| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | Queen Victoria calls Lord John Russell's attention to a draft referring to the Italian Mediation, which is of a very awkward character. Field Marshal Radetzky von Radetz and Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, have concluded an armistice: King Charles Albert, to save himself and his army, and Radetzky, to gain a political advantage for his Sovereign [the Emperor of Austria] in return for his military sacrifice. Now that Charles Albert hears of the mediation and expects from it better than he bargained for, Lord Palmerston advises that the armistice should not be considered a political one, but merely a military one. Is this mediation between belligerents, or merely trying to gain advanges for a client? What is the basis for an armistice if it is not political? It would otherwise only exist as an agreement to suspend hostilities and exchange prisoners. |