Chapter XXVIII
.]
[Footnote 20: In this debate Lord Palmerston urged the Ministry to mediate between Austria and France, in order to obtain their simultaneous withdrawal from Rome, and Mr Disraeli announced the confidential mission of Lord Cowley as "one of peace and conciliation."]
[Pageheading: THE EMPEROR'S REPLY]
_The Emperor of Austria to Queen Victoria._
VIENNE, _le 8 Mars 1859_.
MADAME ET CHERE S[OE]UR,--J'ai recu des mains de Lord Cowley la lettre que votre Majeste a bien voulu lui confier et dont le contenu m'a offert un nouvel et precieux temoignage de l'amitie et de la confiance qu'elle m'a vouees, ainsi que des vues elevees qui dirigent sa politique. Lord Cowley a ete aupres de moi le digne interprete des sentimens de votre Majeste, et je me plais a lui rendre la justice, qu'il s'est acquitte avec le zele eclaire, dont il a deja fourni tant de preuves, de la mission confidentielle dont il etait charge.
J'ai hautement apprecie les motifs qui vous ont inspire la pensee de m'envoyer un organe de confiance pour echanger nos idees sur les dangers de la situation. Je m'associe a tous les desirs, que forme votre Majeste pour le maintien de la paix, et ce n'est pas sur moi que pesera la responsabilite de ceux, qui evoquent des dangers de guerre sans pouvoir articuler une seule cause de guerre.
Lord Cowley connait les points de vue auxquels j'envisage les questions qui forment l'objet ou le pretexte des divergences d'opinion qui subsistent entre nous et la France; il sait aussi que nous sommes disposes a contribuer a leur solution dans l'esprit le plus conciliant, en tant qu'on n'exige pas de nous des sacrifices que ne saurait porter aucune Puissance qui se respecte. Je forme des v[oe]ux pour que votre Majeste puisse tirer parti des elemens que Lui apportera son Ambassadeur, dans l'interet du maintien de la paix que nous avons egalement a c[oe]ur.
Mais quelles que soient les chances et les epreuves que l'avenir nous reserve, j'aime a me livrer a l'espoir que rien ne portera atteinte aux rapports d'amitie et d'union que je suis heureux de cultiver avec votre Majeste, et que Ses sympathies seront acquises a la cause que je soutiens et qui est celle de tous les Etats independans.
C'est dans ces sentimens que je renouvelle a votre Majeste l'assurance de l'amitie sincere et de l'inalterable attachement avec lesquels je suis, Madame et chere S[oe]ur, de votre Majeste, le bon et devoue frere et ami,
FRANCOIS JOSEPH.
[Pageheading: A PROPOSED CONFERENCE]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury._
_20th March 1859._
The Queen has received Lord Malmesbury's letter[21] written before the Cabinet yesterday. The Memorandum of Lord Cowley and the telegrams from Vienna give better hopes of the idea of Congress or Conference leading to a good result. Everything will now depend upon the Emperor Napoleon's acceptance of the conditions on which Austria is willing to agree to a Conference. The Queen would like to have a copy of Lord Cowley's memorandum.[22]
[Footnote 21: Lord Cowley had returned from his mission to Vienna, and was now again at Paris. The complexion of affairs had been changed by a suggestion on the part of Russia (which may or may not have been ultimately prompted from Paris) for a Conference between England, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia, to settle the Italian Question. Cavour pressed for the admission of Piedmont to the Conference.]
[Footnote 22: Lord Malmesbury's letter to Lord Cowley, written immediately after the Cabinet, enjoined him to impress upon the Emperor that England would only address herself to the four points--evacuation of the Roman States by foreign troops, reform, security for Sardinia, and a substitute for the treaties of 1847 between Austria and the Duchies.]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury._
OSBORNE, _22nd March 1859_.
The Queen thanks Lord Malmesbury for his communication of yesterday, which she received this morning. She quite approves the steps taken by the Government,[23] and concurs in Lord Malmesbury's views. If the understanding about a Conference first of the five Powers, and then of the Italian States with them, _could be_ so far come to that France and Austria agree with us upon the conditions on which it is to take place, we need not wait for Russia's proposing it. She is evidently playing, as she always does, a double game, and from Sir John Crampton's[24] letter it appears that she never meant to propose a Congress, but merely to _accept_ one, for ulterior objects.
[Footnote 23: An attempt to obtain the disarmament of Austria and Sardinia, and a proposal to obtain the co-operation of France, in guaranteeing to defend Sardinia against invasion by Austria for five years, unless Sardinia left her own territory. On the 23rd, Lord Malmesbury wrote that all the great Powers, except Austria, had agreed to a Congress upon the conditions laid down by the British Government.]
[Footnote 24: English Ambassador at St Petersburg, formerly Minister at Washington; see _ante_, 12th December, 1856, note 61. He had succeeded to the baronetcy in 1858.]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury._
OSBORNE, _27th March 1859_.
The Queen trusts that Lord Malmesbury will act with the utmost circumspection in answering the many telegrams crossing each other from all directions respecting the proposed Congress. An understanding with Austria on every point ought, if possible, to precede our giving our opinion to France or Russia. If they can _once_ get the Powers to agree upon a point upon which Austria disagrees, they have won the game, and the Emperor can proceed to his war, having a declaration of Europe against Austria as his basis.
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _12th April 1859_.
The Queen has marked a passage in this draft, which she thinks it would be advisable to modify--so as not to _put_ upon _record_ (should the Austrians refuse to give way on this point) that we consider their conduct as "_reckless_." Should they persist, they would certainly not meet with as much sympathy as they would do if they yielded, and such a course on their part would be very much to be regretted, as we consider every sacrifice small, in comparison to the blessings of preserving peace; but still Austria would have a perfect right to stand out--and we originally supported her in this demand.
If something which _expressed_ the _above_ sentiments and opinions could therefore be substituted for the present passage, the Queen thinks it would be very desirable _for the future_, both as regards Austria and England.
[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND AUSTRIA]
_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._
DOWNING STREET, _21st April 1859_.
Lord Derby, with his humble duty, submits to your Majesty that it has appeared to him, in consultation with his colleagues, with the exception of Lord Hardwicke and Sir John Pakington, who are out of Town, that the only step which can properly be taken at present is to protest strongly against the course which Austria is now taking, and to warn her that whatever may be the results to herself, she deprives herself of all claim to the support or countenance of England.[25] Your Majesty will see by another telegram, received a few minutes ago from Lord Cowley, that Huebner!! advises that England should threaten to come to the aid of Sardinia, if the contemplated invasion should take place! Your Majesty's servants are not, however, prepared to take so strong a step, which would commit them to measures to which they might be unable at the moment to give due effect; and which, if Austria were to disregard the measure, would involve them in War as the Allies of France. They have therefore limited themselves to a protest, the terms of which will require to be very carefully considered before it is embodied in a despatch. Lord Malmesbury will submit to your Majesty by this messenger the terms of his telegram.... To appeal at once to arms, when no question, except this of form, remained unsettled as to the meeting of Congress, and the subjects to be then discussed, had been unanimously agreed to, appears to Lord Derby to indicate a reckless determination to go to war which it will be very difficult to justify in the eyes of Europe.
_For the moment_ these events rather diminish than increase the probability of a rupture with France, while they will task her means to the uttermost, and not improbably overthrow her personal dynasty!
[Footnote 25: On the 19th, Count Buol despatched an emissary, Baron Kellersberg, to Turin, with a summons to Sardinia to disarm, under the threat of immediate hostilities if she declined. Sardinia indignantly refused, whereupon the Austrian troops crossed the Ticino.]
[Pageheading: WAR IMMINENT]
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th April 1859_.
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I hardly know _what_ to say, so confused and bewildered are we by the reports which come in three or four times a day! I have _no hope_ of peace _left_. Though it is _originally_ the wicked folly of Russia and France that have brought about this fearful crisis, it is the madness and blindness of Austria which have brought on the war _now!_[26] It has put _them_ in the wrong, and entirely changed the feeling here, which was all that one could desire, into the most _vehement_ sympathy for _Sardinia_, though we hope now again to be able to _throw_ the blame of the war on France, who _now_ won't hear of mediation, while Austria is again inclined to do so!
It is a melancholy, sad Easter; but what grieves me the most (indeed, distracts me)--for I have had nothing but disappointments in that quarter since November--is that in all probability Vicky will be unable to come in May! It quite _distracts me_. You also must be very anxious about dear Charlotte; I hope she will not remain at Trieste, but go to Vienna. Her being in Italy is really _not_ safe.... Now with kind loves to your children, ever your affectionate and devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 26: Referring to an understanding reported to have been arrived at between France and Russia, the suspicion of which created great indignation in England. Prince Gortschakoff and the French Emperor, in answer to enquiries, gave conflicting explanations.]
_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._
ROEHAMPTON, _27th April 1859_.
... Lord Derby has thought it necessary, in consequence of the attitude assumed by Russia, notwithstanding her assurances that there is nothing hostile to England in her secret treaty with France, to call upon Sir J. Pakington to say what addition could be made to the Channel Fleet within a period of two or three months, without weakening that in the Mediterranean. He has the honour of enclosing the answer, which he has just received by messenger. Lord Derby proposes to go up to Town to confer with Sir J. Pakington on this important subject to-morrow, and Lord Malmesbury has summoned a Cabinet for Friday to consider the general state of affairs.
France having absolutely refused the proffered mediation of England, and Austria having only accepted it under the condition of the disarmament of Sardinia, every effort to preserve the peace has been exhausted; and it only remains for this country to watch the course of events, to protect her own interests, and to look out for any opportunity which may offer to mediate between the contending parties. This policy, announced by Lord Derby in the City on Monday,[27] was received with unanimous approval. It will require a great deal to induce the country to be drawn into a war under any circumstances, and Lord Derby's anxious efforts will not be wanting to avoid it as long as possible.
[Footnote 27: He had there described Austria's action as hasty, precipitate, and (because involving warfare) criminal, but the Government would still (he added) strive to avert war, by urging Austria, under the Treaty of Paris, to invoke the mediation of the Powers. The Derby Government, however, were supposed to be giving encouragement to Austria. See Lord Derby's letter of the 2nd of June, _post_.]
[Pageheading: LORD DERBY'S POLICY]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th April 1859_.
The Queen has read the last telegrams with much pain, as they show that there is no chance left of stopping war. Indeed she thinks, considering the progress of revolution in the Duchies, and the daily increase of military strength of France and financial exhaustion of Austria, that it would not be morally defensible to try to restrain Austria from defending herself while she still can.
Count Buol's proposal to continue negotiations during the fight sounds strange, but ought not to be altogether put aside. The King of Sardinia's assumption of the Government of Tuscany[28] and military occupation of Massa-Carrara form gross infractions of the Treaties of 1815 and international law, and can hardly be left without a protest from us.
Has Lord Derby heard that a Russian Fleet is expected soon to appear in the Black Sea? The Queen has just heard it from Berlin, where it is supposed to be certain, and it would explain Lord Cowley's report of (the Queen believes) Prince Napoleon's[29] account of the Russian engagements, which are admitted to contemplate a junction of the French and Russian Fleets to defend the Treaty closing the Dardanelles.
[Footnote 28: See _ante_, Introductory Note to