Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

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Nick Carter
govemment on the subject of the Cagliari suggested a refusai was likely.6 Consequendy, at the same time that he wrote to Cavour of joint remon-strances to Naples, Malmesbury also wrote a short note to Carafa. The note expressed Malmesbury's considerable sutprise at the delay in an-swering his letter of 15 Aprii, and emphasised that the claim of indemnity was one from which Her Majesty's Government, convinced as they are of its justice, cannot withdraw .61) By this time, though, Carafa had already sent his answer a refusai. It was communicated to Malmesbury on 14 May.6?)
The news of the Neapolitan refusai to pay compensation to Watt and Park was greeted, it may be assumed, with some considerable relief at Tu-rin: English support for Piedmont at Naples was likely to be far more vig-orous if England itself was stili in dispute with the Neapolitan govemment. Cavour learnt of the Neapolitan refusai on 16 May. The same day, he at last accepted Malmesbury's proposed course of action. Piedmont, with England's backing, would seek the restitution of the Cagliari and its crew. If refused, Piedmont would accept Swedish mediation (on the condition that the crew of the Cagliari were, in the meantime, given bail). Piedmont would pursue separately from England its claim against Naples for compen­sation.
Although Cavour had now agreed to ali Malmesbury's proposals, Malmesbury was stili not satisfied. According to Malmesbury, mediation by Sweden was unlikely to succeed. Malmesbury argued that Sweden, in the role of mediator, would be unable to apply meaningful pressure on the parties involved in the dispute to reach a setdement, because it was too minor a power. If Cavour really wished to settle the business, Malmesbury stated, then he should agree to refer the matter to arbitration.63) Given that Malmesbury had offered Cavour the choice of mediation or arbitration, and had suggested Sweden for the task, his criticisms were unhelpful and gra-tuitous. Cavour was, justifiably, indignant The English. insistence that Piedmont accept arbitration even before attempting mediation was, Cavour told Azeglio, such an inimicai act that although Piedmont was grateful for English supporr, it would rather proceed alone than evidently be an embar-rassment to the Tory administration.
W On 17 Aprii, Carafa had sent a communication to ali Neapolitan legations abroad which stated The presumption of guilt of the two engineers (Watt and Park] ... cannot be contested . Thus, although Watt and Park had been released from prìson, the Neapolitan govemment implicidy rejccted the English claim that the imprisonment of the engineers had been unjusfc Ivi, pp. 45-47, 56-69.
6) Malmesbury to Carafa, 11 May 1858, ivi, p. 117.
2) Carafa to Malmesbury, 6 May 1858, /w, pp. 126-131.
*9 Malmesbury to Hudson, 19 May 1858, GIARRIZZO, Re/aborti cit, VI, p. 260; HEARDER, op. cit., p. 233.