Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

La vigilia del '48
159
account of the very forced construction given to the word place, by the Italiane, but especially since, had it been intended by that article, to restrict the right of having a garrison for Austria to the citadel of Ferara, that word, and not the word place, would most likely have been used. Whilst the controverey between the two governments has rested at this point, Austria has addressed notes to the cabinets of London, Paris, Berlin and St. Petersburg, containing the assurance, that she has no intention of checking any government, whatever, in the path that it might desire to take for the welfare of ite people, that she naturailly recognises the independance and integrity of each state and has no intention to undertake any thing, against the independance of any other government, nor to cali it in question, but that Austria feels herself called on by ber geographical situation to pay particular attention to every politicai movement in Italy, because her own states may be thereby easily affected. And to this note replies have been received from those powers couched without exception in the most friendly terme, and acknowledging the uprightness of the sentiments of the Austrian cabinet.
On the other hand the Pontificai government has, it is said, also addressed notes, not only to the great powers, but to ali the courts of Europe, to demand in some sort, their interferance as arbitrators in the difference which has arisen between the Sovereign PontifF and Austria with respect to Ferara. No further diplomatic movement has occured upon the subject, except that at a recent con­vention of the Cardinale at Rome, in deliberation upon the matter, they carne unanimously to the resolution, to cali on the Emperor of Austria, to cause his troops to evacuate the city of Ferara, before entering on any negociation with respect to the citadel. This may, or may not be dono, but practically the question has now been brought within diplomatic discussi on, and it is hoped that it will now be settled, without diffieulty or farther serious consequences. Whilst these movements are going on between the cabinets both governments seem to be preparing for the direst contingency. Austria on one side is despatching a heavy military force to the frontiers of Italy, and Count de Fiquelmont,9) general of infantry, and minister of state, has been sent from Vienna to be present on the spot, in case his important services should be needed either in diplomacy or in war. On the other side, the Pope, having made known to foreign Powers, that he was not desirous of the intervention of their forces in bis States, is making everywhere within his own dominions preparations for defence. He has ordered three months supplìee to be sent to Ancona and Civita Vecchia in order to place those ports in a state to resist ali surprise, and the troops being raised or constantly arriving in Rome, are being distributed in three points of observation, one at the defile of St. Gallo, by the Reno, on the road from Bologna to Ferara, the second at Castel Franco, between Bologna and Modena, and the last at the defile of Bastia by the Reno near Argenta. Forli and Ancona aite two more centres of operation, for the concentration of troops forming a line of obser­vation along the Adriatic. Ali the intermediate towns between Bologna and the two former, are defended by the National guard already in active service, and inspired with the greatest enthusiasm. No collision, however, is in my opinion to be apprebended, and nothing will occur to prevent an aniicable adjustment
* La missione del conte Ficquelmont (1777-1857) in Lombardia è trattata da A. J. P. TAYLOR, The Itattan Problem in European Diplomacy, 1847-1848, Manchester, 1934, pp. 19-24. Per le istruzioni di Mettermeli a Ficquebnont vedi Aus Metternich's nachgelasse-neri Papieren, voi. VII, pp. 468-478.