Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

12
Howard R. Marraro
vri Iiardly interpose agaia on the side of Austria. Jt is mot expected that shc will take part on the side of France.
The encloscd newspaper slip contains a copy of Count Buol's *) circular lettor to the Diplomatic Representatives of Austria, which shows an earnest appeal to the Gè riti an States to join Austria, in the threatened confi ict. It is not known to what extent this appeal will he responded to. But much will dcpend on Prussia, and the allusion to the Confedera tion of the Rhine is obviously made especially for that Kingdom.
Sardinia is, of course, assoeiated wzth France, and eager for the war.
It is now officially announced that the Emperor Napoleon has given his assuranee that he will protcct Sardinia against any aggressive act of Austria. It is published that Italian refugees are being enlisted into regiments at Turin, and Garibaldi is already in that capital to be invested with command of a Legion of that class of troops. 2)
Both Austria and Sardinia are offering for loans of money, and the export of horses is prohibited by both countries.
Under such circumstances it is manifest that war is imminent, and that it wul not be diificult to make a casual collision serve for the commencement of hoetili ties. Diplomatic intervention may postpone it, but I confess that war appears to me the most probable event...
John Y. Mason a Lewis Cass
Legation of the United States, Paris, Aprii 13, 1859. No. 381
Sir: Since I last wrote on the subject of the disturbed condition of Europe, some events have transpired, but nothing of a decisive nature has occurred, and general uncertainty and anxiety for the future seem to engross the public mind. After Lord Cowley's return from Vienna, it was announced in the Moniteur Universel that, on the deinand of Russia, a Congress of the five great powers would soon convene, to consider the questiona arising out of the state of Italian affairs. To this demand it was understood France, England and Prussia re­sponded favorably. Austria proposed modifications or conditions. Their precise scope has not been officiali}- made known to the public. It is believed that Austria objected to the representation of Sardinia in the Congress, and if insisted on by France, proposed that ali the States of Italy should bave the same privilege. It is hardly probable that such an increase of the numbers of the representatives could be acceded to, and now it seems to be understood that only the five great powers, Austria, England, Franca, Prussia, and Russia will be xepresented in the Congress, if it shall meet. I say if it shall meet, be-cause although the 30th of Aprii as the timc, and Carlsruhe, Baden, as the place, is said to be fixed, stili it is doubtful if prelim'inary arrangements can be satis-factorily made, and the effort to convene the Congress may yet be abortive.
1) Karl Ferdinand Buol-Sehauensteiu (1797-1865), dal 1852 al 1859 ministro degli affari esteri.
2) Si veda: G. E. CmiATULO, Garibaldi, Vittorio Emanuele, Cavour nei fasti della patria. Documenti inediti* Bologna, Zanichelli, 1911.