Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

England, Piedmont, and the Cagliari affair . . 165
mises between England and Piedmont over how to proceed in the Cagliari affair.
In response to Cavour's claims, objections, and counter-proposals of 1 May, Malmesbury sent a 32 page despatch to Turin on 11 May. Malmes-bury denied once more that England had separated its cause from that of Piedmont,58) he refused Cavour's demand for joint action on ali points, he rejected Cavour's argument that Piedmont's acceptance of English good of-fices meant compliance with the protocol of Paris, and he stated categori-cally that England would not, under any circumstance, unite with Piedmont on the question of compensation. Yet, at the same rime, Malmesbury did appear now to be willing to take a more forthright line at Naples in sup-port of Piedmont man hitherto had been the case. Whereas Malmesbury in his despatch of 24 Aprii had talked of just representations at Naples by England on Piedmont's behalf, now he referred to joint remonstrances by England and Piedmont He also allowed that if such remonstrances failed to secure the restitution of the Cagliari and the release of the crew, and if under the terms of the Protocol of Paris the case was referred to the good offices of a friendly power, England would act conjointly with Sardinia be-fore the referee on the subject. Malmesbury suggested that, although the Protocol of Paris spoke only of recourse to the good offices of a friendly power, it would be more practical if the friendly power was invited to act as mediator or arbiter in the dispute. Malmesbury suggested Sweden, Hol-land, Belgium or Portugal for the purpose and asked Cavour to state his choice of country and his preference for mediation or arbitration. Malmes­bury then went on to say.
Her Majesty's Government think it scarcely necessary to anticipate such a contingency as the Neapolitan Government refusing both redress and mediation or arbitration, but if unfortunately the king of Naples [...] should follow so wilful a course, it will be then rime for Her Majesty's Government and for that of Sardinia to determine on the line of action which such conduct would render inevitable.59)
The tone of Malmesbury's despatch to Cavour reflected Malmesbury's impatience with Naples regarding the issue of compensation for Watt and Park. Malmesbury had yet to receive a reply from Naples to his originai re-quest of 15 Aprii for indemnity, but recent statements by the Neapolitan
58) Malmesbury wrotc in a private lettcr of the same day to Hudson: The Constant deprecations of abandonment and coldncss are [...J rubbish and not business. HEARDER, op. at,, p. 233.
59) Malmesbury to Hudson, 11 May 1858, Furtber correspondence respecting the Cagliari*, pp. 114-116.