Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

98
Derek Beales
platform. He had already loat office twice on account of bis sympathy for Napoleon IH). Gladstoue raises the question of Papal intransi-gence and allude* to Roman Catholica' activity in Eogland - on the day he wrote they had held a great workingraen'a meeting in London. But he forgcts until the postscript that Sardinia is involved a well as France.
There lay one of the major objections to the al liane*;. On the next day Gladstone had 2 y2 hours with the Prince Consort, à deux reprises, ahout the Italian question, which was largely stated on both sides. *) The Prince understood the ovcrtinre to be to the following eflfcct * What must happen will be this you will make the engagement: Sardinia will then march into Central Italy: Austria must go there to oppose ber: and the contingency will then have arrived in which you are to oppose Austria by force *. z> Cobden was afraid that Napoleon would try to couple the commercial and military agreeinents, which he would not allow: The Empe-ror has more necessity for our aDiance than we have for bis just now. *) Clarendon, another of the former Foreign Secretarics who littered the poli­ticai scene, whom Palmerston consulted, made the sanie point. Yet this ad vantage Palmerston would throw away, and place England in the honou-rable position of canister to the Imperiai tail,... and ali this for the pol­pose of making Sardinia more powerful. *)
Surprisingly, Gladstone does not mention that the commercial treaty might be aiFected. Cobden's fears were realised on January 8, when the French Ambassador suggested the synthesis. But Napoleon fortunately did not persist. However, on the same day Russell wrote: Palmerston*s paper is excellcnt, and will I hope carry us over the water. > The present intention of Pam., J. R. and Gladstone was to cram this policy down the throats of their twélve colleagues, and, if they won't swallow it, to resign,*) or, if necessary, dissolve Parliament. It was generally feared that the Cabinet would break up.
But Clarendon had always expected a patch, up, and on January 9 Sir George Lewis reported to him a modification of Palmerston's attitude. If the cabinet altogetlier reject Lord John's proposai, he will resign. ) Even Gladstone had been prepared to c leave open the precise form and Granville, in his fimi answer, believcd that wbile many of the Cabinet entertain insuperable objections to our engaging ourselvcs to give material assistance, ali or nearly ali are ready to agree to great moral support to France and to strong moral pressure upon Austria in order to prevent armed interference in Italy; in short, that independent and unfettered policy hy which Lord John has hitherto succeeded in preventing Italy from being bullied either by France or Austria. 7>
*) MORLEY, op. cft.. voL II, p. 14. Gludstonc's diary.
i P. GuBDAttA. Ondatone ani Palmerston, London, CoUancz, 1928, p. 120. 6 Jannarv 3J J. MonLBY, lift 0f Cobden, London, Chapman Hall, 188L voi. II. n- 263 7 Ta-nuary. To Gladstone.
on! S- H" *{**** Lif* of Clarendon, London, Edward Arnold, 1913. voi IL pp. 206-207. 7 January. To the Duelwu of Manchette*.
5) Brftfch Mueum Add. MS 44291, f. 298. To Gladstone.
<*{ MASCWELt, op. cft-, voi n, p. 22. LewStfcut Home Steretory.
V FrrzHAUnics, op. eii., voi. I, p. 368.