifestation. The declarations of M. de Thouvenel relative to the Great Powers, and to Switzerland, are of a nature to prevent any false interpretations, and to smooth over many difficulties. These declarations, which are inspired by such a high feeling of equity and justice, leave us, moreover, no doubt that in any hypothesis the care of leaving to Sardinia as well as to France a suitable line of frontier will preside over these ncgotiations. Be so good, M. le Chevalier, as to read to, and leave a copy of this despatch with, his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and accept, &c. (Signed) C. Cavour. Proclamation by the Governor of Annecy Announcing that there will be a Popular Vote. March 8, 1860 1 La question des remaniements territoriaux, soulevée d'abord par les 1 The question of redistributions of territory, originally raised in the 1 Text and translation from British Parliamentary Papers, Affairs of Italy [2702], p. 3. journaux et tout récemment traitée dans les documents officiels, pouvait justifier votre anxiété sur l'avenir de votre noble patrie. Cependant, la loyauté et la justice qui ont toujours présidé aux actes du Gouvernement du Roi aurait dû vous prémunir contre des alarmes exagérées. Préoccupé de votre pénible perplexité, je suis heureux maintenant de pouvoir vous apprendre que vous allez être vous-mêmes les arbitres de vos destinées. Vous serez appelés à manifester vos vœux dans la forme légale que le Parlement déterminera. Vous aurez vous-même à choisir entre le Piémont, auquel vous unissent les liens d'une affection séculaire, et la nation qui, par les rapports d'intérêts que crée le voisinage et par les secours généreux qu'elle nous a données dans la dernière guerre, a tant de titres à vos sympathies. Savoisiens! Je connais trop vos sentiments pour douter un seul instant que vous n'apportiez dans cet acte solennel cet esprit d'ordre et de modération dont vous avez déjà donné tant de preuves dans d'autres circonstances. Si l'éléSi l'élément le plus précieux de toute délibération est la liberté, l'ordre est une condition non moins essentielle de toute votation populaire. Notre magnanime Roi ne saurait se journals, and quite recently treated of in official documents, might have justified your anxiety regarding the future of your noble fatherland. Nevertheless, the loyalty and the justice which have ever presided over the acts of the King's Government ought to have warned you beforehand against exaggerated alarms. Having been already concerned for your painful perplexity, I am now happy that I have it in my power to acquaint you that you are yourselves about to become the arbiters of your destiny. You will be summoned to declare your wishes by a legal formality which will be determined on by the Parliament. You will have to choose for yourselves between Piedmont, to which you are united by ancient bonds of attachment, and the nation which, from the relations of common interests which neighbourhood creates, and from the generous succour which she has given us in the late war, has so great a title to your sympathies. Savoyards! I know your sentiments too well to doubt for a single instant that you will display, in this solemn act, that spirit of order and moderation of which you have already, under other circumstances, given so many proofs. If the most precious element that can enter into any deliberation be liberty, order is no less an essential condition of all popular voting. Our magnanimous King could not Dispatch of the British Ambassador at Paris to Lord John Russell 1 (Extract) Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell Paris, March 9, 1860. I was surprised, on calling this morning on M. Thouvenel, to find that he had been for two days in possession of M. de Cavour's reply to that part of his Excellency's despatch of the 24th ultimo which related to the annexation of Savoy to France. I proceeded, in compliance with the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch of the 6th instant, to ask his Excellency in what manner the promise of the Emperor, that the Great Powers should be consulted on this matter, is to be carried into effect. M. Thouvenel replied, that the Sardinian Government having declared that they would not object to the annexation of Savoy to France, if such should be the wish of the Savoyards themselves, he was about to draw up a despatch which would be addressed to the Imperial Representatives at the Courts, parties to the Treaties of 1815, explaining the wishes of the Imperial Govern1 British Parliamentary Papers, Affairs of Italy [2638], p. 41. ment, and the reasons why it was considered that these wishes should be acceded to. His Excellency thought that this despatch would be sent off on Tuesday or Wednesday next. With regard to your Lordship's second question,- whether there should be a previous vote in Savoy and Nice,- M. Thouvenel replied that the Imperial Government adhered to the principle of consulting the wishes of the inhabitants of those two countries. In what manner and at what period this appeal was to be made, he could not now state; but, as at present advised, he should say that the communication to the Powers would precede the vote. He reserved to himself, however, to act in this matter as circumstances might require. Should the vote be unfavourable, he had no hesitation, in reply to your Lordship's third question, in stating that the project of annexation would fall to the ground. Your Lordship's fourth question is answered under the first. Proclamation by the Governor of Chambéry. March 10, 1860 1 HABITANTS DE LA PROVINCE DE CHAMBÉRY! Envoyé ici par le Gouvernement du Roi dans le but de resserrer davantage les anciens liens qui unissent ces populations à la Monarchie, je ne pouvais prévoir des événements qui me sont étrangers, et qui rendent si difficile l'accomplissement de ma mission. Il y a quelque temps qu'une sourde agitation s'est emparée de l'esprit des populations de la Savoie. Cette agitation a eu d'abord pour cause la question des remaniements territoriaux soulevée par les journaux et ensuite la publication récente de documents officiels, qui ont fait naître une pénible anxiété sur le sort de votre noble patrie. Préoccupé de vos destinées, le Gouvernment du Roi, qui jamais ne 1 INHABITANTS OF THE PROVINCE OF CHAMBERY! Being sent here by the King's Government for the purpose of binding more closely together the ancient ties which unite these populations to the Monarchy, I could not foresee events which are new to me, and which make the accomplishment of my mission so difficult. Some time ago, a secret agitation seized upon the minds of the population of Savoy. The first cause of this agitation was the question of territorial alterations, stirred up by the newspapers, and, afterwards, the publication of official documents, which have caused a painful anxiety to be felt respecting the fate of your noble country. Preoccupied with your destinies, the King's Government, which has 1 Text and translation from British Parliamentary Papers, Affairs of Italy [2702], p. 1. |