Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

762
Kenneth Bolline
might be seriously endangered by an unsuccessjul war. I felt suro that in ali foreign countries, whatsoever might be the case In haly itsalf, the posinoti of the King would be understood, and that no blame would attuali to him. or to his Govt. for concessions which however unpalatable, could only be avoided at the cost of
greater coils.
V. - Lord Stanley to Lord Lyons, British Ambassador in Paris, tele-gram, no. 2, 28 October 1867, F. 0. 27/1655.
I have received a Telegram front Florence asking for good ojfices of H[er] M[ajesty's] G[overnment] in the event of the Emperor being disposed to moke passage of Papal frontier by Italian Troops a casus belli. I have promised com-pliance with this request.
A war mode by Franco upon Italy would be regarded in this country with the deepest regret and disapprovai.
Take opportunity of saying this, if you think it necessary.
VI. - Lord Stanley to Sir Augustus Paget, British Minister in Florence, private, 29 October 1867, enclosed in Lord Stanley to Lord Bloomficid of the sanie date, F. O. 356/33.
On the whole I do not think the aspect of affairs unsatisfactory. The Cir-cular of M. Moustier and the King of Italy's proclamation,l) taken together. show on both sides an earnest desire to maintain peace and friendly rélations. I see no reason why theformer resuli at least should not be attained, though as to the lattar Tfear we cannot expect the events of the last week to be soon forgotten in Italy, It is clear that the Emperor, though he may disapprove, will not resisi * or resent the Italian entrance into Roman territory; and it seems not less certain that the Italian Govt. will do nothing that they con help that is likely to be offen­sive to French feelings. It looks as if the result would be simply a joint occu~ pation. Franco holding Rome and the suburbs, Italy the rest of the Papal Pro-vinces. No doubt such a state of things has its dangersj but it saves the honour of the Italian Govt. and gives them a reasonable hope of being able to keep per-manently what they lay hands on.
I am a little ajraid of our Italian jriends either really believing or qffecting to beli ève that we shall do more for them than infact we either can or ought. I am not inclined to go fwrther than we have gone. When the expedition to Rome was stili in doubt, I pointed out to Moustier, through Baron Baude [the French ChargS d'Affaire in London], the unfavourohle effect which it would produce on English opinion; but adding at the some Urne, that this was a quostion for them to consider, not for us, and that I should offer no advice on the subfect,
Since then, I have declined to do more than to express an earnest hope that Franco would not go to toar with Italy: a hope in which I b elieve ali England would join. But the questions which may arise as to the posi ti on of the Pope, and the territori al arrangements to be modo Iter eajter, are likely to be very delicate, and as at present advised, I should be reluctant to express any opinion upon them.
I) Mousticr'B Oscular of 28 October, tot saprà; und Ituly's dccliiraliou of ber inlcntions should Fraace occtipy Home.